Arizona In Winter: Day Trips

Extraordinary places abound in Arizona, also known as the Grand Canyon state, and many attractions, such as the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix and Oak Creek Canyon, are within a day's drive of one another.

At the Grand Canyon, the sun glistened off the distant rock walls as we pulled our coats tight against us in the crisp wind. It was January. We were the only visitors at most of the lookout points. The sense of solitude and peacefulness enhanced the experience and the canyon's beauty. When someone else would come along, it was jarring to suddenly hear the chatter. We were thankful we skipped visiting the canyon in the summer. That's the peak of the touring season, and there are crowds and hot weather.

Driving along the scenic route along the South Rim, with an elevation of 7000 feet, we seldom saw another car. The North Rim road, with an elevation of 8,803 feet, is closed during winter, and tours are shut down for the season. We enjoyed the beauty of snow-covered trees and stopped to watch the deer and elk graze.

There's more to see than the Grand Canyon

On another excursion, we traveled the famed Route 66. Williams, a town that prides itself on 1950s and 1960s ambience, was a worthy stop. This historic route was a special treat for us. It had an authentic look to it, as we remember it from parts of the old TV show. It was quaint. The trip takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. It’s south of the Grand Canyon and colder at an elevation of 6,780 feet.

Visitors also can take the train to the Grand Canyon from Williams, a 58- mile trip, passing through towns of Parks, Bellemont and Tusayuan. You have the option of driving to the train station to head to the rim or go hiking through the canyon. A quick trip around the bend takes you on a nostalgic tour of historical landmarks.

We paused for a hot lunch at an inviting little diner in Williams before heading for Oak Creek Canyon. Beautiful mountains, snow-capped trees, cactus and other species of trees and plants made it come alive. A little bit southwest from Williams, Oak Creek Canyon has an elevation of 5,200 feet.