<p>I’m going to spend a week in Arizona in August. I know that’s a crazy plan since it’s the hottest month there. I’m planning to spend 1 day in Vegas, the rest I have for AZ. Is that too much? Should I spend 2 days in AZ only and spend the rest in Vegas or California? That said, what are some of the great things / places to go to in AZ. I’m planning to visit the Grand Canyon for a day. What else should I see? Thanks for your advices.</p>
<p>Simply nuts to go to AZ for that long that time of year if CA is an option. You won’t be able to spend more than a few hours each day outside given the heat - average high for the day is 104 in August.</p>
<p>Not so bad if you stay in the Flagstaff area and venture down to Prescott. Maybe take highway 89A down from Flagstaff to Sedona; that’s a pretty drive. Payson is also nice, though it’s a bit far from the Grand Canyon area. Just stay out of the Phoenix Metro area.</p>
<p>Half of Arizona (exaggerating), aka ‘zonies’, are here (San Diego) in the summer because it’s awfully hot in much of Arizona this time of year - epecially Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma. Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon aren’t so bad because of the altitude. </p>
<p>Vegas is awfully hot as well but most people there spend most of their time indoors in air coditioned comfort.</p>
<p>Regardless, if you go to Az then see the Grand Canyon, Sedona, and if you don’t mind the heat and have never been there and this kind of thing appeals to you, visit the desert in an area where there are lots of saguaro cactus (the ones with the arms) around Phoenix and Tucson including at Saguaro NP and ‘Old Tucson’ (an old western studio set). If you get that far then see the Az Sonora Desert Museum which is really a zoo with animals native to that area. If so inclined you could also venture to Monument Valley in NE Az. On the way you’ll pass some volcanic areas that can be interesting. You could also stop at the Petrified Forest and Paint Desert NPs. Not far from that is the big Meteor Crater.</p>
<p>One different kind of thing to do around Phoenix this time of year is to head out to the confluence of the Salt and Verde rivers east of Phoenix and go tubing. That water feels mighty good. I haven’t been to it in a long time but someone who went there a few years ago said they could rent a tube once they were there and they had a bus or something that would take them upstream. On a weekend especially there should be lots of people there and it can be fun.</p>
<p>If you’re not over 21 or don’t plan to gamble and see shows I wouldn’t plan to spend a huge amount of time in Vegas. If you’re there it can be fun to just wander some of the casino areas just to see how they tried to top each other and you can take in some of the freebies like the volcano, pirate ships, fountains, etc. and do some of the amusement rides and motion machine rides.</p>
<p>You could also come to San Diego and head to the beach (and meet some zonies).</p>
<p>Where are you from? Have you ever been to these areas? What kinds of things do you like to do (nature, museums, shows, etc.)?</p>
<p>I’m from Maryland and I’ve never been to these areas. I went to California years ago. Basically I have a week to spend there. I’m over 21 and plan to stay at Vegas for 1 or 2 days. So that leaves around 5 days for either California or AZ. I already went to Southern California 2 times and pretty much saw a lot of it. I just wonder if it’s worth seeing AZ for 5 days or should I just stay there for 2 days and go to CA for 3 days. </p>
<p>I don’t think the heat will be a problem for me. It’s around 90s-100F here in August too. It might feel hotter with the desert but I think I can stand it.</p>
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<p>I heard lots of good things about Sedona. What exactly are there to see? The view? The red rocks? parks?</p>
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<p>I search more on that, thanks!</p>
<p>what about the skydiving at Vegas or hot air balloon over Grand Canyon? Has anyone experienced that?</p>
<p>I’ve been in Az many times in August…D did her undergrad at ASU. It is HOT…over 100 each day usually (at least in the Valley of the Sun, the Phoenix metro area). That said…I wouldnt pass up the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon …though you can do that on a helicopter trip from Vegas too). I thought Sedona was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been…if you go, take some kind of Jeep Tour into the rocks areas …a/v at many places along the main drag of town…and you have to see a sunset,preferably from a “Vortex” area like on the Airport Rd.Don’t ask me to explain what a vortex is…the locals will explain it to you but supposedly its good karma,esp at sunset.
Theres interesting Native American monuments in between Phoenix and Sedona,cliff dwellings, worth stopping at if you’re driving that route.
The tubing on the Salt is sporadic it depends upon water release and if its a drought time there won’t be any.
Vegas, if you havent been, is FUN at least once. Lots to see,just soak in the ambiance. Excellent cuisine,lots to walk around and gawk at.If you’re young enough the pool scenes and clubs etc will be great. A little gambling is ok too! Vegas will be as hot as Az. If you havent been to either of those but have been to Ca,why not do something new???</p>
<p>Arizona has an altitude for every season. In summer, stay in the high country, the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and environs. Those are the highest, around 7000 feet or so. Sedona is around 4000, Prescott a mile high. I’d avoid the low desert, unless you are really good at getting up at 6 AM and doing your adventuring early and at sunset. 100 is a mild day in a Phoenix summer. Being out for long periods in the desert sun mid day is not just a matter of tolerance-it can be dangerous. </p>
<p>The question is not whether there are things to see. Arizona has a lifetime of places to explore. But what do you like? If you like to hike, if you like Native American culture you will be thrilled. There are Anasazi ruins galore, museum of northern AZ and plenty of places to hike, both around Flagstaff in the San Francisco peaks and in Sedona and Prescott. Prescott also has bar hopping on Whiskey Row and some small museums. Sedona is also about art-lots of galleries. </p>
<p>If you have real interest in the Grand Canyon, I’d drive around to the N Rim to avoid throngs of tourists. It’s a long drive, but higher and wilder. You can stop on the Navaho Reservation, and if you are interested in the culture, go over to Chinle, and hike down into Canon de Chelly. Another big drive, but interesting. Eat Navaho tacos, and I think there are some programs where you can stay in a hogan-native dwelling. Or venture up to southern Utah, and more red rock country.</p>
<p>Even in the summer, if you’ve never seen the scenery of the saguaro cactus in the mountains around Phoenix or Tucson that’s worth seeing assuming you like that sort of thing. People can survive there in the heat (as long as they’re prudent) and in fact millions live there and manage.</p>
<p>But Great Lakes Mom prompts another scenario (assumes you’re driving and assumes you’re into scenery) -
- Vegas for a day or two (depending on how much you like it)
- From Vegas go to the north rim of the GC - it’s much less crowded than the south rim.
- From the north rim of the GC head up to Zion NP in Utah.
- From Zion NP head to Bryce NP in Utah.
- If you’re enjoying all of this spectacular scenery, wide open spaces, as well as driving, head from Bryce NP to Capitol Reef NP, Utah along hwy 12 through Escalante. This is one of the top scenic byways in the country and you’ll see why. Be sure to stop at Escalante Petrified Forest SP to take a short hike to see some petrified wood.
- After seeing Capitol Reef NP (or not) head back towards I-15 by going to Cedar Breaks NM. This is somewhat similar to Bryce and is pretty cool looking (and high altitude).
- Head on back to Vegas.</p>
<p>There are lots of variants depending on what kinds of things you really want to do. Remember that if you’re going to drive in any of that area of the desert to bring a fair amount of water with you and I don’t mean a water bottle or two. Stop at a grocery and get at least a couple of gallon jugs of drinking water and carry them with you in the car in the event of a breakdown or something. One can get overheated extremely quickly in that part of the country if they’re not prudent.</p>
<p>On tubing on the Salt River -
[Salt</a> River Tubing and Recreation - Arizona’s Floating Picnic!](<a href=“http://www.saltrivertubing.com/]Salt”>http://www.saltrivertubing.com/)
[Salt</a> River Tubing - Tubing Down the Salt River Near Phoenix Arizona - Salt River Tubing](<a href=“http://phoenix.about.com/od/lakes/a/tubing.htm]Salt”>http://phoenix.about.com/od/lakes/a/tubing.htm)
If you’re wondering if there’s adequate water flowing, call that company’s number. Also, you don’t have to use that company. When I went there wasn’t even a company - we just brought tubes and a couple of cars but this company looks convenient to get you a tube and upriver.</p>
<p>Thanks, that’s a really good advice. I’ll be sure to put lots of water in the car. One thing I did a search on and noticed is that most of the places to visit are like 200-300 miles away. From Vegas to either North or South Rim is 250 miles. From GC to Phoenix or Zion, Utah is at least 250 miles each way. Are there lots of speed traps along the way cause that’s a lot of driving. I would assume people doing 80-90mph there, then 200 miles away wouldn’t be so bad.</p>
<p>Yes, there are speed traps. AAA magazine recently had an article about how bad the speed traps in Az are. I recently drove through Az on I-40, however, and the speed limit was generally 75mph which is really fast enough given that most were going 75-80 except for the trucks. I don’t recommend 80-90 since you’d stick out and it’s more dangerous. On some of the other freeways and especially highways the speed limit won’t be that high but there’s generally a good reason which includes the curviness of some of the roads. </p>
<p>In addition to the Az hwy patrol there are also Indian police on Indian reservation land giving out tickets. I’ve seen a number of traps by the reservation police so I suggest not exceeding the limit there.</p>
<p>And yes, the distances out here in the west especially are large so that’s why you need to really plan out the trip and balance the driving with the ‘fun’ component to make sure you don’t spend all your time driving and not doing other things you’d like to do.</p>
<p>I would rather spend the time in Southern Utah, rather than Arizona. Yes, spend a day or two doing the Grand Canyon. Then I would move onto Zions and Bryce National Parks–with a day at the Utah Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City.</p>