What to do in Phoenix?

[Ted and Holly]

I am in Phoenix for a business trip. Holly is flying out (right now!) to spend the weekend with me.

I found out that my responsibilities will be only in the middle of the night each night. I do have to be "on-call" in case I am needed.

So, with that said, what should we do here?

Holly is interested in going to a decent Mexican restaurant. I just want to go outside. I have spend the last 36 hours in a hotel room in front of a computer.

We thought about the Grand Canyon, but I think that is too far. A friend suggested Sedona, but that is still 2 hours away.

Any Phoenix Dissers have any ideas?

Thanks,
Ted

 

[720L]

Ted and Holly: There is lots to do in Phoenix! Do you golf? That's the main thing to do there. LOTS of awesome shopping. (Scottsdale Fashion Square is a HUGE mall with lots of restaurants and movie theaters). Lots of nice day spas for massages and pedicures. You won't have a problem finding a Mexican restaurant. There are so many restaurants to choose from and most are excellent. If you drive down Scottsdale Road--you'll find anything you need. It seems like everything is on Scottsdale Road! Rawhide is a fun tourist spot. (in Scottsdale) Pinnacle Peak Patio is a fun cowboy restaurant. Cave Creek is a neat town. (outskirts of Scottsdale)---another fun restaurant the "Horny Toad" is there. Have fun and enjoy the sun!

 

[mickey4ver]

Its kinda hot out there right now, but if you like nature stuff, the Desert Botanical Gardens are kinda neat...get some prickly pear tea for a treat.

out towards Apache Junction, you can drive up to Canyon Lake area, it is very scenic and the Superstition Mtns are great...I love them

visit Cooperstown...Alice Coopers restaurant...sports themed and although I've not been, its on my to do list, it looks awesome and reasonably priced...mexican food abounds, you'll have no trouble finding one, making a choice is another story!!!!

 

[Serena]

I went to Rawhide, it was fun and that's where I tried rattlesnake.
The steak was like butter. Oh man it was good.

There is also a "zoo" close by, it was mainly big cats. I don't remember the name. My girls loved it.

Sedona was beautiful, but we only went for the drive and didn't stop.

Nogales, Mexico is close by. We had a bad experience there.

Have fun.

 

[nativetxn]

How about Jerome (an old mining ghost town turned artists mecca)? There's also a train in Cottonwood that is fun with great scenery. Rawhide has some fun entertainment and a good steakhouse.

Casa Grande is interesting and old Tucson is fun (about 90 miles away). Sedona would be a great day trip for you, too.

Drive to the look out point on South Mountain for a wonderful vista of the valley of the sun.

Personally, I love to drive the Apache Trail. So beautiful.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Thanks for all the advice, Everyone! This is Holly! I had a wonderful flight in from Florida, and saw some neat stuff from the plane! I LOVE the mountains!!!

Boy it feels like a sauna here! We're going to have fun this weekend! Thanks for the tips! I want to do it ALL!!!! =)

Holly

 

[milo]

It's going to be hot here this weekend, and even out just driving around and shopping, you will find you dehydrate quickly. Have fun and let us know how you fared this weekend.
Lora

 

[Dan Murphy]

As mentioned, the Horny Toad is a fun place. Vince and I went there when we were in Phoenix a few years back. Desert Museum is well worth the drive. As is Sedona, so beautiful a drive. Enjoy.

 

[Ted and Holly]

You are not kidding about the water! I have been so dry! I am having a hard time sleeping.

Not to mention, I have been holed up in this hotel room, working. I think I caught a cold. Or, I am having allergies.

Thanks, all, for the suggestions!

I had seen info aboutSouth Mountain. Looks amazing.

I think we are really leaning towards seeing the sights (looking at some nice rocks, as my friend put it). All of those restaurants sounds great! The Horny Toad web site is hilarious! I think we might really aim for that.

Next time you are at WDW, look for the big guy in a Horny Toad t-shirt.

We will be sure to take as many pictures as we can.

Thanks again!

Ted

 

[my3kids]

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen West is there, and well worth the trip. Very interesting.

The Science Center next to the baseball stadium downtown was good.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Also in Cave Creek, just across the street and down the road a bit from the Horney Toad is The Satisfied Frog, which I prefer over the Toad.....at least I like their fried chicken better And yes, there is a story about these two restaurants and how the Frog came to be.....but it may just be an urban myth!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Update everyone!

Saturday we ended up driving up to Sedona. What an amazing place! We stopped a few times along the way to take pictures and then spent a couple hours in Sedona itself. We had breakfast, did some shopping, and then headed back.

Sunday we drove east towards Apache Junction and drove out to Canyon Lake. Another amazng place! For scenic drives, this one has to be near the top! I was a bit nervous on the way back. Man that road is windy, narrow, and HIGH!

We took over 150 pictures over the weekend. I will be transferig them to my computer and going through them soon.

I'll be sure to post some of the better ones.

Ted

 

[mickey4ver]

glad you picked those things to do...awesome...huh???

going towards Canyon Lake, the big mountain to the right, part of Superstitions is one of my favorites...when visiting my son, we can still see if from his street....I just love it! did you pass thru Tortilla Flats? that little store there is fun to stop at.

did anyone point out to you Snoopy Rock in Sedona? It is a cool thing to look for...