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Shhhh. Don’t tell Florida, but we cheated on her this year! We have been to Florida countless times over the years and always loved it, but this winter we wanted to switch things up. Arizona fits the bill for a warm vacation spot. As a mid-westerner, I’m totally into getting out of the cold. Our AZ vacay was incredible, thanks in part to my Arizona itinerary that I spent hours on and I have to say all that time spent was totally worth it! Our AZ vacay was incredible, I want to share my Arizona itinerary with you!

This Arizona itinerary is for a leisurely 7 days. Vacation is about relaxing! Sure you could drive from one end of the state to another, but we wanted to chill and have time to explore the places we were visiting. I’m not into going somewhere just to “check the box”. I’d much rather wait to go until I have actual time to dig into the new city.

Spending all my vacation time driving isn’t my idea of fun, and it isn’t relaxing. At All!

We thought about driving to the Grand Canyon. And about adding in stops to Page, Flagstaff, Tempe, Organ Pipe national Forest, Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park Monument Valley and more. But after we looked at all that on paper, there’s no way we we could do all that in less than a month. And who has that much time? Plus I like to take shorter, more frequent vacays. For this trip we settled on sticking to Central Arizona.

So we set out to make an Arizona itinerary that was more relaxing, with a great scenic drive (or three!) and of course one that would include all of the absolute best places!

Arizona has so many cool things to see and do- I’d argue some of the best sights in the entire United States,. Personally, I think it would take years and years to see it all. For some perspective, the National Park Service lists 22 National Parks and National Monuments in Arizona. I mean – WOW!

In the end, we limited ourselves to what I consider to be a reasonable and relaxing 7 day Arizona Itinerary. I hope you find my itinerary helpful in planning your own Arizona trip!

Where To Start And End And What To See In Between

We narrowed down our Arizona trip to the following cities, all located in central Arizona:  

• Scottsdale
• Sedona
• Cottonwood
• Jerome
• Clarkdale

Where to Stay For Our Arizona Itinerary

Before we jump into our Arizona itinerary, I’ll give you some affordable lodging options. You have to lay your head somewhere at night and all these spots won’t break the bank!

Scottsdale Where To Stay: 

You can’t beat the location and experience of Hyatt Place in Oldtown! Plus it’s a suite for cheap!

Sedona Where To Stay: 

Matterhorn Inn is a perfect choice in Sedona. Comfortable rooms, great location and of course good prices! 

Cottonwood Where To Stay:

Pines Inn & Suites is a great little family owned spot in Cottonwood and even offers a salt-water pool! And of course, reasonable rates! 

And, Here We Go!

We flew into the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport and let me just say there is NOTHING like a non-stop flight to kick off vacation!

Sky Harbor serves all the major airlines and makes it super easy to grab your rental car. The shuttle takes you right from the terminal to the rental car terminal. So easy. Oh except for this Fun Story (link to other post)

We grabbed our rental car and were off!

Do You Need A Car? 

Lots of people asked me about getting around Scottsdale and Sedona and whether a car is needed. The answer is yes. You really can’t explore the area without a car. There are a few transportation services that you could take from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area to Sedona, you’ll still come up short when it comes to really getting to experience the whole area. There are some places like New York or San Francisco where you can totally visit without a car, but for Arizona you really do need a car!

Arizona Itinerary 

First Stop: Scottsdale

Scottsdale is the perfect place to start your Arizona vacation.

Once you land at Phoenix Sky Harbor, you’ll be in Scottsdale within 15 minutes. Scottsdale is part of the greater Phoenix area so it’s basically one big metro area. Located in Maricopa County, more than half the state’s population calls the Phoenix/Scottsdale area home! 

There’s plenty to do here. Here are the spots we hit and my recommendations for Day 1 – Scottsdale- on the Arizona itinerary. 

Day 1: Scottsdale

In-N-Out Burger 

Available only in the Western States, In-N-Out burger is a must. If there’s an In-N-Out Burger around, I’m there. Can you say fresh and fast? Our flight got in around lunch time, so we hit In-N-Out Burger right after landing at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

I don’t typically eat fast food but to me, In-N-Out Burger isn’t fast food. Ok technically it is, but really it’s so incredible far and away above ALL other fast food places that it’s really NOT even in the same category.

It’s the benchmark for what fast food should be, but never will be, I’m afraid. All fast food chains out there, go to In-N-Out and see how it’s done! Take Notes. Then up YOUR game! ! I keep it simple with the Combo #3. Burger & Fries. Boom! 

Hike At Marcus Landslide Trail

We had to do something to work off that burger! We drove over to the Landslide trail located in North Scottsdale in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The Marcus Landslide is at the same trail head as the more well known Tom’s Thumb trail.

We planned on hiking Tom’s Thumb but the rating of “difficult” turned me off. I didn’t want to bite off more than I could chew right out of the gate. So we saw that the easier rated Marcus Landslide started at the same trailhead and we went for it.

This trail is a great choice to get your hiking boots wet! The scenery is spectacular with lots of Saguaro cacti and plenty of cool photo ops. We even saw a road runner! Pure desert beauty right here in Scottsdale.  

Happy Hour!

Hunger pangs hit us after our Marcus Landslide hike. We cruised over to Juan Jamie’s, a lowkey spot that has good specials and great prices! Scrumptious margaritas only $5!

Of course I ordered my new favorite Prickly Pear Marg and also tried the pretty Raspberry Margarita, along with some chips & salsa. They have a salsa bar so we sampled all the different choices. 

Arizona Itinerary Day 2: Scottsdale

Hiking At Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 

Today we started off with another hike. The Lost Dog Wash hike was longer than the Marcus Landslide and much rockier. In fact the terrain was totally different. The Marcus Landslide was red dirt while the Lost Dog Wash was super rocky.

It was so rocky that at times it was hard to take in the scenery because I was always concentrating on not twisting an ankle on the rocks!

We hiked up to the Taliesin Overlook to get a look at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Summer Place. The view was pretty awesome – the desert landscape just doesn’t disappoint.

We went the long way back and paranoid me thought we took a wrong turn at least a few times, but we eventually made our way back to the trailhead after about 6 miles. I’m pretty sure we did take the long way back, but we made it in one piece.

Why am I so bad about navigating trails? Is there a secret I don’t know about?!! Help a girl out! 

Old Town Scottsdale

After our hike, we drove down to Old Town to check it out and find some food. Old Town has a kinda kitschy Old West feel. The is a few square blocks total and is home to lots of little boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and bars.

We set out for lunch and stumbled onto Cien Agaves. Their sidewalk board listed Taco Tuesday specials, so we were in. My husband went for the shrimp tacos and I ate one of the most unique and tastiest dishes ever.

They called it a salad. With no lettuce, I wouldn’t categorize it as a salad, but it was loaded with veggies and so tasty. So many things on the menu look fabulous. We later learned they’ve been named one of 10 Best Mexican restaurants by USA Today. Their prices blew me away, too. The tacos were on special for less than $5!

Art Galleries

I’m not a huge art fan, but I do think it’s interesting to browse around and check out different artists. Dozens of art galleries line Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale and the creativity on display is impressive. Plus it’s FREE to look!

Old Adobe Mission

This adobe mission is absolutely gorgeous! As the oldest Catholic Church in Scottsdale it’s full of history and just oozes with charm! As a history major, stuff like this is right up my alley. The mission is definitely worth a stop. It’s FREE! But don’t be a cheapskate. Make sure you give some cash to the church if you visit. They’ll put it to good use!  

Rusty Spur Saloon

I’m a sucker for anything country western, so Rusty Spur Saloon is a favorite of mine! This little western themed bar has live music everyday, usually afternoon and evenings. We stopped at around 4, grabbed a table and settled in to listen to the one man band on stage. Great music, fun atmosphere and my new fav drink, the prickly pear margarita. ‘Nuff said! 

Other Scottsdale Fun Things To Do!

Taliesin West

Even if you’re not a fan of cool, award-winning architecture, Taliesin West is worth a stop if you’re in Scottsdale. The winter home of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West is actually a Unesco World Heritage site and a National Historic Landmark.

(Side note: Read Loving Frank if you want history and scandal about FLR – Fascinating Read!) We were able to see the property from the Taliesin Overlook trail in the McDowell Mountains.

Open seven days a week, do a self-guided tour to save some money. Reservations aren’t required but are recommended. 

Scottsdale Food Tour

I love doing food tours! Talk about a great way to learn more about the city you’re visiting. The local guides always know their stuff so you get the low-down on stuff that you’d never know otherwise. Are food tours cheap? No.

But, for all the history, back stories and gossipy goodness you get about the restaurants you’re hitting up, and the town in general, they’re worth it. Plus you will not go hungry! There are a few Old Town food tours to choose from. Enjoy! 

Camelback Mountain

Standing over 2,700 feet tall, Camelback is hard to miss in the skyline. It’s probably the most popular place to hike in Scottsdale. There are two trails that wind up the mountain, Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail, both of them between 1-1.5 miles and rated “strenuous”. I wanted to hike Camelback but we just didn’t have the time to do it all! This one’s definitely on the list for next time! 

Arizona Itinerary Day 3: Scottsdale 

Pool Day 

We had two really FULL days so by Day 3 we were ready to chill at the pool. The weather was beautiful to me – 75 ish degrees felt amazing. Plus the pool was heated and the hot tub was on. Total relaxation at the pool was a perfect way to end our time in Scottsdale. 

Arizona Day 4: Sedona 

We drove the 2 ish hours to beautiful Sedona the morning of Day 4, arriving around noon. It’s really a relatively short drive so no problem. I bookmarked Devil’s Bridge trail a long time ago so it was a must do this trip. 

Everyone said to get an early start because it’s so crowded. Well guess what, we didn’t go early and we scored awesome parking in the lot that was supposedly “full”. Just goes to show ya, sometimes everyone is wrong and the best time to go may be whatever time works for you – unless it’s dark. I wouldn’t recommend hiking in the dark!

The hike was a bucket list thing for us and I’m so glad we did it! That said, it is popular and people are beginning to overrun Sedona. When you visit, make sure you follow the Sedona Leave No Trace Principles.

Respect the land for future generations! It’s SO important!! 

Hiking In Sedona

Devil’s Bridge was awesome. The hike is rated “moderate” and wasn’t too bad. We scrambled up the rocks at the end, but that was the most intense part. From start to finish we were on the trail for about 3 hours.

This was the start of our Sedona hiking adventures and it was one of the best things we did the entire trip. If you’re into hiking, I’m convinced there is no better or more beautiful place to do it than Sedona. 

And you have lots of trail options for short hikes: 

• Airport Mesa Trail
• Teacup Trail
• Coffee Pot Trail
• Sugarloaf Loop
• Cathedral Rock
• Bell Rock

Church Of The Holy Cross 

This is a sight to behold. You may think a church is a church is a church. You would be wrong! Chapel of the Holy Cross is the uber famous Roman Catholic chapel built directly into the side of some of the red rocks of Sedona.

It’s mind blowing to try to figure out how this thing was constructed. All I can say is that those engineers are wayyy smart.

  We stop here every time we’re in Sedona. This is one of those “can’t miss” kind of things. You must go see the chapel. 

 The views from the chapel are incredible. If nothing else, go for the views.

Walk out onto the platform area in front of the church and take a 360 degree turn. It’s spectacular. So many people agree – there were like 10 different people taking 360 degree videos when we were there.

Good idea, but even a video doesn’t do this justice. Some things in life you just gotta see for yourself. This is one of them. 

Believe it or not, the Chapel of the Holy Cross is actually FREE to visit. But you should leave some money for the church. They do good things. 

 Happy Hour!

Sedona peeps love happy hours and so many restaurants have great deals! Going to happy hour instead of a full-fledged dinner is my number one tip to save money on your Sedona vacation.

Let’s be honest, sometimes happy hour cuisine is pretty sad. Not so at Picazzo’s! I ordered the baked brie and it was to die for, and it was served with crispy focaccia bread and delicious apples. We also give the house wings a big thumbs up!  

Day 5: Sedona 

Day trip to Jerome

Today we made the drive from Sedona to Jerome. Only about 45 minutes, the drive is a piece of cake until you get to the bottom of the mountain that Jerome is perched on.

Once you hit the mountain, it’s a white knuckler.

Thank goodness it’s only about 4 miles up the mountain because those hairpin turns are INTENSE. Once you’re on top, it’s totally worth it.

Jerome is a quirky little mountain town that’s got plenty of bars, restaurants and shops. We ate very good burgers at the Haunted Hamburger. I’d definitely go back for another lunch or dinner here. The food is really good and the space is cool. We spent a few hours wandering around town. 

 The whole town is worth seeing. The people are friendly, yet I think it takes a special person to live up here. The kids get bused down the mountain to a nearby town for school, I don’t think there are real grocery stores up in Jerome, or many businesses you’d need for daily life, for that matter.

From what I could tell, pretty much everything you need for daily life is down the mountain. I don’t know if I could live there, but it sure is interesting to visit! Make sure you read up on this spooky history of Jerome – it’s fascinating stuff. 

Clarkdale, Arizona 

Leaving Jerome, we headed to the little town of Clarkdale, AZ, located about 10 minutes Northeast of Jerome on 89A. While this is a very small town, it’s worth a stop to check out the shops on Main Street.

You’ll find bars, restaurants – try Violette’s for French inspired bakery items – a museum, wine tasting rooms and more. The town is super cute and clean. I felt like I traveled back in time to the 1960s.  

Pink Jeep Tour

From Clarkdale, we took 89A back to Sedona for the Pink Jeep Tour! I love a truly unique experience and this tour was incredible. I definitely, definitely recommend a Pink Jeep Tour in Sedona!

Pink Jeep is the original Sedona off-roading tour and they know what they’re doing – their guides get TONS of training and have to pass tests in order to be certified. They aren’t messing around here.

Our guide was fantastic – she was like a human encyclopedia about everything Sedona. From the ancient history of the area to the geology to the animals native to the red rocks, she knew it all and was fascinating.

And let me not forget the scenery – WOW! This was without a doubt a total highlight of our stay and I’m so glad we had booked the tour and put it on our itinerary. 

A Winery Stop – Or Two

Did someone say wine? Oh yeah! I’m in!. Who knew central Arizona is home to so many wineries and tasting rooms? I had no clue, but Arizona is kind of a player in the whole vino biz. The Cottonwood area itself is home to the Verde Valley Wine Trail and is now the 3rd area in Arizona that’s received their AVA certification (it’s a big deal to those who know wine!).

We checked out Page Spring Cellars and Alcantara and both are beautiful, fun spots. Select your flight, grab a spot on the deck and get ready to chill. 

Dinner In Cottonwood

Cottonwood, the little town about 15 miles South of Sedona via 89A, has quite a few restaurants on its Main Street. We ventured to Cottonwood because we wanted to explore other places around the area, and it’s only about 20 minutes away. Main Street in Cottonwood is lined with restaurants, bars and tasting rooms so you’re sure to find a good restaurant here.

We liked Merkin and Crema and would for sure go back. Cottonwood also has some cute hotels that are worth a look. If you want to save money on your vacation, the easiest way is to cut back on your accommodations – after all that’s usually the biggest vacay budget item. If you want less expensive accommodations for your trip, check out some of the Cottonwood hotels. . 

Day 6: Sedona

Breakfast At The Coffee Pot

The granddaddy of breakfasts awaits at the iconic Coffee Pot restaurant. We’ve been here quite a few times now and it will always be on our short list for a great breakfast at a decent price. I’m not particularly an omelet lover, but this place has literally 100 omelets on the menu. What?!That’s insane.

Some omelet combos are too weird for me, but hey I bet someone eats it (PB&J and banana!) If you can think of it, it’s probably on the menu. I love their cool ceramic, square coffee mugs so much that I bought one for home.

This place is awesome. But everyone knows it. So go early or you’ll be waiting a LONG time for a table.

Airport Mesa Trail

We spent a beautiful morning hiking at Airport Mesa Trail, a spot with one of the most beautiful views in the city! You can hike along the trail or you can just go to the summit and take in the splendid views. We did both.

Also, if you’re into the Sedona vortex scene, this is the spot! The Airport Mesa is supposed to be one of THE main vortexes in Sedona. So in addition to it being one of the best hikes in Sedona, you’ve got the whole vortex thing. Check it out and see if you feel any special energy there. I need to do it again before I weigh in.

I know that’s kind of a cheap way of giving no opinion! Sorry not sorry 🙂

Dead Horse RanchState Park – Cottonwood

This place is a gem! Located in Cottonwood, Dead Horse Ranch State Park has almost everything that a park should have. Hiking, canoeing, dog park, frisbee golf, camping, fishing, and even horseback riding.

Pretty much all the outdoor activities you can think of are here. We paid our entrance fee (less than $10!) and went horseback riding at Trail Horse Adventures located within the park.

And we got to meet some real life cowboys! So fun! Talk about a real American southwest experience. 

Arizona Itinerary Day 7: Sedona to Scottsdale

Eat!

The end of a vacay always comes faster than you think! For your last day in Sedona, I’d head over to Mesa Grill for breakfast or Hideaway House for lunch. Both have solid menus, good prices and excellent views! 

Red Rocks State Park Hiking

Get in one last hiking adventure before hopping on that plane! Stop into Red Rockb State Park for some easy-ish hiking and unmatched views of both the red rocks and Oak Creek. Located off 89A south of Sedona, it’s on the way back to Scottsdale. After some hiking time, we hit the road back to Scottsdale to catch our flight.  

Scottsdale Weather

I’m guessing you already know this but Arizona is in the Sonoran Desert and it’s hot! From late May to September, the average high is about 95 degrees! 

Cool weather comes in the Fall, and thru February the average high is around 70 degrees. Not too shabby!

The coldest month of the year in Scottsdale is December when the high is around 65 degrees.

I like going to Scottsdale during the Spring and Fall when temperatures are just about perfect. We’ve also gone in January, and the weather was great for hiking – around 60 to 70 degrees.

Oh ya! MUCH better than January temps in the Midwest! We even had a pool day because 70 degrees felt so WARM! We weren’t the only ones at the pool, either! Although there were locals running around in down parkas and wool hats. WTF?!!  

Sedona Weather 

The weather in Sedona is one reason it’s such a great place, especially in winter. I like going to Sedona in the winter. The temperatures are chilly by Arizona standards but to me, being from the mid-west, 50’s and 60’s in December is perfect. 

 It’s warm enough to not need a bulky coat – layers are perfect. Plus, with temperatures this mild, no major sweating while hiking which is awesome in my book! 

Some people are surprised that the weather in Sedona is so much different than the weather in Phoenix/Scottsdale, since the two cities are so close together. But Sedona is at a way higher elevation – 4300 feet versus Scottsdale’s elevation at around 1200 feet. 

So Sedona is always cooler than down in the valley. That’s why Sedona is so popular with locals who like to drive up to escape the summer heat. 

Not that Sedona doesn’t get hot in the summer, because it does. Just not AS hot as Phoenix.

10 Day Arizona Itinerary 

If I had 10 days in Arizona, I’d add the Grand Canyon to my Arizona Itinerary. Duh! After all, this is one of the natural wonders of the world. And,the Grand Canyon is only about 2.5 hours, give or take. But, to get the most out of the Grand Canyon National Park, you can’t do it in a day. I’d take about 3 days to explore the South Rim, the North Rim and more of the Grand Canyon.

14 Day Arizona Itinerary

If I had 10 days in Arizona, I’d add Page to my Arizona itinerary. Why? Because I’d want to check out Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Page is about a 3 hour drive North from Sedona so it’s a ways there and back and too much for a day trip in my opinion. Better to have a couple days to experience the area. And you could also pop over into beautiful Southern Utah – it’s only about 2 hours from Page to Springdale, which is at the entrance to Zion National Park! 

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