So I am headed out to Arizona for a conference and it looks like I will have a day or two to myself. What do you recommend to do? I will probably rent a car with a couple other guys (we are grad students) so I have some freedom of movement. I have a limited time and would like to see something interesting.
FYI, I am big on outdoors activities and hiking or other such activities would be good.
Oh, I just remembered the best response I have ever gotten to, “So, what is there to do in this town.” The drunk girl who was in the bar as part of a bachelorette party responded, “Well, you could have sex with me!” Good times, good times…
With a full day or two, drive up through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. If you want to keep going north, you can get to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in another couple of hours.
If you want to stay in town, try hiking Squaw Peak.
Sorry I can’t provide more specific info - I’m in Texas now, but I went to college in Tempe. Someone who lives there now will be along shortly with more specific stuff.
Do you have any specific ideas on what type of hikes/outdoor activities you are looking for? I’m not well-versed in such, but all I can suggest is that if it’s going to be during the summer, I’d suggest you go up north for outdoors activities.
(Just a note: You could always meet Dopers too, if you have the time and are so inclined. We’re having a Dopefest out here on May 3 if you’re coming this week.)
As a graduate of the University of Arizona, let me be the first to correct you in that A mountain is in Tucson, not Tempe. I think both Wildcat and Scum Devil alumni would be equally offended by this mistake.
I have a friend who cuts trees down to size. If ya know what I mean.
I’ll meet YOU at the Starbucks at Pioneer Square three nights ago.
Oh, and about the A mountain. It is DEFINITELY in Tempe. I used to live across the street from it.
Not that I intend on getting into any campus wars with you or anything, since I didn’t graduate from ASU (or from college for that matter). But. Just so you know.
Currently, my girlfriend, although she’ll be driving back home today. And having been there myself: there’s a lot of heat in Phoenix. Dear God. We were there in March of last year, and it was 37 degrees Celcius (whatever that is in Fahrenheit, I don’t know - 95 or something). The locals said it was cool for the time of year. Maniacs, the lot of them.
There’s also bikers without helmets, and people carrying sidearms. Sometimes, there’s helmetless bikers carrying sidearms, even.
If you have the means, I highly recommend Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, all within about 4 hours north, all have great outdoor stuff to do. The Grand Canyon- definitely worth the trip.
South- Organ pipe national monument is beautiful and the cactus flowers are blooming this time of year if I remember correctly. Saguarro national monument also.
The sonoran desert museum is a treat.
In Phoenix proper- hmmm, never really spent much time there when I lived in AZ, but the Scotsdale Mall is nice, the Dial corp building is shaped like a big bar of soap. The line at the INS office is really long.
I’ll second (third? fourth?) a trip to the Grand Canyon. Take the time to hike into it at least a couple of miles. You don’t get a sens of proportion at the top.
While it’s more of a “greenspace” than a destination park, South Mountain is good for a quick hike (or bike ride; some bike shops near there rent by the day.) I used to get sent out to Tempe a lot and I found that it was a convenient place to go after work. There’s also a outlook at the west end that has a great view of the city and the airplanes landing and taking off at Sky Harbor. It sounds cheesy, but it’s a good view.
No way, the grand canyon in one and a half days?? Naw, go up the Beeline Highway and check out the Mogollon Rim, north of Payson, it is spectacular. I highly recommend Sedona as well.
The A Mountain is in Tempe - I helped paint it in 94’ whilst in Grad school.
Squaw Peak - is no longer Squaw Peak it’s called Piestewa Peak.
Oracle is nice, but there is nothing to do there besides see the Bioshpere.
I CAN’T MAKE THE PHOENIX FEST I’LL BE IN CT!!! NO NO NO, SAY IT ISN’T SOOO!!!
The heard Museum off 3rd ave, I think, is nice.
Mill Avenue is nice, good restaurants are House of Tricks, Gordon and Beirch, Rula Bula…
My wife and I have a place in Ahwatukee so if you want to come by with your bussies and have a few margaritas by the pool feel free, just email me. We’ll be there till Fri, May 2nd…
South Mountain: easy to moderate, hike as much as you can stand
Squaw Peak: moderately difficult, 1.2 miles to the top, don’t remember the elevation change
Camelback Mountain (Echo Canyon): Difficult, 1.2 miles to the top. Trails going the other way down and all about you may want to explore
Still pretty close by, actually, but on the edges of the valley:
McDowell Mountains: easy to difficult. Spend as much time as you want there.
Superstitions: Peralta Trail, long and moderate; Siphon Draw, long and difficult (lots of boulder hopping up a wash).
Have fun! I’m obviously typing this out quickly. Send me an email if you have any questions about any of the trails I’ve mentioned.
Phoenix has several museums, a nice botanical garden, and a small, but beautiful, zoo.
There are a lot of clubs and pubs with live music and/or DJs.
There are tons of places to hike: South Mountain Park/Preserve, Squaw Peak, and Lost Dutchman State Park, to name a few.
A day trip?
Prescott, Jerome, and Sedona. You can tour, (Italian Architect/Artist Paolo Soleri’s), Arcosanti on the way. The Verde Canyon Railroad tour up the Verde River is wonderful. They have a sunset/moonrise trip that takes about 4 hours and departs the depot in Clarkdale at 5:30 p.m.
The Apache Trail. The Salt River lakes, Tortilla Flats, Salt River Canyon, and the White Mountains.
Up on the Rim, to many places to name, Fossil Creek is a great place to hike.
The Boyce Thompson Arboritum, about an hour east on highway 60, is a great place and is big enough for a good day of hiking.
Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson is a good place to visit if you like caves.
Ok, let’s see, I don’t really go to Phoenix a lot–Tempe, Tucson, Flagstaff, those are more my type–but check out the Hard Rock Cafe. I can’t remember if the Science Center is there or not but I really like that place.
Check out Bob, the stadium. It’s great. And Arizona Mills. And the Phoenix Zoo, which is not small!!!
And I also suggest the Grand Canyon. We went up there for a day and contrary to what some will say, you can enjoy it in one day. That’s not to say you shouldn’t return and go longer, but just a one-day visit this time will be fine.
Thanks everyone for all the info. I may be able to make the dopefest, I have to see if the ticket is for Friday or Saturday. This thread did a good job of covering outdoors and daytime, so now how about nightlife? Clubs, bars, music, dancing?
