Travels with Tish Girlfriends’ Getaway Guide

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Hiking on the Rim or Below the Rim.
Trails around the South rim are relatively flat and easy to walk. Free shuttles can take you to any point along the trail so you can hike back — or hike out and shuttle back. We hiked both East and West from El Tovar. The West trail (left from El Tovar as you face the canyon) was just a gravel trail, either right along the rim or somewhat away from the edge — how daring are you? The trail East (right from El Tovar as you face the canyon) was blacktopped for easier walking. In our two days, we probably hiked over 15 miles along the top of the rim — and with every step, we saw a different and even more spectacular view.

More Canyon Options.
The more adventurous and sure-footed folks take the trails down into the canyon, but are requested to discuss their
plans with the main trail office. (They want to help visitors avoid getting lost.) Mule tours are also available and those mules looked pretty sturdy. Various tour and guide services are also available. The Park Service maintains 7 resorts there including El Tovar. Here’s a photo of Phantom Lodge at the very bottom the canyon — accessible only by foot or mule.

International Visitors at the Canyon.
Wherever we went, we ran into folks from around the world, almost like you do at Disney World. We truly have an outstanding natural wonder that everyone seems to enjoy.

TIPS:
1) Map of South Rim. Print up this map for a good overview of what you’ll find at the South Rim. There’s also a good trip planner you can print.

2) California Condors. These extremely rare birds are a treat to watch as they fly overhead at the South Rim. Their wingspan is close to 10 feet. They were near extinction and now 60 call Arizona home. They seem to like watching the park visitors as much as we liked watching them. Many were always in view near the El Tovar resort area.

3) History, Culture, Geology. While every view is spectacular, you may also enjoy learning that the Grand Canyon is all about ancient Indian cultures, geologic formations, ancient seas, unique flora and fauna and exceptional archeological finds. Knowing just a bit about these things helps you appreciate the Grand Canyon even more.
5) River Trips. A variety of river rafting trips are also available.
6) Mule Trips and Horseback Rides. Single-day and overnight mule trips can be booked well in advance through Xanterra. Trail rides on horses are available from a private stable.

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You can drive to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix (or Las Vegas) — both are about 4 hours south/southwest of this national treasure. And the view is worth every minute of that drive!

We had flown Midwest Airlines into Phoenix, then drove up to the Grand Canyon. Our destination was the 100+ year-old El Tovar Resort on the South Rim of the canyon. And it truly is a grand resort.

El Tovar Hotel
For those who know the name “Fred Harvey,” you know that this company ran the food service on the railroads and at the major train stations for countless years. Known for quality and excellent restaurant service from their “Harvey Girls,” Fred Harvey was given the food service around the turn of the century for the Park Service hotels and restaurants. The Park Service wanted top-notch quality for its guests. In the late 1960s, Xanterra Corporation bought Fred Harvey and completed El Tovar’s renovation just 2 years ago. And from our experience, Xanterra is carrying on the excellence of the resort’s tradition.

Rustic Lodge and Modern Amenities
Because of its careful renovation, El Tovar retains its rustic and natural charm. As you enter the spacious lobby, you are awed by the historic decor that also welcomed people like Albert Einstein, Teddy Roosevelt and author Zane Grey. Just like the early days, luggage is portered from you car to your room by bellmen, real bellmen. Kind of nice, actually. You’ll appreciate it even more when you realize you have steps to climb to the front porch and more inside if your room is not on the main floor.

The rooms have been modernized — from large windows that easily open to welcome the fresh air to the spacious bathroom that has been totally renovated with period fixtures, flooring and wall tile. (Kohler, of course.) Room decor is plain, very clean and comfortable — after all, you’re there to enjoy the great outdoors.

Dining was excellent. The main dining room overlooks the canyon for a spectacular breakfast, lunch or dinner. The food was top notch as was the service.

Book Well in Advance.
The Grand Canyon lodges fill up quickly — I’ve been told almost a year in advance for prime season. We were lucky enough to get in for a couple of days mid-summer. Our room was about $140/night. Once you get there, just park your car and enjoy the park on foot, by shuttle or even mule.

NEXT: Hiking the Grand Canyon

TIPS:
1) El Tovar Dining Room. This is an excellent restaurant with very good food. Ask for a table near the window to view the canyon during your meal — although many other tables share the view as well. Here’s a link to the El Tovar menu.

2) Arrive Early. Leave Your Bags. We arrived mid-morning, much too early for check-in. But the front desk folks stored our luggage and offered to phone us as soon as a room was ready (they called within an hour or two). In the meantime, we started our exploration of the park.

3) Weather at the Park. While the lower Arizona desert was hot, the temps around the South Rim were quite pleasant and comfortable for hiking.

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Take yourself to another place — physically, mentally and spiritually. You’ll find out just how to do that in Sedona, an important metaphysical center for natural healing, spiritual enlightenment and inspirational experiences.

Retreats and Tours.
You can simply take a jeep tour to see a vortex location or two. But for a deeper experience, you can request a customized tour designed to help you connect with the earth’s natural energies. If you want to visit the sacred sites of Sedona’s ancestral peoples, walk the land seeking reflection and renewal, you can find guides and retreats suited to your preferences. Learn about vortexes, Medicine Wheels and how to use the earth’s natural energy to gain personal transformation. The guides can help you find your own unique path to inner peace through meditation, kiva circles, drums, chanting and visualization. For additional information on Sedona’s spiritual side, visit this Sedona Chamber of Commerce site.

Unwind on Your Own — Bliss Out.
Almost every shop in Sedona offers free maps of the area vortex sites. Pick one up and tour the sites at any time. And by the way, if you happen to visit an “upflow” vortex site, you can experience a condition called a “bliss out” memory loss. Upflow sites are known for spiritual stress reduction properties. The scientist/author I mentioned in my last post, Pete A. Sanders, says that these sites actually unwind you and help you tap into a universal oneness and harmony. Doesn’t sound like a bad trip, does it?

NEXT: The Grand Canyon’s South Rim

TIPS:
1) Arroyo Roble Hotel/Timeshare Villas. On a previous visit to Sedona, I stayed at the Arroyo Roble condo units. Right off the main street in Uptown Sedona. Very nice and located right on Oak Creek. I noted on this trip that it now combines its villas with a rather new-looking Best Western Hotel. My experience was good at the Arroyo Roble, which we booked quite economically on a timeshare exchange.

2) Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa. On this trip we used our Hilton Honors Points to cover the cost of our stay at the resort. It’s a great idea to stretch your travel dollars.

3) Enterprise Rental Car. I booked a car (which we picked up at the Phoenix airport) from Enterprise. First time with this company. Booked the least expensive model — an “economy,” I believe. When picking up the car, the rental agent tried to sell me on an upgrade — going so far as to say that 4-cylinder cars weren’t as good on gas mileage, that it has manual door and window levers/locks, etc. We stuck with our original “economy” model. BUT, when we went out to actually get the car, the agent out there told us they didn’t have any “economy” models and we could choose an SUV or PT Cruiser. We were glad we didn’t pay an upgrade fee!

4) Fly Midwest Airlines to Phoenix. Just a reminder that Phoenix is the nearest large airport. Rent a car for the easy drive up to Sedona. Midwest flies to Phoenix from Milwaukee with easy connections from Eastern cities and Florida.

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Sedona really is quite the place. Its natural beauty is legendary. The unique red rock formations bring a 320 million-year geologic history to Sedona. And those rocks are the basis for much of the mystical aura that surrounds the area. Generations of ancient Indians have considered the Sedona area and Oak Creek Canyon a spiritual and sacred place. They chose to live just outside the area, coming into Sedona only for spiritual enlightenment. Even today, some Native American tribes return to Oak Creek for an annual cleansing ritual.

The beauty and the sacred nature of Sedona have drawn fine artists, musicians and writers, making it a major arts center in our country. But Sedona is also a major center for the healing arts and local practitioners include psychics, native healers, intuitives, channelers and wellness therapists. People come to Sedona to experience inspiration, spiritual renewal, and a therapeutic cleansing of mind and body.

Powerful Meditation Sites in the Red Rocks
Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock and Boynton Canyon are Sedona’s four major meditation and spiritually uplifting sites known as vortexes. These are areas of extraordinary energy flows that exist in dimensions deeper than electricity and magnetism, according to Pete Sanders, Jr., an M.I.T.-trained scientist. I picked up his book, Scientific Vortex Information, at one of Sedona’s unique book shops and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand these metaphysical sites. He (and many others) say that vortexes can turbo-boost mental and spiritual skills. But you do have to understand how to tap into that energy.

Exquisite Resorts, Spas, Dining and Shopping
Besides the beauty of the high desert, which offers more moderate temperatures than lower desert areas, you will find wonderful accommodations. Many resorts feature spas. We stayed at the Hilton Resort and Spa and enjoyed it immensely. I scheduled myself for a 90-minute Sedona Stone massage – heated basalt lava stones enhance the massage experience. The combination is said to provide balance and harmony of mind, body, heart and spirit. Ah-h-h, it certainly was re-energizing.

You’ll find many shops that feature original art, handcrafted jewelry, one-of-a-kind clothing and furniture. Restaurants run the gamut of cuisine. Since this was our second trip to Sedona, we returned to Oaxaca for dinner in uptown Sedona. We enjoy watching the sun set from its rooftop cantina.

Exploring the Red Rocks and High Desert
Hiking, of course, gets you closest to the heart of Sedona’s landscape. And you’ll certainly want to be on foot when you visit the vortex sites. But you can get a great tour of the area by helicopter, hot air balloon or by jeep.

Getting To/From Sedona & Gambling Along the Way!
We flew Midwest Airlines into Phoenix, rented a car and drove up to Sedona, a very easy 90-minute drive. On the way back, we stopped in Camp Verde (about 25 minutes south of Sedona) at Castle Cliff Casino, owned by the Yavapai-Apache Nation. Castle Cliff is a very nicely appointed casino with both table games and machines. We particularly liked the poker machines as my husband hit a $1,000 jackpot within a few minutes of our arrival. This may become a regular item for future Sedona trips.

TIPS:
1) Get more information on Sedona at www.visitsedona.com. Be sure to request the “Experience Sedona” guide, filled with great information and a map.
2) Sedona WebCam and Slide Show.
3) Why are Sedona’s Red Rocks Red?.