Planning for a ride from Las Vegas to Sedona on the first week of June. Ride from Vegas to Sedona will be in 1 day. Then once in Sedona, I will be doing day trips to the surrounding areas. 1) I am looking for recommendations on places to visit or stop on the way from Vegas to Sedona. Some places in mind I currently have: Hoover Dam, Chloride Ghost town, Seligman. Any cool towns? or a cool restaurant for lunch? 2) Then once in Sedona, any recommended day trips? like aprox 4 to 6 hour trips. Some options I currently have in mind: Grand Canyon Village (lookout point) and Slide Rock State Park.
I know while traveling by kingman, AZ there is a small ghost town called Oatman AZ. Fun little town, can get pretty busy. The road in and out is pretty rough, but great winding roads, and elevation changes. The town has donkeys that just walk up, and down the streets. Its a popular motorcycle destination. Im really not that familiar with AZ riding, as I'm in Vegas. Heres some of the donkeys. It was very busy on this particular day. I was riding my Harley with some buddies, but sure looked like a lot of fun places to hit on the KTM.
It was a few years ago so my minds a bit foggy but I remember a small town called Jerome maybe 1/2 hour - 45 minutes out of Sedona. Its on #89 I think. The town looked cool as it hangs off the side of a mountain and the road is pure heaven. I was in a car at the time but even in a rental I had some fun. It might be worth checking out for a day trip.
Good feedback so far... thanks! We will be renting 6 HDs and 1 bimmer. Any suggestions for restaurants? or diners?
Oatman, Az Is pretty cool. Get there before 1200 for the shootouts, or before 1600 for everything to still be open. Don't expect too much in Chloride: Digger Dave's may, or may not be open. Yesterday's restaurant is usually open. The Chloride Murals may be too much for heavy touring bikes. I made it on my Victory Vegas: http://www.chlorideaz.com/visitchloride.html You can take Route 66 from Oatman, through Kingman (That section of 66 is twisty, but the road is normally good) all the way to Seligman. (King to Sel is pretty straight) I guess decide if you want Oatman, OR Chloride? Vegas to Hoover Dam to Laughlin, OR Vegas to Hoover to Kingman? (Lake Havasu / The London Bridge is a little out of the way, but?) While in Sedona, on the way to Jerome, you'll have old town Cottonwood. After a Jerome visit to the Spirit Room and ?, you can take the twisties down to Prescott, AZ and see Whiskey Row. (Depending on the time in PSK, you can take I-17 back to Sedona, if you want to stay off the mountains) The scenic road between Sedona and Flagstaff, is great at certain times. It also gets crowded on weekends. (It basically parallels I-17) Also from Flagstaff on to the Grand Canyon: Either coming or going there's Williams and Grand Canyon Harley in Bellemont. (You'll also have seen it on the way into Sedona?) (Watch out for the BIG ELK if you're out at night in our the back country.) Flagstaff on Lake Mary Rd to Mormon Lake on to Pine and Payson, all on 'back roads' to make kind of a a loop from Payson it's back up to Camp Verde to I-17 back to Sedona. Restaurants, bars. etc? I still ask the locals. Where are you staying in Sedona? What time will you be leaving Vegas?
@havabusa, great info! thanks. We are leaving Vegas at 8 or 9am. In Sedona, we are staying at the Enchantment Resort.
Jerome is a must do. Sedona has lots of places to eat. Oak Creek Canyon SP is very nice as is most of that area. Flagstaff is also pretty cool. Also many places to eat and drink.
Food Jerome - Haunted Hamburger Day trip from Sedona Sedona to Jerome to Cottonwood to Camp Verde to Happy Jack to Mormon Lake up to south Flagstaff back down to Sedona. 376 miles, 4.0hrs. Awesome!!! http://goo.gl/maps/rLkv0
Go to Jerome and go to the Gold Key Mine. Be prepared to spend several hours looking at all the old vehicles the owner has rebuilt. Spend some time talking to the owner. He's retired from NASA and is an interesting fellow. The assortment of machinery he has got u there is amazing. If you have time take the train ride out of Clarksdale. It goes up thru the gorge to a working cattle ranch. They unhook the engine and rehook to the other end and pull you back to Clarkdale. Goes thru a tunnel in the mountain. We rode it a couple of years ago and there were 5-6 gigantic bull elk drinking out of the river up at the north end. They were about 25 yards away from the train when we went by. Made me want to go bowhunting. Both of these things are worth the time and the money.
In Sedona on the Main Drag (89a): Dahl and Duluca The Red Planet Diner.... you'll se what they mean Towards the Village of Oak Creek (VOC to locals) Shugrues. Way too many nice eateries in Sedona. Also the 'Main Plaza' is touristy, but it also has nice restaurants. Not a lot of late night - bar activity in Sedona. Unless they just won't tell me where it is? Flagstaff downtown has some cool places, but NAU will be out, so some places close early. Headed South out of town on 89a, check out the Red Rock loop Road? Get out of Vegas early and hit the road and roam. It's all scenic. -- more later (Bigbugberg - You don't like the PSK area? I'll usually take the road all the way to / from Wickenburg - Flagstaff)
