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 381610 times)

Offline Gvann

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1100 on: October 04, 2021, 06:57:36 PM »
Drove around the entrance gate to Grand Canyon on accident. Anyone ever done so? How do you get out without getting in trouble?

Offline outinstyle

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1101 on: October 04, 2021, 07:03:13 PM »
Tired of the Orlando Pesach zoo scene and looking for a new location.

Are there any locations in AZ that are similar style as the Orlando resorts? Gated community with rentals? Bungelow colony style rental resort?

Looking to go with many families that can be together, not houses blocks apart...

Does this exist?

Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1102 on: October 04, 2021, 08:48:18 PM »
Drove around the entrance gate to Grand Canyon on accident. Anyone ever done so? How do you get out without getting in trouble?
I don't understand your dilemma.

ETA: After hours, most entrance stations are just not staffed.  You are still allowed to enter.  For those that feel strongly about paying, there is usually an envelope somewhere to leave money (perhaps at the entrance station).  Once you're in a national park, no one's asking if you paid.  (Might be exceptions for parks that require payment but do not have entrance stations.)
« Last Edit: October 04, 2021, 09:28:25 PM by SSLPhD »
44/50, 46/63

Offline JunkYardUnz

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1103 on: October 04, 2021, 08:52:07 PM »
Tired of the Orlando Pesach zoo scene and looking for a new location.

Are there any locations in AZ that are similar style as the Orlando resorts? Gated community with rentals? Bungelow colony style rental resort?

Looking to go with many families that can be together, not houses blocks apart...

Does this exist?
I remember driving from Sedona to Grand Canyon and I passed by a new development and was thinking I wish I knew these existed. I’m sure there were Airbnb’s there. Google Map it and check Airbnb around the big cities and see if something comes up.

Offline Emkay

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1104 on: October 04, 2021, 09:04:58 PM »
Drove around the entrance gate to Grand Canyon on accident. Anyone ever done so? How do you get out without getting in trouble?
You don't need to show anything when you exit.

Offline outinstyle

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1105 on: October 04, 2021, 09:08:37 PM »
I remember driving from Sedona to Grand Canyon and I passed by a new development and was thinking I wish I knew these existed. I’m sure there were Airbnb’s there. Google Map it and check Airbnb around the big cities and see if something comes up.
What area? Thanks

Offline davidd75

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1106 on: October 06, 2021, 02:46:37 PM »
so I think I will try and make use of the Miraval BOGO offer in Tucson.  Coming from NJ  In Jan and would like to stay 2 nights and then make my way to San Diego and fly back to NJ from SD.  So thinking the best way to  plan this trip please chime in

would you fly to phoenix nonstop and rent a car or fly to Tucson with a stop over (I plan on using miles or points)?

from Tucson to SD I guess I can book southwest(I think only nonstop flight option) or drive?

Miraval resort I think will occupy us but anything worth visiting in Tucson?
« Last Edit: October 06, 2021, 03:20:30 PM by davidd75 »

Offline davidd75

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1107 on: October 19, 2021, 02:07:54 PM »
so I think I will try and make use of the Miraval BOGO offer in Tucson.  Coming from NJ  In Jan and would like to stay 2 nights and then make my way to San Diego and fly back to NJ from SD.  So thinking the best way to  plan this trip please chime in

would you fly to phoenix nonstop and rent a car or fly to Tucson with a stop over (I plan on using miles or points)?

from Tucson to SD I guess I can book southwest(I think only nonstop flight option) or drive?

Miraval resort I think will occupy us but anything worth visiting in Tucson?

anybody in the Arizona area with thoughts/suggestions/comments re above trip?

Offline Safetynet

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1108 on: October 21, 2021, 09:48:11 AM »
Can someone tell me about https://arizonakosherresorts.com/?

Offline ruv

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1109 on: October 21, 2021, 10:04:15 AM »
It’s in Casa Grande, 45 mins from PHX. Big beautiful private kosher villas with pools near a minyan and smaller kosher grocery.

Offline davidd75

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1110 on: October 27, 2021, 01:58:21 PM »
Here is the email I received from the culinary team at Miraval Arizona:

"Good Afternoon,
Thank you for inquiring about what kind of Kosher meals we offer at Miraval.
We order all of our Kosher meals from our vendor Shamrock Foods that are fully prepared in a certified Kosher kitchen and sent to us sealed so we can re-heat them and provide those for you during your upcoming stay.  Please let me know if you have any questions at all.
Thank you,"

anybody know anything about Shamrock Foods, who gives the hecher etc...??

Offline davidd75

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1111 on: October 29, 2021, 12:46:26 PM »
Good Morning,

The kosher meals we order come prepared in the following varieties, each with vegetables as well:

Spaghetti

Salisbury Steak

Pot Roast

Roasted Chicken breast

Roasted Turkey

 

Our Kosher contact at Shamrock is Renee and her email is: Renee_Klein@shamrockfoods.com

 

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.

 

Have a wonderful day,

 

McKenzie O’Leary
Sous Chef
Miraval Arizona 5000 E. Via Estancia Miraval | Tucson, AZ | 85739

(520) 825-5186  | www.miravalresorts.com

Offline sam28

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1112 on: October 30, 2021, 09:36:04 PM »
What side of the Grand Canyon is nicer South side or Grand Canyon West where the rim is i was there before but would like to know for someone else  ?
« Last Edit: October 30, 2021, 09:43:53 PM by sam28 »

Offline BarryLincoln

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1113 on: October 30, 2021, 10:25:27 PM »
What side of the Grand Canyon is nicer South side or Grand Canyon West where the rim is i was there before but would like to know for someone else  ?
South Rim is by far the nicest vantage point for GC.

Offline sam28

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1114 on: November 05, 2021, 10:09:09 AM »
Is there anything i can do for my first day i land about 11 am in Phoenix AZ ? i plan to go to Camelback Mountain but i see now its closed anything fun to do ?

Offline Her439

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1115 on: November 16, 2021, 03:32:42 PM »
Is there a major different between Palm Springs and Arizona? I like Palm Springs for the weather and for the quietness.
I have in my family someone with Arthritis Is the air special good for this?

I will appreciate any advise on this.

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1116 on: November 25, 2021, 05:35:31 PM »
Any hotels in Scottsdale are walkable to minyan on shabbos?
Life is as good as you make it...

Online Realshlomo

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1117 on: November 25, 2021, 05:47:09 PM »
Any hotels in Scottsdale are walkable to minyan on shabbos?
Holiday inn is 2 minutes from chabad

Offline Dawie

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1118 on: November 25, 2021, 06:00:24 PM »
Any hotels in Scottsdale are walkable to minyan on shabbos?
SureStay Plus Hotel By Best Western Scottsdale North next door to Ahavas Torah : The Scottsdale Torah Center

Offline rileywiles23

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Re: Arizona Master Thread
« Reply #1119 on: November 25, 2021, 07:51:32 PM »
Thanks. There an eiruv at all?
Life is as good as you make it...