Flagstaff Recs and Three Day Trips: Sedona, Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyons

Cute mountain town with both the Grand Canyon and Sedona easy to drive to... Flagstaff is for you! This itinerary is compiled from my several trips out there. It was used by one of my friends for her first trip to the SouthWest!

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After visiting Flagstaff a couple times, I am thoroughly obsessed. Use this guide to explore two of the most iconic natural wonders (and Arizona’s best kept secret).

My Favorite Bites

Cornish Pasty Co

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I was introduced to Cornish pasties here with my cousin. Imagine a pot pie that you can hold in your hands!

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Kokiyo

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Traditional Korean with a couple fresh twists. We loved sitting at the bar and chatting!

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Dutch Bros Coffee

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It is a west coast coffee chain with a cult like following. They are open 24 hours and expect lots of sugar and super friendly staff. It is not for someone who wants black coffee, but more for the casual crowd.

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Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge

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Old Western Cocktail bar with period furniture and an extensive spirit menu!

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Majestic Marketplace

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A little out of town, but it has the craziest selection of whiskey and spirits. My partner, Braden, loved trying local selections!

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Canyon Diablo Distillery

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Local to flagstaff and I still think about their Prickly Pear Vodka. It was light pink and had a slightly sweet taste! So yum!

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Day Trip 1: Sedona (1 hour drive)

Famous for it’s Red Rocks and hikes, here are a few things to explore!

Slide Rock State Park

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For the spring and summer, bring a swimsuit and ride the naturally formed slide through the rock. Be warned it will be cold! Even if the lot is full, just park on the side of the road and scramble down to the river!

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Chapel of the Holy Cross

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Even if you are not religious it is impressive Go early since it will get crowded

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McDonald's

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The only Mcdonalds with turquoise arches... since city officials thought gold would class with the red rock! I am low key a McDonald's fan and love find unique ones!

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Go hiking! There are many to choose from... Research what works for you and your activity level.

Walk the Downtown! Sedona is an outdoor town through and through. Their main street is not much to look at, but there are still plenty of stores to window shop and find great souvenirs!

Day Trip 2: Grand Canyon (1 ½ hour drive)

Known as the number 1 natural wonder in the USA. It is quite impressive.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

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Check out the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and there is a route along the South Rim that can go on for a couple miles!

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Mather Point

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I will admit, I was a little underwhelmed from our short hike along the edge (compared to my favorite National Parks of Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc) however it still #1 natural wonder for a reason.

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El Tovar Hotel

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I love National Park Lodges and the El Tovar is beautiful to walk around the lobby and find cute souvenirs. You can get grab lunch or ice cream and relax!

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The absolute best way to experience the Grand Canyon is hiking to the bottom and back. But be warned it is a strenuous hike and not for those of us who do not like to hike.

Day Trip 3: Antelope Canyon (2 hour drive)

I believe this is Arizona’s best kept secret. But don’t just listen to me, look at the beautiful pictures!

Booking a tour can be costly. There are several companies and they all seem to charge a crazy amount of money. It is important to keep in mind that this canyon is a sacred site for the Navajo nation and it is equivalent to entering a cathedral. Part of the cost goes to the Navajo Nation and is an important source of income. After a lot of research, I settled on a tour group that is Trip Advisor certified and we had a great experience. I linked their website below!

The Tour Group I used and would Recommend!

www.antelopelowercanyon.com

Places To Stay

If you want to be close to the action (downtown)!

Residence Inn by Marriott Flagstaff

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This is perfect since you are a block away from the downtown and will be able to walk home after food and drinks!

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The local favorite and boutique experience

Little America Hotel

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500 acres of private forest? Beautiful rooms? Fantastic dining? Looks perfect

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Best Budget Hotel

GreenTree Inn Flagstaff

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Best hotel based on reviews that is still close to the !00-150 a night rate

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hayley Taggart

Available for hire

Hey it's Hayley !! Latte enthusiast, used bookstore connoisseur and huge fan of walkable neighborhoods Having spent at least one day and night in 42 states and counting my specialty is traveling within the USA. I grew up in Southern California, lived for six years in Utah, had a brief stint in Orlando and now on year 2 in New York City. Want to know the cheapest times and places to fly? My day job is a flight attendant based in NYC! Trains more your speed? I once spent a month backpacking from Utah to Boston using Amtrak! Love a long road trip? I have driven across the country three times! After years of travel planning for my friends and family I thought I would share my resources with the world wide web :) I enjoy planning the trips more then actually leaving for the trips so this is the perfect place for me.

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