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 379784 times)

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #560 on: August 12, 2016, 02:28:51 PM »
It's 1.25 miles RT, supposedly easy hike. So we'll see how hot it is.

The length of the hike is not what matters - what matters is that it was over 100 degrees when we were there. 
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline Galitzyaner

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #561 on: August 12, 2016, 02:55:25 PM »
Monday- GC-desert view watchtower and Shoshone point.
Why did you choose these two viewpoints in particular?

Tuesday- lake powell
What do you plan on doing there?

Thanks!

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #562 on: August 12, 2016, 08:22:45 PM »
The length of the hike is not what matters - what matters is that it was over 100 degrees when we were there.

+1.  I got a headache just walking from our car to our hotel room from the heat.  And remember that if your car isn't in a shaded spot, the seats and steering wheel can burn you when you get back in!

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #563 on: August 22, 2016, 09:11:17 PM »
Planning to spend a week over Chanukah in Scottsdale. Renting a villa near R' Shoshan's shul with a heated pool. That will give us plenty of activity. Trying to fill up the rest of our time.

Out of Africa looks cool.
I'd like to spend a day in Sedona. Bell rock hike. Airport Mesa overlook for sunset. I'd like to go Jeeping with pink Jeep tours. They only allow 18+ months. I'll be traveling with a15 month old. Does anyone know of a company that will take us?
I'd appreciate suggestions of other activities.
Traveling with aforementioned 1 YO and 5 and 7 YOs
Thanks!
« Last Edit: August 22, 2016, 09:20:14 PM by Ergel »
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #564 on: August 22, 2016, 10:19:29 PM »
Eh - 15 mo old or 18 mo - do you really think they will know the difference?  We did the broken arrow trail with Pink Jeep tours and it was awesome.
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #565 on: August 22, 2016, 11:16:31 PM »
Eh - 15 mo old or 18 mo - do you really think they will know the difference?  We did the broken arrow trail with Pink Jeep tours and it was awesome.
I hear. My main concern is around chinuch of lying in front of my other children
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #566 on: August 22, 2016, 11:30:03 PM »
I hear. My main concern is around chinuch of lying in front of my other children
u are shtark!

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #567 on: August 23, 2016, 10:41:33 PM »
Planning to spend a week over Chanukah in Scottsdale. Renting a villa near R' Shoshan's shul with a heated pool. That will give us plenty of activity. Trying to fill up the rest of our time.

Out of Africa looks cool.
I'd like to spend a day in Sedona. Bell rock hike. Airport Mesa overlook for sunset. I'd like to go Jeeping with pink Jeep tours. They only allow 18+ months. I'll be traveling with a15 month old. Does anyone know of a company that will take us?
I'd appreciate suggestions of other activities.
Traveling with aforementioned 1 YO and 5 and 7 YOs
Thanks!
Bump
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #568 on: August 24, 2016, 02:18:53 AM »
Grand Canyon?

Offline ejb123

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #569 on: August 24, 2016, 10:18:59 AM »
Bump

Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale
I think the grand canyon is going to be a long day trip from Scottsdale - even Sedona, given the age of your kids is a long day trip.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #570 on: August 24, 2016, 11:59:22 AM »
Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale
I think the grand canyon is going to be a long day trip from Scottsdale - even Sedona, given the age of your kids is a long day trip.
Sedona shouldn't be too bad. He might want to overnight in the area and do Sedona and GC.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #571 on: August 24, 2016, 12:43:46 PM »
Sedona shouldn't be too bad. He might want to overnight in the area and do Sedona and GC.
That was the original plan, but with it being Chanukah, we didn't want to hassle with that. Just staying a week in a house in Scottsdale so we don't have any issues with candle lighting.
As such, Grand Canyon was cut from the trip (definitely not doing 3.5 hour trip each way on a single day).
Sedona seems to be 1-1.5 hour trip. I'd do Montezuma's castle on the way. Jeep ride. Choose a hike. Maybe stay for sunset.
We'll definitely check out Butterfly Wonderland.
Out of Africa.
That's 3 days planned. I'd probably want to do one more activity and spend the rest of the time at the pool.
Maybe the instruments museum mentioned upthread.
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #572 on: August 24, 2016, 12:47:14 PM »
Anyone ever been here:
http://www.therailroadpark.com/
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #573 on: August 24, 2016, 12:54:07 PM »
That was the original plan, but with it being Chanukah, we didn't want to hassle with that. Just staying a week in a house in Scottsdale so we don't have any issues with candle lighting.
As such, Grand Canyon was cut from the trip (definitely not doing 3.5 hour trip each way on a single day).
Sedona seems to be 1-1.5 hour trip. I'd do Montezuma's castle on the way. Jeep ride. Choose a hike. Maybe stay for sunset.
We'll definitely check out Butterfly Wonderland.
Out of Africa.
That's 3 days planned. I'd probably want to do one more activity and spend the rest of the time at the pool.
Maybe the instruments museum mentioned upthread.
Makes sense. Sedona is more like 1.5-2 hours though.

Check out the mountain hikes around Phoenix.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #574 on: August 24, 2016, 03:31:10 PM »
Makes sense. Sedona is more like 1.5-2 hours though.

Check out the mountain hikes around Phoenix.
Thanks.
What do you recommend?

Hole in the Rock?
Camelback mountain?
One of these?
http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/features/features/5253-10-best-hiking-spots-in-phoenix.html
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Offline Joe4007

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #575 on: August 24, 2016, 04:48:20 PM »
Thanks.
What do you recommend?

Hole in the Rock?
Camelback mountain?
One of these?
http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/features/features/5253-10-best-hiking-spots-in-phoenix.html
I've never done any of them so I wouldn't know which one to recommend.

Maybe this will help.

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #576 on: August 25, 2016, 07:16:59 PM »
Anyone ever been here:
http://www.therailroadpark.com/

Yes, multiple times!  Super fun little day, park trip close to the kosher restaurants. ;)

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #577 on: August 26, 2016, 02:06:26 AM »
Anyone ever been here:
http://www.therailroadpark.com/
I was suckered into spending a small fortune on this, will report when/if i survive the hokiness :) https://www.thetrain.com/

Offline shiframeir

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #578 on: August 29, 2016, 03:30:40 AM »
Everyone talks about the Pink Jeep tours, but has anyone tried the other Sedona jeep tours (which u can get for much less with groupon/20% off) like "A day in the west" or Arizona desert mountain jeep tours? this looks simple enough and i can get a ride for 2 for about $75 with tip. Best would be anyone who did both... https://www.groupon.com/deals/a-day-in-the-west-8

Offline yakrot

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #579 on: August 29, 2016, 10:13:16 AM »
When I was there I took a company that was not pink jeep tours and had a great time. I don't remember who I used. Pink jeep tours claims that certain trails are exclusive to their tour and that's why they are better