OT: Phoenix, AZ Recommendations

[ThePennsyOracle]

I am going to Phoenix next week for the first time and will be staying downtown. Given this, I figured I'd ask for board recommendations on things to do, places to eat/drink, etc.

I hear Usery Mountain Park is pretty cool, as are the Botanical Gardens, and South Mountain. Plus, rumor has it that the ASU campus and its "mountains" are also great.

But, I don't have any food/drink recommendations.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Nitwit]

ASU is in the middle of the urban sprawl of Tempe.

Visit old Scottsdale. Take a drive to Tortilla Flats in the Superstition Mountains. Go to the Sonora Desert Museum.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

I’m in Scottsdale right now. The weather is perfect, maybe a little too hot, but blue skies everywhere.
Our favorite hike is the Chola trail on Camelback. Don’t forget to bring water. Pizzeria Bianco gets a lot of love; I think it’s good, but I was expecting more from all the accolades.
Also a big fan of Snooze for breakfast/brunch - one location is right in the middle of ASU.

 

[yeahtoasty]

If you have any interest in music at all, the Museum of Musical Instruments is fantastic. http://www.mim.org/?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb

 

[bdgan]

I am going to Phoenix next week for the first time and will be staying downtown. Given this, I figured I'd ask for board recommendations on things to do, places to eat/drink, etc.

I hear Usery Mountain Park is pretty cool, as are the Botanical Gardens, and South Mountain. Plus, rumor has it that the ASU campus and its "mountains" are also great.

But, I don't have any food/drink recommendations.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!

http://oldtowntortillafactory.com

Desert Botanical gardens
Several nice mountains to hike
2 hr drive to Sedona. Take jeep tour.

 

[Hugh Laurie]

vovomeena - great for breakfast/brunch (1515 N 7th Ave at corner W McDowell RD) Shares a building with several other eateries.

If you should make it up to Sedona (an hour and a half at 85 mph) be sure to dine at Mariposa. The Yucca fries and the views are to die for.

 

[Wandering Spectator]

La Piazza Phx is a great downtown pizza joint. Cibo and Pomo are others. Funky, eclectic restaurants along Roosevelt Row (RoRow) like Taco Chelo. Phoenix Public Market for lunch Bitter and Twisted for innovative cocktails. Hike Camelback (tough) or Squaw Peak (world’s largest stair master).

 

[lavarmav]

I am going to Phoenix next week for the first time and will be staying downtown. Given this, I figured I'd ask for board recommendations on things to do, places to eat/drink, etc.

I hear Usery Mountain Park is pretty cool, as are the Botanical Gardens, and South Mountain. Plus, rumor has it that the ASU campus and its "mountains" are also great.

But, I don't have any food/drink recommendations.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!

The rokerij. New Mexican style food and it is amazing. Chelsea’s kitchen also amazing

 

[SheldonJoe2215]

Piestewa Peak if you are looking for a little exercise.

 

[PearlSUJam]

Take a drive to Tortilla Flats in the Superstition Mountains.

X2

 

[kickerinaz]

Four Peaks Brewing. Musical Instrument Museum. Haven't heard a show there but heard the acoustics are incredible. If there is a PM feature I'l give you my secret fun spot . Can't find PM feature????? Still gonna be hot but riding the light rail to a Dbacks game has always been pleasant. Day trip to Sedona ? If you haven't been it's worth it . Many beautiful regional parks !!!!!!!!! White Tank Mountain , Superstition Mountains (Park) are top shelf. Mc Dowel MTN Park also nice if your in the north.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

If there is a PM feature I'l give you my secret fun spot . Can't find PM feature?????

you have to be a PT subscriber to have access to the site's PM feature. Subscribers can send PMs to non-subscribers. As neither you nor the OP appear to be subscribers, then neither of you can PM each other.

 

[BBrown]

ASU is in the middle of the urban sprawl of Tempe.

Visit old Scottsdale. Take a drive to Tortilla Flats in the Superstition Mountains. Go to the Sonora Desert Museum.

I thought the Sonoran desert museum was excellent but the one I went to was in Tucson.

 

[ThePennsyOracle]

Thanks for the recommendations folks!

I'm looking forward to the trip. I should have a fair amount of time to be out & about, so it's always good to get some knowledge about local attractions and cuisine.

 

[Obliviax]

Thanks for the recommendations folks!

I'm looking forward to the trip. I should have a fair amount of time to be out & about, so it's always good to get some knowledge about local attractions and cuisine.

have fun! Personally, I love Phoenix. However, one of my favorite spots on the planet is a 2 hour ride north to Sedona. It is cooler and very beautiful. Plus, if you make a day trip, stop off at Montezuma's Castle and Jerome (old ghost town that has since been rebuilt). I can promise you that you will never forget Sedona.

 

[BBrown]

have fun! Personally, I love Phoenix. However, one of my favorite spots on the planet is a 2 hour ride north to Sedona. It is cooler and very beautiful. Plus, if you make a day trip, stop off at Montezuma's Castle and Jerome (old ghost town that has since been rebuilt). I can promise you that you will never forget Sedona.

Sedona is just drop dead gorgeous.
Did the devil bridge to but I didn't go out on it.
I claimed I had to take the picture.
Oak Creek Canyon is probably in my top 5 of all time hikes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60907528@N02/albums/72157653496841455

 

[Chickenman Testa]

have fun! Personally, I love Phoenix. However, one of my favorite spots on the planet is a 2 hour ride north to Sedona. It is cooler and very beautiful. Plus, if you make a day trip, stop off at Montezuma's Castle and Jerome (old ghost town that has since been rebuilt). I can promise you that you will never forget Sedona.

Devil’s Bridge. I could hike for years in Sedona and not get tired of it

 

[BBrown]

Devil’s Bridge. I could hike for years in Sedona and not get tired of it

+100.
Sedona is my #1 choice for a place to "retire" to. Alas I think I'll have to win the lottery to do it. LOL.
So its down to Tucson and Northern New Mexico.

 

[Obliviax]

+100.
Sedona is my #1 choice for a place to "retire" to. Alas I think I'll have to win the lottery to do it. LOL.
So its down to Tucson and Northern New Mexico.

check out flagstaff....EXPLODING! Values will double in a year or two. Lots of money moving in to buy homes and sit on them just to sell them in two years.

 

[BBrown]

check out flagstaff....EXPLODING! Values will double in a year or two. Lots of money moving in to buy homes and sit on them just to sell them in two years.

I'm considering Flagstaff, although they had snow there when I drove through in May a couple of years ago. LOL.

 

[Obliviax]

I'm considering Flagstaff, although they had snow there when I drove through in May a couple of years ago. LOL.

A road on a flight with a guy who is killing it. He lives in San Fran. His founder convinced him to buy a home there....he did, building from scratch. From the time he bought the property (early 2017) until the time it was done (last summer) the property doubled in value.

 

[EdH85]

I am going to Phoenix next week for the first time and will be staying downtown. Given this, I figured I'd ask for board recommendations on things to do, places to eat/drink, etc.

I hear Usery Mountain Park is pretty cool, as are the Botanical Gardens, and South Mountain. Plus, rumor has it that the ASU campus and its "mountains" are also great.

But, I don't have any food/drink recommendations.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!

Fuego Bistro - great food. Looks a little dodgy from the outside, but cool place once your inside. Ate there after Fiesta Bowl and really enjoyed it.

 

[EdH85]

have fun! Personally, I love Phoenix. However, one of my favorite spots on the planet is a 2 hour ride north to Sedona. It is cooler and very beautiful. Plus, if you make a day trip, stop off at Montezuma's Castle and Jerome (old ghost town that has since been rebuilt). I can promise you that you will never forget Sedona.

The scenery around Sedona is beautiful, but the town is a dump and a tourist trap.

 

[EdH85]

I am going to Phoenix next week for the first time and will be staying downtown. Given this, I figured I'd ask for board recommendations on things to do, places to eat/drink, etc.

I hear Usery Mountain Park is pretty cool, as are the Botanical Gardens, and South Mountain. Plus, rumor has it that the ASU campus and its "mountains" are also great.

But, I don't have any food/drink recommendations.

Any tips are appreciated. Thanks!

Catch a flight with Sedona Air Tours to the western part of the Grand Canyon. Cool flight and the Grand Canyon is breathtaking. You can include a helicopter/boat tour as well. Definitely pricey, but worth it. Airport is south of Sedona, so you don't have to deal with the crazy traffic in that town.

 

[colt21]

have fun! Personally, I love Phoenix. However, one of my favorite spots on the planet is a 2 hour ride north to Sedona. It is cooler and very beautiful. Plus, if you make a day trip, stop off at Montezuma's Castle and Jerome (old ghost town that has since been rebuilt). I can promise you that you will never forget Sedona.

Was there for a conference once and stopped at all 3 - awesome !!

 

[ClarkstonMark]

check out flagstaff....EXPLODING! Values will double in a year or two. Lots of money moving in to buy homes and sit on them just to sell them in two years.

So it is 100 in Phoenix area, and the low was around 80 last night, but it was 39 last night in Flagstaff.
I hiked on Camelback this morning, arrived yesterday. The heat was a but of a shock and I wasn't properly pre-hydrated. Struggled big time, but so many friendly hikers kept asking me if I was alright.
Hoping I'll be better prepared tomorrow, as my gf was really worried about me today.

Had dinner at Citizen's Public House in Scottsdale last night, Love the signature salad at this place, which is why we always go there when in town. They had a BBQ special from Little Miss BBQ (which is another must-hit place in Phx area in my opinion for no-frills BBQ) that looked great but I didn't want a huge meal.

Heading to Mastro's City Hall tonight for a big steak and awesome Butter Cake dessert.

 

[PACOLT]

Will be in Cave Creek, AZ which is 40 miles from Phx airport in 8 days for a week, and always do the Buffalo Chip saloon Wed or Friday night bull riding show. Friday night kids ride the mutton. Then Sedona and end with 4 days in Vegas.

 

[Wandering Spectator]

If you’re in Cave Creek, take the ride northeast to the Humboldt Mountain Launch Pad. The views are staggering.

 

[Wandering Spectator]

So it is 100 in Phoenix area, and the low was around 80 last night, but it was 39 last night in Flagstaff.
I hiked on Camelback this morning, arrived yesterday. The heat was a but of a shock and I wasn't properly pre-hydrated. Struggled big time, but so many friendly hikers kept asking me if I was alright.
Hoping I'll be better prepared tomorrow, as my gf was really worried about me today.

Had dinner at Citizen's Public House in Scottsdale last night, Love the signature salad at this place, which is why we always go there when in town. They had a BBQ special from Little Miss BBQ (which is another must-hit place in Phx area in my opinion for no-frills BBQ) that looked great but I didn't want a huge meal.

Heading to Mastro's City Hall tonight for a big steak and awesome Butter Cake dessert.

The Phoenix Chapter meets at Casa Amigo in Scottsdale for the games. Check them out tonight if you don’t have plans already.

 

[Norm Petersin]

Sonora Desert for sure. I enjoyed Sedona also, but I prefer Tucson myself.