A couple of weeks ago, we managed to escape the polar vortex and head to Arizona for 5 days. It was an average temp of 55 in Phoenix and Sedona, but compared to -16 degrees, it was a welcome change! This trip, we flew from Fort Wayne to Phoenix-Mesa, and then got a rental car there. We are watching our pennies, and opted for an economy rental.
Such a blast!!!!
We stayed in a hotel in Phoenix on Saturday night as we flew in around 6 pm. A hotwire special, we got a great room near lots of restaurants, and had a nice dinner at a Black Angus Steakhouse.
A quick walk after breakfast Sunday morning, and we were on our way to Sedona.
We had a great drive to Sedona from Phoenix Sunday morning… Stopped to watch some hot air balloons…
(Selfie with Smoky)
We arrived in Sedona before noon and checked into our hotel. Our hotel was actually in the Village of Oak Creek, at the trailheads of all the hiking and biking trails, and with AMAZING views of the red rocks.
We went across the street to the Blue Moon Cafe, and had burgers ( meat for Jeffrey, veggie for me) and great coffee for lunch. Next to the restaurant was Absolute Bikes which sells and rents bikes including Specialized and Pivot. A short walk across the street took us to the Bike and Bean where we reserved our bike rentals for the following day.
While there, we met Craig, of runutsadventures.com. He has been featured in several mountain biking magazines since 2008 when he retired and began biking in all 50 states.
Next, we hiked the Chapel Trail from the trailhead, via the Little Horse Trail to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The hike is about 4 miles round trip, with spectacular views!!
That evening, we partook in the Super Bowl festivities at a local dining establishment called PJs. The place was packed when we got there, and the waitress sat us with a nice couple from the area. More conversation than game watching, it was sure nice to meet such great people while on vacation!! Thanks for the great time G and V!!
The next morning we had breakfast at Ken’s Creekside in Sedona. Great breakfast and views!!
We headed to the Bike and Bean where Jeffrey rented a Santa Cruz Bronson and I rented a Santa Cruz Tallboy LT. We rode for about 3 hours, heading out on the Bell Rock Trail, Templeton, llama, little horse trails with wonderful views, several fast, Bermed sections and difficult climbs and downhill sections. Great people at the Bike and Bean to point you in the right direction for your fitness and skill level!
That evening, we headed to dinner with great appetites to the Cowboy Club, a recommendation of our Super Bowl friends. We had a nice cactus appetizer, and split a bacon cheeseburger, baked beans, smoky corn chowder and salad. The waiters, dressed in Wranglers and wide belt buckles, were friendly and accommodating. This restaurant has a “casual side” and a fine dining side, and specializes in both beef and bison dishes.
The next morning, we asked around to find the best huevos rancheros in the area. Everyone suggested Miley’s Cafe. WOW… If we could transport ourselves there every week, we would have a weekly breakfast there!!
After a hearty breakfast, we were debating a road trip to the Grand Canyon or something else. Unfortunately, they were predicting snow at the Canyon, and we just didn’t want to deal with snow on this trip. We decided, instead to head south to the Montezuma Castle in Camp Verde and then to the town of Jerome, Arizona ( a favorite of my new supervisor!). Montezuma Castle is a National Monument of a five- story, 20- room cliff dwelling inhabited by early Native Indians sometime between 1100 and 1300.
We then headed West to Jerome, Arizona, an old copper mining town that became a ghost town until it was revived by local artists. It us located between Sedona and Prescott, and sits at around 5000 feet altitude. We drove the roadie towards Prescott to the top of Mingus Mountain which topped over 7000 feet .
While in Jerome, we explored the Ghost Town.. The site of the old copper mine, buildings, equipment and random personal collection of old trucks. “Paradise” I believe is the word muttered from Jeffrey’s lips…
That evening we headed to the Sedona Pizza Company for wood fired pizza and chose Napoli Meats. It wasn’t very busy on a Tuesday night, but the service was excellent, and the pizza, delicious!!
Overall, the quick trip to Sedona gave us only a taste of the area. We will be back to ride more, hike more, head to the Canyon and enjoy the weather and views. As always, hoo ha!! J and M
HooHa Adventures 