Happy Friday!  I don’t know about you but I am READY for the weekend!  Anyone doing anything fun this weekend…enjoying some beautiful weather…perhaps hiking the Grand Canyon?!  HA…I wish!!  So since most of us probably can’t make it out the Grand Canyon for a little stroll…how about we live vicariously thru Brittany and Mike while we pour over the last installment of their honeymoon recap – Go West!  Enjoy & have a lover-ly weekend!!

We spent the last half of our honeymoon adventure in Arizona…and completely fell in love with this state!  {You can read about the first half of our adventure here}

Using Flagstaff as our base camp, we were able to see quite a few areas in and around northern Arizona.  First up….the Grand Canyon!

Day 5: Grand Canyon, South Rim, Arizona

My husband and I had both been to the Grand Canyon separately, but wanted to visit it together.  Plus, I don’t think either of us could tire of viewing such a majestic and beautiful sight.  Beginning at the South Rim, we decided to hike down into the canyon for a new perspective.  We hiked the Bright Angel Trail.  This trail is a maintained dirt trail that extends 12 miles into the Canyon, to Plateau Point.  The hike was easy on the way down…of course!  Aside from the occasional run-in with pack mules, it was quiet, peaceful and gorgeous.  I drove my husband crazy, stopping every 10-15 feet to snap another photo.  Good thing I did though, because hiking out of the canyon was strenuous, to say the least.  A 2,000 foot elevation climb in 3 miles on a narrow footpath made me pack away my camera and focus on walking.

If you are up for a good workout, the Bright Angel Trail is a great way to see a whole new side of the Grand Canyon.  Just be cautious!  This trail is very steep and gets quite narrow at several spots.  Carry plenty of water and food with you and start your hike early, especially in the summer.   Check out the National Park Service website for more information on day hikes in the Grand Canyon.

Day 6: Page, Arizona

It was a purely an accident that Page ended up on our honeymoon itinerary.  We had another spot on our “must do” list, but were unable to get a permit for that park.  When the permit was denied and we searched for something else to do in the area, we happened upon a website for tours of Antelope Canyon.  Antelope Canyon is a “slot canyon”, formed by rainwater eroding crevices into the sandstone.  Over time, flash floods have eroded the stone into smooth “flowing” walls.

Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo lands and requires a tour guide to gain access.   There are several companies that offer tours of the canyon, but we would recommend Chief Tsosie and his guides at Antelope Slot Canyon Tours!  The guides are all Navajos that grew up on this land, are knowledgeable about the canyon and extremely helpful and friendly.  We spent a little extra and booked a photography tour at the peak time (10:30 am).  The extra money was well worth it!  Not only did we have extra time in the canyon, we had a tour guide all to ourselves and he showed us how to change the settings to properly capture the photos of Antelope Canyon.  Just take a look at our photos…amazing!

Following our tour, the guide suggested that we grab a picnic lunch and head to Horseshoe Bend for a picnic.  We took his advice and boy…were we glad that we did!

Day 7: Oak Creek Canyon/89A, Sedona & Montezuma’s Castle

Departing Flagstaff, we jumped on the scenic Highway 89A south to Sedona.   It was definitely worth a few extra minutes in the car.  The views of Oak Creek Canyon and the fall colors were gorgeous!  {we were there the first week of November}  We did not stop much along 89A for photos, but I can assure you that you will want to take this route if you find yourself in the area.  This article was one of the selling points for me and does a great job of illustrating the sights along 89A.

The red rocks of Sedona are breathtaking.   Unfortunately, we did not have more than an afternoon to enjoy the scenery.  We hiked the Cathedral Rock trail, which was more like rock climbing at times.  We were blown away by the view at the end {below…top left photo}.  Totally worth scaling up rock walls with a purse slung over one shoulder.  What?!  It was labeled an “easy” trail…

After our quick tour of Sedona, we continued south toward Phoenix.  Along the way, we stopped off in Camp Verde, to see Montezuma Castle.  Montezuma Castle is a 20 room dwelling, built by the Sinagua people, into cliffs that border Beaver Creek.  It is believed that the structure dates back 600 years.  Kind of amazing, considering it was built in the side of a limestone cliff without the use of modern building equipment.

We ended our road trip honeymoon journey in Phoenix.  It was bittersweet, for sure.  We fell in love with the little bit of the west that we were able to visit.  So much untouched natural beauty, just off the beaten path.  Those residents of Arizona and eastern California sure are lucky to have such a gorgeous backyard!

We can’t wait to plan another road trip adventure!  It provided us with so many wonderful memories and experiences.  We spent hours in the car, marveling at our surroundings and having some great conversations about life….our dreams for the future, our favorite moments from the wedding and everything in between.  It is not for everyone, but I would recommend trying a road trip at least once.  And, if you really want to make it an exciting trip….Go West!

~ Brittany