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I currently live in San Tan Valley Arizona. The weather is very nice and hot but it does get pretty cold in the winter (Nov – Mar). I love that there is so much to do and see here, especially if you are outdoorsy and adventurous. Arizona is also conveniently located near California and Nevada where there are tons more fun things to do.
I’ve been to Phoenix and Scottsdale several times for work. I generally stay at a Marriot property because, you know, points. Both Phoenix and Scottsdale, have several food options and places to go, especially downtown Scottsdale.
The JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, is amazing. Very relaxing. Beautiful desert scenery and fairly reasonable in pricing.
Because Phoenix is a large city, many of the famous eateries from other cities are there. Like Portillo’s, which is a Midwest Chicago, thing, but they have one in Phoenix (maybe two now).
Each time I am in Phoenix, I do not see a ton of diversity. I won’t say it’s uncomfortable, it’s just not there.
If I didn’t go for work, I’m not sure I’d go on my own.
I went to Page, Arizona in the Summer of 2019. My experience there was no different than any other state that I’ve traveled to. There were the typical and obvious racist people, but there was never a moment that I felt like my interactions were extra-ordinary. I went to visit a college friend for a few days and it was my first time in the state. We went to different restaurants and did some shopping in the local thrift stores. But my favorite was definitely going to Horseshoe Bend, we went on the hiking trail and saw the beautiful river nearby, good experience there. I would definitely visit again if I wanted to.
Arizona is underrated as a gorgeous US destination. It has so much to offer! The city of Phoenix is a really hip, young city with a really cool chill energy. I stayed at the cleanest hostel ever and had Ethiopian food for the first time here. There’s a cool arts district not far from the hostel. I also went to stay in Sedona, which is where the red rocks are and wow. It was really beautiful. I stayed in a little Gypsy Dome that I found on AirBnB. The hosts were really nice and they lent me a bicycle to ride around the neighbourhood. I ate at a vegan restaurant in town called Chocola Tree, and the views around town are beautiful. If I had enough time, I would have went up to Havasupai to hike down to Havasu Waterfall and camp there for a night or two. I recommend looking into that if you’re outdoorsy. I’ll definitely be doing it next time!
Location: Horseshoe bend and Lake Powell
Google the most scenic places in America and these two places will make the list. If you are into nature and not afraid of heights you will be in amazement. I stayed in Lake Powell resort and marina. Lake Powell offers a boat tour through two canyon formations. The price for the experience is responsible at about $80 person (coffee included). On the tour you learn from native Americans about the history of area. You can also rent paddle boats and solo tour the canyons (HIGHLY recommend if you can swim).
After the tour there’s a easy 10-15 minutes drive from lake Powell to horseshoe bend. Horsebend is a offshoot of the Grand Canyon. I can’t write down how beautiful and vast the view is (you have to see it yourself). There is a 20 entrance fee.
My experience while traveling black was normal. There were no unwanted eyes or comments made. If anything the people were very nice and inquisitive about where I lived and kept telling me to tell my friends to visit.
Airport – Vegas
Travel – Rental car
Resort Price – $$$
Adventure – plenty
Overall experience – Not a typical vacation but highly recommended
As the pictures on Instagram captured my adventurous heart, I wanted to go see the beautiful red mountains of Antelope Canyon, and so I did. It was a short 2 day visit in the scorching season of June, but it was worth it. I am a firm believer in seeing things for myself and not just hearing stories, so I wanted to make the journey on my own.
I flew in to Phoenix from Oakland and stayed at an Airbnb where I just rented a room, as I’d only be there for the day. I rented a car, and toured the city on my own. i went to the local mall, and it was pretty typical, but they had one of my new favorite chain restaurants that’s not available in California, Kona Grill. I found out about that a few months before during an east coast trip and had to have more, while I was there. Try the honey glazed salmon, with brussel sprouts and seafood rice, you won’t regret it! I also went to the movies and seen I think John Wick 3, which was great! movie theater was nice, had reclining seats, and served alcohol. I went for shaved ice at Snoh Ice and it’s delicious. I tried to find tge night life over in Scottsdale but it was midweek and not too much going on. The W and Floor 13 Rooftop Bar were nice venues and probably would try again on a weekend trip. I did find a strip of clubs close to the W, where one had good music and is open view to the streets with no windows and decent drinks.
The next morning I made the 4 hour journey by car, which is actually such a beautiful scenic route. You get everything from cactus deserts, to green forest covered streets, and as you get closer to Page, the red rocky grand canyons. I did Ken’s tour for about $50 and I recommend it for the bottom of antelope Canyon. That’s where you get the infamous photos everyone post. It is super crowded, and hot as I was there in summer. Going in winter or spring could be a better option. Make sure if you’re a solo traveler like me you befriend someone or the tour guides to take your pictures, they don’t allow tripods. They have a small cafe on location if you need something to carry you over. I recommend driving the extra 15 minutes or less over to the Horseshoe Bend and see the great views of the canyon from the top and it’s even possible to do a kayak tour thru the canyon, I didn’t oblige this time. It does involve a small hike up to and back from the views, but nothing crazy, just bring water if it’s hot and parking cost. Overall it was a good time and I’m glad I got to see more of Gods creation, next time I might do more exploring of the grand canyon or camping.
I’ve visited Arizona this month for a friend’s birthday trip and it was BEAUTIFUL! We stayed in Cave Creek, AZ, which is about 40 minutes from Phoenix. We traveled about 2 hours to Sedona to do our Pink Jeep Tour; where we visited the famous energy vortexes. It was a very spiritual experience. We learned a lot of history about Sedona during the tour. We also did a tour in Canyon “X.” It was breathtaking! Afterwards, we did a mild, 15-20 minute hike to Horseshoe Bend. You have to see it to believe it! We then drove about 20 minutes to the Utah border to get some photos. As far as food went, I did my own cooking because I’m alkaline vegan. I shopped at Trader Joe’s and Wholefoods in Phoenix, the day before we headed to Cave Creek. The other women eat at local, nearby restaurants and enjoyed their food. I’d definitely recommend Arizona as a place to visit, especially if you’re a nature lover. Fun fact: one of the many movies filmed there was Waiting to Exhale.
Spent my birthday weekend in Phoenix, AZ and took a short road trip to Page, AZ. Phoenix was beautiful, it is great for hikes and nature. If you are looking for nightlife take a short drive to Scottsdale, AZ, this is where are the bars are and the crowds. I would also suggest you take the four hour drive to Page, AZ if you have time. The drive to Page is very scenic. While in Page you should book a tour to Antelope Canyon and also you should drive 10 minutes to see Horseshoe bend. You can only see Antelope Canyon with a tour guide, prices can range from $50 to $70 depending on the company you book with, the season, and the time of day you pick. I would suggest going in the off season which is January to March. The canyons are colder during those months but the crowd is much smaller. There are two canyons to choose from. The upper antelope canyon requires no hiking at all you arrive at the mouth of the canyon and you walk directly inside. However, if you choose the lower canyon, you have to use a ladder to go down inside the canyon. After or before you do the canyon tour you should definitely check out Horseshoe bend. It is free entry but you have to pay $10 at the gate to park. Horseshoe bend is about a 10 to 15 minute drive from antelope canyons. Happy Travels!
My friend and I flew into Las Vegas, Nevada and stayed for a few days then drove to Big Water, Utah. The drive was 4 hours long so we decided to stay a few days instead of doing an 8 hour drive from and to Vegas.
Not only was it way to cheaper to basically stay in a whole different state, it was much closer then the hotels in Page, Arizona. All the big tourist sites were 15-20 minutes from our air b&b! It was awesome. https://abnb.me/DsADgaFhH1
We ended up reserving our Antelope Canyon tour through a website called Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tour. They were AMAZING. When you look up Antelope Canyon tours it’s overwhelming because tours get booked up months in advance. They also tell you that the best times to go are 10-2pm when the light rays are coming through, so if you care about great photos your limited in the time slot you can choose. There’s also a lower Antelope Canyon which doesn’t have the rays of light but is less crowded.
The tour group we choose charges us $65 each. The man that did our tour literally took all our photos for us. I didn’t realize my iPhone could take that quality of photos and show the light beams so well.
Page, Arizona has zero nightlife but we ended up running into some people and heard everyone hangs out at the lake in town, so we went there.
We also went to Horseshoe Bend at sunset. It was breathtaking. Even though it was crowded, people were really respectful about allowing you time to take your photos.
As far as traveling here as a black person, I had no problems. Most of the people we met were 100% Native American. They we’re very welcoming and the food was good.
I’m not big on Holidays at all. Every year I’m always looking for someplace to go :-) This year I to traveled to one of my favorite places… Viva Las Vegas! Vegas is my second home… I’m avid gambler and as a mlife member you can gain status by charging any mlife property including, food, clubs, rooms, merchandise, entertainment , etc to your room. With that being said I usually get comped rooms at the Aria for free. I just pay the resort fee which is approximately 40.00 a night. So since my rooms are basically free. I decided to take a helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon in Arizona on ThanksGiving morning :) My helicopter excursion was set for Thanksgiving morning at 11:00 a.m. and transportation to and from the hotel was provided. However, I was to busy trying to get picture ready. I missed the pickup time and I decided to UBER to the location. My tour started at 11:00 a.m. prompt . The duration of the tour was approximately 80 min long. I arrived to the site maybe 20 min before take off. Once checked in , I sat down and it was time to go. We were then taken to the helicopter grounds, given the usual instructions etc. GO time! Now, this is my first time being in a helicopter and needless to say, honey I was SCARED! There was bit turbulence so the helicopter was very shaky OMG. Nevertheless, once we got going and smooth. The view and ride was absolutely breathtaking. The scenery was so beautiful. We flew over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Grand Canyon West. We landed right inside the Grand Canyon. This place was something straight off a post card. they had champagne and small bites. The weather was perfect! Not to cold, not too hot. The sun came out here and there. Thus, giving me the opportunity to take a perfect pictures :)It was a picnic set up. I was just in Awe. Now me of course… I had on 5 inch heels in a mini dress lol. The ground is filled with rocks and dirt. I couldn’t even walk steady. Please dress comfortably lol. We stayed on the ground for about 45min. Campaign, water, crackers and cheese were offered. They had a cute little picnic table set up to relax and enjoy the views. Not only was this my first helicopter ride. It was my first trip to the Grand Canyon. The helicopter was ride was super scary, the only thing I can think of is “if this chopper crashes, it’s going to hurt’! Lol. [smartslider3 slider=7] https://youtu.be/Y1KCQwV_uaQ https://youtu.be/H_2B9Q3b0uA https://youtu.be/zeIYlfZL2JQ
This is one of my favorite states to visit.
I took a solo trip here for my birthday.
I flew to Phoneix, every time I go to Phoneix I eat at Lo’s Lo’s Chicken and Waffles.
I rented an eco-car from the airport.
I stay in affordable AirBnb’s.
Phoenix is a really nice spaced out city, it reminds me of Houston except for cleaner. DON’T GO IN AUGUST TO HOT.
I solo road tripped all the way to Antelope Canyon, which is a MUST to go. Along the way, I stopped in Flagstaff to rest. It’s a college town reminded me of Eugen, OR. I stayed in a Motel6. The day early in the morning I continued driving north until I reach Horseshoe Bend, it’s free. One of the best times to go is early in the morning for sunrise and it’s not so crowded. By 11 crowds start coming in.
When I made it to Page, AZ, that’s where Antelope Canyon is, it wasn’t as built up as I thought. They had a Walmart, Sonic, a hotel place. The signs were easy to read to find the canyon. When I arrive at my destination the Native American’s were very nice and helpful. My tour guide was friendly and I enjoyed myself.
On my way back to Phoneix I stopped in Sedona, AZ another beautiful town that has a lot of tourist people come for the spas. I didn’t go to the spa but I went to visit the famous Cross Chapel. (It’s free)
Places I visited in Phoneix: the mall, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Museum, The Ice Cream Musem, Scottsdale.
Also, Phoneix is only 5 hours from LA.
I love Arizona. It’s definitely a different vibe for us who were born and raised on the east coast. Everyone seems to be so relaxed and stress free. Golfing in Scottsdale was an experience of a lifetime in my short not so successful golf career, but it was unforgettable. Heading over to the Grand Canyon was unreal. Thinking about now reminds me that there are certain Places that pics just don’t tell the full story. The Grand Canyon is one of them. I was there for a week, and we did a lot of bar hopping in Tempe. The night life was a little different because we were the minority’s there, but people still showed us a lot of love.
I visited Sedona, Arizona. The Grand Canyon is absolutely gorgeous. So many options to view it. By helicopter, peak locations, and even hike into the canyon. (To hike to the bottom is one day down and one day up, an overnight experience, I didn’t do that but plan to) I hiked down about 4 miles into the canyon. Also saw many views from different points at the rim.
Sedona has many hiking trails, and us known for its red rock formations. I did two hikes, devils bridge and cathedral rock both hike took about 3 hours. Many food options from Mexican to Thai. The only McDonald’s with TURQUOISE arches. It is a very pretty picturesque place. If you like hiking, nature you will enjoy it. It’s a small town everything closes at 10pm. You’d have to travel to Scottsdale for nightlife.
I liked Arizona. The Scottsdale are is really laid back and makes your feel your in LA. if you want night life Tempe is really nice. You will be close to Arizona State University and hit up bars and resturants on Mill Ave. There is a Fat Tuesdays on Mill Ave as well
I traveled to Arizona for the first time this past June. While there, i visited both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, Horse Shoe Bend and the South Coyote Buttes. Words cant describe breathe taking sights all those places had to see. Some of the sites need prior planning and some was just a walk up and explore…with every site being well worth the waiting in line, long drive and money.
1) Lower Antelope Canyon: 1hr tour (Ken’s Tours) – $50 (non-peak time of 11:30am) – Hiking level (moderate/steep ladder climbing involved)
2) Upper Antelope Canyon: 1hr tour (Adventurous Antelope Canyon tours) – $60 (non-peak time of 4pm) – Hiking level (easy)
3) Horse Shoe Bend: 15-30 minute hike depending on pace – FREE – Hiking level (easy)
4) South Coyote Buttes: 4 hour hike depending on pace – $7 permit required – Hiking level (advanced)
**For all hikes/tours, hiking shoes arent required but recommended. I actually wore some nikes with good tread underneath and i did fine. Theres sand EVERYWHERE so i would recommended shoes/sneakers that at least cover up to your ankles.**
Firstly, the flight to phoenix wasnt too pricey. I booked my flight about 3 weeks in advance and the round trip flight was about $400. I also had a reserve my spot to visit both Antelope Canyons in advance. Its important to reserve this as soon as possible when considering visiting Antelope Canyon because spots fill up quick. The first stop on my adventure was to drive to Utah which is where i had to get the permit to visit the Buttes. Theres two Buttes, Northern and Southern. To visit either one, its recommend to apply online for a permit which only cost a few bucks. The thing is, there only a few permits that are given out at a time; with most folks applying months in advance to secure a permit. My trip was last minute so the window to apply for when i was travelling passed (albeit two weeks in advance). My last resort was to try to get a permit in person during a lottery, which is what brought me to Utah where the permit lottery is held and given out. I missed the drawing for the Northern Buttes but was able to snag one for the Southern Buttes (MISSION ACCOMPLISHED) !
I then traveled back South to Arizona for my first tour @ 11am (Lower Antelope Canyon). After that tour, I had a few hours until my next tour of the Upper Antelope Canyon so i then visited Horse Shoe Bend. The drive to the bend from the canyon was about 20 minutes. After a short hike, I was able to spend enough time exploring the bend, took some amazing shots and still made it back in time for my 4pm Upper Canyon tour. With proper time management and planning, you CAN see both canyons in one day. Doing both the lower and upper canyons were well worth it. They were both different. The Lower canyon had more vibrant/ranging colors in the V shapped rock formations which let more light in. The upper canyon was shaped like an A and the rock formations created more imagery of recognizable things (ie: sitting bear, sharks mouth, a heart). Horse Shoe bend was a sight to see for sure. There arent any railings and people that have gotten too close to the edge have fallen to their death. Its an amazing site to see in person and the beauty of it draws you close to the edge, just in an attempt to take it all in, but PLEASE BE CAREFUL !
I then headed back north to Utah and stayed in hostel for the night (The Cowboy Bunkhouse). Was my first time staying in hostel but it was very comfortable and inexpensive. I got my own room with a bathroom for $60. Got up early the following morning and headed to the Southern Coyote Buttes. Theres a few different hiking trails for Southern Buttes. I drove to the parking spot at Lone Tree Reservoir and then hiked to the trail head at Paw Hole (2.25 miles) once at the trail heads, i went exploring and hiked about a 1 mile in into the mountains/sand dunes. I hike pretty often but this one was a bit challenging due to the weather (100+ degrees), walking in fairly deep sand, a bit of climbing involved but i was prepared. I took off with a few trail mix bars (important to have salt when hiking in heat), Beef jerky (protein), two bottles of water and two bottles of Gatorade(electrolytes), and pack of skittles (sugar). Most importantly is that i had a map. there isnt any cell reception so google maps wont work. A good PAPER map or some sort of gps device is HIGHLY recommend. During my hike i only ran into 1 couple.
Arizona first time I ever traveled alone. Sixteen years old I flew from Pennsylvania the whole way across the United States solo. I remember when the airplane was approaching the runway staring out the window and saying to myself “ wow this place is beautiful “. While visiting Arizona I stayed in Tucson a pretty large city roughly about two hours from the Mexico US border. It’s a beautiful place from the desert landscape to the incredible Santa Catalina foothills mountains, to the wonderful food, and great hospitality from the locals. The Santa Catalina’s foothills has many wonderful hiking trails, waterfalls, and plenty wildlife. If your a wilderness person or just a foodie I highly recommend putting Tucson on your list of places to see. If your up for a day trip The Grand Canyon National Park is beautiful five hour drive up north.
I’m trying to travel more these days to see more of the great wonders in the world, and if you have the same mentality, then you have to go to Arizona and check out the Grand Canyon. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little terrified hiking down because i definitely thought the path was going to be wider, and in the beginning was afraid I was going to fall or something, but you quickly get over that. Hands down to this day one of the most breathtaking sites I’ve ever seen. I stayed at one of the hotels by the grandcanyon, honestly it was nothing fancy, I think it was under $100 a night if I recall, but we hardly spent anytime in the hotel anyway and was just there to see the view.
On the second day we drove out the Sedona which is just absolutely gorgeous with the colors of the building all going with the theme of the city (literally certain paint colors are prohibited so it doesn’t mess up the vibe) there were really cool canyons there too the check out, but I was a little tired from hiking the grand canyon that i just checked out the city life. stayed at a cute little hotel for under $150 that night. All and all a good trip!
This was my first time in Arizona and there was one thing one my mind. Get some beautiful shots of lower Antelope Canyon. I rented a car from Phoenix Airport for about $25 a day and was on my. The four hour or so journey from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is breathtaking, the rugged scenery mixed with the plateaus is second to none. Antelope canyon is on Navajo Territory, and there’s a $8 fee for parking once on the lot. I went during the down season, so I didn’t need a reservation(although it is highly recommended). After waiting a bit for the next tour to start , I paid about $25-$35 and I was on my way to a guided tour down Lower Antelope Canyon. The tour guide shows you how to take optimal pictures, pointed out some of the best spots/angles and even took several pictures. They are very helpful and informative. The tour last a little less than two hours and it was more than enough time to catch my photos for the GRAM!!!!
I’ve been to Arizona several times visiting Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, The Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam. But by far the best city I’ve been to is SEDONA! It’s actually one of my favorite cities to visit in the U.S. and is one of the most beautiful cities ever. If you love red rocks, great food and to be at peace then definitely visit Sedona. It’s not a big city or anything but there are tons of trails and parks to visit. My husband and I actually took our engagement pictures in a park with the famous Cathedral Rock as the backdrop. Breathtaking!! Besides hiking, there are little shops, art galleries and a lot of mom and pop restaurants. My favorite was Sound Bites Grill which is a nice spot to eat during the day with scenery or listen to live music and dance at night. I had THE BEST flatbread pizza while there (Rascal Flatbread). Still thinking about it…4 years later :)
Havasupai, Supai, Arizona – I went with a group of 9 friends to visit the BEAUTIFUL blue-green waterfalls of Havasupai. Beauty was found in every corner of this place. This was a very outdoorsy trip. It is located within the Grand Canyon. To get there, you have to hike 10 miles to the campsite (10 difficult miles). To get permits, you have to check the Havasupai Indian reservation website. Permits become available for the year in early February, and sell out for the entire year within the first couple days. If you’re lucky enough to get through, you have to pay for everyone’s reservation in full right then. The best time to go seems to be in April-beginning of may, and September-October. It’s not too hot, and it’s not rainy season. Once you get through, if you’ve never been camping, you have to buy all your camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, water shoes, hiking shoes and socks, etc.). You can choose to hike in with your pack on your back (which we did). Our packs were about 20 lbs each. I’d recommend keeping it light. You can also reserve a mule to carry your things down (must be reserved a week in advance), or try to get on the helicopter, which is first come first served, with the villages supplies being first priority (meaning you may not make it on). It took us a good 8 hours to get from the hilltop to the campsite. I recommend starting the hike before sunrise (as the sun can get hot).
Once you get there, you can explore the 4 falls, Navajo and havasu (which you pass on the way to the campsite) and mooney and beaver falls. Mooney is at the end of the campsite and beaver is 4 miles away. To get to beaver, you have to go through caves and climb down mooney falls, and then hike for 4 more miles, but it’s totally worth it.
No day hikes are allowed, so you have to stay for at least 1 night (still not recommended). You can not stay for more than 3 nights. I’d recommend three nights, if you can brave the outdoors for that long, so you can have time to recover from the long hikes. There are no showers, but there are compost bathrooms.
On the way out, we started to hike out with our packs, but asked one of the locals to take them up on the empty mules for 20 bucks (usually about $180 per 4 packs) lol. Without our packs, the hike out still took about 5.5 hours and was still brutal.
If you decide to go, I suggest you train a lot to prepare your body. Everyone was tired and hated me for a second for talking them into it, but at the end of the day, every single person left feeling fulfilled, proud, and grateful for the experience.