After picking up our car at the airport in Phoenix we're planning on driving a couple of hours up to Flagstaff, where we've booked into the Little America Hotel. It looks a tad "flowery" but has good reports on Tripadvisor and was recommended to me by a poster on the forums. The Itinerary for the holiday is:
Thursday 14th April
Fly to Phoenix, drive to Flagstaff. Overnight at the Little America Hotel.
Friday 15th April
Drive up US 89,130mls to Page Arizona, by lunchtime, visiting ancient Indian ruins at Wupakti (bit of culture!) and stopping off for a hike to see the Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River. In the afternoon we'll visit the stunning Antelope Canyon before driving on for about 120mls to Monument Valley Utah, hopefully before sunset. A busy day!
Saturday 16th April
Up early for the Monument Valley sunrise, from our balcony in The View Hotel. At 9.00am we have a 2hr horse ride into the Valley, followed by a 3hr Navajo guided Jeep tour. Explore the area at our lesure in the afternoon & back to the hotel for sunset and a deserved glass of wine! The Navajo Nation area of Utah is alcohol "dry", but they "look the other way" if you consume your own alcohol in your room, preferring you to take your empty bottles with you.
Sunday 17th April
An early rise again to catch the sunrise, then drive out of Monument Valley (one photo I want to take!) enroute to Moab, 150mls without side tours. Along our route there is a 130ml gap between petrol stations so we'll have to keep an eye on our fuel levels! Places to visit on the drive to Moab are Mexican Hat, a town named after the rock! Goosenecks State Park!
Hoping to arrive in Moab early afternoon to check into Best Western Canyonlands. Reasonable Tripadvisor reviews but main selling point very central to the restaurants on Main Street. Two nights here to visit Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park & Dead Horse Point State Park.
Monday 18th April
Up early to visit the National Parks. We have a guided hiking tour of the Fiery Furnace in Arches booked for 2.00pm. Hopefully we'll stay in the park until sunset to get some good photos!
Tuesday 19th April
Visit the sight we haven't seen around Moab then leave along Scenic Route 128 to hit the Interstate 70 in Utah, then I70 into Colorado heading toward Denver. Passing through the ski resort of Vail, the journey should take about 6hrs. Overnight in the Country Inns and Suite near Denver Airport before the flight to Orlando.
Wednesday 20th AprilLeave Denver and land in Orlando early afternoon. Pick up the car and drive to the Courtyard Hotel in the Marriot Village in Lake Buena Vista. Stayed here two years ago for a couple of nights. It's shop till you drop time! Just a short walk to Bahama Breeze for some great food!
Thursday 19th & Friday 20thChill around pool, shop, eat drink! Saturday 21stDrive toward Tampa then down to Longboat Key, the next Island down from Anna Maria Island. A week in Jasmine Cottage just across the road from the beach!
Saturday 28thFly home landing Sunday.Well that's the PLAN..... let's see how much of it we keep!
