Overview

This day tour gives you the chance to venture north from the Phoenix area to see several historical sites that visitors come from around the world to see. This allows you to experience several interesting locations that are so important in the history of Arizona. Our first stop will be at Walnut Canyon National Monument where you will have a chance to learn more about the area in the visitor center and also walk the upper trail that takes you right to many ancient dwellings right on the trail. Then off to the Meteor Crater which is such a unique experience to see and be able to walk right out and stand on the edge. Then we are off to Winslow for lunch & a visit to the famous corner made famous in an Eagles song ("Take It Easy"). While in Winslow we will visit the Historic La Posada Hotel for a great lunch (included up to $20 per person). On our return to Phoenix, we will go thru Sunset Pass & our ponderosa forest.

Description

Stop At: Walnut Canyon National Monument, Walnut Canyon Rd #3, Flagstaff, Arizona 86004

Walnut Canyon has a long human history. Artifacts show that Archaic peoples, who traveled throughout the Southwest thousands of years ago, occupied the canyon at times. Later came the first permanent inhabitants, who flourished in the region from about C.E. 600 until 1400. You now can see the Monument in a few ways; Take in expansive views of Walnut Canyon and see cliff dwellings from a distance from the visitor center's two observation points or take one of the two trails to get close to the ancient dwellings. Rim Trail is 0.7 mile or about 30 minutes or the Island Trail which is 1 mile and takes about an hour.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Meteor Crater & Barringer Space Museum, I-40 and Exit 233, I-40 off Route 66 on the way to the Grand Canyon, Winslow, Arizona 86047

Meteor Crater, also called Barringer Crater, is a meteorite impact crater approximately 37 miles east of Flagstaff and 18 miles west of Winslow. During the 1960s & 1970s, NASA astronauts trained in the crater to prepare for the Apollo missions to the Moon. The Meteor Crater is one of the few places on earth that is an exposed, & still fully intact, meteorite impact site that would emulate the surface of the moon. In 1984 the John Carpenter movie Starman with Jeff Bridges did some filming here. Also visit the Barringer Space Museum. A walk out on the viewing platform is the best way to view the crater.

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Winslow, Winslow, Arizona

Jackson Browne and Glen Frey of the Eagles wrote a song called "Take It Easy" in 1972, one of the popular lines in the song goes, "Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona". In 1999, in response to the lyrics that made it famous, the city of Winslow erected a life-size bronze statue and mural commemorating the song, then in 2016 after Frey's passing a life-sized statue of of him was added to the Standin' on the Corner Park. So as we stop in Winslow for our lunch we can take the opportunity to snap a photo at this world famous location. Also in town is the last Harvey House (La Posada Hotel), designed by Mary Colter, opened in 1930. The hotel closed in 1957 and was used by the Santa Fe Railway for offices. The railroad abandoned La Posada in 1994 and announced plans to tear it down. It was bought, restored and now serves as a hotel. Lunch will be at the La Posada and is included in your tour fee (up to $20 per person).

Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes