Visit Arizona: Explore, Hike, and Discover Scottsdale, Sedona and More!

We loosely planned our Spring Break trip in January. The cold and dark days of winter were starting to get to us and I was looking at three months of teaching without any breaks or long weekends. After throwing around a couple of location ideas (Puerto Rico, Savannah, Joshua Tree), Arizona became the winner, the flights were quickly booked.

The challenging part was deciding what to do in AZ. The state has SO much to offer for every type of vacation. If we wanted to sit by a pool for a week and sip on margs, we could do that. If we wanted to hike in the hot desert sun, we could do that. If we wanted to escape the heat and get some high altitude, Colorado vibes, we could do that.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about my and Jacob’s travel planning, it’s that we don’t really like to plan ahead of time. A bogged down itinerary takes a lot of the fun out of traveling for us. We like to take all of our options and then decide in the moment what each day should entail. There are pros and cons to this approach, but generally it works for us.

So, we booked three airbnb’s throughout the state of Arizona and decided to figure out what we’d do when we got there. The trip came together in a beautiful way, despite a pre-trip breakdown on my behalf. We got a little of each Arizona climate and tons of views.

And ultimately, I decided I’m obsessed with the desert.

Table of Contents:

General Tips for Traveling to Arizona

Rent a car

There is so much to do and see in Arizona, no matter what part of the state you decide to stay in. While it’s nice to rely on Uber and not pay for a rental, it’s worth it in this state. Without a rental, there will be so much you might miss out on.

Be prepared for different climates

If you’re going from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, be prepared for different climates. While this may differ in the summer, at the end of March it was 90 degrees in phoenix and a cool 50 degrees in The Grand Canyon. It also snowed in Flagstaff (I know, I was shocked too).

Bring a camera

The views are incredible in the entire state, and there are so. many. cacti. Be ready to snap all the views and fun memories!

Pack your hiking boots

Trails abound in this state. Be prepared for desert hiking and make sure you have your trail shoes!

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The Itinerary: At a Glance

Day 1: Scottsdale

Breakfast: New York Bagels and Bialys
Phoenix Zoo
Lunch at Fate Brewing
Night on the town

Day 2: Sedona

Breakfast: New York Bagels and Bialys
2 hour drive to Sedona
Devil’s Bridge
Dinner: Mesa Grill
2 hour drive to desert dome airbnb

Day 3: Jerome + Flagstaff

Breakfast and coffee in Flagstaff
1.5 hour drive to Jerome
Ghost tour
Lunch: The Clinkscale
1.5 hour drive to Flagstaff — check in to airbnb
Dinner and brewery hop

Day 4: Grand Canyon

Breakfast: Toasted Owl
1.5 hour drive from Flagstaff to South Rim Entrance
South Kaibab Trail
Explore the park
1.5 hour drive back to Flagstaff
Dinner: Martanne’s

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Scottsdale

Where to Stay

We stayed at an adorable Casita in Scottsdale. It was comfortable, had a cute backyard, and the location was prime. We loved staying here and would recommend it if you’re looking to book in the area. The Casita was also affordable compared to many of the other options that were available when we booked.

What to Do

We spent hours at the Phoenix Zoo. Tickets were about $30 a person, but it exceeded our expectations. There were tons of animals to see and they were all active when we went in the early morning. If you plan ahead and are 21+, you can attend Roars + Pours — wander the zoo, meet the animals with a drink in hand.
Spend a night out on the town in Scottsdale’s entertainment district. Even on a Sunday night, the clubs were bopping. There are night clubs, low-key bars, and even some places with live music. Drinks are pricey, but we’re glad we spent a night out on the town.
I desperately wanted a picture with a huge cactus. Cave Creek Regional Park delivered.

Where to Eat

Our favorite breakfast place: New York Bagels and Bialys. A cute breakfast restaurant with sit-down or take-out options, we utilized both. The bagels are to die for. I’m gluten free, and this was the first restaurant in three years I’ve found with homemade GF bagels — and they were delicious. The coffee isn’t too shabby either.
We got beer and apps for a light lunch at Fate Brewing. The beer was good and the patio was perfect on our 97 degree day. We stuck to a lighter fare here to save money and also room for dinner. If you go here, make sure to try the Crispy Potato Tacos. They sound strange, but they were to die for.
Need a late-night bite? Whether your flight lands late or you’re coming home from the bar scene, In-N-Out and Fry Junkie are sure to hit the spot.

Other Things on Our List

With only one full day in Scottsdale, there was lots do to on our list that we didn’t get to. Check out some of these fun options for a longer stay!

Desert Botanical Garden: This comes highly rated and it looks beautiful! We had to choose between this and the zoo. Had we been here longer, we would’ve taken time to explore here.
Explore Old Town. Walk around this more touristy part of Scottsdale for history, sights, and plenty of good food.
Go for a Hot Air Balloon ride! We looked into this, but I’m afraid of heights and we looked too late. Book well ahead of time if you’re interested!
Horseback riding through the desert. Again, I looked too late for this. If we looked earlier, I would’ve loved this unique tour of the desert.

Sedona

Where to Stay

You can’t go wrong with most hotels or airbnb’s in Sedona. When looking to book for this trip, the spas and hotels looked glorious, and most airbnb’s were trendy and adorable. Staying in Sedona can be pricey because of how many people are constantly visiting. For a cheaper stay, we opted for an airbnb in Flagstaff. It’s about a 45 minute drive and about 1/3 of the cost of Sedona options.

What to Do

Hike Devil’s Bridge. With so many trails to choose from in Sedona, it can be hard deciding which hikes to do during your stay. Devil’s Bridge should be on your list. The views are amazing, and the bridge itself is a once in a lifetime experience. I’m terrified of heights, but even I was able to go on the bridge without having a (total) panic attack. There will likely be a line to take your picture, but it’s worth the wait. To hike the trail, we started at the Mescal Trail trailhead. This added a bit more hiking to the overall trip for a total of about 4.1 miles, there and back. If you have a 4×4, you can drive on Dry Creek Road to a closer parking lot, which will reduce hiking time and get you to the bridge a little faster. Regular cars can’t make it down Dry Creek Road, but you can park by the start of the road and walk to the trailhead that way as well.
Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Drive is a must. Head North out of Sedona through the canyon for windy roads and killer mountain views. It’s a slow drive, but definitely worth it if you’re in the area or heading to Flagstaff.

Other Things on Our List

Cathedral Rock Hike: this is the most popular Sedona hike next to Devil’s Bridge. If you’re here for more than a day, check out both!
Mesa Airport Loop: this is a low-key hike compared to Cathedral Rock and Devil’s Bridge. Pictures of this hike are gorgeous and would’ve been a must for a lighter hiking day if we stayed longer.
Oak Creek Brewery: Many AZ restaurants feature local breweries on tap. After trying their Hefewiezen at a different restaurant, both Jacob and I wished we had time to make a stop and try other beers.

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Jerome

Where to Stay

Stay at The Grand Hotel for a haunting time, or stay in beautiful Sedona which is just a short drive from the town. For cheaper lodging, stay in Flagstaff and drive to both Jerome and Sedona.

What to Do

Take time to go on a Ghost Tour. Jerome is one of the most haunted towns and it is rich with interesting history. There are many tour companies that will take you through the town and share all the interesting stories — spooky and historical. Ghost Town Tours did a fantastic job sharing the history of the town and introducing us to some pretty cool ghosts. We chose to do a ghost tour which took us all over the town and even allowed us to talk to ghosties. Our tour guide was fantastic and fun, making the experience a great way to get a tour of the town. If you’re not into the spooky side, they offer strictly historical tours as well. Either way, I’d recommend a guided tour to get the most out of your time in this cool little town.
Drive through the town. Jerome is quite literally sliding down a mountainside. It’s cool to drive through the town and see the houses and business that literally look like they’re falling, because they are.
Visit the state park and see the Sliding Jail. The state park offers an incredible scenic view of the valley below and the mountains across the way. On a rainy day, you might even be able to see up-close the end of a rainbow. Not far from the state park is The Sliding Jail. True to it’s name, a jail cell slid down the mountain side of Jerome after becoming detached from the main building.

Where to Eat

We had 30 minutes to kill before our ghost tour started. We stopped in for a beer at The Clinkscale and after looking at the menu decided to come back after our tour for a late lunch. Unfortunately, we came between the dinner and lunch menus so could only order an appetizer. The parmesan truffle fries were incredible. Had we come earlier, I had my eye on the Basil Chicken dish. We especially loved this restaurant because of the bartender. He creates unique savory sangrias and makes his own infused alcohols. We enjoyed chatting with him and he gave us a sample of his cinnamon infused whiskey; it was 1000x better than fireball, and also way classier. While it is a more upscale dining establishment, The Clinkscale is a must if you’re in Jerome!

Flagstaff

Where to Stay

A unique loft-style casita Airbnb hosted us on this trip. What we loved most about choosing an airbnb over a hotel in this area was the chance for great recommendations. Our host provided us with all the insider info on great restaurants and things to do/see in the surrounding areas. Even if you choose to stay at a hotel, staying in Flagstaff is guaranteed cheaper lodging than Sedona, and you will be in a prime area to see both Sedona and The Grand Canyon. Driving to The Grand Canyon from Sedona can be a bit more of a trek.

What To Do

Flagstaff is in a prime area for sightseeing and hiking in Northern Arizona! While we didn’t do much besides eating in Flagstaff, we decided to stay here so we would be close to the many trails and exciting places in this part of the state.

Visit the Grand Canyon
Hike in Sedona
Tour Jerome for spooky and historical information
Snowbowl

Where to Eat

The morning we hiked the Grand Canyon, we stopped at The Toasted Owl for morning fuel. This restaurant has incredible breakfast burritos. They’re huge, delicious, and a definite breakfast must. It’s rare to find a gluten free breakfast burrito, but Toasted Owl has them and made them well. If we were to go here again, I’d like to try their almond flour pancakes which come with highly rated reviews, and a mimosa as well.
Martanne’s offers Mexican American cuisine. While they’re also highly rated in town for their breakfast fare, we had dinner here on our last night in town. The strawberry margarita was refreshing and strong. We split the carnitas street tacos and chips, cheese dip, and guacamole. The guac was the best I had on the trip by far. While the cheese dip wasn’t your traditional queso, it was still delicious. The street tacos were crispy and good, especially after a day of hiking.
At Dark Sky Brewing we tried a sour and a wheat bear. Come here for craft beers with interesting flavors. My Blueberry Cheesecake sour was a perfect balance between sweet and sour, and it was bursting with flavor. Jacob had a mango wheat beer infused with jalapeno. It was an interesting beer that Jacob enjoyed much more than I did. The brewery also serves Pizzicleta which serves wood fired pizza. We had to skip out because they didn’t have a gluten free option, but it looked and smelled mouthwatering. If you can eat gluten, give it a try.
Just a short walk from Dark Sky is Mother Road Brewing. Come here for craft beers with a more traditional and hoppy taste. I had their flagship wheat beer that had a perfect balance between flavor and hops. While this brewery didn’t have as many exciting flavors or sours, it was easy drinking and a great environment.
Attached to Mother Road Brewing is Roadside Stove, a food truck with cajun barbecue. Jacob got chicken sliders and we split tots with cheese dip and ranch. The food was packed with spices and flavor, the tots were perfectly crispy, and it wasn’t overly greasy like food truck food can often be. A great choice for dinner with lots of delicious options to choose from.

Other Things on Our List

Antelope Canyon – With it being on Navajo land, the only way to see the impressive and beautiful canyon is by guided tour. Sign up early to get spot.

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The Grand Canyon

Where to Stay

The Grand Canyon Village just outside of the restaurant has hotels aplenty if you want to be close to this world wonder. For a more unique stay, consider a desert dome. Here you can stay in the middle of the desert just outside of The Grand Canyon. Unlike a hotel, a desert dome provides prime star gazing opportunities and a once in a lifetime desert stay.

What to Do

HIKE and SOAK IN THE BEAUTY. There are a few ways you can explore the South Rim. Below are two popular options. We read this blog post on REI that has great hiking suggestions and tips for your visit.

South Rim Trail – this is a paved trail that takes you along the South Rim of the grand canyon. It’s the most accessible hike and will allow everyone in your travel group to experience the grandeur of the canyon.
South Kaibab Trail – This is a popular hike for the South Rim. A wide dirt trail will take you down into the canyon. It’s suggested to go down to Skeleton Point and then turn around for a total of 6 miles. If you don’t want to go the whole way, that’s okay. There are two stopping points before that and both also offer incredible views. The way down is a little bit faster than the way up which is incredibly steep, so plan for extra time on the second half of the hike.

Where to Eat

Most restaurants will be in The Grand Canyon Village. There are many touristy options, but there is something for every type of craving.

Arizona: Post-Trip Reflections

Typing this guide at home is making me homesick for the desert. We didn’t have a clear idea of our trip beforehand, which helped shape it into the incredible trip it was.

About two days prior to leaving for our trip, I had a major breakdown at our kitchen counter. I saw snow forecasted for one of the days in Flagstaff and I wanted to change our trip completely. Spring Break is a chance for this midwesterner to leave snow, not find more of it. I wanted to cancel our Flagstaff airbnb and travel back down to Phoenix for our last 2 nights where it would be full sun and high heat.

Airbnb wanted to give us a less than 50% refund to do that. So after a lot of convincing and reassuring on Jacob’s part, we kept our original trip in place.

Looking back, it worked out that we stayed in Flagstaff, despite the snow. The location allowed us to visit both The Grand Canyon and Jerome, which were two highlights of the trip. Had we gone back down to Scottsdale or Phoenix, we wouldn’t have seen these incredible places.

The truth is, we could’ve spent 4 days at each of these locations with the amount of things to do in each area. While it would have been great to have more days of high heat, full sun, and warm desert hikes, it was also great to see so much of the state in such a short amount of time.

Whether you follow this itinerary or just choose to check out one or two spots on the list, you’re bound to have a blast in AZ. Take pictures and say “hi” to the cacti for me.

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Visit Arizona: Explore, Hike, and Discover Scottsdale, Sedona and More!