Escape to Arizona for a girls getaway

(CNN) -- Calling all ladies! The stunning landscapes of Arizona create the perfect spot for an adventurous girls vacation.

No, I'm not suggesting you plot a "Thelma & Louise"-type western getaway and wildly escape from your men and the police. Instead, relax with your favorite girlfriends (legally) and soak up the beauty of the mountainous landscape and all the experiences the area between Sedona's famous Red Rocks and the Grand Canyon has to offer.

This spring, two girlfriends and I met in Phoenix to start our western road trip. Check out our itinerary, and use it as a guide for ideas on building your western trip.

Phoenix to Grand Canyon (233 miles)

We flew into Phoenix, but this wasn't a trip about big cities, so we high-tailed it out of the Valley of the Sun in our rented Nissan Rogue and drove 4½ hours north along Interstates 17 and 40 and Highway 64 toward the Grand Canyon.

As we traveled along these scenic highways, the vegetation changed from saguaro cactuses to tall pine trees. The towering San Francisco peaks near Flagstaff were a highlight of the dramatic scenery along our route. The peaks are a volcanic mountain range and provide a number of recreational opportunities, from snow skiing to hiking.

Grand Canyon

We arrived at the southern entrance to the Grand Canyon , just north of Tusayan, right before sunset and had our cameras ready. The park guides said Hopi and Yavapai points are some the best places to view a sunrise or sunset , and they didn't lead us astray.

For dinner, we dined inside the park's Bright Angel Lodge (which is just a few feet from the canyon rim) at the Arizona Room . The restaurant specializes in hand-cut steaks, and fish and chicken inspired by flavors of the Southwest. One of its signature drinks is the Prickly Pear Margarita, which includes Hornitos Reposado tequila, prickly pear cactus syrup, lime, Triple Sec and sweet and sour mix. Both the food and drinks were excellent.

We stayed outside the park , where rates are generally cheaper, but we admired El Tovar Hotel , the park's priciest and most famous lodge. Built in 1905, famous guests over the years have included Theodore Roosevelt, Bill Clinton and Paul McCartney, to name a few. The hotel was also featured in the 1983 Chevy Chase film " National Lampoon's Vacation ."

The following morning, we met our tour bus outside the Bright Angel Lodge for a guided view of the national park. (We used the Grand Canyon's official website to find our tour operator.) Our bus ride covered 52 miles in a little under four hours as we traveled east from the lodge along the rim of the canyon. The tour stopped at Lipan Point, touted as the most scenic viewpoint on the East Rim drive. The Watchtower , designed in the 1930s by famed architect Mary Colter in the style of the ancestral Puebloan people, also offered stunning -- even soul-enriching -- views of the canyon.

The Historic El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon National Park « US Park ...

As the transcontinental railroad was completed and train travel exploded onto the American frontier, the Santa Fe Railroad Company extended an interior rail to the Grand Canyon in 1901. Prior to the completion of this spur, travelers to the Grand Canyon arrived by stagecoach. The El Tovar Hotel originated as just a sparkle in the eyes of the Santa Fe Railroad partnered with the Fred Harvey Company, as a destination resort. The accommodations between the east and west coasts were somewhat primitive which begged for the El Tovar Hotel’s creation in 1905 to provide a luxurious experience for the Santa Fe Railway travelers. This focus led to the Grand Canyon evolving from a forest reserve into a national monument in 1908 and eventually a national park in 1919. In this year, 1919, there were over 44,000 visitors to Grand Canyon National Park. Today the Grand Canyon receives more than 5 million visitors each year.

The El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim of the mighty Grand Canyon is an historical landmark as well as a top Grand Canyon vacation destination. As one of the first national park styled lodges built over 100 years ago, the El Tovar Hotel helped pave the way for a legacy of grand and rustic national park lodges around the country. This iconic Grand Canyon National Park lodge is situated just 20 short feet from the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This makes the El Tovar Hotel a breathtaking place to experience the glory of the Grand Canyon.

The El Tovar was also a trendsetter for the famed Grand Canyon activity of riding mules down the Bright Angel Trail, which was vigorously promoted by the Fred Harvey Company via the El Tovar. These new trails were built upon the paths of the Native Americans who traveled it long before the days of the El Tovar. In 1922, the Fred Harvey Company finished the construction of the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. This addition made it possible to offer the utmost in service, even at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

This iconic national park hotel is still a luxurious hotel with attention to service and detail, even 100 years later. For visitors to Grand Canyon National Park, staying at El Tovar will make all the difference. For those who miss it, they are truly missing an historical and grand experience.

Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide, Grand Canyon National Park

The Ghost of the Grand Canyon

Report of the conference of the Tax Commission, Boards of Supervisors and County Assessors of the State of Arizona

In & around the Grand canyon, the Grand canyon of the Colorado river in Arizona

Rules and regulations, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona ..., 1920[-1927].