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 379802 times)

Offline knowitall

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #520 on: May 26, 2016, 09:36:57 PM »
Besides watching the sunset, what's there to do in Sedona?
(I'm going in August when it will be 100+ degrees, long hikes ain't my idea of fun)

Offline E R K

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #521 on: May 27, 2016, 12:36:35 AM »
New nonstop service from JFK to TUS - http://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2016/05/24/with-promise-of-a-revenue-guarantee-aa-to-start.html
Just came back from TUS. Stayed at Westin. There are kosher restaurants there.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #522 on: May 27, 2016, 01:08:42 AM »
Besides watching the sunset, what's there to do in Sedona?
(I'm going in August when it will be 100+ degrees, long hikes ain't my idea of fun)
Pink jeep tours. It's amazing (and crazy expensive).

Offline knowitall

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #523 on: May 30, 2016, 07:35:00 AM »
Has anyone here rented a boat on lake Powell? I read through a huge tripadvisor thread on it but the goyim have all the time in the world so they give advice differently.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #524 on: May 30, 2016, 08:42:24 AM »
Has anyone here rented a boat on lake Powell? I read through a huge tripadvisor thread on it but the goyim have all the time in the world so they give advice differently.
Yes, it's difficult to get a reservation. You would have to do it far in advance, and I think it needs to be for half a day. We lucked out with a cancellation so we got like a 2 hour rental.

Offline drewsky9

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #525 on: June 05, 2016, 07:59:41 AM »
My wife and I just got back from Arizona.  We did ATVing in Sedona and it was so much fun.  Obviously it was much cooler, but I'd imagine the breeze of the ATV would be comfortable.  I have a picture of the view at my Arizona Trip Report http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=63263.0#new

Besides watching the sunset, what's there to do in Sedona?
(I'm going in August when it will be 100+ degrees, long hikes ain't my idea of fun)

Offline drewsky9

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #526 on: June 05, 2016, 08:01:07 AM »
Hi,
My wife and I are going to Arizona for 4 days in May. 
Landing in Phoenix on Sunday night and leaving late Thursday night.
As of now planning on staying in Phoenix on Sunday night.
Staying in Flagstaff on Monday night and Tuesday night.
Staying in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

Monday - Sedona
Tuesday - Grand Canyon
Wednesday - ??
Thursday - Phoenix

For Wednesday should we do another day at the Grand Canyon?  What about the Petrified Forest?

Any and all suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks.

Here's the trip report from that trip: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=63263.0#new

Offline knowitall

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #527 on: June 16, 2016, 11:33:06 AM »
My family is looking to stay in phoenix for a weekend this August. I'm looking to rent a house as hotel rooms and Shabbos meals don't go so well together. Airbnb is very expensive and I would prefer to rent from a jewish family. Does anyone know someone who might be interested? TIA

Offline yakrot

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #528 on: June 16, 2016, 02:05:41 PM »
Pink jeep tours. It's amazing (and crazy expensive).
There are other cheaper options

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #529 on: June 16, 2016, 02:05:55 PM »
My family is looking to stay in phoenix for a weekend this August. I'm looking to rent a house as hotel rooms and Shabbos meals don't go so well together. Airbnb is very expensive and I would prefer to rent from a jewish family. Does anyone know someone who might be interested? TIA
can book the Westin Kierland villas for shabbos (within eruv and 45 minutes from shul) which has a kitchen, and may be cheaper than house rental options..

Offline yakrot

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #530 on: June 16, 2016, 02:09:29 PM »
can book the Westin Kierland villas for shabbos (within eruv and 45 minutes from shul) which has a kitchen, and may be cheaper than house rental options..
45 minutes seems far...

Offline knowitall

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #531 on: June 16, 2016, 02:49:05 PM »
45 minutes seems far...
+100
It used to be a decent option but the Shul moved further away.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #532 on: June 16, 2016, 03:52:10 PM »
+100
It used to be a decent option but the Shul moved further away.
ha i was wondering when they moved (when i booked i thought it was 15 minutes away)!

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #533 on: June 16, 2016, 05:00:51 PM »
ha i was wondering when they moved (when i booked i thought it was 15 minutes away)!

If you google their eruv website they have other hotels near the Phoenix community (Westin is near Scottsdale), which is actually the much bigger community.  I've stayed in Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak and the Biltomore Waldorf Astoria is I believe also close.  Both have good HHonors deals and sometimes cash+points deals and suite options (we were upgraded to the huge Ambassador Suite at that Hilton).  You won't get all the pools and amenities and I can't remember the exact name but we also stayed at some kind of Extended Stay Suite hotel for Shabbos there and easily walked to shul.  It should also be listed.

Offline sam28

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #534 on: June 23, 2016, 05:13:47 PM »
where is best place to look for a house with a pool walking to shoul for shbbes for next week and in what area should I look for .

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #535 on: July 06, 2016, 09:43:15 AM »
Weather-wise, is it reasonable to do a Grand Canyon trip in August?
The average Aug temperature for Phoenix is over 100 degrees!
Or is this only a winter trip?
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Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #536 on: July 06, 2016, 11:04:40 AM »
Weather-wise, is it reasonable to do a Grand Canyon trip in August?
The average Aug temperature for Phoenix is over 100 degrees!
Or is this only a winter trip?
Not at all. It's much cooler on the rim (avg high of 82 in August) since you're at 7-8k feet above sea level. Though if you plan on hiking through the canyon, it can be real hot at the bottom.

Offline ckmk47

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #537 on: July 06, 2016, 11:20:47 AM »
Not at all. It's much cooler on the rim (avg high of 82 in August) since you're at 7-8k feet above sea level. Though if you plan on hiking through the canyon, it can be real hot at the bottom.
I looked at some trip reports.  I plan on 1 day at the Grand Canyon and also doing other local things like jeeping in Sedona and such. Is that also feasible in August?


Also is it worth going all the way to Bryce Canyon?
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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #538 on: July 09, 2016, 06:39:03 PM »
Any thoughts on using honeywell or GMAC to rent from national in PHX? I'm looking for a minivan or bigger.
Also is a one-way rental (Phx-LAS) any riskier? TIA

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #539 on: July 09, 2016, 10:25:37 PM »
I looked at some trip reports.  I plan on 1 day at the Grand Canyon and also doing other local things like jeeping in Sedona and such. Is that also feasible in August?


Also is it worth going all the way to Bryce Canyon?
1)yes
2)definetly worth it.