LA to the Bay: Phoenix & Sedona
I’d never thought about travelling to Arizona. And then it was a destination on our LA to the Bay Contiki trip.
Now it’s one of my favourite states, and I can’t wait to go back one day.
Our first stop in Arizona was Old Town Scottsdale. When we got off the bus, it felt like we had walked into a wall of heat. In Toronto, the hottest I’ve experienced was probably around 35°C (95°F) but that day in Scottsdale it was 41°C (105.8°F)!
I love the heat. It was glorious.
Welcome to Historic Old Town Scottsdale (August 2023)
We were given a bit of free time to wander Scottsdale, so we took full advantage.
Sophie and I popped into some of the souvenir shops and then went into a small bar, the Rusty Spur, for a prickly pear margarita.
Prickly pear (cactus) is a pretty common flavour around this area for drinks, ice cream, etc. It was kind of fruity but not too sweet; I liked it a lot!
Rustler’s Rooste (August 2023)
After about an hour in Scottsdale, it was back on the bus to drop our things at the hotel in Phoenix and get ready for dinner.
Our group dinner that night would be at Rustler’s Rooste – a super fun BBQ joint with live music, delicious ribs and square dancing.
But the next morning was going to be a huge bucket list item for me: a hot air balloon ride over the desert.
Sunrise hot air balloons over Phoenix (August 2023)
We woke up at 4:00 a.m. to get to the site for our hot air balloon ride.
It was cold and dark, but the hot air balloons were getting ready to fly.
Why so early?
You get in a hot air balloon over the Arizona desert and watch the sunrise, and tell me why you do these things. It was stunning.
I am scared of heights, and I found this to be such a peaceful moment. Maybe I was too tired to be scared, but it really was just unbelievable. One of those “I can’t believe I’m doing this right now” moments that make life so beautiful.
When our balloons finally landed again, we found ourselves near a bunch of tables that had been set up with breakfast for us. Some small bites along with glasses of champagne. It really was magical.
We toasted to our flight and then got back on the bus for a day of driving.
Sedona views (August 2023)
To break up the drive, we’d stop for lunch in Sedona. Another reason I love Arizona.
When I imagine Arizona now, Sedona is what comes to mind. Gorgeous desert landscapes. Laidback mindset. Prickly pear-flavoured treats.
We were only there for a couple of hours, but I wish we had spent some more time just taking it all in. My favourite part was sitting at Canyon Breeze with another prickly pear marg, enjoying the breathtaking view.
Prickly pear margarita with a view (August 2023)
Yes, it was a long day of driving, but it was worth it. That night’s destination was the big one.
