Road Trip Labor Day Weekend 2018 - Part I - A O Tucker BlogA O Tucker Blog

Road Trip Labor Day Weekend 2018 – Part I

09/01/2018

Road Trip Labor Day Weekend 2018 – Part I

For the Labor Day Weekend we decided to take a Road Trip and head north to the Grand Canyon. Our first stop early Saturday morning was Starbucks, Blonde Flat White with whole milk for Connie, and a dark roast with room for cream for me. Plus we had our collection of road trip snacks. From the West Valley it’s the 303 freeway to the I-17 north.

I-17 North of Black Canyon City
Just past the Sunset Point rest stop exit we stopped for a moment to enjoy the early morning light. West of Sunset Point lie the Bradshaw Mountains, named for the brothers Issac and William D. Bradshaw. Before that they were known as the Silver Mountain Range.

Clouds Over Sunset Point – 6:27 AM

Sedona
We exited I-17 at State Route 179 for Sedona. The other reason for our trip was to stop by the Sedona Arts Center and drop of a few pieces of artwork for their First Friday reception in September. Below is the view as we arrived into Sedona, the roads were still wet from a recent thundershower.

Entering Red Rock Country – 7:27 AM

Below is the view of Wilson Mountain and Steamboat Rock from Oak Creek near the Tlaquepaquae Arts & Crafts Village.

Oak Creek Full Of Green – 7:59 AM

We arrived early into Sedona, giving us a little time to enjoy a few places before the Sedona Arts Center opened. Below is the view from the Red Rock Loop Road before heading to the Wildflower Bread Company in Uptown Sedona for a breakfast sandwich on a double toasted sesame seed bagel.

Thru The Trees To Cathedral Rock – 8:16 AM

Flagstaff
After leaving the Sedona Arts Center we headed north on State Route 89A thru Oak Creek Canyon toward Flagstaff. Below is a view of the San Francisco Peaks (highest point in Arizona) from U.S. Route 180 after stopping in Flagstaff for gas. It’s normally best to avoid paying for gas the closer you get to the Grand Canyon.

Summer Wildflowers – 11:33 AM

Below is another view of the San Francisco Peaks from U.S. Route 180, looking southeast on our way north to State Route 64.

Scenic Drive By The Peaks – 12:37 PM

South Rim Grand Canyon
This is the view as we pulled into Grandview Point (looking northwest), 12 miles west of Grand Canyon Village along Desert View Drive. Before the construction of the El Tovar Lodge, Grandview was the first place along the rim to be developed for tourists, a hotel was built in 1895, but was only in operation for a few years.