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 379759 times)

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #480 on: March 21, 2016, 01:25:58 PM »
and Happy Anniversary!
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #481 on: March 21, 2016, 11:40:10 PM »
Thanks!

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #482 on: March 25, 2016, 10:58:38 AM »
Since I waited to book I basically got priced out of the phoenician each room is now 26,750 points a night.  What would be next best place to stay?

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #483 on: March 25, 2016, 01:18:06 PM »
Since I waited to book I basically got priced out of the phoenician each room is now 26,750 points a night.  What would be next best place to stay?

Maybe Westin Kierland Villas.  I love that place.

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #484 on: March 25, 2016, 01:31:12 PM »
booked unfortunately. Any others?

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #485 on: March 26, 2016, 10:37:31 PM »
booked unfortunately. Any others?

Do you have HHonors nights?

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #486 on: March 26, 2016, 11:51:35 PM »
booked unfortunately. Any others?
Hyatt Regency?

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #487 on: March 27, 2016, 04:33:18 PM »
Thanka. Was able to book at phoenician for the last 2 nights. Im still looking for availability for my first night there. 

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #488 on: March 27, 2016, 04:55:27 PM »
looking to book a trip end of june, but looking at average weather it shows high of 103/104. People talk about dry heat being better (whatever that means) but is it bearable to go to the grand canyon in June with kids or just crazy torture?

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #489 on: March 27, 2016, 06:28:02 PM »
Is it worth shlepping food from Pom or should I just buy while I'm there.

Offline E R K

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #490 on: March 27, 2016, 06:30:26 PM »
looking to book a trip end of june, but looking at average weather it shows high of 103/104. People talk about dry heat being better (whatever that means) but is it bearable to go to the grand canyon in June with kids or just crazy torture?
Went to Grsnd Canyon in July and it was 113. No kids but Very Hot! I'm sure with kids they'd kvetch a lot.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #491 on: March 28, 2016, 04:48:46 PM »
Is it worth shlepping food from Pom or should I just buy while I'm there.

Absolutely not!!  Tons of awesome restaurants there.  At least 5-6.

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #492 on: March 28, 2016, 05:35:38 PM »
Thanks! I was thinking if it is worth going to Sedona at all. I arrive on Thursday at around 3pm and leave Sunday morning.  Should I just relax around the area and hotel or go somewhere thursday and spend Shabbat in Scottsdale.  To be honest I just wanted a nice getaway for a weekend and after reading more about Phoenix I saw how much I was missing out on.

Any advice?

Offline Toasted

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #493 on: March 28, 2016, 05:52:27 PM »
Thanks! I was thinking if it is worth going to Sedona at all. I arrive on Thursday at around 3pm and leave Sunday morning.  Should I just relax around the area and hotel or go somewhere thursday and spend Shabbat in Scottsdale.  To be honest I just wanted a nice getaway for a weekend and after reading more about Phoenix I saw how much I was missing out on.

Any advice?

If your purpose is to relax, I'd skip the hours on the road to Sedona. Phoenix/Scottsdale is a great place to chill.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #494 on: March 28, 2016, 09:10:54 PM »
If your purpose is to relax, I'd skip the hours on the road to Sedona. Phoenix/Scottsdale is a great place to chill.

+100. Relax and enjoy!

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #495 on: March 28, 2016, 11:31:52 PM »
Thanks for the advice. I am officially booked at the Phoenician from Thur-Sunday ;D First trip without the baby (over 2 yrs old) so I think the relaxing route will be more appreciated by my wife.

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #496 on: March 29, 2016, 06:32:52 PM »
Is it worth renting a car or should I use an Uber to get around?

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #497 on: March 29, 2016, 09:39:36 PM »
Is it worth renting a car or should I use an Uber to get around?

Scottsdale is far from the airport and the restaurants in Phoenix (although there are restaurants in Scottsdale too).  On our trip last month was the first time we didn't rent a car and only did Uber. It was way more convenient BUT we stayed in Central Phoenix and only went to the restaurants close by.  If you're just going to stay around your hotel it will probably about the same money and way more convenient not to rent a car.

Offline jedderai

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #498 on: March 29, 2016, 10:34:16 PM »
So basically if I plan on going to Segals or the Pizza place I am better of renting a car. Thanks

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #499 on: March 29, 2016, 11:53:02 PM »
So basically if I plan on going to Segals or the Pizza place I am better of renting a car. Thanks

Yep exactly ;)