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Comments (8)
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Save/ShareCate Starmer, one of the brilliant editors at Fodor's, has answered some common questions about vacationing in Arizona…
What is the weather like in Arizona?
Phoenix and Tucson average about 60°F to 70°F in the daytime in winter and between 100°F and 115°F in summer. High elevation in places like Flagstaff, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon can mean cooler temperatures, especially at night. Remember to layer your clothes, and be prepared with hats and sunscreen for the desert sun. Happily, dress codes are informal, thanks to extreme climates and Western informality. You can go almost anywhere in Arizona in a pair of jeans and a casual top.
How can I experience the desert without roughing it?
In Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden showcases more than 4,000 different species of desert flora sustained on 150 acres. There's also the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, which isn't really a museum but a zoo and botanical garden featuring the animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert. Plus, there are many drives in which you can see the wide expanses from the comfort of your car, like U.S. Highway 93, south of Wikieup in Northwest Arizona.
What is a vortex and where are they found?
Sedona has long been believed to be a center for spiritual power because of the vortexes—funnels created by the motion of spiraling energy. New Agers believe there are four major vortexes in Sedona: Airport, Cathedral Rock, Boynton Canyon, and Bell Rock. People come from all over the world to experience these energy forms, hoping for guidance in spiritual matters, health, and relationships.
How long is the drive to the Grand Canyon?
Arizona's distances are surprisingly vast. If you're driving to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, allow at least two full days, with a minimum drive time of four hours each way. You can always anticipate slow-moving traffic on Interstate 17, but in the afternoon and evening on Friday and Sunday lengthy standstills are almost guaranteed, something to remember if your plans involve getting back to Sky Harbor Airport to catch a flight out.
What are some of Arizona's biggest winter and spring festivals?
Nearly every weekend from January through March is filled with outdoor festivals. Wings over Willcox celebrates birding in Southern Arizona in January. February brings the rodeo to Tucson with the La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. And in March there is the Heard Museum's Indian Fair & Market, Tempe Music Festival, and the Scottsdale Arts Festival.
MORE
Pick up a copy of Fodor's 2010: Arizona & the Grand Canyon. Or check out Fodor's Phoenix-Scottsdale online travel guide.
Check out Budget Travel's suggested road trip itinerary through Arizona's Navajo Northwest.
For more travel blogs, visit travel.alltop.com.
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After working in the Sedona area for years I was inspired to write this verse which can be sung to the tune of 'God Bless America.'
Vor-tex Sedona, sent from above
Swirl beside us, and guide us
To the bank with the cash that we love
From the Vista, to the Verde
To the 'Tourons' that are sent
Thanks to the Vortex, we can now pay the rent
Posted By Boyd Malloy on December 30, 2009, 2:10 PM
Arizona offers a large variety of options for travelers interested in anything from museums, art, outdoor activities, great dining and fabulous hotels. The weather is fabulous during most of the year and when it's too hot in The Valley head north to Sedona or Flagstaff. If you need more ideas for your itinerary visit PlanetEye Traveler - Phoenix.
Posted By heather on December 30, 2009, 3:36 PM
Just traveled across Arizona for Thanksgiving. ALL the rest areas are closed. Pretty sad for a state that releys on snow birds. Shame on Arizona for closing all the rest areas. This will be the last time we cross this state. It would be worth the longer route just to be able to stop every few hours.
Posted By R. Spiegel on January 1, 2010, 8:14 PM
Phoenix is not 2 days away from the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim, it is from the Grand Canyon North Rim. To get to the South rim of the Grand Canyon - this is where most of the vistas are used for many movies - it takes about 3-4 hours. During the winter it may take longer due to changing weather
Posted By N.Graves on January 4, 2010, 1:02 PM
Yes, the drive from Phoenix to South Rim is about 4 hours but I agree that you shouldn't try to do the round-trip in one day. A day with 8 hours in the car doesn't leave any time to explore this amazing place.
Posted By A.J. on January 6, 2010, 6:21 PM
Be sure to let your readers know that you don't actually see this swirling ball of energy called a vortex. It's something you may or may not even feel. Some people react to it, others do not. The real "force" behind Sedona is it's natural beauty. The color of the landscape is overpowering, maybe because of the color of the red rocks. Whatever this energy is, it's the landscape itself that is more likely to encourage a reaction.
Also, the drive on I-17 north from Phoenix is not always a weekend standstill. In fact, the highway has been widened where the jams most likely occur (before you reach Anthem). Unless there's an accident, I rarely run into traffic problems--and I travel a lot. Still, I'd suggest returning a day before your flight, anyway, as that would give you the most optimal experience. You won't feel in a hurry, and it'll be less stressful. When in Arizona, plan to relax, experience the beauty, and enjoy the ride.
Posted By Jackie Dishner on March 3, 2010, 1:15 PM
If you are going to take two full days, then go to the less-visited North Rim of the Grand Canyon, especially in the summer. Temperatures can soar above 100 at the South Rim, but the North Rim is over 7000 feet in elevation and is covered in thick Pine Forest. It rarely gets over 80 degrees there, is far less crowded, and the 89 will take you through gorgeous Navajo Country.
Posted By Arizona on May 17, 2010, 1:48 PM
Genius Blog-Post, kann ich nur sagen!
Posted By uleglem wypadkowi on March 6, 2012, 8:16 AM