You realize Phoenix is somewhat boring when guests come to town... (Scottsdale: 2013, hotels)

[PHX Newbie]

Horseback riding, mountain biking or hiking at South Mountain. Indoor skydiving near downtown (I forget the name of the facility, google it). If the gov't shutdown ends - the cliff dwellings at Roosevelt lake, the Roosevelt dam....

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

I'll start off by saying I like Phoenix...I've lived here for 21 years and will continue to do so, it's a great place to live day-to-day life but as a city for visitors, not so much.

Am I wrong in feeling that way?

I have a cousin and her boyfriend (late 20s) visiting in about a week from Southern California and I'm trying to think of what I can recommend for them to to and not coming up with much other than restaurants, movies, and the mall. What else can I recommend?

What would you do if you were in Los Angeles? With the exception of the beach and a visit from your local gang member, what difference is there?

For someone that has lived here 21 years, you seem to be stuck in your bubble like most Phoenicians and too scared to explore what the city has to offer.

Did you know there are several dozen non-american style grocery stores in the valley? Did you know that maryvale is full industrial plants? Did you know we have the best pizza on the west coast? Did you know we have several resorts, a light rail, comic book stores, and even malls.

Quit being lazy.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

We recommend Scottsdale for a day, Sedona for a night (1.5 days), Apache Lake/Tortilla Flats and take the ferry tour, Westgate area on the weekend (Yard House for beer drinkers) and a hockey game with last minute Stubhub tickets, hiking in the White Tanks, horse back riding and shopping in Wickenburg, Dillons for lunch at Lake Pleasant and then a hike, and Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium.

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by shiphead

Did you know there are several dozen non-american style grocery stores in the valley? Did you know that maryvale is full industrial plants? Did you know we have the best pizza on the west coast? Did you know we have several resorts, a light rail, comic book stores, and even malls.

Quit being lazy.

Kind of rude don't ya think?

HXGUY to his visitors: "Hi Cuz and girlfriend. Today we are going to go to 5 different ethnic grocery stores. After that, we are going to drive around Maryville to look at all of the cool industrial plants. Then, off to the bestest pizza in the whole west coast. Tomorrow, we are going to spend a day in a comic book store that is chalk full of... comic books!

I think you just made his point.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Kind of rude don't ya think?

HXGUY to his visitors: "Hi Cuz and girlfriend. Today we are going to go to 5 different ethnic grocery stores. After that, we are going to drive around Maryville to look at all of the cool industrial plants. Then, off to the bestest pizza in the whole west coast. Tomorrow, we are going to spend a day in a comic book store that is chalk full of... comic books!

I think you just made his point.

I disagree. I was being condescending in my post. I am rude? Have you met the people that live here? I call the culture here "bluntly polite."

I mean he has lived here 21 years, how can you not know the unique things to do in this state unless you've lived in a bubble?

There are many things in Arizona that outsiders wouldn't really know about. Like our wine country, aquamarine clear water spot, spots in the friken grand canyon, and many other gems of this state that are overlooked.

[Scottay]

Taco Festival, Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Verde Valley, morning hike on Camelback then go to the Good Egg for breakfast, Botanical Gardens

[atler8]

I would second the suggestions of visiting old town Scottsdale & the Botanical Gardens.
Your week in Sedona sounds marvelous so how about taking a day trip in the other direction on down to the Arizona Desert Sonora Museum outside of Tucson? We spent several hours visiting it & enjoyed the range of inside & outside exhibit & free space areas.
The old mining town of Jerome was a high point of my first trip out to Arizona & we made a stop off in Prescott on the return trip back to Phoenix.
If you have access to reliable info on hiking trails in the Superstitions, this would be a great time of year for a hike.

[Zippyman]

I dunno - I used to travel for work extensively, and as someone who doesn't drink or "par-TAY" much, I think most US cities are kinda boring -

thinking back to when I first came to town, things I thought were cool -driving to the top of south mountain during the late afternoon & watching the planes line up to land, the botanical garden & the Phoenix zoo (I was really impressed with both).. the little Heard Museum up in Cave-Creek, the fountain at fountain hills, the Good Egg & that bar-b-que place on Baseline rd in Tempe..

[MN-Born-n-Raised]

Originally Posted by shiphead

I disagree. I was being condescending in my post. I am rude? Have you met the people that live here? I call the culture here "bluntly polite."

I mean he has lived here 21 years, how can you not know the unique things to do in this state unless you've lived in a bubble?

There are many things in Arizona that outsiders wouldn't really know about. Like our wine country, aquamarine clear water spot, spots in the friken grand canyon, and many other gems of this state that are overlooked.

All true. But pizza, comic books, and industrial parks?

[DetroitN8V]

I too am struggling with the same thing with company arriving tomorrow. One thing I love doing when people visit is having lunch at Pizzeria Bianco and then driving to the summit of South Mountain. The view from up there gives newcomers a perspective of how large the valley really is and it's really spectacular. Other than that we'll spend an evening in Old Town having a nice dinner and then hitting a couple bars, we'll go on a hike in the McDowells and then I'm out of ideas.