Because I’m a giver, I’m starting a new Travel Tuesday series where I break down itineraries and highlights from our Empty Nesting Adventures. This week’s series focuses on Phoenix, Sedona, and Scottsdale, AZ. Here’s how you can travel to Arizona, Keeper style!
It’s no secret that Hubby is obessed with cars. In fact, more often than not, he can be found in our garage up to his elbows in grease, gear-slinging wrenches to 80s metal bands. He’s been in a long-term relationship with a girl who roars to life at a moment’s notice and I’ve made peace with the fact that, at any gven moment, there might be car parts in my dining room.
Suffice it to say, I’ve been to more car shows than I care to admit and I’ve learned that saying, “Oh, I love that color red!” will lead to a 10-minute dissertation about torque, horsepower, and the minute differences between the 1971 and 1972 versions of a muscle car. #Snooze #IStoppedListeningFiveMinutesAgo
So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when Hubby announced last Fall that he was going to check a major bucket list trip off his list: he was going to attend the annual Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ.
And he wanted me to join him.
Gee, let me think: thousands of cars? Desert heat? Hours, nay, DAYS of car discussion?
That’s gonna be hard pass, honey.
But, Hubby didn’t give up so easily.
After realizing that he was never going to convince me that I’d enjoy a car auction, he raised the checkered flag.
What if, he said, we made this a trip that would be worth my while?
Then he said two words that changed everything: Grand. Canyon.
Gentlemen, start your engines. The Keeper was going to Arizona, bitchachos!
We decided that we were going to explore Phoenix, Sedona, and Scottsdale with a side quest to the Grand Canyon. And we were going to do it in seven days. Doable? Probably. Ambitious? Definitely.
Here’s how it played out.
Phoenix, Arizona
Upon landing, we headed right to the Westin Phoenix Downtown. Because we were jet-lagged and could see molecules in front of our faces, we dragged ourselves to dinner at Carcara, a short walk from our hotel. Fabulous service, great food, Southwest-inspired decor and vibe. 10/10, no notes.
Admittedly, we were only in Phoenix for about 12 hours so we did not have enough time to really explore beyond what we could see on our drive to downtown and on our way out to Sedona. But, that just means we will have to go back, preferably without a car show involved, ahem.
Sedona, Arizona
From Phoenix, Sedona is a quick drive (under an hour) through breathtaking desert landscape filled with iconic cacti as far as your eye can see.
We arrived at the Residence Inn Sedona and we were immediately gobsmacked by how beautifully the hotel is situated in the Sedona landscape. Seriously, while there are other more luxe hotels and resorts in Sedona, don’t sleep on this little gem. We had a spacious suite, complete with a kitchen and view of the mountains. It didn’t suck one bit, can confirm.
We stayed in Sedona for three nights and, honestly, that was more than enough time to soak up a local flavor, explore breweries and wineries, and to hike. We also used one of the days as an out-and-back to the Grand Canyon (more on that in a bit).
Where We Ate and Drank in Sedona, AZ
Sedona Beer Company, Basecamp location: Hands down, our favorite spot in Sedona. After hot and dusty hikes, we throughly enjoyed the vibe and views that their outside patio provided. And the beer was good, too.
The Hudson: Chic, upscale, and a tiny bit precious, we enjoyed our meal here but it was a little loud for our older empty nester ears.
Vino Zona Wine Shop (Located in Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village): If you are in Sedona, run, don’t walk, to a wine tasting at Vino Zona. The owner was welcoming and kind and the decor makes you feel like you’ve walked into someone’s cozy villa in Sedona. And the wine didn’t suck, either.
Where We Hiked in Sedona, AZ
Because we had limited time in Sedona (and limited space in our suitcases for proper desert hiking gear), we were strategic about our trail choices. We selected hikes that were moderately strenuous and we limited our choices to under 5 miles because, again, we just didn’t have the time to really dig into a long ass hike.
Teacup Trail: This 2.6 mile hike turned out to be a spectacular hike that was just strenuous enough to make you feel like you hiked but not so steep that you regretted your life choices halfway up (please see “Tom’s Thumb” below, ahem). Beautiful views and you wind up at about 5,000k elevation at the top which didn’t suck one bit. And fun fact: The trailhead is located at Coffee Pot and Maxwell House Drive.
Red Rock State Park: This was a “pivot” hike for us because we had selected a different hike that happened to be closed while we were there. Red Rock is a state park with well-marked loops and it’s perfect for families who want to take their kids on a hike without the risk of getting lost in the desert. 10/10, would recommend.
Day Trip to Grand Canyon National Park
This was a big deal day for me, mostly because I was giddy for Hubby’s first trip to the Grand Canyon. We set out from Sedona and drove aprroximately 2.5 hours to the southern entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. I’m not going to lie: the drive up and beyond Flagstaff was a bit tedious, between hairpin turns north of Sedona as you climb the mountains and a very loonnnnnng stretch of desert road leading into the national park.
But, man, is it worth it. Well, unless you are terrified of heights like I am. Ahem. While Hubby explored the viewing platforms without wearing a parachute or a harness (I jest), I fought for my life on terra firma with my back to the gaping hole in the ground, because obviously. #MakingMemoriesDammit
No trip to Grand Canyon National Park is complete without a trip the El Tovar Dining Room at Grand Canyon Lodge. Be sure to snag a reservation before you go, though: you can reserve a table 120 days out from your arrival so make a note in your calendar if you think you want to have lunch/dinner with views of the Grand Canyon.
Scottsdale, Arizona
After three days exploring Sedona, we headed south to Scottsdale, AZ in time for Hubby to soak up every bit of car auction time that he could. We stayed at the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell and, little did we know when we arrived, but the staff was about to become like family to us, thanks to Winter Storm Fern.
For what I thought would be the last two days of our trip, I lounged at the pool, read a book cover to cover and generally just luxuriated in the warm January sun while Hubby salivated over thousands of cars at Barrett-Jackson.
However, Winter Storm Fern was like, “Oh, you want to go sleep in your own bed after seven days of vacationing? HOLD. MY. BEER.”
We arrived on a Wednesday, expecting to spend two days in Scottsdale.
We wound up staying seven, thanks to a crippling snowstorm and three canceled flights. Oh, and three of the days were without our luggage. #WickedAwesome
Suffice it to say, we had the opportunity to more thoroughly explore Scottsdale while wearing emergency clothes from Target. Oh, and shout out to the driverless Weymo car that took us to Target. Yes, we like to live dangerously, it seems.
Where We Ate and Drank in Scottsdale, AZ
Culinary Dropout: This was hands down, the very best service we received in a restaurant during the whole trip. The staff could not have been more attentive and the vibes were immaculate, as the kids say.
The Mission (Kierland location): This place was impossibly cool and, frankly, a little too dark for our empty nester eyes. As in, we needed our phone flashlights for peak old people behavior. But, the food was AM-aaahhzing and well worth basically sitting in the dark while eating tacos (with a side of Catholic guilt).
The Green House: By this point in the trip, we were starved for food that was just…you know….healthy. The Green House delivered and then some.
Where We Hiked in Scottsdale, AZ
Because we were on day 10 of our “We probably live in Scottsdale now, thanks to that inconsiderate bitch Fern” odyssey, our tempers were wearing thin. We decided the best thing for marital preservation was to get out for a refreshing hike. We chose Tom’s Thumb, a short drive from our hotel.
It turns out, we did not choose wisely.
Due to my intense fear of heights and realizing mid-way up the main trail that we did not have the proper shoes for our hike, we regretted most of our life choices on that sunny trail.
We were at the point where I was actively losing my mind and yelling, “Not only do I live in Scottsdale, but I also live on a trail with snakes now” when a lovely man named Joe came upon our scene (and it was definitely a scene). Turns out, Joe is known as the “Mayor of Tom’s Thumb” and he hikes the trail once a week and chats with tourists. He also specializes in helping idiot tourists like myself manage to get back to the safety of the parking lot when they, too, realized they’ve bitten off more than they could chew.
Joe was an actual angel that day. I’m happy to report that I did not have to begin a new life halfway up to Tom’s Thumb thanks his kindness.
On our last day in Scottsdale, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Hubby was able to convince me to join him at the auction for a few hours. Were there thousands of cars? Yes. Did the desert heat perform as expected? Absolutely. Did Hubby talk my ear off about every. single. car we saw? Of course.
But, he also failed to lead with the fact that our VIP tickets included free cocktails and I might have managed to find my next ride while sipping on a Bloody Mary….
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