Day 1 - Home to Winslow, AZ

Short drive today, so we didn’t leave the house till 8:06. After stopping for gas and Starbucks we were headed north on I 17. Rather than follow 17 all the way to Flagstaff we took the highway to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon.

At one time, about 20+ years ago, Sedona was a sleeply little town, which we enjoyed visiting. Now it’s not even close to what we once enjoyed. So we just drove straight through. On the other hand, Oak Creek Canyon is still a nice drive, especially the multiple hairpin turns as the road climbs nearly 4,000 feet.

The road up the canyon ends at Flagstaff and since it was noon we decided to find a pub lunch and there began the 20 minute adventure of missing turns and backtracking mixed with a liberal dose frustration and both of us needing a rest stop. Well, we finally found the Beaver Street Brewery, where we we split a great burger. And the beers weren’t too bad either.

Leaving Flagstaff we headed east on Interstate 40. My plan was to stop at Meteor Crater National Landmark. On Google Earth is looked like a very large hole in the ground that would be worth seeing. Barb just shook her head in disbelief. Admission for a senior was $14 each, so we just drove 6 miles back to the Interstate and headed for Winslow.

My first impression of Winslow was I wanted to have the concession for selling plywood used to board up windows. Financial worries would be a thing of the past. Ok, I’m going to move on and find a second impression.

We are spending the next two nights at La Posada Hotel and it’s a great second impression. La Posada is a railroad hotel and is one of many Mary Colter designed hotels and restaurants along the route of the Santa Fe railroad. You walk into the hotel and you walk back in time. It is truly a masterpiece. Interesting thing about the hotel is the people that have stayed there. The list includes Albert Einstein, Jimmy Stewart, Carol Lombard, John Wayne, Hopalong Cassidy, Betty Grable and dozens more. Our room is the one Bob Hope stayed in.

Dinner was as at the hotel’s Turquoise Room and was excellent. Our server was outstanding and very knowledgeable. We will see her again tomorrow night and recommend her to friends who will be staying there in September. We had a great bottle of Oregon wine, which was finished off back on the deck off our room.

Tomorrow is up for grabs. I had some plans, but Barb may want to go shopping.

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Red Rocks near Sedona, Arizona