Going in May. Driving up from Sedona and spending two nights at The View. Need advice on a day tour company. Apparently there are several and The View doesn't want to show favorites by recommending one.

We did it on horseback with Sacred Mountain Tours. No better views than what you get there.

There is a loop drive with Garden of the Gods and Gooseneck Park. Bluff Utah is close and worth a visit.

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
There is a loop drive with Garden of the Gods and Gooseneck Park. Bluff Utah is close and worth a visit.

NK402 is from Central Virginia. "Close" may mean something different to him...

When you say "day tour" are you referring to one of those trucks with seats in the back that leave from the resort and drive that loop? If so, honestly I would skip it. They're open topped and it looked to me like they tried to stir up as much dust for their competitor's truck as possible.

Looks familiar. The Son and I just got back a week ago out there, flying. After a night at the Whittington Center in Raton, NM we launched off.

That flight included, Ship Rock, the ‘4 Corners’ marker, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, then one leg of the Grand Canyon overflight corridors. We landed at G.C. Airport. We later took a bus into the park to walk the rim trail some.

I really like the Monument Valley area, had never been there before.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Going in May. Driving up from Sedona and spending two nights at The View. Need advice on a day tour company. Apparently there are several and The View doesn't want to show favorites by recommending one.

My brother and I did the All Day tour with Goulding's Lodge and it was AWESOME! We were the only two people on the all day tour so we basically had a private tour!
It as exactly 3 years ago this week (first week of April). Our Navajo guide guided us through Mystery Vally (south of Monument Valley) to several ancient Native American cliff dwellings during the morning hours. That part of the tour culminated with our guide dropping us off at the opening to a box canyon to let us walk and explore on our own as we made our way up the canyon to where he rode ahead to start cooking lunch for us. We ate a lunch of chargrilled burgers under the shade of the overhanging canyon wall.
After lunch we meandered northwards and spent our afternoon in the much more crowded Monument Valley. During the morning half of our tour we saw only three other tour vehicles. However, the number of tour vehicles we saw in the afternoon were well over a hundred. But it was well worth the crowds. My brother and I both agree it was the best day ever spent on any vacation! I highly recommend Goulding's Tours.

also recommend Gouldings

been there, done that

OK, leaving Tuesday, flying to Phoenix, drive to Sedona and spend the night. Get up and drive to Monument Valley and spending two nights at the View. 2-3 hour jeep tour on Thursday. Get up Friday and drive back to Phoenix, spend the night and fly home Saturday. A few questions.
1. Is there cell service on the way to and from Monument Valley
2. I'm sure it can be scenic but is it desolate? Are there towns and businesses along the way?
3. I'm a bit leery of the return to Phoenix. We're not stopping in Sedona and I hear it is a six hour drive.
4. I hear that it'not just the weather that's DRY on the res. Hope we can smuggle in some wine or beer.
On the way I've been told Montezuma's Castle is interesting and that we should check out Chapel of The Holy Cross in Sedona.
We welcome any other tips or suggstions. Thanks much.

NK402,

You are in for an education on "rural America".

LOL.

Different time zone (right now) between Monument Valley and Phoenix also.

It's more like four hours from MV to Phoenix. The route from Sedona will take you through Flagstaff and then through Tuba City and Kayenta. Not much in between those and you will see some real poverty, the kind only other countries have. I can't remember what cell service was like, but beware, if you stay in Mexican Hat, UT, that Navajo Nations doesn't recognize daylight savings time. So UT is now in Mountain Time, while non-Navajo Nations AZ is Pacific Time. Almost missed my horseback tour time because of this. Buy booze in Flagstaff or Sedona. I can't remember the name, but the very first hotel on the left side of the road, as you cross the creek into UT does serve booze. The big lodge across from the MV entrance does not. IMHO, two days is a long time to spend in that area. MV consists of the Mittens and nothing else. Sure, the best photos are at sunrise and sunset, depending on where you are. But the is just nothing else out there.

Hit Montezuma Castle on I-17 if you can, and Jerome is worth a stop too. If you want to take the really scenic route back to Phoenix, take 89A from Sedona, down through Prescott and then Wickenburg, then 74 (aka Carefree Hwy) back to I-17. Great outdoor range called Ben Avery just as you reach I-17.

Chapel of the Cross is cool, but very touristy. If you’ll already be in Sedona it’s an okay stop.
Yes, the Rez is dry. Take in with you what you want. Buy in Sedona or Flagstaff. Any of the towns close to the Rez that sell, sell overpriced. Thee are no checkpoints or anything like that, so nothing to worry about.
That said, remember when you’re on the Rez, you’re not privileged to the laws of the United States. You have to deal with the BIA, and you really don’t want to ever deal with them. Especially on the Navajo Nation. I’m serious when I say that.

If you’re staying in Sedona and have some time, there is a sinkhole and the seven sacred pools out Soldier Pass Road. Definitely cool to see.
Tlaquepaque while touristy is pretty cool and a neat place to check out.
If you’re a breakfast person, be absolutely certain to stop at The Coffee Pot restaurant in Sedona for breakfast. It’s one of the best breakfast places I have ever been to. If you drive to The Coffee Pot, go half a mile farther, just to take a pic of the only McDonalds in the world without Golden Arches. Sedona McDonalds has teal arches.
A good dinner can be had at Rene at Tlaquepaque, The Hudson, or Mariposa, or if you book a reservation and have the money to spend, L’Auberge, but they aren’t inexpensive.

Anyways, have a great time while you’re here. On your way north to Monument Valley, take 89a from Sedona to Flagstaff. It’ll take you up Oak Creek Canyon and it’s quite beautiful scenery.

If you have time, include a visit to Jerome. Old mining town. Worth the trip!

Very helpful and much appreciated . Open to any and all suggestions. So far, my favorite is where to eat breakfast.

That's a bucket list location. After this thread, we are going next year. Thank you.

If one were inclined to take a motorhome, are there campgrounds nearby?

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Originally posted by Warhorse:
If one were inclined to take a motorhome, are there campgrounds nearby?

Yes. There are a couple in the Sedona area, but they are booked out and expensive.
If you’re a Thousand Trails member, there is a really nice one between Camp Verde and Cottonwood. Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood is also a great place to set up home base for a few days. I think I would prefer that over TT.

quote:

Originally posted by NK402:
Very helpful and much appreciated . Open to any and all suggestions. So far, my favorite is where to eat breakfast.

If The Coffee Pot is not one of the top five breakfast experiences you have had in your life, I’ll buy you breakfast.

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Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
There is a loop drive with Garden of the Gods and Gooseneck Park. Bluff Utah is close and worth a visit.

NK402 is from Central Virginia. "Close" may mean something different to him...

It means something different to me, too--"Garden of the Gods" is outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is a long way away.

flashguy