Hello Page, Arizona!

Before I get into this trip, I’d like to acknowledge that I am coming right off the heels of my first paid blog post (yes… ya girl is a paid blogger now!) I am extremely grateful for how full circle my blogging has come, so this was a celebratory road trip of sorts. Okay, humble brag over. Let’s drive right in. For this year’s road trip, I decided to pay a visit to Page, Arizona for some sight seeing magic. This road trip destination has been on my travel list since the top of this year. I originally wanted to visit during the summer months however, I remember the scorching 4th of July heat on the trip I took to Sedona with my then-boyfriend and quickly realized, I really don’t want to endure heat exhaustion nor heat stroke (because I would have surely died this time around). Arizona is blazing hot in the summer I’m sure some of you know, so I ultimately didn’t want to repeat that discomfort and opted for more tolerable temperatures in early October.

I thought Sedona was magnificent. I mean, trust me it is, and it’s another destination worthy of a road trip. Sedona is also a completely immersive nature-filled experience on its own. Page is such a beautiful charming city. Although I was there for 2.5 days, it had a lot to offer in terms of beauty and scenic backdrops. I not only wanted to see the Lower Antelope Canyon but I wanted to bear witness to Horseshoe Bend and the Grand Canyon. 

Getting There

There are a few options of getting to Page. Upon my research of nearby cities to stay, I read that some people stayed in Phoenix, Flagstaff or Las Vegas. However, all of these locations will have you spending a few more hours on the road to reach Page. I’d much rather drive the longer distance initially then trickle our way back to Los Angeles making a few pit stops. It took us about 10 hours to get to Page because we left Los Angeles at 3pm, which I wouldn’t recommend. It took us 2 of those hours just getting out of the city. Give yourself 3 full days, 3.5 if you want to stretch out driving and take more time to explore other neighboring areas, but I think 3 days is sufficient.

Lower Antelope Canyon

Company: Dixie Ellis Lower Antelope Canyon 

Cost: $50 (including park entrance fee) *please note that Lower and Upper is on tribal land, therefore cannot be explored unguided.

Pros: Our tour guide Nike (Nikesha) was great. She gave us an incredible tour and took amazing photos on the tour, pointing out really gorgeous spots to take them and told us fun facts about the canyons. The canyons have emergency ladders in case there is any flooding during the rainy season, so rest your worries, my claustrophobic friends. They offer the Horseshoe Bend and canyon combo tour but I’d just book the tour since Horseshoe Bend is only $10 for parking.

Cons: The group tours can get rather crowded because there are some areas that very narrow, plus there is some ladder climbing up and down. You can opt to take private tours however they are a bit more expensive or opt to take the photo tour where you have more time for photo ops but I personally think this was sufficient. Please note however, that there are times the tour moves fast so be mindful when getting your pictures by make sure your photographer knows your angles.

 We met some friends on this tour, Lynn and Jim from Wisconsin and Marcy from Las Vegas. We joined them at Horseshoe Bend for sunset and went out to dinner afterward. I truly enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories as the interaction was definitely one of the highlights of the trip. One of our conversation led to a travel reunion and my plans to schedule a trip to Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago, since Lynn’s daughter completed it. Look it up when you get a chance. It’s officially on the bucket list.

Horseshoe Bend

Cost: $10 parking per vehicle

Pros: This landmark is free of charge aside from the parking fee. It is open sunrise to sunset and the trek to the site is all of ten minutes, if that. The view is indescribably breathtaking and these images literally do it no justice. I strongly recommend going at sunset. You will not be disappointed. The overlook is 4200 above sea level. Wow.

Cons: There are tons of people there, which I imagine grew larger due to the popularity of Instagram but that is the reality these days. Winds can pick up so it’s a good idea to stay a safe distance away from the cliff. If you are afraid of heights, I suggest the same. I’ve witnessed a few people trembling for fear of getting too close.

The Grand Canyon

Cost: $35 park entrance fee per vehicle

I don’t really have any pros or cons to this leg of the trip honestly. The Grand Canyon (carved by the Colorado River) is huge! It spans 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep, to be exact. There is literally nothing like this view. I couldn’t believe my eyes and you won’t either. There are other parts of the park you can explore. They of course have a gift shop or two.

Bearizona

Cost: $25 per person

Bearizona is a super cool drive-thru animal park where we were able to see so many cool animals. I have never seen a Bison up close so that was incredible. They specifically instruct you to keep windows up and doors locked in certain areas of the drive-thru. They also have an area where you can park and walk around to explore other animals. Do you guys know how freaking cute otters are?

Route 66

Cost: $0

We also took some time to explore the Historic Seligman Depot off Route 66 before the drive back. There are surrounding diners and shops in the areas to also explore. What a cute spot to round up our Arizona trip! Time to plan the next trip!