Travel
The Hot List: The Top 10 Things to See & Do in Northern Arizona
While Scottsdale may garner attention for its shiny resorts and ultra-luxe spas, travelers in search of more soulful adventures will find that exploring Arizona’s more northern destinations can be utterly delightful.


Downtown Sedona
Courtesy Sedona Chamber of Commerce


Phantom Ranch
For the complete Insider’s Guide to Northern Arizona, pick up the March/April 2008 issue of Mountain Living.

1. Experiencing the Grand Canyon from the Colorado River is always a thrill. For a unique (and more relaxing) alternative to the inflatable raft, book a trip on a traditional dory boat with O.A.R.S. Grand Canyon Dories, Inc. and take in the spectacular scenery at a slightly slower pace. oars.com

2. Shop Jerome’s historic Main Street, stopping into Made in Jerome Pottery (madeinjerome.com), Nellie Bly Gallery of Kaleidoscopes & Art Glass (nellieblyscopes.com) and Aurum Jewelry (aurumjewelry.com).

3. Drive Sedona’s 15-mile-long Oak Creek Canyon, which meanders through dense forests and along sandstone cliffs. Rainbow Trout Farm and Slide Rock State Park are highlight stops.

4. Venture down to Phantom Ranch (the only lodging below the Grand Canyon rim), which may only be accessed by mule, foot, or water. Dorms and cabins are available for overnight stays. Stays, and meals at the Canteen, must be arranged in advance. grandcanyonlodges.com

5. Book lunch or dinner with a Verde Valley view at The Asylum restaurant in Jerome. Don’t let the name fool you. New American cuisine--think Prickly Pear Barbeque Pork Tenderloin and Grilled Achiote Rubbed Pork Tenderloin--and a fabulous list of boutique wines earned this spot a three-diamond rating and the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. theasylum.biz

6. Hold your breath, then step out onto the mind-boggling Grand Canyon Skywalk, a 70-foot-long, u-shaped, cantilevered glass bridge that’s suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. grandcanyonskywalk.com

7. Hop aboard a Verde Canyon Railroad train (complete with open-air viewing cars) for a four-hour remote wilderness tour past Indian ruins, through a 680-foot manmade tunnel and indigenous flora and fauna. verdecanyonrr.com

8. Ascend one of Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks on Skyride, the Arizona Snowbowl’s main ski lift. The 25-minute ride through pines and aspens gains 2,000 vertical feet and ends atop an 11,500-foot-high ridge on Mt. Agassiz. Here, panoramic views stretch across northern Arizona to the Grand Canyon, about 70 miles away. arizonasnowbowl.com

9. Make a trip to the former gold-mining town of Prescott (about 20 miles from Sedona) and tour the 700 or so homes and buildings, including turreted Victorians, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop at the Prescott Pantry (928-778-4280) for a bite or Prescott Brewing Company (prescottbrewingcompany.com) for a brew.

10. Hike Bright Angel Trail, a well-maintained trail in the Grand Canyon with breathtaking views and regular rest stops that are recommended for first-time canyon hikers.

11. Get your shopping fix in Flagstaff via the boutiques, antique shops, clothing stores and galleries housed in old brick storefronts around the Historic Railroad District. Don’t miss the fun home accessories at P.J. Chilcottage (928-774-0009) and Western collectibles and antiques at Black Barts Antiques (928-774-1912).

12. Gear up and take a day hike through the Petrified Forest National Park backcountry, featuring more than 93,000 acres of scenic wonders including one of the world’s largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, 225-million-year-old fossils, archeological sites and multi-hued Painted Desert badlands. There’s a two-hour drive-through option, too. nps.gov/pefo

13. Explore Monument Valley, a former home of the Anasazi Indians, where well-preserved dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs are still within easy viewing (some via organized tours conducted by official Navajo guides).

14. Spend an afternoon browsing the many shops and galleries in Sedona’s Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village (tlaq.com), which features graceful arches, fountains and plazas, and is named after a picturesque suburb of Guadalajara. Have a margarita and green chile Navajo pizza at El Rincon (elrinconrestaurant.com).

15. Ogle Lomaki ruins, stunning viewpoints and overlooks, and dramatic volcanic terrain along the 52-mile Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments Loop (about 15 miles north of Flagstaff). Stop in the visitor’s center for info and water. nps.gov/wupa

16. Hike down into Walnut Canyon National Monument (nps.gov/waca) near Flagstaff--or explore on horseback with an expert wrangler from Hitchin Post Stables (928-774-1719)--and be amazed by the cliff- and cave dwellings built by the Sinagua more than 900 years ago. Keep an eye out for wildlife (turkey vultures, elk) and cowboys herding their cattle.

17. Catch a sunset from up on Airport Road, then nibble buffalo quesadillas or crab legs at the classic Sedona Airport Restaurant. sedonaairportrestaurant.com

18. Head to Red Mountain and get an up-close look at the 1,000-foot, 740,000-year-old volcanic cinder cone from the inside, where a large natural amphitheater is filled with rock formations, spires and crystals in striking colors.

19. Join the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Ventures program and explore the Colorado Plateau’s mountains, mesas and canyons on a day- or week-long hiking, backpacking, river-rafting or camping excursion. Leading experts--including scientists, writers, artists and cultural consultants--are your guides. mnaventures.org

20. Bring (or buy) a star chart and study the night sky. Better yet, visit Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory at night and view the best sights in the nighttime sky through the historic Alvan Clark refractor. lowell.edu