Photo credit: heyjohngreen on Flickr.com - View from Cathedral Rock

Sedona is a beautiful destination year-round. The most popular seasons are March through May and September through mid-December. Lodging rates are slightly lower in July and August, but the most economical prices of year are available from the first week of January to mid-February.

Dear Arizona Travel:

In the last ten years what has been the average weather conditions in Sedona from July 15 – 31? Would Sedona be good vacation location for a person with a heart condition who is unable to tolerate the high temperatures in July? I am hoping my friend will not have to stay in the air conditioned condo during our stay the week of the July 15th.

–M.E. Zapata

Greetings, M.E.!

Here is a chart of the average daily temperatures for July 15 – 31. I don’t know how large the sample of years over which these averages was taken (i.e. your suggestion of 10 years) but I used Weather.com as my resource.

Photo credit: BethinAZ on flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethinaz/ / CC BY 2.0

In general, the latter half of July is rather warm and sunny. However, there will be plenty of daytime hours that should feel quite comfortable for your friend. I recommend you start your days early, around 7am, to take advantage of comfortable morning temperatures. I suggest a morning Jeep tour – there are several companies that can offer a tour that would be safe for someone with a heart condition. After about a 4 hour tour, you could have a nice lunch indoors or on a cool, shady patio like the one at The Secret Garden at Tlaquepaque. Your friend may want to return to the condo for a respite during the hottest hours of the day, between 2 and 6pm.

There are plenty of really great indoor activities beyond spending time at your condo. Perhaps a nice spa treatment, a movie, a visit to the Sedona Arts Center, gambling at the nearby Cliff Castle Casino, a scenic drive, a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad, a visit to an area winery, or a psychic reading. Also, you can get out of the heat by driving up Oak Creek Canyon for a shady walk/hike, or venturing down to the banks of Oak Creek to sit and relax with or even wade in the creek. There are lots of big trees, tall mountains and cool shade.

Another option is to take a half-day trip up to Flagstaff and visit Lowell Observatory or the Aboretum. Flagstaff is beautiful in the summer, with higher elevation and milder temps around 80 degrees at the peak of the day’s heat. Flagstaff is just 40 minutes from Sedona via Oak Creek Canyon (27 breathtaking miles.)

Here’s a list of 102 Things to Do in Sedona, many of which are perfect for staying cool in the summer.

So, YES! Sedona is a great vacation destination in July or anytime of year.

–ChristinaToo

I was fortunate to be able to stay several nights in one of our advertising client’s vacation cabins just outside Flagstaff this week.  Though I have been to Flagstaff many, many times, this was my first vacation stay in a Flagstaff cabin and I have to tell you, I LOVED it.

My Flagstaff cabin getaway was just like being at home, and not at all like being at home.

The cabin had a convenient location, about 8 miles south of Flagstaff, making it easy to run into town for groceries, a couple nice meals out, and general sightseeing ventures.

Was the cabin 5-star? Well, no.  But Hello….iT’S A CABIN in the woods. Instead of a personal valet, I had primeval ponderosas ever standing by; in place of French linen spray, my room was infused with cool, alpine breezes; and rather than a fancy Hammacher-Schlemmer white noise machine set to “rainstorm,: I slept to the music of an actual rainstorm.

In short, the cabin was outfitted with the kind of amenities designed to be just like being at home, and not at all like being at home.

Here are some of my photos from the trip… I couldn’t take enough photos of the lovely wildflowers on the hiking trail that originates in the cabin’s backyard, nor a storm that rolled in across the meadow in front of the cabin, nor the morning fog that settled in the wide open field, over which a big red barn presides.The pastoral imagery-brought-to-life was just too much to capture with my point-and-shoot, but you get the idea.

A big thank you to Arizona Vacation Rental Homes (www.arizonavacationrentalhomes.com) for encouraging my vacation buddies and me to come stay in your charming property.  The stay was a welcome break from the “seasonably warm” temps in the Phoenix Valley.  This blog post was not solicited in any way… I just enjoyed my summer getaway and want other locals and visitors to give Arizona Vacation Rental Homes or any other Flagstaff cabin rental companies a thought when planning a trip to Flagstaff.

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Okay, this is such a cool idea… and I mean “cool” literally.  Get out of the summer heat of Phoenix (or whereever you are) and escape to the cool high-country of the Verde Valley for this ongoing summer event.  Take the Verde Canyon Railroad’s “Grape Escape” and enjoy great wines, good food and splendid scenery.

Gazing at the glorious expanse of Verde Canyon in full summer bloom, while sipping a fine wine in the luxuriating comfort of a Verde Canyon Railroad, is the epitome of bliss.  The Grape Train Escape wine-tasting events sweep into this serene wilderness sanctuary on select Friday evenings between June 5th and September 4th.  The lavish service is non-stop from the time the train departs the depot at 5:30 p.m. for a round trip to the ghost ranch of Perkinsville until returning at 9:30 p.m.

For info: www.verdecanyonrr.com

The first wine delight is savored with accompanying exotic appetizers as the train leaves the station. The setting sun’s interplay of light and shadow casts entrancing illuminations on the red rock cliffs and the valley’s lush foliage takes on a glow of spun gold. World-renowned photographers have dubbed this the “magic hour” for capturing awe-inspiring images.

Between the delectable foods and a variety of superb wines, passengers merrily move back and forth between the climate-controlled coaches and the open-air car’s refreshing breezes offering up 360 degree views. The softening light entices elk, deer, fox and many forest creatures to the water’s edge of the Verde River for a reviving drink. Great blue heron, ducks and other waterfowl cruise the river in the fading light.

The train’s narrator enriches the journey with fascinating facts of the area’s history, geology, archaeology, and ecology, spiced with humor-tinged folklore.

On the return trip from Perkinsville darkness falls over the canyon. It’s time for a dessert wine, fruit and chocolate as nature stages her celestial extravaganza. The night sky is splayed with the diamond brilliance of stars, the beguiling moonbeam’s hint of romance, and mystifying shapes from the train’s headlight dance on the canyon walls.

Throughout the journey favorite wines are available in full bottles or by the glass, as are cocktails, beer and specialty train drinks.

Slip away from the city and board a Grape Train Escape for an evening of divine pleasure.   This popular excursion runs on the following Fridays:  June 5 & 19, July 10 & 24, August 7 & 28, and Sept. 4, 2009.  For reservations call 1-800-293-7245 or book on-line at www.verdecanyonrr.com. Extend your stay at one of our comfortable area inns listed on our Web site.

The Verde Canyon Railroad depot is located in Clarkdale, 25 minutes from Sedona, two hours north of Phoenix and one and one-half hours south of Flagstaff. Passengers are encouraged to arrive approximately one and one-half hours prior to departure.

Do you own a cabin in Flagstaff?  Want to rent it out to gads of summer visitors to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and all of glorious Northern Arizona?  We’re sure there are Valley residents clamoring to escape the triple-digit heat and head to the high country… and they’re looking for a cabin just like YOURS!

Advertise your cabin on our travel site, Flagstaff.com, for a mere $450 for the entire summer!  That’s a $100 savings on five months of high volume (read: 32,000 visitors a month!), cost-efficient marketing you can’t find anywhere else.

Read more about advertising your Flagstaff cabin on northern Arizona’s leading community and travel website, Flagstaff.com!

And if you’re one of those sweltering summer travelers looking to cool off in the Flagstaff pines, check out our directory of Flagstaff cabins.

In its story about Tough Times for the Travel Industry today, the TODAY Show on NBC featured the Westin Kierland Resort, right here in our own Scottsdale backyard.

While canceled meetings and scaled-back corporate events may be hurting this and other local Scottsdale resorts and hotels, the silver lining message for locals is that more hotel room inventory and the normally slower summer season here (Christmas has come early!) – which translates to super-great deals on backyard resort getaways and “staycations” that we Scottsdale locals have taken advantage of for years.

Support our Arizona hospitality industry and book your spring and summer “staycation” today.  Check out sites like our scottsdalephoenix.net for a terrific list of luxurious Scottsdale and Phoenix resorts that you can experience for sometimes less than half of their high-season rates.

When I was young, I loved Maurice Sendak’s book, A Hole is to Dig. Inside this first book of first definitions, simple-yet-oh-so-wise explanations like The ground is to have a garden and The world is so you have something to stand on could have easily concluded, as I have, that Summer is for farmer’s markets. Here, a list of four outstanding Arizona farmer’s markets bring you the best in locally grown and organic foods, arts and crafts and entertainment.

No. 4: Roadrunner Farmers Market: Saturdays – Summer Hours: (May 17- September 30) 7 am – 11:00 am
Location: 3515 E Cactus Rd, Phoenix (between Freeway 51 & 36th St)
Features: Local farm produce including fresh vegetables & fruit, baked goods, honey, jams and jellies, nursery stock, hand crafted items. Canine “Good Citizens” always welcome! Free admission, free parking.

No. 3 5th Avenue Farmers Markets in Scottsdale: Summer Hours – Once a month beginning June 19th 5pm-7:30 pm
Location: The Kiva Center on the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and Craftman Court, Old Town Scottsdale
Features: Clusters of vendors under market umbrellas sell fresh and seasonal vegetables, fruits,herbs, plants, specialty foods, wines, fine crafts and music. Live entertainment weekly. Parking in the underground parking garage on the west side of Stetson, north of 5th Ave.

No. 2 Flagstaff Community Market: Summer Hours – (June 8 – October 12) Sundays
Location: Corner of Beaver Street & Phoenix Avenue, Flagstaff
Features: Unique and fun market events for the Flagstaff community. Enjoy a wide variety of homegrown food at a great location just south of the tracks in downtown Flagstaff. All markets are held on West Phoenix Avenue just east of Milton Rd (Rt 66) and just west of of South Beaver Street. and West Phoenix Avenue, in the City-owned lot in back of Home Alternatives.

No. 1 Downtown Phoenix Public Market: Year-Round – Wednesdays 4 pm – 8 pm and Saturdays 8 am to Noon
Location: 721 N. Central, SE Corner of Central Ave. & McKinley St.
Features: Showcase where local small-scale agriculture and local artists and crafters intersect in the heart of the city. Featured this summer: Gazpacho, hormone and cage-free chickens, apricots, peaches, heirloom tomatoes, wild arugula, rainbow chard, green onions, sweet onions, shallots and beets.