Winter Weekend in Phoenix: Top 10 Attractions (Parks: motel, houses, living)

[bamba_boy]

My wife has to spend a 4 day weekend in Jan in Phoenix and I found some cheap airline tickets to tag-along and leverage the free motel room.

She's in two-a-day sessions from early morning until late evening. Can any of you Phoenix residents or regular visitors suggest a Top 10 list attractions for a lone middle aged man in the middle of the winter (no couples dance classes, no water parks, no kiddie zoos, etc) that's fun , doesn't cost a ton, and won't get me in trouble with the Mrs who will be living a tortured existence in office buildings.

[Ritchie_az]

What are your interests? What part of town will you be staying at? That'll help get things started.

[bamba_boy]

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

What are your interests? What part of town will you be staying at? That'll help get things started.

I love hiking, rock, mineral, and fossil collecting, museums (all kinds), karaoke singing, photography.

We're staying between airport and downtown (SE? side).

[observer53]

Heard Museum (southwestern history and art) and Phoenix Art Museum, both on Central Ave downtown.

Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum, not far from downtown, 15th Ave and Washington, not open on Sun, open 11-4 on Sat.


Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park, 4619 E Washington (very close to the airport).

There may be some museums/displays out at ASU that would be worth a look, too.

The Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park are worth a visit,and give you a nice hilly walk. And while you are in the area, you can also hike around in the park for free.


Admission to all this is either free (ASU) or relatively inexpensive (Mining Museum is 2 bucks, that's the cheapest that charges, but none of them are expensive)

[Ritchie_az]

"I love... museums (all kinds)... photography."

"There may be some museums/displays out at ASU that would be worth a look, too."

I've never been, but you may want to check it out:

ASU Art Museum | ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

[Arizona Mike]

Originally Posted by observer53

Heard Museum (southwestern history and art) and Phoenix Art Museum, both on Central Ave downtown.

Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum, not far from downtown, 15th Ave and Washington, not open on Sun, open 11-4 on Sat.


Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park, 4619 E Washington (very close to the airport).

There may be some museums/displays out at ASU that would be worth a look, too.

The Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park are worth a visit,and give you a nice hilly walk. And while you are in the area, you can also hike around in the park for free.


Admission to all this is either free (ASU) or relatively inexpensive (Mining Museum is 2 bucks, that's the cheapest that charges, but none of them are expensive)

I think you'll like all observer53's suggestions. If you like hiking, you may also want to check some of the mountain hikes in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, all within the Phoenix metro area and offering great views of the Valley. All are within a short drive of the area where you will be staying. January would be an ideal time to do them, too:

MOUNTAIN PARKS/PRESERVES HIKING TRAILS

The trails range from very easy to arduous. Take a bottle of water or Camelbak and bring some high-top trail hiking shoes and you'll be set.

[bamba_boy]

Originally Posted by bamba_boy

My wife has to spend a 4 day weekend in Jan in Phoenix and I found some cheap airline tickets to tag-along and leverage the free motel room.

She's in two-a-day sessions from early morning until late evening. Can any of you Phoenix residents or regular visitors suggest a Top 10 list attractions for a lone middle aged man in the middle of the winter (no couples dance classes, no water parks, no kiddie zoos, etc) that's fun , doesn't cost a ton, and won't get me in trouble with the Mrs who will be living a tortured existence in office buildings.

Trip is now concluded. My initial observations:

I had written your forum for advice on a 4-day trailing spouse weekend in Phoenix from my home in Houston. Had a great time and appreciate the great advice. I'll try to get some photos attached later. It was so beautiful last weekend outside that I didn't do anything inside except the AC show.

I'd like to share the two highlites of my trip, which are two things we just can't do at all in Houston and you'all probably take for granted but are absolutely special:

1) hiking in the mountain parks . What's really amazing is that that some of them are right in the middle of the Phoenix metro area surrounded by houses. Also, there are great trail systems set up so you a flatlander tourist like me doesn't get lost or have too much chance of falling off a mountainside (although I really tried a couple of times with some slips and falls!). The ones I did were the South Mnts, Phoenix Mnts Preserve, and Tonto Nat'l Forest/Superstitions Mnts State Park. Gorgeous. Make sure you do it in the winter though - it was nice upper 60s/low 70's at noon, 50 or so early morn.

2) Alice Cooper Christmas Pudding Show. Imagine a Christmas Party at Alice's House with him, his wife, his rocker son and his band, and a crew of Alice's favorite 70s/80s rock band, magician, and comedian friends and a slew of Phoenix's richest and prettiest in the front row catered tables. Ended with a "We are the World" singalong with Alice and the whole gang with artificial snow falling on him in a red Santa Suit!

I hope I can come back next year around the same time.