2 days in Arizona

[Wiler77 1558]

The Sedona thread got me thinking about how to spend 2 days in AZ in January.

My 13 year old son has a soccer tournament in Phoenix Jan 3-5 (Fri-Sun).  We want to spend a couple of days on the front or back end to do something fun.  Leader in the clubhouse is fly into Phoenix Wed Jan. 1, drive somewhere in the afternoon, spend Thursday doing something fun, then returning to Phoenix for a Friday late afternoon game.

The two options we are most heavily considering are the following, and I would love some advice.  It will be me, my wife, and 3 boys aged 8, 10, and 13.  In general, 3-4 hours is about the max length of time we have before "this is awesome!" turns into "when are we going to be back at the car?" for my kids on hikes and/or scenic outings.

1. Use Flagstaff as a home base Wed and Thurs. night for a day trip to the Grand Canyon on Thursday.  We've never been, and it seems silly to be in the area and not go.  But that feels like a lot of time in the car (2+ hours to Flagstaff and another 1.5 hours to South Rim), and my fear is that 1 day won't feel like long enough to say we "did" the Grand Canyon.  I honestly have no idea of what there is to do other than a bunch of hikes and scenic overlooks.  That gets old for my kids, so maybe 1 day is plenty.

2. Sedona.  Looks like ~2 hour drive from PHX, and the Sedona thread looks like there are a ton hiking of options that will satisfy our needs.  Less time overall in the car, but it's not the Grand Canyon.  We'd probably have time to do something in the afternoon if we wanted to, but would need to be something that doesn't require much energy.

I'm open to a potential 3rd option, but these seems like the most obvious 2 to consider.

[Jerry Callo 8673]

If you go to the Grand Canyon, stay in Tusayan which is right outside the park.  You'll have more time to spend in the park and the ability to go back to the hotel if you want.  We did a similar tournament a few years ago and did the Grand Canyon for a couple days before heading to Phoenix.  We were there right at New Years and it snowed heavily at the park - so plan accordingly.

 

[idigTexas 2268]

If you've never been and the prospects of being in Arizona again are unknown, you pretty much have to do the Grand Canyon.  Expect snow in Flagstaff that time of year.  

[jimmyjazz 45621]

One day at the canyon is more than enough, unless you plan on actually hiking down (even part way), and I would advise against that.  Do an hour out and an hour back on the South Rim, have a nice dinner at El Tovar, check it off your bucket list.

[royiv 9177]

If you do decide to the Grand Canyon be advised that it will be quite cold there in January.

[Gene Parmesan 3993]

1 day is plenty at the Grand Canyon, unless you want to spend money for helicopter rides and such.  If you have adult onset acrophobia like me, a 10 minute stop at one of the overlooks is plenty.  We did 2 days with 3 kids, and I don't think I've ever been more stressed out in my life.  What an awesome vacation that was.

[mininghorn88 2272]

Recommend the Grand Canyon and just hit the overlooks for the visual splendor.  Other options is to go to Sedona and then up to Flagstaff and on to Sunset Crater National Monument and do some easy hikes in some volcanic lava flows and around the rim of the crater.  There are also multiple Native American ruins to visit in the area too.  Will be cold and a snowy in the area.

Or,

Head south to Tucson and visit the Pima Air Museum, Desert Museum, Old Tucson and/or even drive over to Tombstone and the OK Corral.  The weather would be warmer there.

[Sam Lin 3543]

That's a fun little itinerary for Tucson.

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3868]

Flagstaff can get significant snow in January as is at 7K feet.

[Firemans4Horn 17999]

Grand Canyon. No brainer.