Any ARIZONA people on board?

[zakatak]

Hi!

We are planning on spending next Easter in AZ (gasp no Disney!). We are looking into the Scottsdale area with day trips to Sedona. We want to be WARM, however... lol

If there is anyone on board from AZ that would be willing to share tips and neato places for little kids, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks!

Karen

 

[nativetxn]

Oh, I just <b>love</b> Arizona. I wish I could live there again.

There is a train that leaves from Cottonwood (about 60 miles north of Phoenix) the Verde Valley Railroad. It is a day trip. It's lots of fun, gorgeous scenery, wildlife--there is even a deserted pueblo you can see from the train.

If you decide to do this I would suggest that you make your reservations as soon as you know when you want to take this train. I would also suggest you reserve first class seats. They are well worth the difference in price. <b>Verde Canyon Railway</b>

If you are going to Sedona for a day trip, keep driving north and see Oak Creek Canyon, it's just gorgeous scenery and you will find Hopi and Navajo jewelry being sold along the route by the artists who made it.

If you plan to do this during warm weather your kids (and you too) will love <b>Slide Rock</b>. Make sure they wear cut off jeans or something similar if they decide to enjoy slide rock, though. The journey down will wear right through any swim suit (ouch).

I love Jerome a lot. It isn't very far. It's a ghost mining town that has become an artist's colony. It is high up on the side of a mountain and some of the houses are half on the mountain and half off, it's fun to visit. <b>The town with the billion dollar view</b>

In the Scottsdale area there is a place called Rawhide Wild West Town. There are some great restaurants there and live entertainment like shoot outs and bank robberies. When I was there last there was no admission required. It's fun and your kids will probably love it. <b>RAWHIDE</b> and <b>More info on Rawhide with photos</b>

If you get a chance while you are in the Phoenix area try to drive to South Mountain after dark (but before 10pm because it closes at 10 now ) The observation point offers a breathtaking view of Phoenix.

Take me with you? I make a great tour guide and a pretty good au pair

 

[kinlaw6450]

Hey I am going to Pheonix on May 10!! Thanks for the information

 

[zakatak]

WOW! Thank you SOOOO much! I can't wait to go through all the links!

Sure, come along! You heard what happened with my SIL, didn't you? lol

Thanks again!

Please feel free to PM if you think of any other things! I get a WHOLE YEAR to plan!



Karen

 

[mickeyfan1]

Next year? Depending on when it is, it may or may not be warm. Of course, warm to us is hot to you (J/K).

Karen, if you pm me your name and address, I'll be happy to send tou some tourist brochures. I have live in the Phx area for 8 years, and I love it. My friend Katholy had some excellent suggestions, I could also suggest Wildlife World Zoo, the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, and if you want a longer trip, Grand Canyon. THere is a lot of stuff to do here, how old are the kids?

 

[nativetxn]

Zak, I don't know what happened to your sil, it didn't involve you beating her up, did it? Because I'm a wuss when it comes to stuff like that

Oooh, Marsha, I <i>love</i> the Grand Canyon. If you have plenty of time, Zak you should see it, it is incredible. No photograph can do it justice, honest.

And guess what? There is a train there too It runs from Williams to the Canyon and back again. If you go to Williams be sure and eat at Rod's Steakhouse, excellent food and good prices. It's right on the original Route 66 too <b>ROD's STEAKHOUSE</b>. If you get a chance to eat there and they have posole on the menu, order it, it is wonderful.

If you decide to take the train to Grand Canyon be sure and reserve first class again, it's worth it. Hors d'oeurves and drinks served on the way back to Williams from the canyon and there is a <b>train robbery *<i>gasp*</i></b> <b>Grand Canyon Railway</b>

Oh gosh, I need to go to Arizona again, I don't know if I can bear to wait until Feb, 2004

 

[zakatak]

Mickeyfan1, I PM'd you!


Nativetxn... I invited my SIL to come along with us to Disney for 3 nights (July 3-6th). I bought her airline ticket and offered to pay for her park tickets (3 day/3 park). All she had to do was pay for her food. I was even trying to get another room at POR instead of her bunking with us (another LONG thread!). So, basically, a 4 day trip to Disney for just her food cost, probably under $200!

She agreed... got excited... then three days later, cancelled. Said she didn't feel right spending the money since she owes the IRS. Now, this is coming from a couple who easily blow that much piddling it away on the weekend! Oye!


So... you wouldn't do that, would you?

Thanks again for all the help! Those railways look FUN! Pretty safe, I assume? I am deathly afraid of heights...

Karen

 

[nativetxn]

Amazing, your sil gave up a trip with free room and transportation?

I wonder why she really didn't want to go, you know it wasn't the money she would spend on food, hmmm, very curious.

If I told someone I was going on a trip with them like that it would take something like being swallowed by a sink hole or something for me to cancel. That is just amazing.

The trains are very safe.