You realize Phoenix is somewhat boring when guests come to town... (Tucson: home, construction)

[PoppySead]

We just had friends from Germany in town and this shut down really shut down our plans. We did end up camping and hiking in Sedona by the creek. The kids went swimming as cold as it was. We had planned to tour the north with the Williams train, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Crater but no can do. Although if you want to drive an extra couple of hours you can go to the west rim of the Grand Canyon through the Indian Res. We skipped it.
We hit Vegas for a day and night then came back. Pretty full vaca. They were only here 5 days and we did a lot.

It was still a fun time, we threw in Mill Ave and hung out by the pool. For the Germans, pool side was great!! (this is perfect swimming weather for Germans) btw.

[locolobo13]

It all depends on what your interests are. Some good suggestions here. Here's another maybe not as interesting to some, street murals:

Murals | Downtown Phoenix

or google up some more street murals if you are interested.

BTW: the Universal Hair Salon is something else now and has been repainted.

[TootsieWootsie]

OMG, Phoenix is a TOURIST town! You should have lived in Houston where--unless there was the Rodeo (zzzzzz...!)--you had NASA. We never ever got tourists there...ever.

You've been here so long, OP, I think you have gotten complacent. There is TONS to do here...TONS! Look at "New Times" when they come and see what's going on here.

[ibarrio]

I think the sunshine/outdoors, golf, and resorts are the main attraction to Phoenix. The nightlife is hot in two areas (Scottsdale and Tempe) but that type of destination doesn't really attract family vacationers. We do have spring training (I meet a few Cubs fans who spend the whole month in the area), MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA, 2 bowl games, and NASCAR. The casinos are ok but Vegas is so close it makes local casinos really for locals.

There is not a vibrant downtown (I know they are trying), there are no amusement park attractions (Disney, Magic Mountain,etc), the museum culture is lacking and is not a destination attraction (Someone in Chicago isn't saying I need to go to Phoenix for the museums), and there is no beach.

[AZPam]

How about the Olive Mill in Queen Creek for a tour and lunch? It's pretty interesting, but low key

Or you can do a Segway tour in Scottsdale. That sounds like fun and was in the paper this am

[43north87west]

Interestingly, I had a similar experience last week. "We have one day left in Scottsdale--what should we do?" I kind of ran into the same problem, but I realized that it's not even a problem.

IMO, the desert is, in and of itself, the destination. Our weather, terrain, and scenery are the main attraction. We have museums, the desert botanical garden, zoo, etc., but the things that make the area noteworthy and unique, are the surroundings and the weather, and there are so many things to do outdoors, the opportunities are endless.

For people who aren't interested in scenery or something having to do with the outdoors, there still are things to do, but it depends on the person. Send them to a museum, Taliesin West, WestWorld, or let them wander around Old Town. People who are interested in history or government can check out the Capitol and some of the old stuff downtown and follow it up with a museum or a drive to South Mountain. Museum people can do the museum thing. Sports fans might get to go to a game. If the immediate area still doesn't cut it, send them off to Jerome or Sedona.

It's easy to kill a day, but it depends on who the person is, or what they like to do.

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

I really don't agree with this at all

However, the things are necessarily as convenient or well packaged as other similarly sized metros ....... the metro covers a large amount of land and there are pockets everywhere but relatively little concentration ...... i think this throws of perception a little bit

I totally agree. In a city that spans 500 square miles and has parks the size of entire cities, it's easy to get distanced from other parts of the area. That's only the city, not the remainder of the metropolitan area.

[TootsieWootsie]

Originally Posted by Palenaka

Seriously??? I guess I feel differently...lol. My son is flying out Friday from Orange County for a long weekend and I can't wait!! Our problem is there is never enough time to do everything!! He visits every couple of months and we plan around weekend events. He is 31...I am ummm older lol.. BBQs with family, light rail to Ocktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake, a couple of hours at AZ Fair and then ZZ Top concert, and Desert Bontanical Gardens and Pagayo park. We have also enjoyed The Heard, Arizona Science Center, Butterfly Wonderland, Stillman McCorkmick park and museum, Japanese Gardens, Salt River tubing, several concerts, etc...

Now here's someone who really thinks!!! Bravo, OP!

There is sooo much to do here--and parking is so easy to find anywhere which is what keeps you home in Chicago cause parking innercity is a bugger--that there is no reason here not to visit all these cool places. Houston has very little to do altho parking is no problem there. This city has lots to do and ez parking = fantastic for tourists!

I know I, for one, love Phoenix and wish I had come here earlier.

[AZ Tracy]

You should be able to get an idea or two from this site: Tourism & Travel | AZ Vacations | Arizona Office of Tourism

[lsaulibio]

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?

I can't believe you are actually saying this! You want boring? Try living on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, about 3.5 miles long by .5 miles wide. Nearest mall is Honolulu (2400 miles away) or Australia (2100 miles away. One plane brings fresh perishable food and mail, and a second plane later in the week, brings in mail again. Movies? Outdoor theater, bring your own chair and beverage, but no smoking. 1 grocery store twice the size of a 7-11. A shopette, and a small retail store. Gotta most of what you need through the internet. Oh yeah, dial up modem (56K) internet in the homes. No cell phones. We actually interact with one another, have parties, cookouts, or just lay on the beach (I do a good imitation of a beached whale). No personal cars allowed, you ride bicycles or walk. We have golf carts for work, but you can't use them on the golf course. The island is flat, with lots of coconut trees. And the weather is nearly the same everyday, temp 78 to 86 degrees, just a little more rain. The island is kwajalein...google it. I cannot imagine anybody saying Phoenix is boring!! Are you insane?