The first time I visited Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “de-SHAY”) National Monument, about 7 years ago, I was here to write a story. I’d just been bitten by the mother of all flu bugs, and as I bounced in the back of a flatbed 4X4 truck on a Navajo Indian-guided tour, my fever was peaking and my breakfast was about to make an encore appearance. I never ... Read More

I’m not an adventure traveler. So when I tell you that I went on the overnight mule ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you should understand that I was way out of my comfort zone. It wasn’t my idea -- it was my father-in-law’s and he thought it would be a great experience. So, one lovely day we headed over from Las Vegas, spent the night in a cabin at Bright Angel and prepared for our journey the next morning. ... Read More

From our Q&A mailbox:

Question: Do you recommend a road trip to Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon in late March (Spring Break) with a tent trailer? We are concerned about road conditions and enjoyment if weather is bad. We will be traveling with boys age 10 and 7 and we have a heater and generator.

Answer: Our AAA Arizona contacts say that March can be a heavy snow month, but the end of March may not be too bad. In the Zion area in March the temperatures at night are in the 30's and day time temps are upper 40's, lower... Read More

Written by a AAA travel expert...

I admit it. When I saw those goofy fake “hanging off the cliff” photos I wanted one too. So I took off for Sedona, AZ and jumped on Pink Jeep’s Broken Arrow Tour to check it out. For two hours we were all over the red rock country, driving in places where there really weren’t places except right up and over the rock.

The experience was really fun, and I was glad I put aside my “that’s so touristy” attitude. Maybe you have one too. It’s easy to acquire if you’ve been all over the world, ridden the camel, snorkeled with the... Read More

This is the fifth and final in a series of posts about visiting 12 national parks in Utah and Arizona over 9 days.

In the morning, I went out early with my camera. We’d found our cabin in the dark, not realizing it was only a few steps away from the edge. Violent winds had swept across the Arizona desert that week, kicking up a storm of red dust, so the canyon itself was hazy—still magnificent, but not as vivid as the postcards. For a lazy photographer like me, it was a fine excuse to put away the tripod. The... Read More

This is the fourth in a series of posts about visiting 12 national parks in Utah and Arizona over 9 days.

Our original plans called for a straight haul from Kayenta to the Grand Canyon, a 3-hour drive with nothing to see along the way. I pulled out the AAA maps and TourBook® guides, realizing we could add two national parks to our tally, plus an attraction I’d always wanted to see: Meteor Crater (from the movie “Starman”). The only hitch: adding 4 more hours to our drive time. And there’d be no speeding—the AAA TripTik warned... Read More

This post was written by a AAA Arizona expert....

If you’re feeling an urge to escape from everyday stress, chances are you’re overdue for a trip to the spa.  It sounded good to me, even though in the back of my head was the thought “Do real men hang out at a spa???”  I wanted to find out.

Whether it’s personal reflection, maintaining a healthy mind and body or simply decompressing from the daily grind that you seek, you won’t have to look far to find a resort or destination spa that might be just the ticket for you. I was ready for all four, and geared up to the... Read More

    These featured AAA Drive Trips - just two of over 100 available - are a contrast in geography and history, each with their own appeal and seasonal advantages. Click on the Drive Trip's name to access the complete printable itinerary.

The first Drive Trip, Central and Northern Arizona, a 327-mile journey from Phoenix to Prescott to Flagstaff, is, says AAA Road Reporter Mike Robb. "one of our most popular Drive Trips." ... Read More

Question: Armen Changizian asks: We are taking the kids on a road trip with the Grand Canyon as the final destination. The starting point is from Newberg, Oregon, on March 19 in the early a.m. and will need to end on March 28. Can you make some recommendations as to things to see and do on our trip?  The Kids are 15, 12 and 10 and love seeing new things. We have already made the Zion/Bryce trip. Any tips and special things to see on the way would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Judy Mest, travel planner at the AAA office in Portland, Ore., answers: Since you've already... Read More

Question: Charles Sotiropoulos asks:  I plan to visit Sedona, Arizona, and would like tips on lodging and the best time of year to visit.  I have many varied interests including golf, sightseeing, horseback riding, plus local hangouts.

Answer: Dave Jankus, travel planner at the AAA office in Phoenix says: Sedona is one Arizona's premier destinations. Although Sedona is in the northern and cooler part of the state, it is in a valley and during the summer temperatures can reach into the 100's. The best time to visit is in the fall or spring.  Oak... Read More