Road Scholar : Home
On the Road: Exploring Arizona’s Landscapes from Phoenix to Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon

Program Number: 1052RJ
Start and End Dates:
4/6/2013 - 4/14/2013;
Duration: 8 nights
Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
Price starting at: $1,298.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: On the Road; National Parks; Natural History; Native American Studies
Meals: 24; 8 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 8 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Arizona's expansive vistas, saguaro cactus, yawning canyons and rainbow rocks tell a story hundreds of centuries old, one only lately updated by the arrival and flourishing of human beings. Experience 800-year-old cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument; Prescott, the capital of the Arizona Territory territorial; and Jerome, a copper mining town-turned-colony of artists.




Highlights

• In Phoenix, visit the Heard Museum to study Native peoples like the Hohokam, whose ingenious canals first made the region arable, and admire genius of another kind at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.
• Visit visionary Paolo Soleri’s socio-architectural experiment, Arcosanti, an ultra-modern urban laboratory under construction by students there to learn the principles and methods of ecological architecture.
• Journey through the stark and beautiful Navajo Reservation en route to the Grand Canyon, where you take in the grandeur of this American marvel from multiple viewpoints along the rim.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles on paved or dirt trails. Optional longer hikes available. Elevations up to 7,000 feet.



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Scottsdale, 2 nights; coach to Prescott, 1 night; coach to Sedona, 2 nights; coach to Flagstaff, 1 night; coach to Grand Canyon South Rim, 2 nights; coach to Phoenix/Scottsdale, departure.



Coordinated by Northern Arizona University.




Prescott

Mile-high Prescott is nestled in a scenic valley at the edge of the Bradshaw Mountains. In addition to archaeological digs and a wealth of pioneer history, the city boasts a premier flight training center and an annual gathering of cowboy poets.



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.



Jerome (Arizona)

Jerome is a small city in southern Idaho’s Magic Valley, so called because the construction of a series of dams and canals on the Snake River “magically” turned this area into highly productive farmland. Jerome is home to The Monastery Of The Ascension, a community of about a dozen Benedictine monks that has been in Southern Idaho since 1965.



Sedona

Sedona was historically a rural ranching community in Oak Creek Canyon. Today, the sunny city attracts visitors to its red-rock cliffs and lush evergreens, international film festival, and lively art scene.



Flagstaff

Nestled at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a perfect departure point for trips to the Glen and Grand canyons or Sunset Crater National Monument. At 7,000 feet in elevation, this cool mountain city is one of the highest in the nation.



Grand Canyon National Park

Within the borders of its 1.2 million acres, this World Heritage Site offers bikers, hikers, rafters and campers everything from breathtaking vistas to high adventure. Its 277 miles of raw rock and water continue to amaze generations of visitors.
Accommodations
Scottsdale: Luxury desert resort. Prescott: Conference center. Flagstaff and Sedona: Modern hotels. Grand Canyon: National Park lodge close to rim.
Meals and Lodgings
   Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites
  Scottsdale, AZ 2 nights
   Chapel Rock Lodge
  Prescott, AZ 1 night
   La Quinta Inn, Sedona
  Sedona, AZ 2 nights
   Flagstaff La Quinta Inn & Suites
  Flagstaff, AZ 1 night
   Grand Canyon South Rim Lodge
  Grand Canyon Village, South Rim 2 nights
 Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Twenty five acre resort green landscaped on the Sonora Desert at the foot of Camelback Mountain in uptown Scottsdale, AZ.
  Contact info: 6160 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85253 USA
phone: 480-991-1414
web: www.scottsdalecottonwoods.com
  Room amenities: Plush top mattress, separate vanity area, mini refrigerator, coffee and tea station, work desk, wifi, whitewashed wood beamed ceilings, safes in every room, microwaves available in suits or upon request.
  Facility amenities: Fitness center, 2 outdoor pools, 2 outdoor whirlpool spas, tennis courts, shuffleboard, jogging, fitness and nature trails, hammocks, Borgata Shopping Center steps away.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: Seasonal Rates vary widely; winter/spring is peak season with rates from $150 - $250/night.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM

 Chapel Rock Lodge
Type: Lodge
  Description: Retreat style setting. Beautifully wooded grounds seclude the facility in a flat setting between the hills of historic Prescott AZ, with its ideal mile-high climate. Downtown is only two miles away.
  Contact info: 1131 County Club Dr
Prescott, AZ 86001 USA
phone: 877-445-3499
web: www.chapelrock.net
  Room amenities: Private bath, private deck or patio for each room, views of forest and nearby rock outcroppings from each room. No TV, radio or in-room phone. In the same building is a central meeting area with a refrigerator, microwave, sink, sitting area and fireplace. Linens and soap in each room; central area has supply of shampoo and some toiletries.
  Facility amenities: On site cafeteria, patios, forest views all around, outdoor rock fireplaces, free wireless internet access throughout the facility. Handicapped ramps throughout the facility. Free on-site parking.
  Smoking allowed: No

 La Quinta Inn, Sedona
Type: Motel
  Description: Location less than a mile from the Oak Creek Country Club. The surrounding area is located on the escarpment where the Colorado Plateau meets the Sonoran Desert. Over thousands of years, Oak Creek has carved a red rock paradise which surrounds the property.
  Contact info: 6176 Hwy 179
Sedona, AR 86336 USA
phone: 928-284-0711
web: www.lq.com
  Room amenities: Cable TV, alarm clock radio, coffee maker, hair dryer, dataport phones, iron w/ board.
  Facility amenities: This facility offers 103 guest rooms on two floors. Heated outdoor pool, hot tub, free local calls, free USA Today, complimentary continental breakfast.
  Smoking allowed: Yes

 Flagstaff La Quinta Inn & Suites
Type: Motel
  Description: Four floors with 2 elevators, 128 rooms. Conveniently close to shopping. One quarter mile to Northern Arizona University. 2 miles to historic downtown Flagstaff. Wide range of cuisine available at nearby restaurants.
  Contact info: 2015 S Beulah Blvd
Flagstaff, AZ 86001 USA
phone: 928-556-8666
web: www.lq.com/lq/properties/propertyProfile.do?ident=LQ939&propId=939
  Room amenities: Free WIFI, dataport phones, premium cable channels, coffee maker, hair dryer, clock.
  Facility amenities: Seasonal outdoor pool and spa, fitness center. Deluxe continental breakfast. Guest coin operated laundry available. Free local calls. Participants requesting a refrigerator for medicine can have access to a locked refrigerator that is located in the hotel lobby area. Lobby microwave available to guests 24 hours. Safety deposit box at front desk available to all guests. Roll away beds for $10.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Grand Canyon South Rim Lodge
Type: Lodge
  Description: Set in the pinon pines in Grand Canyon Village and 1/4 mile from the Rim, the Yavapai Lodge is convenient to all the South Rim has to offer. Pick up points for South Rim shuttles are on property.
  Contact info: South Grand Canyon Village South Rim
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 USA
phone: 928-638-2631
web: www.grandcanyonlodges.com
  Room amenities: TV, phone, one or two queen beds, full bath.
  Facility amenities: Full service cafeteria, gift shop, post office and grocery store adjacent. One half mile to commercial laundromat. Trailheads for hiking on and near the property.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights after: $85.00 - $125.00 Room rates vary with season - check with the lodge for the rates which would apply for your schedule.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Your Northern Arizona University coordinator will do program registraion in the hotel meeting room, 4:30-5:15 PM. You will be staying at Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites that night.
  End of Program:
Phx Intl Airport by 1:00 PM, followed by a stop at the starting hotel. You will be staying at Grand Canyon South Rim Lodge the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking at starting hotel is free for the duration of 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:  Deaprtures
Travel Details
 

From Phoenix Airport to Cottonwoods Resort

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

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

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

1st Person - $24.00, 2nd person $7.00. Fares subj. to change
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.
 

Grand Canyon to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

 

To Airport

 
 

Service:

 

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

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Included in program fee
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5 hours 
 

Distance:

 

230 miles
   

On last program day, NAU Road Scholar shuttle takes you from Grand Canyon to the Phoenix airport, all terminals, or back to the original program hotel. Arrival to airport by 1:00 PM
 
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.
  To Cottonwoods Resort from I-17 Southbound Stay on I-17 south to the Loop 101 East exit. Continue on Loop 101 East until the Indian Bend (NOT Indian School) exit. Turn right (west) onto Indian Bend. At traffic light at Scottsdale Rd, turn left (south) and stay on Scottsdale Rd Just south of Lincold Rd the hotel will be on your right.
Elevation Note: Most sites 4,000-7000 ft; those with heart/lung problems -check with physician before attending.
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: Arrival & Registration/Introductions & Orientation
(Saturday, April 6)
   
 Afternoon: On-site registration from 4:30 - 5:15 P.M.
 Dinner: Dinner will be catered on-site at the Cottonwoods Resort. Entrées will vary nightly and include a vegetarian option. Entrée examples include:Chicken w/Provencial Herbs; Stuffed Jumbo Pasta Shells; Creole Cornbread Catfish Filets. Entrées include soup or salad, steamed seasonal vegetables, assorted rolls & butter, light desert, and a non-alcoholic beverage.
 Evening: Your coordinator will lead the program orientation session with questions and answers, followed by participant introductions.
   
Accommodations: Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Desert Botanical Garden/Heard Museum/Arizona Landscapes
(Sunday, April 7)
   
 Breakfast: Continental breakfast at the resort. Choices could include; Scrambled eggs, French toast, fresh breads, sliced fruit, coffee, juice, 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 catered in the Conference Center on-site at the Cottonwoods Resort.
 Evening: Presentation/overview of Arizona landscapes. Your coordinator will provide an overview of the geology, plant and animal life, archaeology and history of the areas you'll be touring, and how they all relate to each other, preparing you for what you'll be seeing in depth for the rest of the program.
   
Accommodations: Scottsdale Cottonwoods Resort and Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Taliesen West, Arcosanti, and Prescott.
(Monday, April 8)
   
 Breakfast: Continental breakfast at the resort. Choices could include; Scrambled eggs, French toast, fresh breads, sliced fruit, coffee, juice, etc.
 Morning: After breakfast we check out of our rooms, load the vehicle, and embark on a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s western studio and home, Taliesen West. Frank Lloyd Wright began building this desert masterpiece in 1937 as his personal winter home, studio, and architectural campus. Located on the beautiful Sonoran desert in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in northeast Scottsdale, the site allows visitors to experience firsthand Wright’s brilliant ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces. Wright welcomed and embraced the social and technological changes made possible by the Industrial Revolution and enthusiastically initiated his own architectural revolution. Inspired by the democratic spirit of America and the opportunities it afforded, he set out to design buildings worthy of such a democracy. Dismissing the masquerade of imported, historic European styles most Americans favored, his goal was to create an architecture that addressed the individual physical, social, and spiritual needs of the modern American citizen. To Wright, architecture was not just about buildings, it was about nourishing the lives of those sheltered within them. What were needed were environments to inspire and offer repose to the inhabitants. He called his architecture “organic” and described it as that “great living creative spirit which from generation to generation, from age to age, proceeds, persists, creates, according to the nature of man and his circumstances as they both change.” Then journey north and watch the plant communities change as we move from the Basin and Range region to the central highlands and transition zone.
 Lunch: Lunch buffet at Arcosanti.
 Afternoon: After lunch we tour Arcosanti. In 1970, the Cosanti Foundation began building Arcosanti, an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix. When complete, Arcosanti will house 5000 people, demonstrating ways to improve urban conditions and lessen our destructive impact on the earth. Arcosanti is designed according to the concept of arcology (architecture ecology), developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri. In late afternoon we check into the beautiful grounds of the Chapel Rock Conference Center.
 Dinner: Dinner at Chapel Rock.
 Evening: After dinner, enjoy a presentation on Arizona’s territorial history by Melissa Ruffner.
   
Accommodations: Chapel Rock Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Sharlot Hall Museum/Historic Courthouse Square Prescott/ Montezuma Castle National Monument
(Tuesday, April 9)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast buffet at the Chapel Rock Conference Center.
 Morning: Visit the Sharlot Hall Museum for a look at Arizona’s territorial history. Enjoy a walking tour of the Museum’s many historic structures including Arizona's original governor's "mansion" of rough-hewn logs, constructed in 1864. Learn about the pioneer characters that settled here in the early days of the Arizona territory and made Prescott the first hub of civility in Northern Arizona. The Sharlot Hall Museum is the largest museum in the central territory of Arizona, and is dedicated to providing educational adventures in human and natural history. Founded by territorial historian and poet Sharlot M. Hall in 1928, the Museum today explores a rich diversity of Arizona’s heritage. Participants will have time to stroll Prescott’s historic Whiskey Row and Courthouse Square with turn its of the 20th century architecture and small town ambience.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local Prescott downtown restaurant.
 Afternoon: Following lunch, depart for historic Jerome. Once known as the wickedest town in the west, Jerome was a copper mining camp, growing from a settlement of tents to a roaring mining community. Jerome is now a bustling tourist magnet and artistic community with a population of about 450. It includes a modicum of artists, craft people, musicians, writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, gift shop proprietors and fallen-down-building landlords. Continue this afternoon with a visit to Montezuma Castle National Monument. Montezuma Castle is a 5-story, 20-room cliff dwelling nestled in a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley. It is one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America, constructed 900 years ago by the pre-historic Sinagua people. Then enter Sedona’s red rock beauty.
 Dinner: Dinner at Red Stone Restaurant at the Oak Creek Country Club or another local restaurant.
 Evening: After dinner, a free evening to rest from our long day of adventures and sight seeing.
   
Accommodations: La Quinta Inn, Sedona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Oak Creek Canyon/Museum of Northern Arizona/Walnut Canyon National Monument/Southwest Flora & Fauna /Presentation on Hopi Culture
(Wednesday, April 10)
   
 Breakfast: Deluxe continental breakfast at the hotel could include waffles, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, pastries, bagels, cereal, muffins, juice, milk and coffee.
 Morning: After breakfast, enjoy a Hopi Indian presenter who will discuss Hopi customs and traditions. The Hopi, descendents of the Grand Canyon's Ancestral Puebloans, live on ancient mesa villages northeast of Sedona.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant in Sedona.
 Afternoon: After lunch, This afternoon, depart for Red Rock Crossing along Oak Creek and other scenic spots in Sedona. We have some free time in the afternoon to hike or explore Sedona's galleries and shops. Convenient hikes include the Bell Rock Trail. Optional visits to uptown Sedona, and Tlaquepaque. Tlaquepaque is modeled after a village of the same name in Guadalajara. Tlaquepaque means "Place above Clay Land," and the area is known for its pottery and blown glass.Tlaquepaque, a Sedona landmark since the 1970s, with its vine-covered stucco walls, cobble-stoned walkways and magnificent arched entryways give you the feeling that it has been here for centuries.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
 Evening: After dinner, a presentation on the flora and fauna of the Southwest or another topic of interest.
   
Accommodations: La Quinta Inn, Sedona
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Oak Creek Canyon/Museum of Northern Arizona/Walnut Canyon National Monument
(Thursday, April 11)
   
 Breakfast: Deluxe continental breakfast at the hotel to include waffles, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruits, pastries, bagels, cereals, muffins, juices, milk and coffee.
 Morning: After breakfast, travel one of Arizona's most scenic highways through the steep, rock-walled cliffs of Oak Creek Canyon to the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. The museum includes an extensive collection of Native American art and artifacts from the Colorado Plateau.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: After lunch, tour the cliff dwellings and beautiful canyon at Walnut Canyon National Monument, home to the ancient Sinagua culture, ancestors of Puebloan peoples. The setting differs dramatically from that at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Here, visitors are able to walk into some of the remaining cliff dwellings deep in this sinuous canyon and observe the differences in vegetation along the walk. The monument has a small museum and rim walks for those who do not wish to descend the 240 stairs to the Island Trail -- 0.9 mile loop.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.
 Evening: In preparation for the Grand Canyon, learn about the geological forces which have shaped the Grand Canyon over the last 2 billion years, its layer cake of stone, and the relentless carving of the Colorado River.
   
Accommodations: Flagstaff La Quinta Inn & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Grand Canyon National Park
(Friday, April 12)
   
 Breakfast: Deluxe continental breakfast at the hotel to include waffles, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruits, pastries, bagels, cereals, muffins, juices, milk and coffee.
 Morning: Board our vehicle for the scenic drive to the Grand Canyon. We drive past the San Francisco Peaks and Sunset Crater, named by John Wesley Powell because of its deep red hues, on our way to lunch at Cameron Trading Post situated in the southwestern corner of the vast Navajo Nation.
 Lunch: Lunch at Cameron Trading Post restaurant.
 Afternoon: In the afternoon, the motorcoach climbs up the Coconino Plateau to the eastern entrance of Grand Canyon National Park. At Desert View overlook, enjoy sweeping views of the Colorado River, the North Rim's Walhalla Plateau, the palisades of the desert, and Mary Jane Colter's Watchtower. The Watchtower is an interpretation of a prehistoric "tower kiva" with its lavishly painted interior by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. Then you'll continue your way along the South Rim with its huge, unforgettable views. As you pass several vista points leading to Grand Canyon Village, your guide will point out significant canyon features and introduce the group to the canyon's story.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Cafe of one of the Grand Canyon lodges.
 Evening: After dinner, optional National Park Service ranger presentation at the Shrine of the Ages auditorium.
   
Accommodations: Grand Canyon South Rim Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Grand Canyon Village/Celebratory Dinner
(Saturday, April 13)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Grand Canyon Lodge Cafe. Options include scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bacon, oatmeal, fresh fruit, juices, milk, coffee and more.
 Morning: Option to watch sunrise over the Grand Canyon, then back to the lodge for breakfast. Following breakfast, a presentation on a topic of local interest or enjoy a walking tour of historic Grand Canyon Village. You'll see the historic and newly renovated El Tovar Lodge, perched on the ledge of the Rim, the Kolb studio and art gallery and the many historical buildings, and the geologic fireplace designed by the renowned Mary Jane Colter. After your GC Village tour you may elect to walk a ways down the Bright Angel Trail, or you can take in views of the Grand Canyon from the many vantage points in the village.
 Lunch: Lunch at the Grand Canyon lodge cafe..
 Afternoon: After lunch, free time to explore Grand Canyon. Try the red line shuttle out to Hermit's Rest to enjoy spectacular views from the South Rim, walk the Geologic Walk of Time out to Yavapai Point, or explore the Village in depth.
 Dinner: Celebratory dinner at the Grand Canyon Squire Inn. Choices usually include Slow Roasted Herb Crusted Chicken, South of the Border Combo, Spinach Pasta, and Broiled Salmon.
 Evening: After dinner, free evening.
   
Accommodations: Grand Canyon South Rim Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Departures Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
(Sunday, April 14)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the Grand Canyon Lodge Cafe. Options include scrambled eggs, pancakes, french toast, sausage, bacon, oatmeal, fresh fruit, juices, milk, coffee and more.
 Morning: After breakfast, board bus to return to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix by 1:00 p.m., followed by drop at the starting hotel.
 Lunch: Box lunch en route to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Program ends upon arrival in Phoenix.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Flagstaff, AZ Flagstaff, AZ
Points of Interest within two hours of Flagstaff: Walnut Canyon NM, Wupatki NM, Sunset Crater NM, Museum of Northern Arizona, Downtown Flagstaff & old Route 66, Lowell Observatory, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona Red Rocks and the Secret Mountain Wilderness, Montezuma’s Castle NM, Tuzigoot NM, Jerome, AZ Ghost Town, San Francisco Peaks and the Kachina Wilderness, Hopi & Navajo Reservations, La Posada Hotel / Restaurant at Winslow, AZ, Grand Canyon Railroad at Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon National Park.
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


An Introduction to Grand Canyon Ecology


Author: Houk, Rose


Description: 56pp



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



Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water


Author: Reisner, Marc


Description: The story of the American West is the story of a relentless quest for a precious resource: water. It is a tale of rivers diverted and dammed, of political corruption and intrigue, of billion-dollar battles over water rights, of ecologic and economic disaster. In Cadillac Desert Marc Reisner writes of the earliest settlers, lured by the promise of paradise, and of the ruthless tactics employed by Los Angeles politicians and business interests to ensure the city's growth. Cadillac Desert is a stunning expose and a dramatic, intriguing history of the creation of an Eden--and Eden that may be only a mirage. 608pp



Carving Grand Canyon: Evidence, Theories, and Mystery


Author: Ranney, Wayne


Description: Ranney explains how rivers in general can physically carve canyons, looks chronologically at the numerous theories that have been presented by successive generations of geologists regarding the Grand Canyon's formation, and describes a plausible sequence of geologic events that could create such a landscape. Numerous color photographs, detailed illustrations, and maps are provided. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR 160pp; 2nd edition 2012.



Field Guide to the Grand Canyon


Author: Whitney, Stephen R


Description: This book describes and illustrates the area's plants and animals, and offers fascinating in-depth information on the natural history and geology of this dramatic region. 272pp



Grand Canyon Geology


Author: Beus, Stanley


Description: This second edition of the leading book on Grand Canyon geology contains the most recent discoveries and interpretations of the origin and history of the canyon. It includes two entirely new chapters: one on debris flow in the Canyon and one on the impact of water flow releases from the Glen Canyon Dam. All chapters have been updated where necessary and all photographs have been replaced or re-screened for better resolution. Written by acknowledged experts in stratigraphy, paleontology, structural geology, geomorphology, volcanism and seismology, this book offers a wealth of information for geologists and general readers interested in acquiring an understanding of the geological history of this great natural wonder. 423pp



Harvey Girls: Women Who Opened the West


Author: Poling-Kempes, Lesley


Description: Interviews, historical research, and photos recreate the Harvey Girl experience of women who came to the west to work as waitresses, but many stayed and settled, founding cattle and mining towns. 320pp



Life in Stone: Fossils of the Colorado Plateau


Author: Sadler, Christa


Description: Like pages in a book, the layers of sedimentary rock that are exposed on the Colorado Plateau tell us much about the diversity of environments that have come and gone over a period of hundreds of millions of years. This region is recognized as one of the finest earth-science laboratories in the world. Analysis of the fossil record and new discoveries across the plateau are answering questions, solving mysteries, and making connections that help us understand the history of life worldwide. "Life In Stone" tells the story of past environments and current discoveries with numerous illustrations and lively text written for a general audience. 72pp



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





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