Arizona August, Desert Drive, Amazing hotel,Lexus CL500
Discussion
Arizona is ridiculously hot in summer ( have seen 111F this week) so the winter house is never used. However,I had to be here for a knee replacement which needs a few weeks.
At this time of year the tourists have not yet arrived so it is mainly locals and feels quite different. The little town near the house ( Cave Creek) still has its rodeos and old cars, places to eat, but there are far fewer out of state plates. For those of a religious persuasion there is a Sunday cowboy mass one of the local rodeo centres.( and of course a BBQ and bar).
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|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/77298/20250803817892[/url
Just before the knee procedure decided to take the Jeep up to Sedona with its magnificent red rocks and off - and on-road climbs.
The problem with Sedona generally is that it gets very crowded, impossible to park in, slow traffic and lots of gift shops in the centre as well as Jeep tours and rentals.
On the way in of course there was time to do a few back roads. There was no traffic, and evidently walking around in 100C with a bum knee was not on, so basically a drive through. The Jeep is ten years old, nothing fancy but very good for mild off-roading. The next level really needs more height, winch, lockable diffs and so on. At this stage will keep the existing vehicle which covers 90%o of the tracks.
At this time of year the tourists have not yet arrived so it is mainly locals and feels quite different. The little town near the house ( Cave Creek) still has its rodeos and old cars, places to eat, but there are far fewer out of state plates. For those of a religious persuasion there is a Sunday cowboy mass one of the local rodeo centres.( and of course a BBQ and bar).
[url]
Just before the knee procedure decided to take the Jeep up to Sedona with its magnificent red rocks and off - and on-road climbs.
The problem with Sedona generally is that it gets very crowded, impossible to park in, slow traffic and lots of gift shops in the centre as well as Jeep tours and rentals.
On the way in of course there was time to do a few back roads. There was no traffic, and evidently walking around in 100C with a bum knee was not on, so basically a drive through. The Jeep is ten years old, nothing fancy but very good for mild off-roading. The next level really needs more height, winch, lockable diffs and so on. At this stage will keep the existing vehicle which covers 90%o of the tracks.
In Sedona there is a simply incomparable hotel called Ambiente, (Michelin Two Star),only 40 rooms, each a separate building with it own sundeck and unspoiled natural views. It is very odd to be able to be in a place and still be close to the centre and feel like you are in the wilderness. OH had identified this place as worthwhile.
It is very easy to miss the entrance on Ambiente, a narrow slash in the wall with no sign. Very low rise, over hilly terrain. The view from the room is of the unforgettable countryside. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable. Left the shades open at night as the only light is starlight and the dawn comes right into the room.
It is very easy to miss the entrance on Ambiente, a narrow slash in the wall with no sign. Very low rise, over hilly terrain. The view from the room is of the unforgettable countryside. Rooms are spacious and very comfortable. Left the shades open at night as the only light is starlight and the dawn comes right into the room.
At the hotel one night and went a restaurant called Hudson the other night.
I asked Danny (the Bell Captain) if they had livery cars. No problem, they have a couple of big Lexus for the purpose and drop and pick up at no charge. More of Lexus later.
The Hudson is a good enough restaurant, not bad, not outstanding and a bit noisy. However, the big payoff is the view from the balcony. Hard to beat.
I asked Danny (the Bell Captain) if they had livery cars. No problem, they have a couple of big Lexus for the purpose and drop and pick up at no charge. More of Lexus later.
The Hudson is a good enough restaurant, not bad, not outstanding and a bit noisy. However, the big payoff is the view from the balcony. Hard to beat.
Back at Ambiente OH had a spa day which she reported was among the best she had ever had. With a bum knee I was not going far though the staff picked my up every time in a golfcart to get to the Jeep.
One odd sight nearby was the only McDonalds in the world with blue signage. The locals make strenuous efforts to avoid neon pollution and garish global signage, and even McDonalds had to tone things down to get planning permission.\
One odd sight nearby was the only McDonalds in the world with blue signage. The locals make strenuous efforts to avoid neon pollution and garish global signage, and even McDonalds had to tone things down to get planning permission.\
I was talking to the Danny at the front desk and noticed a discreet Lexus sign on the wall. I asked about it and he mentioned that they had a couple of Lexus LC500 convertibles available for a half day to guests at no charge. Since I am living primarily in Canada he assumed I would not qualify for the effort.
One restriction is that you must have American car insurance. Since there are a couple of cars that live at the house in Arizona this was sufficient. Not sure if a rental car insurance fulfils the requirement but I would have tried for the opportunity.
I have always admired this car and am aware I goes out of production next year. I asked if I could get it at 6am next day. Blazing desert heat in a convertible means that you fry.
The Lexus was ready,fully cleaned at 6am. Weather is cooler but to avoid the late morning decide to run up to Oak Creek Canyon , a beautiful very twisty journey the runs up to 7000 feet with changing vegetation as you drive up. Early morning is the time to go and the road is empty in the off season.
The car was a bronze colour that fit in very well with the desert landsape
[url]
|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/77298/202508038540546[/url
The Lexus is immensely comfortable and has the bank vault doors that used to be a Mercedes quality and in many ways fills the slot of my now 22 year old SL500. I am no fan of the current SL which is not substantially more expensive though I think the SL has become a bit anonymous and heavily styled..
\
TheV8 is plenty powerful , quiet in relaxed road driving but has a high performance rasp and crackle if booted. Spec is O-60 in 4.6 secs and 476bhp. Steering is perfectly weighted and precise and I was left with the sense of a perfect autobahn cruiser or weekender and not at all a car that I would choose for a track. This is a perfect car for an evening cruise.
One strange this was the design of the A/C vents which open upwards. I can imagine playful kids or sick dogs dropping stuff into them over time
).........
]
As usual with this type of car trunk space is limited:
[url
|https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/77298/202508038605564[/url]
Heading up to the top of Oak Creek Canyon the temperature dropped to 53F at
7000 ft. Car has excellent climate control and heated seats and remained perfectly comfortable. Conversely down in Sedona the cooled seats were perfect. With the top down and windows up normal conversation is possible at 80 miles an hour. I would love to take this thing on a tour of the Swiss passes.
One restriction is that you must have American car insurance. Since there are a couple of cars that live at the house in Arizona this was sufficient. Not sure if a rental car insurance fulfils the requirement but I would have tried for the opportunity.
I have always admired this car and am aware I goes out of production next year. I asked if I could get it at 6am next day. Blazing desert heat in a convertible means that you fry.
The Lexus was ready,fully cleaned at 6am. Weather is cooler but to avoid the late morning decide to run up to Oak Creek Canyon , a beautiful very twisty journey the runs up to 7000 feet with changing vegetation as you drive up. Early morning is the time to go and the road is empty in the off season.
The car was a bronze colour that fit in very well with the desert landsape
[url]
The Lexus is immensely comfortable and has the bank vault doors that used to be a Mercedes quality and in many ways fills the slot of my now 22 year old SL500. I am no fan of the current SL which is not substantially more expensive though I think the SL has become a bit anonymous and heavily styled..
\
TheV8 is plenty powerful , quiet in relaxed road driving but has a high performance rasp and crackle if booted. Spec is O-60 in 4.6 secs and 476bhp. Steering is perfectly weighted and precise and I was left with the sense of a perfect autobahn cruiser or weekender and not at all a car that I would choose for a track. This is a perfect car for an evening cruise.
One strange this was the design of the A/C vents which open upwards. I can imagine playful kids or sick dogs dropping stuff into them over time
).........]
As usual with this type of car trunk space is limited:
[url
Heading up to the top of Oak Creek Canyon the temperature dropped to 53F at
7000 ft. Car has excellent climate control and heated seats and remained perfectly comfortable. Conversely down in Sedona the cooled seats were perfect. With the top down and windows up normal conversation is possible at 80 miles an hour. I would love to take this thing on a tour of the Swiss passes.
Edited by RDMcG on Monday 4th August 00:14
abzmike said:
Nice report visited Sedona a few years ago and found it a little touristy, but wonderful. Certainly somewhere I d love to return, perhaps not in July though
Not the ideal time but if you do mainly early mornings and evenings it’s fine and less crowded.just don’t park in the sun or go hiking. . A very common and deadly consequence here is hiking into the wilderness on a mild dawn and getting dehydrated . Several fatalities a month . Also basic stuff like having a survival kit in the jeep for going off road. When I was first off-roading 35. Years ago I lost a jeep in a flash flood out there. This is beautiful place but it has a big bite.You can tell tourists by open-toed sandals;
boyse7en said:
The scenery looks absolutely stunning there, although the heat sounds a bit much for me, I'd have to go out of season.
The Lexus sounds absolutely perfect for cruising around the mountains, although I'm not sold on the bronze.
The weather is just perfect in the Fall and Spring with amazing flowering in Soring. Warm mild days and cool nights which is how I avoid Canadian -20 snow and slush. It is a very varied state with lots of climatic differences also . Not crowded at all when you get out of the cities: Great driving. The Lexus sounds absolutely perfect for cruising around the mountains, although I'm not sold on the bronze.
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