In December 2019, a group of nine family and friends flew from Virginia to Arizona to go on holiday during Christmas. Why Arizona you may ask? Well, I was in Phoenix for few days in December 2018 for a work trip. I absolutely loved it, and when I got back home, I told my family and friends about it. I told them about the cactus, climbing Camelback Mountain, and eating a hamburger at Paradise Valley Burger Company. So, the group decided they wanted to go.
Since I had been to Arizona before, I was appointed as the tour director to take us to Arizona for Christmas. We rented a large AirBNB in Goodyear, Az, west of Phoenix. We also rented a 15-passenger van from Carl’s Van Rental so we could all travel as a group instead of separate vehicles. This really was the best way to travel since we were all going to same places anyway. During our 10-day trip, we made three major day trips to The Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Tombstone. We kept our eyes on the weather and planned our day trips accordingly.
Day 1
Day 1 was a travel day. We flew out of Dulles on a late afternoon flight. After a long layover in Denver, we flew into Phoenix where Carl had our van ready. After about an hours drive, be made it to our AirBNB, our home away from home for the next week and a half. We sorted through the house and each settled on our rooms. We unloaded and everyone was tired. It was a good travel day, but we were tired.
Day 2
I awoke early on this Saturday morning and went on a 9.1 mile run around the neighborhood. After having limited movement on the plane the day before, it felt good to get outside and run in the warm Arizona sun. We used this day to learn the area and do some grocery shopping. I drove us around the countryside which revealed some unique landscape and plants uncommon to the eastern United States. I like to drive, but fortunately, my daughter reminded me that we had limited miles to use for the week, so I took us back home. We called it an early night in preparation for an early morning to the Grand Canyon.
Day 3
For our first big day trip, a 4 am wakeup had us on the road bright and early. I was driving while everyone else finished their beauty rests. When the sun began to rise, the crowd began to gradually arouse from their slumber. They were hungry, and we were approaching Flagstaff, so we decided to get breakfast. Instead of relying on Google or Yelp, one of my friends rolled down his window at a red-light and asked the man in the car next to us where was a good place to eat breakfast – he told us about The Place: Mike and Ronda’s, so that’s where we went. It really was a good breakfast, with extra large biscuits, right on Route 66.
After breakfast, we went to the Grand Canyon. None of us had ever been there before so it was special for all of us to share this moment together. It was magnificent! We walked along the edge talking and laughing and taking pictures. It was approaching lunchtime, so I went back to get the van while everyone else went to a picnic area. We had packed a cooler with lunchmeat and all the fixings for a great picnic. We made our lunch, found benches overlooking the Grand Canyon, and enjoyed our meal.
After lunch, we drove around the rim of the Grand Canyon, stopping often at overlooks for more awesome views and overlooks. We then headed back to Goodyear for good nights sleep. It was a good day.
Day 4
I went on an early 3 mile run around the neighborhood as the sun came up. It is alway good to get out early in the morning as the new day dawns. This was a rest day as we recovered from the long day before. We did our Christmas shopping and enjoyed some local down time. It was a fun and relaxing day.
Day 5
Due to a forecast change, Christmas Eve ended up being our next day trip. A somewhat early wakeup had us on the road headed back north to Sedona. We had breakfast at Nicks Diner II in Surprise, Az. It was another good breakfast, and then we were back on the road. Sedona was beautiful, with a lot of red rock formations.
We rode around and found a trail to hike near the airport. We climbed up to near where a vortex was supposed to have mystical powers. We did the climb, but never did find the mystical powers! We then went on the hike and it seemed to go on for longer than anticipated. Some were not happy because they didn’t have proper shoes, and one got lost towards nightfall. Eventually everyone was found and made it to the van all safe and sound. We went to Sedona and ate at Oaxaca Restaurant before heading back to Goodyear. It was another good day.
Day 6
A 4 mile run was a good way to begin Christmas Day. Christmas Day kept us as home where we cooked and enjoyed everyone’s company. We couldn’t find a ham, so we only had turkey, but it was a good turkey with all the trimmings. Someone had made each of us a stocking and we had planned for a White Elephant Gift Exchange, which was fun as always. It was a good relaxing day, and the day was fabulous.
Day 7
Another 4 am wakeup had us on the road to Tombstone, Az. We ate at the Horseshoe Cafe in Benson, Az. We passed a Border Patrol Checkpoint and entered Tombstone. We parked and walked around the town. Sauntering down the boardwalk with the other cowboys waiting to enter the OK Corral for the scheduled shootout. We got our tickets and found our seats in the stands where we awaited the gunslingers to enter the stage. As promised, Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holliday gunned down the Clanton and McLaury gang. As the smoke cleared, so did the crowd.
We walked around town and before we knew it, it was time to leave; however, a trip to Tombstone wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Boothill Cemetery to read the interesting epitaphs. We stopped at the cemetery and then it was time to leave. We had to stop at the Border Patrol Checkpoint on the way out of town, but it was uneventful. We rode through Tucson on the way back to Goodyear. It was a fun day.
Day 8
The day started for me with a 3.3 mile run around the neighborhood. We ended up having a relaxing day before heading into Phoenix with a goal of going to the Roosevelt Art District. We found it and enjoyed the street art throughout the area. We took lots of interesting pictures and ate in the area. Afterwards we went back to our house for our last night.
Day 9
We got up early and checked out of the AirBNB. It was a good stay in a beautiful house. Even though we checked out, vacation was far from over, because our flight wasn’t until late at night. We traveled east of Phoenix to Goldfield Ghost Town near Superstition Mountain in Apache Junction, Az. It was a fun town with shootouts on the street and beautiful scenery. The day was getting late, so we headed back towards town for our last big meal – a Brûlée Burger at Paradise Valley Burger Company. I have been talking about this place for a year and it did not disappoint. The next time I am back in the Phoenix area, I will definitely stop back by for the the best burger in the world. It was a crowd pleaser.
After we ate, we went to Scottsdale, Az. for some last minute shopping and site seeing before our flight. We walked around and then it was time to leave for the airport. We arranged for Carl to meet us and turned the van back over to him with over 1,700 more miles than when we last saw him. We checked in and waited to board our flight.
Day 10
The day started in the air with a landing back in DC around 6 am. We gathered our bags and found our vehicle. We then drove back home, but not before stopping at Denny’s in Warrenton, Va., for one last breakfast. We then drove back towards Central Virginia. It was a great trip. We started the trip as great friends and when it was over, our friendship had grown. It was a very Merry Christmas – Arizona style!