A great experience!!!!

This was our first Road Scholar experience. It will not be our last. The geological information was fascinating, the other presentations excellent, the field trips outstanding. The very good company of the other participants really made the trip exceptional.

I really enjoyed this program and would recommend it to anyone. I was fascinated by the geology of the area as well as the differences in plant speces across the wide variation in altitude in Arizona. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly and we all were both enlightened and entertained. It was fun meeting people from all over the U.S., sharing stories and making new friends. I was travelling alone and felt a part of the group from the beginning of the session to the farewell.

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip. It was my first Road Scholar experience. The lecturers, field trips and the settings were magnificent. The thing that made this trip even better was our fellow participants. It is always a pleasure to be in a community of other lifetime learners. Kudos to Road Scholars and to all of my traveling companions. See you all on the 'next' trip!

Sedona is beautiful and the trip was excellent............well-organized, informative and vast in scope. I enjoyed it tremendously and highly recommend this trip, 1062. Kathy from Maryland

Wonderful program. I am already planning my next trip for sometime in the fall.

Our trip to see the Grand Canyon was our first experience with Road Scholar. It was fabulous. The scenery was spectacular, The accommodations were wonderful, the food great, the educational information was informative and the fact that everything was planned for you made the experience more relaxing and fun. We are definitely hooked and planning our next trip!!

This was a great learning experience in a beautiful part of our world. We loved the many activities, and the instructors were top notch! One of the best programs we have attended.

This trip is excellent value -- I like to be a bit more physically active --but opportunities did arise for walking. the food was excellent -- and plentiful -- helpful instructors -- the Canyon stand on its own! Sedona is fantastic and the rock formations which were abundant -- are magnificent -- I am happy I participated in this programme!! Maggie Stevens --

I have attended 24 Road Scholar (Elderhostel)programs thru the years and i think this was one of the best. I was so happy to finally see the grand Canyon.

-belief Grand Canyon, the beautiful desert rock formations, all lodging and food pre-arranged. Authentic educational experience, availability of companionship by fellow group members. Lodging safety and cleanliness. Non-commercial. Many thanks!

This program exceeded our expectations! The area is beautiful, the lectures and field trips were outstanding--we would highly recommend it!

When you try and try to think of ways a program could be improved and can't think of a single thing that could have been better, you know you had an excellent adventure. Breathtaking scenery, interesting and brain-building lectures, enjoyable musical entertainment and a warm and knowledgeable host. This program had it all.

Our recent trip to Sedona was exceptional! Our leader, Garret Roberts was knowledgeable, organized, humourous and a great driver, amongst many other qualities which enhanced the whole experience. The hotel and restaurant were great and the staff at each exceptionally helpful and accommodating. The presenters were top-notch and entertaining and the field trips varied and unique. We had a great time, it was great value and we would recommend this trip to all.

Seeing the Grand Canyon from several different vantage points after learning about the geology and the lives of the indigenous people was one of the highlights of the trip, but there were no low lights. Great leaders, thorough planning, and some of the best people one could ever meet made this trip marvelous, not to mention the overwhelming beauty everywhere we looked.

This is a magnificent trip to Northern Arizona. Who knew it was so beautiful...or so cold? A sunset drive dwon Oak Creek Canyon is worth the cost of the entire trip. And, oh yeah, the Grand Canyon is pretty awesome too.

Heartily recommend for the sheer glory of the landscape and natural life, and the excellent, knowledgeable staff. It was a great learning and sensory experience.

This trip was all I hoped for and more, a great - and fun - learning experience. Another participant challenged me to step outside my comfort level. I did and learned I can do more physical activities than I thought.

Have participated in 3 seperate adventures in last year. Each very different and exciting. Highly recommend for one of most educational and safe travel- learning and visual experience.

Everyone needs to seethis beautiful Sedona area and experience the marvelous education of how it all came to be.

As an educated single woman who loves to travel, Road Scholar is the best way to go. I have always felt included, safe, and inspired by the other participants I have met. I come home anticipating where I want to go next.

I was Donna's roommate! I have been telling all my friends about the positive experience this first Road Scholar trip was . . . the accomodations, food, classes, weather, roommate, fellow travelers. Will definitely do this again.

This was my first Road Scholar trip, first time in Arizona, and first time seeing the Grand Canyon. Some of my colleagues said I was "very brave" to go on a trip in which I meet up with people I don't know. I'm not brave, but I am adventurous! The people with whom I shared this trip were varied, friendly and welcoming. I could not have chosen a better roommate! Thanks Road Scholar! The accommodations were just right and the food was really good. For me, this was just the beginning of many Road Scholar trips to come!

Such fun and such diversity of subject matter -- always something new to see or learn about.

Very easy to navigate

The setting of this program is magical, the activities well planned and executed under excellent leadership. The lecturers are informed and enthusiastic. In addition, this program is a bargain!

Would highly recommend the Best of Sedona trip. Was our first Road Scholar trip, hopefully there will be many more to come. Excellent experience.

Best of Sedona / Grand Canyon program was an exceptional value. Lecture and tour guide to the Canyon was provided by a world-class professor of geology. His passion for the subject matter and his ease of presentation to our group was truly remarkable. Our group coordinator (Dennis Sigman) acted as gracious host and looked after the group of 35 with lots of TLC. The program included presentations on Hopi culture, wild critters of the Sedona area and an evening of CW tunes presented by a talented couple who loved the music genre. We were encouraged to sing along and we did that. The group of 35 was one of varied professional backgrounds and all had a keen interest in learning more of the wonders of the area. All brought a great sense of discovery and humor to the week's proceedings. Accommodations were very comfortable and the restaurant on the premises provided varied and very good meals with helpful and cordial service. This is truly a winning package and I recommend it highly to all but especially to anyone (like myself) wishes to experience the Grand Canyon for the first time. My first glimpse into the Canyon left me in wonder.

Jenny from NYC Number of programs attended:1 Date attended 5/6/12-5/11/12 The Best of Sedona program was wonderful. Plenty of beauty to be seen, excellent presentations, a wonderful group experience. The organization of the program allowed us to learn, experience and find joy!

The Best of Sedona program was excellent! I not only learned of the environment in Sedona and the surrounding areas, but I met some great folks that are now friends! It was very well organized and very informative. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience! I will definitely participate in more Road Scholar programs.

As a first time Road Scholar I thoroughly enjoyed this trip from an educational stand point as well as the exploration of a new part of the country for me. The Group Coordinator made the trip very easy to navigate, and the group members were friendly, helpful, and FUN!

This was my 20th Elderhostel/Road Scholar trip, and while it's impossible to completely compare such diverse trip, this was definitely one my favorite.

The Program provided an informative, well organized, introduction to the many splendors of Sedona and the Grand Canyon. Our Program Leader, Garret, had an unfailing pleasant personality and an in depth knowledge of the area. He kept the meetings both informative and entertaining.

I would recommend this Program to anyone seeking an introduction to Sedona, Grand Canyon and the surrounding areas.

This was my first Road Scholar activity and I will certainly do more.
Here are some random thoughts on the program that might be helpful to you.
The program includes a half day visit to the Grand Canyon by bus and includes three separate stops at the Watch Tower, Visitor Center and Bright Angel Lodge. A 22 minute video at the visitor center is also included. The naturalist who rode along on the bus made the time go by quickly by explaining the geology features that we were seeing.
The instructors were chosen for their expertise in geology, archeology, western lore or movie history – and all were excellent. As a result, the “lectures” took a variety of forms including music, animated humor, slide presentations and free-form Q&A sessions. The educational component of this program was a strong point.
Every meal included a choice of five or more options so everyone could find something to fit their mood. The primary food location was in a highly rated, well-managed restaurant a short distance from the motel area (less than 25 yards). No one ever needed to leave the motel/restaurant area and venture out on the roads.
Transportation to off-site venues (like the Grand Canyon or the RR ride) was well handled.
If you choose this program, you should plan ahead for using your free afternoon (Wednesday) because public transportation is limited in Sedona and some potential activities (e.g. uptown shopping or off-road jeep rides or short hikes) take some planning to arrange.
My wife suggests bringing a flashlight because the city has limited street lights (to avoid light pollution for the local planetarium).
The coordinator (Garrett Roberts) and the sponsor (Northern AZ University) are the “secret sauce” that make this program a strong one.

What a great program! Stan Beus, although somewhat difficult to hear, provided detailed geological information, which made the subsequent excursion to the Grand Canyon even more interesting. The Hopi speaker, Chio Black, was fascinating to listen to; her slideshow provided contrasting views of the villages then and now.

I'm not a big fan of Western music, but I did enjoy both evenings of entertainment. Ken and Lyn Mikell started their program with Gene Autry and ended with Roy Rogers. As my husband (who does love Western music) said, "What could be better than that?!"

In previous programs, we've found that the coordinator really makes or breaks a program. This coordinator, Dennis Sigman, was very well organized. He found time to squeeze in a stop at Toozigut before the Verde Canyon train trip, which really added to the program content. He also managed to get us to a red rock overlook in time for sunset. Absolutely awesome!

Be aware that the accommodations are adequate, but not fancy. Internet access is somewhat spotty. There are lots of galleries and shops in Sedona, but if you have a chance to get to Jerome on your free afternoon, it's worth the drive.

This was the 2nd time I attended this program, and my 6th program in Sedona. It was excellent! I have been attending programs in Sedona since 2002 and it is always gratifying that Road Scholar listens to us and constantly makes the little changes we ask for. It just gets better and better! Also, it is always nice to see familiar faces -the group leader and presenters were all "repeaters" and love what they do as much as we love having them do it. I realize that we cannot please all the people all the time, but it seems to me that RS does an excellent job of pleasing most of us most of the time. As for the food - that is such a personal thing. We attend program for the "Adventures in Lifelong Learning" and I have found meals to be most acceptable over the years, and getting better all the time. As for Sedona - any program there would be a good one. If you have not been, do try it! You won't regfret it! NAU does a fabulous job as program providers.