Topic Wiki

Trip Reports


2014 - Mgarfin's 2014 trip to Arizona-Delta glitch
2014 - VacationLover's Sedona and the Grand Canyon TR
2015 - PBaruch's Dreams of Flight - Hummingbirds and Arizona
2016 - Pbaruch's Motorhome Adventures in Utah and Arizona
2016 - drewsky9's Arizona Trip Report
2016 - MahRabuMasecha's Vegas Zion Page Grand Canyon Sedona TR
2016 - ShlockDoc's Midwest Roadtrip - Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming
2017 - Davidmal's Phoenix & Scottsdale for 5 Hours
2018 - Ikelunious99's Arizona Trip Report

Utah has it's own master thread and wiki at https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=15858.0

Activities


Phoenix

Arizona Cardinals (NFL Football)
Arizona Coyotes (NHL Hockey)
Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB Baseball)
Phoenix Suns (NBA Basketball)

Camelback Mountain
Desert Botanical Garden
Encanto Park
Goldfield Ghost Town
Japanese Friendship Garden
Lost Dutchman State Park
Nordstrom Last Chance - one of the few in the world.
Octance Raceway- Extremely fast Go-Karting
Scottsdale Old Town

Arizona Science Center (Indoor)
Museum of Musical Instruments (Indoor)
Queen Creek Olive Mill (Olive farm and mill, with Olive 101 'factory' tour)
Arizona Boardwalk (entertainment complex, with aquarium, butterfly conservatory, etc. www.azboardwalk.com)
Children’s Museum of Phoenix (for kids under age 10, they claim to be top 3 Children's Museum in the country).

Sedona, AZ
Stunning red rock formations and scenery viewable throughout the small city with unique views along the many hiking trails (including Devil's bridge, West Fork Trail, and Sugar Loaf Loop)
Off road jeep tours (e.g. Pink Jeep Tours)
eclectic outdoor shopping
Slide rock state park: Natural water slide in creek (just north of Sedona)


Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim)
There are two trails from the south rim that go down into the canyon (and all the way to the canyon floor, which is a strenuous multi-day hike). You can experience a taste of it, by turning around at any point.
  • South Kaibab Trail - One of the top rated trails for the GC (trail descends into the canyon, uphill climb on return)
  • Bright Angel Trail - Also one of the top rated trails for GC (trail descends into the canyon, uphill climb on return)
There are also trails along the south rim (called Rim Trails) that don't descend into the canyon, and are relatively flat. These offer views of the canyon and are dotted with various scenic viewpoints. Some areas of the rim trail are paved others are not. These may be more suitable those with young children or those fear of hiking near the edge of the canyon cliffs. The National park shuttle buses also transport passengers to various points within the park, along the south rim.
A PDF map of grand canyon national park south rim is at https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/upload/sr-pocket-map.pdf
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges

Nearby attractions outside the National Park include:
  • Skywalk
  • Bearizona Wildlife Park - Williams, AZ

Page AZ
Lake Powell (popular lake for boating, with kayak, motor boat, pontoon boat, houseboat rentals, Jetski, boat tours, and swimming). Lake and surrounding canyon walls are uniquely scenic together (it's actually a huge artificial reservoir surrounded by canyon walls, resulting from the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam
Carl Hayden Visitor Center at the Glen Canyon Dam (Free museum about the Glen Canyon Dam)
Horseshoe bend (popular scenic overlook of a 180 degree bend in the Colorado river)
Antelope Canyon (beautiful slot canyons with stunning photography opportunity, controlled by Native Americans with entrance fees and guided tour, advance reservations are needed. Fees were recently increased to $60-$100/pp)

Tucson

Saguaro National Park

Kosher Restaurants

See the following for up to date info:
--http://www.kosherphoenix.org/index.php/kosher-food-in-phoenix/restaurants/
--https://www.ahavastorah.org/restaurants.html 


Phoenix

Cafe Chenar
LaBella Pizzeria and Restaurant
Manhattan Pizza & Subs
Samarkand Restaurant Glatt Kosher

Scottsdale

Fresh Mint
Kitchen 18
Milk+ Honey Espresso Bar & Eatery

Groceries


Imperial Market & Deli

Shuls


Ohr Hatorah Congregation- Located in Phoenix Map
Chabad Jewish Center of North Phoenix Map
Ahavas Torah:The Scottsdale Torah Center Map


Chabad of Flagstaff AZ (Kosher meals available), Minyanim in the summer and chol hamoed (1 hour south of the Grand Canyon National Park)

« Last edited by Yr18 on October 02, 2023, 08:46:50 AM »

Author Topic: Arizona Master Thread  (Read 381320 times)

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #40 on: July 03, 2012, 01:16:10 PM »
I really don't think any of these places are really doable with minyanim. To drive an hour plus (or closer to two) each way for a minyan will take your whole day. Stick to a city or a place near the summer program inthe Colorado rockies
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline meshugener

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #41 on: July 03, 2012, 01:44:11 PM »
Go to www.jewishvail.com and see the cool minyan maker, so you might find a minyan for your dates at the Rockies in Colorado.
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #42 on: July 03, 2012, 01:53:47 PM »
Go to www.jewishvail.com and see the cool minyan maker, so you might find a minyan for your dates at the Rockies in Colorado.
Chances of a minyan in the Rockies this summer are pretty solid.

Offline meshugener

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #43 on: July 03, 2012, 02:05:19 PM »
Why? This summer especially?
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

Offline DrDanny

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #44 on: July 03, 2012, 02:08:14 PM »
I don't know if your willing to take the risk but I made minyanim just by bumping in to people all over AZ Last summer everywhere from the GC parking lot to Indian reservations to lake Powell/page to Sedona

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #45 on: July 03, 2012, 02:43:41 PM »
Why? This summer especially?
I just know of a few people going and every summer it seems to get more popular.

Offline meshugener

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #46 on: July 03, 2012, 03:31:42 PM »
I'm one of those people, although I doubt that you know me...
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

Offline Fan of Dan

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #47 on: July 03, 2012, 03:43:48 PM »
I'm one of those people, although I doubt that you know me...
I highly doubt it as well!

Offline benchik

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #48 on: July 03, 2012, 04:30:59 PM »
Is it worth booking in Sedona on the hope of making a minyan there?

@Dan, how many days do you recommend for the Grand Canyon?

Where would I spend the bulk of my trip?

Also, did anyone spend time in Flagstaff?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #49 on: July 03, 2012, 04:38:25 PM »
Is it worth booking in Sedona on the hope of making a minyan there?

@Dan, how many days do you recommend for the Grand Canyon?

Where would I spend the bulk of my trip?

Also, did anyone spend time in Flagstaff?
FWIU there is nothing to do in Flagstaff.
If minyanim are a deal breaker for you I think you should rethink this whole trip.
The grand canyon, assuming you do a reasonable hike but not an overnight one should be a day and a half. Arrive in the afternoon, do the rim walk, go see the imax, bbq. Next day wake up early and do a hike down into the canyon. If you want an overnight hike with camping it will obviously be longer. But again, I doubt you will find a Minyan, and travelling back and forth to Flagstaff is crazy-an hour and a half drive.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline benchik

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #50 on: July 03, 2012, 04:47:34 PM »
Would I have what to do in the LA area for a week?

Ben

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #51 on: July 03, 2012, 04:53:59 PM »
Would I have what to do in the LA area for a week?

Ben
Depends what you like to do. If you're like Dan and you travel for food than sure. Otherwise, I'm not sure. Disneyland is nearby, Knott's Berry farm, winery in Tierra Sur. THe grove, venice beach. Find a couple of hikes. Driving around Beverly Hills looking at houses. Probably better off in SD for a week though. They have minyanim, but a lot less kosher food.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #52 on: July 03, 2012, 05:02:52 PM »
I've stayed in Flagstaff but would never stay there again being that it is in such close proximity to one of the most beautiful places I've every been, I think the drive to Flagstaff from Sedona took me  25 minutes 
They have great Jeep Tours but I rented ATV's that were really awesome and came with a helmet cam (thought they'd send me back a nice short clip of us but we ended up with a 5 hour long DVD)

Offline benchik

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #53 on: July 03, 2012, 05:12:09 PM »
@Dr Danny,

Why wouldn't you stay there again?

(That being the case, is there any way to get out of paying the change fee with United? I'm already booked past 24 hours to and from PHX.)

Ben

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #54 on: July 03, 2012, 05:15:40 PM »
Just because its a fairly drab city and Sedona is so beautiful

Offline E

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #55 on: July 03, 2012, 05:37:12 PM »
for anyone heading to sedona I recently was there and rented a jeep from hertz PHX, there are tons of great off roading trails in and around sedona.

Offline benchik

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #56 on: July 03, 2012, 05:55:28 PM »
Just because its a fairly drab city and Sedona is so beautiful

But even in Sedona its not worth being there more than a few days, I guess.

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #57 on: July 03, 2012, 09:22:35 PM »
If your looking to be going on trips every day and such you are right in 2 or 3 days you can do it all but you can just hang around there for probably about a week
 and the diablo something or other hotel already knows about Shabbos ;)
And this is Arizona were talking about not NYC or LA if you want something new to do every day your gonna have to move every couple of days (you can move at about 2 hours at a time though) to a new place you can do Sedona-Grand Canyon-Page/Lake Powell-Bryce Canyon-Canyon Lands -Moab
 well maybe that's a little to long to take a whole family but that's the idea or if your flying into PHX and have 2 Weeks you can go from the GC to Vegas to LA to San Diego back to Phoenix

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #58 on: July 03, 2012, 11:01:07 PM »
One thing to keep in mind with all this talk of driving out west is that the roads out there are very scenic, and one lane per direction so it is more relaxing then what most of us are used to. That is unless passing trucks on the other side makes you stressed out. :)

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #59 on: July 12, 2012, 10:05:02 AM »
Thanks for all the replies!

I think that upon arrival at phx we'll head out to San Diego as soon as we arrive, spend shabbos there. We'll move over to LA during the wee and spend the next shabbos there. Finally, after shabbos, we'll head out to the GC. From the GC its back to PHX.

Any good suggestions for SD, LA and the GC? Something with a large family in mind.

Does my routing above make sense? Or are there better ideas? (We're not doing LV for tznius issues.)

Thanks!