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On the Road: Arizona’s Gems – Grand Canyon, Route 66, Native American Art and Desert Landscapes

Program Number: 20401RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/6/2013 - 10/12/2013; 10/21/2013 - 10/27/2013;
Duration: 6 nights
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Price starting at: $1,245.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: On the Road; National Parks; Natural History Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 18; 6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 6 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Discover some of the Southwest’s best-kept secrets as you journey from Arizona’s cultural heart to little-seen highways, byways, river ways, desert vistas, Old Route 66 and remote and beautiful western Grand Canyon. Step into a desert extraordinaire in Phoenix’ Desert Botanical Garden; experience Wickenburg’s cowboy culture in its Desert Caballeros Museum, showcasing Western art. From Kingman to Peach Springs, travel along the longest intact stretch of the Mother Road. End your adventure with a helicopter flight to the bottom of the Grand Canyon a Colorado River raft trip.




Highlights

• Step inside Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West for insights into the architect’s mind.
• Establish a benchmark for the native peoples of Arizona, both prehistoric and modern, at the famed Heard Museum in Phoenix.
• On the Hualapai Indian Reservation in off-the-beaten-path western Grand Canyon, raft the Colorado River in the canyon depths, arriving via a dramatic helicopter flight. Take the only road to the bottom of the Canyon in this remote part of Arizona and enjoy a picnic on a remote Colorado River beach.



Activity Particulars

Hiking up to one mile on level, rolling and sometimes rocky terrain.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Scottsdale, 2 nights; van to Wickenburg, 1 night; van to Peach Springs, 3 nights; van to Scottsdale lodging or Phoenix airport for departure.



Coordinated by Northern Arizona University.




Scottsdale

An affluent city adjacent to Phoenix, Scottsdale enjoys an annual average of more than 330 days of sunshine, a factor that, along with the area’s wide-open desert landscape, makes the city a haven for golfers. Scottsdale’s vibrant nightlife and busy hotel scene are balanced out by its proximity to mountain areas popular with outdoor enthusiasts.



Phoenix

Phoenix is a thriving metropolis surrounded by majestic mountains. Along with the visual beauty of the land, the city has a rich heritage of Native American and Hispanic cultures. Native American and western expansion influences are seen in the art and architecture of Phoenix, and an abundance of museums and art galleries showcase the culture.



Peach Springs

Home of the Hualapai Nation, or "People of the Tall Pine," Peach Springs is the reservation’s tribal capital, which comprises 1 million acres along the Colorado River and Grand Canyon region.



Wickenburg

Named after an Austrian miner who struck it rich during the 1862 gold rush, the town of Wickenburg is surrounded by rocky foothills where abandoned gold mines are still a common sight. Located in the northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert, it is popular with outdoor enthusiasts who come to hike, bird-watch or just enjoy the stunning natural beauty.
Accommodations
Scottsdale: Luxury resort nestled at the foot of Camelback Mountain. Wickenburg: Comfortable motel with heated pool/spa. Peach Springs: Modern tribal lodge.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Richard Stephens
Rich has been director of Northern Arizona University’s highly popular Road Scholar programs since 2001. He previously spent many years in the field as a program coordinator and group leader, where he honed his skills and learned the importance of detailed, pre-trip planning. Before making his home in Arizona’s spectacular red-rock country, Rich spent 10 years in Yosemite National Park and the Santa Cruz mountains as an environmental educator.
 
Karen Landis
Karen Landis' front door has opened up onto Route 66 for the past 38 years, giving her status as a Route 66 legend in the Seligman stretch of the road. Some 25 years ago, a customer at her convenience store mustered the gumption to ask her to marry him, and Karen and Mike Landis - a legend himself known as Arizona's No. 1 cowboy - have been ranching together ever since. Karen's independent spirit and ropin' and ridin' skills have opened a new world to Road Scholar adventurers year after year.
 
Garrett Roberts
From the historical to the cinematic to the dust-on-your-brow trail, Garrett Roberts knows the American West. His lectures invoke intrigue and humor to dispel the myths created by Hollywood’s western genre. Garrett replicates museum-quality 19th century leather equipment for theater, is an avid hiker, and enjoys singing jazz. He has also worked for Emmy award-winning wardrobe designer Michael Boyd and was the key costume designer for Stephen Spielberg’s “Into the West.”
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Scottsdale Cottonwood Resort & Suites
  Scottsdale, AZ 2 nights
   Los Viajeros Inn
  Wickenburg, AZ 1 night
   Hualapai Lodge
  Peach Springs, AZ 2 nights
 Scottsdale Cottonwood Resort & Suites
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Twenty five acre resort green-landscaped resort on the Sonora Desert at the foot of Camelback Mountain in uptown Scottsdale.
  Contact info: 6160 N Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85253 USA
phone: 480-991-1414
web: www.scottsdalecottonwoods.com
  Room amenities: 355 sq ft casita, plush top mattresses, separate vanity area, mini refrigerator, coffee and tea station, work desk with wired high speed internet, whitewashed wood beamed ceilings.
  Facility amenities: Fitness center, 2 outdoor pools, 2 outdoor whirlpool spas, tennis courts, putting green, shuffleboard, jogging, fitness and nature trails, hammocks, Borgata shopping center steps away from resort.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: Seasonal; Rates vary, winter is peak season.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM

 Los Viajeros Inn
Type: Hotel
  Description: Located in Old West town of Wickenburg, hotel follows the Old West design and tradition.
  Contact info: 1000 North Tegner
Wickenburg, AZ 85390 USA
phone: 928-684-0634
web: www.losviajerosinn.com
  Room amenities: Patio or balcony from each room, individually controlled heat/air conditioning, min-refrigerator, coffee maker, spacious layout in old west decor. Hair dryers, irons and ironing boards available at the desk. A few smoking rooms are available.
  Facility amenities: Heated pool, hot tub.
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Hualapai Lodge
Type: Hotel
  Description: Tribal artwork displayed; some traditional Hualapai cuisine served in restaurant.
  Contact info: 900 Highway Route 66
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 USA
phone: 928-769-2230
web: www.hualapaitourism.com/
  Room amenities: Cable TV and telephone; air-conditioning; hair-dryers; coffee-makers
  Facility amenities: Exercise room, private courtyard with seasonal outdoor pool (state-of-the-art non-chlorinated purification system) and spa.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
4:30 PM You will be staying at Scottsdale Cottonwood Resort & Suites that night.
  End of Program:
Return to Phoenix /Scottsdale with drop offs at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport by 12:30 PM followed by drop offs at starting hotel by 1:15 PM. You will be staying at Hualapai Lodge the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
You may leave vehicles at the Cottonwoods free of charge during the program.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Scottsdale, AZ
  Nearest city or town:  Phoenix, AZ
  Nearest highway: I-10, US 60.
  Nearest airport:  Phoenix Sky Harbor International
  From End of Program
  Location:  Departures
Travel Details
 

Hualapai Lodge to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
NAU Road Scholar Vehicle
phone: 928-523-2359

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Included in program tuition
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

4.5 hours 
 

Distance:

 

200 miles
   

At the end of the program, Norther Arizona University Road Scholar vehicle will take you back to the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport or to the programs starting hotel.
 

Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Super Shuttle
phone: 800-258-3826
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$17
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

20 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

12 miles
   

Must have prepaid reservations - by internet at www.supershuttle.com, scroll to Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport, or by phone at 800-258-3826. After you claim your luggage at Sky Harbor Airport, proceed to the outer island marked “Van Service.” A uniformed SuperShuttle Guest Service Representative will arrange transportation to your destination.
 
Driving Directions
  Phoenix - Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort from I-10 Eastbound Stay on I-10 through downtown Phoenix. Merge onto Loop 202 toward Tempe / Mesa. Take Loop 101 North toward Scottsdale. Stay on 101 North until the Indian BEND (NOT Indian School) exit and turn left. At the traffic light on Scottsdale Road, turn left and get into the right lane on Scottsdale Road. Just south of Lincoln Dr, the resort will be on your right. You will turn right onto "Rose Lane", follow it left around an immediate bend in the road, and the resort lobby and parking is on your left. Do note that you should leave your luggage in the car as once you check into the hotel and register for the program, you will then drive a short distance to park for walking access to your room.
  Phoenix - Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort from I-10 Westbound Stay on I-10 west to the US 60 and exit east toward Mesa / Globe. Stay on US 60 east about 3 miles to Loop 101 north toward Scottsdale. Continue on Loop 101 North to Indian BEND (NOT Indian School) exit and turn left. At the traffic light on Scottsdale Road, turn left and get into the right lane on Scottsdale Road. Just south of Lincoln Dr, the resort will be on your right. You will turn right onto "Rose Lane", follow it left around an immediate bend in the road, and the resort lobby and parking is on your left. Do note that you should leave your luggage in the car as once you check into the hotel and register for the program, you will then drive a short distance to park for walking access to your room.
  Phoenix - Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort from I-17 Southbound Take the I-17 south to the Loop 101 East exit. Continue on Loop 101 East until the Indian Bend (NOT Indian School) exit and turn right. At the traffic light on Scottsdale Road, turn left and get into the right lane on Scottsdale Road. Just south of Lincoln Road, the resort will be on your right. You will turn right onto "Rose Street", follow it left around an immediate bend in the road, and the resort lobby and parking is on your left. Do note that you should leave your luggage in the car as once you check into the hotel and register for the program, you will then drive a short distance to park for walking access to your room.
Elevation Note: 5,000 feet Hualapai Lodge.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Check-In/Registration and Orientation
(Sunday, October 6)
   
 Afternoon: On site Road Scholar program registration from 4:30 - 5:15 PM in the resort meeting room.
 Dinner: Dinner will be at the Cottonwoods Resort. Entrees will vary nightly and always include a vegetarian option. Entree examples include chicken w/provencal herbs, stuffed jumbo pasta shells, Creole cornbread catfish fillets; shaved Italian beef w/au jus on sourdough, etc. Entrees come with soup or salad, steamed seasonal veggies, assorted rolls, drink and a light dessert.
 Evening: Your Northern Arizona University Road Scholar coordinator will lead a program orientation and group introductions after dinner in the meeting room. Prepare yourself for for the adventure ahead and meet your fellow participants.
   
Accommodations: Scottsdale Cottonwood Resort & Suites
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Heard Museum/Desert Botanical Gardens
(Monday, October 7)

Note: Both field trips requiring walking and standing for prolonged amounts of time. Total distance of 1 mile.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a continental breakfast buffet at the resort to include on various days: scrambled eggs, croissant sandwich, sliced fruits, whole grain breads, cereal, oatmeal, coffee/tea, juices, etc
 Morning: After breakfast, tour the Desert Botanical Garden. Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. One of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums, this one-of-a-kind museum showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences to more than 300,000 visitors each year.
 Lunch: Enjoy a sandwich lunch on the outdoor terrace at the Desert Botanical Garden.
 Afternoon: Travel to central Phoenix to tour the Heard Museum, home of one of the most comprehensive collections of Native American artifacts, arts and crafts in the world. Go on a docent-led tour of the collections and admire the architecture and statuary in the gardens.The mission of the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is to educate the public about the heritage and living cultures and arts of Native peoples, with an emphasis on the peoples of the Southwest.
 Dinner: Dinner will be at the on-site restaurant at the Cottonwoods Resort.
 Evening: This evening is left unscheduled so participants can enjoy the ambiance of the resort and relax a bit.
   
Accommodations: Scottsdale Cottonwood Resort & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Taliesin West and the Desert Cabelleros Museum.
(Tuesday, October 8)

Note: Both field trips require walking and standing for expended periods. Less than 1 mile total of walking.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a continental breakfast buffet at the resort.
 Morning: After checking out of our rooms and loading up the vehicles, We will visit Frank Lloyd Wrights former winter home, Taliesin West. Experience firsthand Wright’s brilliant ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. Visit the Cabaret Theater, Music Pavilion, Kiva and Frank Lloyd Wright’s private office—all linked by dramatic terraces, gardens and walkways overlooking the rugged Sonoran Desert and valley below. Knowledgeable and experienced guides explain how the site relates to the desert and provide a general overview of Wright’s philosophies and theories of design.
 Lunch: Lunch in a local Wickenburg restaurant.
 Afternoon: After lunch visit the Desert Caballeros Museum for a docent-led tour of their western art collection and their rotating exhibits on western life and art. As one might expect, cowboy culture and cowboy art are well-represented in this little gem. Exquisite works by Albert Bierstadt, Charles Russell, Frederic Remington and other artistic heavyweights will jingle the spurs of even the most citified visitor. Plenty of Western memorabilia accompanies the art, as well as historical dioramas and Native American artifacts.

Following our visit, enjoy a little free time to walk around Wickenburg to visit a few of its many western shops and to enjoy its authenticity.

 Dinner: Dinner at a local Wickenburg restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy a presentation on the myth vs. reality of the cowboy lifestyle as depicted in Hollywood.
   
Accommodations: Los Viajeros Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Powerhouse Museum/Old Route 66/Peach Springs
(Wednesday, October 9)

Note: Less than 1 mile of walking today.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a full breakfast at a local Wickenburg restaurant.
 Morning: After breakfast we will check out of our rooms, load the vehicles, and depart for Kingman via a remote, lonesome, and scenic highway. If you haven't already, you will soon realize that experiencing Arizona "off-the- beaten-path" is the only way to go! When we arrive into Kingman we will visit the Powerhouse Museum. Located in the heart of the longest remaining stretch of the 2400 miles that was Route 66. This Route 66 Museum depicts the historical evolution of travel along the 35th parallel that became Route 66. Brilliant murals, photos and life-size dioramas capture each of the groups that have traveled the route that has come to be known as the Mother Road
 Lunch: Lunch at the Dam Bar and Grill in Kingman.
 Afternoon: Following lunch we will visit the Mohave Museum of History & Arts. Small-town charm infuses the Mohave Museum, which features a rich tapestry of cultures and events, including Native American tribes, Lt. Edward Beale's camel-mounted expedition of 1857, miners, steamboaters, ranchers, the building of Hoover Dam and the training of World War II airmen. Following our museum visits we will travel along some of the best-preserved Route 66 sections on our way to Peach Springs. We will make a few quick stops for that unique Route 66 kitsch, especially that found in historic Hackberry, Arizona.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hualapai Lodge.
 Evening: Free evening following our very full day and later dinner.
   
Accommodations: Hualapai Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Drive to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River.
(Thursday, October 10)

Note: An optional one mile walk along Diamond Creek to the Colorado River will be offered. This will entail a number of shallow water crossings of Diamond Creek. For those who choose not to do the walk, vans will transport the rest of the group the one mile to the Colorado River. Diamond Creek Road is a dirt road and can be bumpy at times.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at Hualapai Lodge.
 Morning: Depart after breakfast for a field trip down Peach Springs Canyon on the Diamond Creek Road and Hualapai Reservation to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Stops will be made along the way at various points of interest. This is a true "Journey to the Center of the Earth" as the walls of the Grand Canyon rise higher and higher as you drive towards the Colorado River. Pass through hundreds of millions of years of geologic history culminating in the 1.8 billion year old rock of the Granite Gorge.
 Lunch: Picnic lunch along the banks of the Colorado River at the bottom of Grand Canyon.
 Afternoon: View Diamond Creek Rapids, look for desert bighorn sheep, and watch for river runners on the Colorado River. Interesting history, facts and management issues regarding the Colorado River will be shared with the group. Return in late afternoon to Hualapai Lodge.
 Dinner: Enjoy a dinner at the Hualapai Lodge restaurant.
 Evening: Evening program on Hualapai tribal issues or Hualapai culture (presented by tribal members) or Arizona ranching life (presented by a local rancher).
   
Accommodations: Hualapai Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Mojave Desert to Grand Canyon West Airport / Helicopter to River and Smooth Water Raft Trip on the Colorado River through Western Grand Canyon.
(Friday, October 11)

Note: Getting in and out of rafts requires some agility.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hualapai Lodge restaurant.
 Morning: After breakfast depart for Quartermaster Point and Grand Canyon West (a Hualapai Nation enterprise). Travel along the Grand Wash Cliffs, the western most edge of the Colorado Plateau and a world class Joshua tree forest en route to Grand Canyon West, and the start of a Colorado River raft trip. Grand Canyon West is an off the beaten path destination and requires total travel time (with scenic stops) of approximately 2.5 hours, much of which is on well maintained dirt roads.
 Lunch: Sack lunches on rim or at the Colorado River in the bottom of Grand Canyon (depending on helicopter schedule).
 Afternoon: Arrive at the Grand Canyon West heliport, board a helicopter for a short but exhilarating ride into the Grand Canyon to the banks of the mighty Colorado River. Board a large motorized raft for a scenic river trip through the extreme western portion of the Grand Canyon. Hualapai river guides will share their knowledge of the area during this incredible trip. Experience the dramatic “exit” out of the Grand Canyon through the Grand Wash Cliffs. WIND AND SAFETY ADVISORY: Please note the ability to fly helicopters to the Colorado River and the start of the raft trip is dependent on wind conditions on the rim and in the canyon. On extremely windy days, due to safety concerns, helicopters will not be allowed to fly. Although this is always a possibility, it happens very infrequently. Your coordinator will provide an alternative activity in the area if this occurs.
 Dinner: Enjoy a well deserved dinner in Kingman at a local restaurant.
 Evening: Late arrival back at the Hualapai Lodge.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Return to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport/Scottsdale Hotel
(Saturday, October 12)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Hualapai Lodge restaurant.
 Morning: After breakfast we depart for our return trip to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Scottsdale. We will return via different highways with arrival at the airport by 12:30 PM. Those who desire drop offs at our Scottsdale hotel will arrive there by approximately 1:15 PM.
 Lunch: Sack lunch for participants will be provided if requested
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition


Author: Wallis, Michael


Description: America's Main Street is celebration, Michael Wallis hit the road again, revisiting people and places that made the Mother Road on American icon, and uncovering new treasures. A love letter and a tribute, Route 66: The Mother Road takes us on an unforgettable journey through the secret corners and hidden towns of America's most famous and beloved highway.



Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West


Author: Stegner, Wallace


Description: Here Wallace Stegner, a Pulitzer Prize-winner, gives us a thrilling account of Powell's struggle against western geography and Washington politics. We witness the successes and frustrations of Powell's distinguished career, and appreciate his unparalleled understanding of the West. "Stegner's most exciting work." (San Francisco Chronicle) 496pp



Living at the Edge: Explorers, Exploiters, and Settlers of the Grand Canyon Region


Author: Anderson, Michael F


Description: A comprehensive look at the pioneer history of the Grand Canyon Region, from its earliest residents to the creation of the national park at the end of the pioneer era (circa 1920). Included are close to two hundred historic photographs, many never published before, and 12 custom maps of the region. 184pp



Half Broke Horses


Author: Walls, Jeannette


Description: Jeannette Walls, author of The Glass Castle, wrote this true life novel which unfolds across Northern Arizona from the 1920s to the 1960s. Its heroine, Lily Casey Smith, (Ms. Wall's grandmother) battled the elements, prejudices, economic conditions and politics of remote frontier Arizona. Many of the locations described - Peach Springs, Seligman, Flagstaff, the Navajo Reservation, the Arizona Strip - are sites visited by NAU Road Scholar programs. Readers of this selection will feel the sense of heritage from this tale of life in our distant corner of America.



We are an Indian Nation: A History of the Hualapai People (First Peoples: New Directions in Indigenous Studies)


Author: Shepherd, Jeffrey P.


Description: This book focuses on the historical construction of the Hualapai Nation in the face of modern American colonialism. Shepherd shows that Hualapai nation-building was a complex process shaped by band identities, competing visions of the past, creative reactions to modernity, and resistance to state power. He analyzes how the Hualapais transformed an externally imposed tribal identity through nationalist discourses of protecting aboriginal territory; and he examines how that discourse strengthened the Hualapais’ claim to land and water while simultaneously reifying a politicized version of their own history. Drawing on recent work in American Indian history and Native American studies, Shepherd shows how the Hualapai have strived to reclaim a distinct identity and culture in the face of ongoing colonialism.





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