I agree with visiting Sedona. So many restaurants to choose from. You might be interested in a pink jeep tour over the red rocks. Then drive north through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff. Very scenic route.
Yes, it's on many, many travel guide lists, considered one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. It's Route
89A. Highway 17, bypasses the scenic route if one is in a hurry or a local who is not interested in taking that gorgeous drive. Don't confuse the two as you'll see nothing on the highway and you'll miss one of the most breathtakingly beautiful towns and drives in the country.
There is a way to get there from Hwy 17, take the Schnebly Hill Rd exit and head east to Sedona, about 10 min.
A couple of my favorite places to stop is, of course, the buttes/vortexes in Sedona. Walking up & down Main St. The Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, at the southern end of Sedona. Heading north, out of town, Grasshopper Point park in between Sedona & Flagstaff. There is a little stream and rocky area to stop at, get some sun and just breathe and take in nature. Then the scenic drive though the canyon on 89A.
Heading from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, take the highway north & west though the western area of the Painted Desert (not to be confused with the Painted Desert
Park, which is east of Flagstaff.) Take Rt 89, north out of Flagstaff and then head west at Cameron onto Rt 54. It is so beautiful with it's changing colors of landscape ranging from lavenders to shades of gray with vibrant colors of red, orange and pink. It looks like a gorgeous patchwork quilt on the ground. It shouldn't be missed. It's near the Petrified Forest. You can get into the Grand Canyon though the East Gate that way.
