Courtney FossI have a lot of other ideas in the works, but my first travel post is about our most recent road trip to Arizona!
The trend of road trips started to really take off during 2020 as people avoided air travel but still wanted to get out see the country. We took two of them to Colorado last year, but we decided to start off the year with a new place. I had been to Arizona multiple times before – Austin hadn’t been. Since we’re both working remotely right now, we figured it was the best time to go see another area of the country while also being able to work during the days. Rather than trying to leave our pups with my parents like usual, we decided we wanted to take them with us! They both did great in the car and definitely liked all the adventures we took them on. It was so much more fun to do everything with them there with us!
There are a few reasons why we picked Arizona. First and most importantly right now, there weren’t any quarantine rules. We had also looked at New Mexico, but visitors had to quarantine for two weeks once there, so that was a hard pass. Secondly, I love the mountainous terrain and the natural beauty that Arizona has to offer. I also love cold weather and was hoping that northern Arizona, which is known for being cold and snowy, would offer that (it didn’t really, unfortunately, but there was just enough snow on the ground to offer a wintry feel without the mess of driving on icy roads!). I also must admit, one of my top priorities is going somewhere that isn’t humid – I hate humidity and avoid it whenever possible. Lastly, we both figured we might as well go see the Grand Canyon! What better opportunity to see it than with our pups by our side!
We stayed in Flagstaff, and when the time came, I was actually so sad to leave. We stayed at the Residence Inn Flagstaff (we are big Marriott fans in this household), and we were so happy with the location of this hotel. It’s at the edge of downtown “Flag”, so it’s just a few minute walk to a bunch of coffee shops, restaurants, and cute shops. Northern Arizona University is located here as well, so it definitely gives off a bit of a college town vibe.
Pros of staying here:
- Walking distance to any food or drink you want
- Full kitchen with refrigerator, stovetop, and dishwasher (there is a grocery store .5 miles from the hotel if you need to grab some!)
- The continental breakfast at this hotel specifically was sensational with so many options of hot and colds breakfast foods and, of course, a waffle maker with multiple flavors available.
- Pet friendly, with a park literally across the street
- The rooms were huge – over 500 sq. feet each → if you want more space or are working there more long-term, definitely get the double queen room or even a 1-bedroom suite. The double queen has two beds but much more room and a better setup to offer in the living area.
Cons:
- There is a daily parking fee
- Really…that’s it! As with any city, there are some areas that aren’t exactly the best, but that would be the case anywhere and I felt pretty safe walking around with the dogs during our stay.
Location:
- Northern Arizona, so it gets much colder than the rest of Arizona
- 1 ½ hours away from the Grand Canyon
- 2 ½ hours away from Phoenix/Tempe
- 45 minutes away from Sedona (red rocks, hiking, cute main street area) and some of the prettiest driving!
- Make sure to go down the Red Rock Scenic Byway
- Check out the different hiking and park options
What to try in Flagstaff:
- Macy’s European Coffeehouse and Bakery – This spot uses all natural flavors and spices rather than syrups and sauces, so the drinks aren’t quite as sweet
- Late for the Train (coffee)
- Dutch Bros Coffee – This is my very favorite coffee spot (also located in CO and from what I heard, now available in College Station, TX!!)
- Beaver Street Brewery – great pizza and burgers
The Grand Canyon:
You can go for any amount of time you want. Many people go for an entire day, taking the shuttles throughout the entire canyon. Pets aren’t allowed on these, so we didn’t do any of that. But if you’ve only got half a day or a few hours, definitely check out the South Rim.
The first two stops you’ll see along the South Rim Trail will be the most crowded. They’re the places that have the stairs and the railings, so people flock to those to take lots of pictures. In this day and age, there were too many people for our comfort level crowded into those areas, so we strolled down the path a little further. Honestly, the spots we stopped had better views, were more natural without railings in the way, and were less and less crowded the further we walked.
It costs $35 per vehicle to enter the park (as of writing this in Jan. 2021). Seems like a lot, but for what you’re getting, and if you have multiple people, it’s a great price.
There are multiple hotels right near the Tusayan entrance, but they’re a bit more pricey given their proximity of being just minutes away from the entrance. Make sure you stop to get some souvenirs too! There are a few shops on the road right near the Tusayan entrance as well, or up in the Grand Canyon itself. We got, what a surprise, a puzzle.
After a few days, we made our way down to Chandler, just 15 minutes from Tempe and 30 minutes from Phoenix. We stayed at the Residence Inn in Chandler and again, it was a great spot if you want to be able to cook your own food and take your pets. This hotel is located on a little water inlet, has a nice walking path, outdoor grill/firepit area, and outdoor pool.
About 20 minutes away is Gilbert, Arizona, which was such a surprise during the trip. It has THE cutest street in its downtown area that has a bunch of restaurants and is the perfect family activity or adult date night.
We had amazing barbecue at Joe’s Real BBQ. It has the best courtyard area, full of string lights, picnic tables, and a great casual feel if you want to take your kiddos and let them roam around or even bring your fur babies. Definitely a spot where we would do a weekly date night if we lived close! Also on the street was Snooze an AM eatery, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, Culinary Dropout, Bergies Coffee Roast House, Ohso Brewery and Distillery, and a lot more great options.
There were multiple murals painted throughout downtown as well, one notably on the Zinburger wall, and then a set of brightly colored flower murals located on the southwest corner of Gilbert Road and Vaughn Avenue. Definite Instagrammable spots, or just a great backdrop for a candid picture! These were such a cute and unexpected surprise and such a fun thing to take pictures with and be able to experience the real small-town vibe. I can imagine at Christmastime it is just so quaint.
We went to brunch at Hash Kitchen in Chandler and oh my gosh, it was phenomenal. We sat outside since the pups were with us – another reason we picked this place, obviously. We shared a tequila sunrise fish bowl, but they also had mimosa flights and other fun looking drinks. For food, Austin got the “hangover short rib hash” and I got the short rib burrito. Austin raved about his choice and how great it was, and it was big enough for him to take back and have the next morning at the hotel. It was an upbeat atmosphere, but definitely offered a younger vibe…with DJs some weekends, loud music, and the colorful (and glittery) drink selections.
We spent the rest of the day in Tempe, another college town with a lot to offer. We stayed mainly on Mill Avenue, a street in the center of town with great restaurants and bars. This is actually where I spent my 21st birthday almost a decade ago (heaven help), so it was fun to be back. I even made us drive by the Arizona State softball field on our way out of town because I couldn’t stop talking about the Aggies’ Super Regional games in 2011.
Our drive back seemed everlasting, but it was only about 15 hours back to Leander. Overall, it was a really fun trip – we worked our normal work shifts, got to experience a different place, saw one of the natural wonders of the world, took in God’s beauty around us, and had more dedicated time together. Can’t wait until we figure out where we’ll be off to next.
My next blog will be a road trip manual – all of the things that we’ve learned from the trips we’ve taken over the years, and specifically over the last year with all the new things to think about during this pandemic.
Thanks for reading!
Courtney
