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 381463 times)

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #440 on: January 10, 2016, 09:11:11 PM »
There are many options in Arizona but it depends on how far you are willing to drive around.  This past summer we went to Sedona, Grand Canyon, Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater National Monument and  Petrified Forest National Park.  Last year we stopped by Meteor Crater.  Do a search for national monuments/parks in Arizona and you will find plenty of stuff to do.
I think we made a big mistake. We just checked the weather the week we're going and it's pretty bad, especially Sedona. The tickets cost us 250 and the fee to change it is 200! Mistake not checking the weather.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline PBaruch

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #441 on: January 10, 2016, 09:24:08 PM »
I think we made a big mistake. We just checked the weather the week we're going and it's pretty bad, especially Sedona. The tickets cost us 250 and the fee to change it is 200! Mistake not checking the weather.

Arizona is a big state.  If the weather isn't to your liking in one area just drive over to another.  Also, if there are storms by the Grand Canyon, it may make for some dramatic photographs.  I was able to get some really nice photos of the Grand Canyon due to storms.  Here is a link to my trip report:

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=54632.0
What do you do after your dreams come true?

Offline cfbrown

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #442 on: January 10, 2016, 09:36:38 PM »
I think we made a big mistake. We just checked the weather the week we're going and it's pretty bad, especially Sedona. The tickets cost us 250 and the fee to change it is 200! Mistake not checking the weather.

Stay in Phoenix and hike. Superstitions for example. Just google Peralta Trail under Google Images.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2016, 09:42:51 PM by cfbrown »

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #443 on: January 10, 2016, 11:12:11 PM »
Thank you both. I'll look for some not too difficult trails. I don't think we want to drive 4 hrs each way to the canyon. We were thinking Sedona but it's going to be in the 40's! At least it says 60's for Scottsdale, but rain! Oh well. I sent an email to AA to see if they'll have some rachmonus (maybe Lifetime Gold is worth a little something???), but I doubt it. Thanks again. Any more ideas about what to do arounf the Scottsdale area would be appreciated (1/27-2/2). I'm starting to think of possibly losing the $400?? At least I can get the mileage back from the Kierland Villas.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #444 on: January 10, 2016, 11:15:58 PM »
Thank you both. I'll look for some not too difficult trails. I don't think we want to drive 4 hrs each way to the canyon. We were thinking Sedona but it's going to be in the 40's! At least it says 60's for Scottsdale, but rain! Oh well. I sent an email to AA to see if they'll have some rachmonus (maybe Lifetime Gold is worth a little something???), but I doubt it. Thanks again. Any more ideas about what to do arounf the Scottsdale area would be appreciated (1/27-2/2). I'm starting to think of possibly losing the $400?? At least I can get the mileage back from the Kierland Villas.

Don't cancel a trip because a weather report two weeks out!  IF it looks bad a day before then maybe cancel but I go there almost every winter and have never had a consecutive week of rain so even if it does look a little bad I'd still chance it because they have such little total rain there.

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #445 on: January 10, 2016, 11:28:55 PM »
Don't cancel a trip because a weather report two weeks out!  IF it looks bad a day before then maybe cancel but I go there almost every winter and have never had a consecutive week of rain so even if it does look a little bad I'd still chance it because they have such little total rain there.
So if you're there every winter what do you recommend we do while we're there (Scottsdale)? Last time we did the Sedona jeep but isn't the 40's too cold for that? Maybe you have ideas since you're there so often at this time. Appreciate it. Oh, and we're not youngsters so not interested in amusement park type activities. The jeep was great. We did Segways last time there (number of years ago). TIA.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #446 on: January 10, 2016, 11:40:36 PM »
So if you're there every winter what do you recommend we do while we're there (Scottsdale)? Last time we did the Sedona jeep but isn't the 40's too cold for that? Maybe you have ideas since you're there so often at this time. Appreciate it. Oh, and we're not youngsters so not interested in amusement park type activities. The jeep was great. We did Segways last time there (number of years ago). TIA.

I'm different in that we do have young kids plus I'm one of those rare DDFers that doesn't like a "busy" vacation and since Denver has exactly two kosher restaurants, this is what we do: take a super cheap short flight and then basically just sit at the pool and enjoy the warm weather and all the good kosher restaurants.  La Bella Pizza and Mexican food is awesome (it's near Segal's).  I wasn't interested but other family members did a hot air balloon ride and said it was awesome.  Sorry this probably wasn't so helpful! ;)

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #447 on: January 10, 2016, 11:42:31 PM »
I'm different in that we do have young kids plus I'm one of those rare DDFers that doesn't like a "busy" vacation and since Denver has exactly two kosher restaurants, this is what we do: take a super cheap short flight and then basically just sit at the pool and enjoy the warm weather and all the good kosher restaurants.  La Bella Pizza and Mexican food is awesome (it's near Segal's).  I wasn't interested but other family members did a hot air balloon ride and said it was awesome.  Sorry this probably wasn't so helpful! ;)
I appreciate it. Thanks.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline caliheat

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #448 on: January 11, 2016, 10:14:09 AM »
Thank you both. I'll look for some not too difficult trails. I don't think we want to drive 4 hrs each way to the canyon. We were thinking Sedona but it's going to be in the 40's! At least it says 60's for Scottsdale, but rain! Oh well. I sent an email to AA to see if they'll have some rachmonus (maybe Lifetime Gold is worth a little something???), but I doubt it. Thanks again. Any more ideas about what to do arounf the Scottsdale area would be appreciated (1/27-2/2). I'm starting to think of possibly losing the $400?? At least I can get the mileage back from the Kierland Villas.
The longest it rains is usually 2 days and not 24/7.
Depending on what you like, there are museums, hiking trails, golf courses, driving ranges, casinos, shopping, etc.
Sedona weather is definitely brisk, bring a jacket, go between 12-3, and you'll be fine.

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #449 on: January 11, 2016, 02:08:41 PM »
The longest it rains is usually 2 days and not 24/7.
Depending on what you like, there are museums, hiking trails, golf courses, driving ranges, casinos, shopping, etc.
Sedona weather is definitely brisk, bring a jacket, go between 12-3, and you'll be fine.
Great. Thanks. You folks are making us feel better about this trip.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Redbull3

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #450 on: January 11, 2016, 02:17:09 PM »
We've been to Scottsdale before for a short trip, a very nice SPG hotel. Visited Sedona at that time. There was food around. There was a shul 1.5 miles away (Rabbi Shoshan?). So my question is, if we want to go to that area again with the following, what is recommended? Need a shul, hopefully closer for Shabbos. Need food, restaurants (?), food for Shabbos, maybe Shabbos friendly hotel. Have two free Marriot category 4 and one free Marriot category 5 (I don't see anything that's really nice on those categories). Have AA mileage, some Avios as well. Any help on the above would be appreciated. This is for mid winter - end of Jan to beginning Feb, 6 days. Thanks

He's the man. And my bro in law is also involved with that shul.

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #451 on: January 11, 2016, 10:38:24 PM »
He's the man. And my bro in law is also involved with that shul.
I met Rabbi Shoshan last time we went (a number of years ago. I understand the shul is somewhere else now. Seems further from the Westin Keirland Villas). Saw him this year at Agudah Convention, spoke well.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #452 on: January 24, 2016, 07:08:25 PM »
Any final ideas/places in or near Scottsdale? We're heading on Wednesday evening IYH. Thanks.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #453 on: January 26, 2016, 12:32:27 AM »
Any final ideas/places in or near Scottsdale? We're heading on Wednesday evening IYH. Thanks.

Just checked and weather looks gorgeous this week...aren't you glad you didn't cancel! ;)

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #454 on: January 26, 2016, 10:33:48 AM »
Just checked and weather looks gorgeous this week...aren't you glad you didn't cancel! ;)
Yep. Thanks. Nights are cold, but that's the dessert. We'll probably try Sedona even if it's cold. Seems that this something 18 place and Segals are the places to eat. They deliver? Probably not open late. Will try to check online but real busy before we leave. Thanks all for advice.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

Offline Denverite

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #455 on: January 26, 2016, 10:52:56 AM »
Yep. Thanks. Nights are cold, but that's the dessert. We'll probably try Sedona even if it's cold. Seems that this something 18 place and Segals are the places to eat. They deliver? Probably not open late. Will try to check online but real busy before we leave. Thanks all for advice.

Fresh Mint definitely deliver although it's vegetarian we still loved all the unique Asian food.

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #456 on: January 26, 2016, 03:20:45 PM »
Fresh Mint definitely deliver although it's vegetarian we still loved all the unique Asian food.
Thanks. You say vegetarian and then Asian. Is it in any way similar to a dairy restaurant? Or just strange foods?
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #457 on: January 27, 2016, 12:42:28 AM »
Thanks. You say vegetarian and then Asian. Is it in any way similar to a dairy restaurant? Or just strange foods?

It's a vegan Asian restaurant that I guess the non-Jewish owners realized they could get more business by getting hashgacha.  Even my meat eater family loves the food (especially the Pad Thai and curry).

Offline Redbull3

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #458 on: January 27, 2016, 09:17:34 AM »
Any final ideas/places in or near Scottsdale? We're heading on Wednesday evening IYH. Thanks.
If you can spare hyatt nights or UR/hyatt points I would really recommend staying at the hyatt regency scottsdale resort & spa at gainey ranch for a night or more. It's a category 5 so it's 20k a night or 10k+$125 c+p. Nice hotel and absolutely beautiful grounds and huge pool area. What we loved most was they have separate pools for people with and without loud kids :). They also had a spa that I think I had free access to as a Plat, so hot tub/sauna/20 head shower type of deal, we used it to take a pre-shab shower after checking out on a Friday and spending shab elsewhere. It's also a 5 minute/$5 uber (or 20 minute beautiful walk) to paprika and mozart so you got your dairy lunch and fleish dinner option - both are ok for ex-NY.

Offline Mutty

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #459 on: January 27, 2016, 12:14:11 PM »
If you can spare hyatt nights or UR/hyatt points I would really recommend staying at the hyatt regency scottsdale resort & spa at gainey ranch for a night or more. It's a category 5 so it's 20k a night or 10k+$125 c+p. Nice hotel and absolutely beautiful grounds and huge pool area. What we loved most was they have separate pools for people with and without loud kids :). They also had a spa that I think I had free access to as a Plat, so hot tub/sauna/20 head shower type of deal, we used it to take a pre-shab shower after checking out on a Friday and spending shab elsewhere. It's also a 5 minute/$5 uber (or 20 minute beautiful walk) to paprika and mozart so you got your dairy lunch and fleish dinner option - both are ok for ex-NY.
HOLD ON a minute! First, I don't have any points with Hyatt, just SPG and Marriot. Just used SPG for our stay at the Westin, which is also very nice. The thing I saw you say - something about Mozart and Paprika - we talking Scottsdale area??? Didn't see anything about these places anywhere. As I have to go to airport soon, please let me know. Thanks.
“You see things; you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say 'Why not?”