Our trip to AZ by car from Escondido CA, 33 anniversary ride.

This will not be as long and detailed as the reports I usually file. I was lazy and did not take detailed notes this trip.

As usual, Leslie took all the pictures and they will follow when she gets them done. A link will be added to the end of this report at that time.

We went to Scottsdale, Sedona, Flagstaff, Cameron, Tusayan, Kingman, and Laughlin. Lots of museums and nature included in our trip.

Leaving March 18 (a Sunday for an easy get away from San Diego). We drove to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch. This is Leslie's and my 2nd favorite Hyatt property (Kauai is #1). We stayed in Regency Club with the last of our Hyatt points (another program hits the dust in retirement). Our three night stay was for leisure. We did little as we have stayed in the area many times before. We did include a trip to the zoo (things we do) which, is nice, but not spectacular. They have done some work with endangered species that is important, especially with the condor.

The Hyatt is well maintained. The RC is open 7 days, all day. It is staffed mornings for "breakfast", and after 5pm for snacks, drinks and sweets. NOTE, this RC is not open to childeren after 5pm. Makes me happy!!!! Food was being shuttled back to rooms during that time to feed the families! Drinks are on the expensive side. $9 for wine per glass. The staff did a good job. Especially a 26 year old gal who is planning a career in hospitality and took time in the lulls to take to guest. No name, did I mention I did not take notes. Sorry.

The dinner at Sandolo was excellent and still quite reasonable. We split a starter salad, each ordered pasta with meat sauce and had a bottle of wine for under $75. We played the anniversary card and received a nice dessert on the house. The waiter, Branden was EXCELLENT. His serving skills were perfect and his comunication skills even better. Well worth asking for, if you like. The gondola ride (included with dinner or $10 each without) was good, but only one gondolier, so there was a wait. The opera sung was okay. Impossible to match the perfect ride we had eons ago at Gainey Ranch with wine and "Music of the Night" being sung by a long time opera student to 4 boats gathered around.

The Hyatt has some new events from past stays. They had a petting zoo set up for a couple days. One day they has a birds of flight show. We missed the garden tour. The pools, as always, are perfect. A sandy "beach" for the tottlers. Quiet areas for adults. Shade somewhere always for we who worry about skin cancer. Food and drink service without any pressure.

This is...well just a great property...you need to stay there sometime!!! David Phillips is the GM, he is to be commended for keeping a great place, great and for adding more!!!!!!!!!!!!

Next we drove to Sodona. While we have driven thru before, we have never stayed in Sodona.

On the way to Sodona we stopped at Out of Africa (www.outofafricapark.com), in Camp Verde. Previously located nearer to Mesa somewhere on 15 acres, they have relocated to a parcel well over 100 acres. They have two rides. One is a "bus" adventure thru an area with giraffe, ostrich, goats, etc. You get carrots to feed the giraffe out the window. This is a safari adventure. The other ride is basically transportation through the grounds with several stops to see the wild cats (lions, tigers, leopards, etc), bears, wolfs (3 type), a reptile house, etc. that fill the multiple large enclosures. The drive often feeds chicken to the animals to get them up close and personal. Adults $28. A private non profit. Modest food availability. The pool plunge show they had at the old location will be revived as funds become available. Plan 3 hours or more, especially if you go back on foot.

Our stay in Sodona was at the Amara. We stayed on a Hyatt Vacation Stay presentation program. The net cost was free. The Amara was okay. Our room had a very modest view. The location is tucked inbetween and behind some commerical buildings. The dinner at the Gallery (in the hotel) was both good and expensive. They were short one waiter and so the service was good, but a bit off. Our tour of the Hyatt Vacation Club was more pressure that they said. It is a one on one. The deal is too overprice for me, and failed to meet our traveling needs. While the new phase is pending, they only have 2 bedrooms to sell now. They did have 1 bedrooms. They also rent studios (the second bedroom of the 2's, that have no view).

Sodona has beautiful views. The Loop roads are basically rural residential roads and not marked or labeled for tourists. The Ranger station opens at 8am, but the visitors station does not open until 9. A fee is required. Some hiking trails are available, but it rained on us. The movie was good and the displays in the visitors center were of average to less of interest. If you choose, the jeep tours get great review (including from my brother who was there 3 weeks before). They also played golf. We visited the museum (www.sedonamuseum.org/museum). It was will worth the 2 1/2 hour visit. Adults $3. Limited hours. Our second dinner was at a Mexican place, (upstairs) directly accross from the driveway that leads into the Amara. Reasonable priced and good (We had cheese and beef enchiladas with ice tea).

In the morning we set off down 179 toward Oak Creek, the 17, and the Oak Creek Factory Outlets. We are on our way to Flagstall (better to go North on 89a), but want to stop at the outlet mall to see if we can find some southwestern placemats. This is the long way! The highway is being worked on, and may be for quite awhile so be prepared for some delays. We stopped at the church and drove up the hill to the parking lot. The grounds include fantastic views. The church is basic, but was a great haven from the rain. The view out the church window could be quite awe inspiring to some, I am sure.

The Outlets (www.outletbound.com) had a couple stores of interest to us. Oak Creek Indian Traders, Casa de Sedona and Factory Brand Shoes. Leslie found her placemats, a couple of gifts, a night light and I found the Dr Scholl's tennis shoes with velcro closure that I wanted. They even sent me a second pair (not in stock) in the mail with no extra charge for deleivery.

It was really starting to get cold as we approached Flagstaff.

Stopping here, will return to finish after lunch.