suggestions needed for visiting Phoenix .... (Glendale, Scottsdale: trip , rental car, rental)

[mdswines]

A good friend of mine will be visiting PHX for a nursing conference. She and her husband will have about two days (Sat & Sunday) to do whatever sightseeing they want to do.

What would your suggestions be?

I know Sedona makes a nice day trip. Is there anything specific in PHX that they should do/see?

Thanks for your input!

[silverbear]

I assume this is the NACNS conference in late February / early March. If so, it will be a great time to visit Phoenix since the weather should be comfortable and desert wildflowers may be in bloom. Before suggesting specific attractions, I strongly suggest a rental car during the visit, at least during the sightseeing days. The metro area is quite decentralized and having a car will make sightseeing more convenient and spontaneous.

Since the weather is so pleasant at this time of year, some outdoor sightseeing is definitely in order. The Desert Botanical Garden is unique to the region and will be a great place to see wildflowers. The zoo is right next door. If your friend and her husband are more physically active, they might enjoy a hike in one of the city's great desert parks, especially South Mountain and the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. Of course, sunblock, proper footwear, and plenty of water are a must if hiking in the desert. Also, March marks the Cactus League spring training season for baseball, so it may be possible to see a favorite team in a more intimate setting than usual.

Finally, for indoor sightseeing, two impressive museums are located within half a mile of each other in Central Phoenix. The Phoenix Art Museum is a general-purpose art museum that has recently completed a major expansion. The Heard Museum is more unique to the region, with a focus on Native American Art. With all this, they should have no trouble filling two days.

[SpeedyAZ]

I also suggest getting a car, it'd be much easier than trying to take a cab everywhere.

I'd recommend seeing Frank Llyod Wright's Talesin West. It's an amazing structure located in Scottsdale (25 miles appx from Phoenix). But make sure they're aware of the traffic during rush hours, it's crazy.

It really all depends on what they like to do. An offroad Hummer experience is fun but it'd take a good chunk of your day. Tortilla Flats is a ghost-town of sorts with a great bar and resturant along with various other buildings. It's also a GORGEOUS drive through the mountains but beware, it's very curvy and the roads are quite narrow in some areas.

A day trip to Mexico is a nice way to spend your afternoon.

If they want to stay around Phoenix, how about golf? There are some great courses but are quite pricey during the in season. Scottsdale's Fashion Square is nice to visit. Plenty of upscale shopping, resturants, etc.

Old Town Scottsdale has art galleries and many unique shops. You can take a trip to Fountain Hills and see the world's largest fountain. Mystery Castle is also a neat attraction that has some great history behind it.

Rawhide is a great ranch to visit if you like the old west. And they could even drive up to San Diego for the day.

There's plenty to do down here but it's hard to do it all in a few days. Hopefully your friends have a good time.

[mdswines]

Great suggestions! I really appreciate your input.

I don't think they're too physically active, but I do think the botanical gardens and perhaps the Apache Trail are a must. I think they'd enjoy Old Town Scottsdale too. Thanks again.

[Steve-o]

Sedona is definitely an option. Id also recommend a cruise around Saguaro Lake, shopping at Old Town Scottsdale, hiking Pinnacle Peak and having a steak at the Pinnacle Peak Patio. You could take in a Coyotes game at the Jobring.com Arena (Glendale) or shop till you drop at the Scottsdale Fashion Square. It can get crowded there ,and if you want a quieter shopping experience, I recommend shopping at the Borgata.

[aj661]

If they're going to do Apache Trail (also known as SR88), there's a new Superstition museum at MP199. The Mining Camp restaurant is unique, with good food and a great view of the Superstitions (I posted a photo on the Apache Junction city data page looking up that street). Just beyond that on SR88 is a tourist trap called the Goldfield Ghost Town. It is entertaining one time. The 'good' curves start at milepost 204. I patrolled that highway for 21 years and loved every minute of it. As SpeedyAZ said, watch the curves. When traffic permits, it can be driven at the posted limit of 25 mph without ever touching the brakes, but it is a very unforgiving road. (The lanes may seem narrow but they're 12 feet wide). They'll want to stop at the overlook above Canyon Lake at MP 208, before dropping down to Tortilla Flat at MP 213.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by aj661

. I patrolled that highway for 21 years and loved every minute of it

I bet I passed by you more than once out there. I used to "live" at Apache Lake. Never got stopped by DPS, though.

[aj661]

How long ago? Was it at Waterdog??? We had an officer stationed there way back when. My area went all the way to Roosevelt until project SLIM in...1993? Then they changed our boundaries and I stopped at the end of the pavement. Aah, the memories , especially the 8 1/2 years I was assigned a Ford Mustang