Originally Posted by Wilbur (Post 23340193)

I recommend renting a car from a local, off-airport facility, as the airport rental car facility charges confiscatory taxes and fees.

If you are going to Tucson for the Titan Missile Museum and Pima Air Force Museum, you might also consider a couple of other Tucson spots that AZTimm recommends.

The Sabino Canyon is a fantastic, steep river valley that drains Mount Lemmon. It has a trolley that drives up to the top and down again over the 14 bridges and fords, and you can ride it up to the top and then hike down, or ride it down, or hike and jump back on if you get sick of walking downhill.

The Sonoran Desert Museum is a combination botanical gardens / desert creature zoo / aviary out near the Old Tucson movie set west of the city.

A good hour's drive east of the city is Kartchner Caverns near Benson. The caverns are a once-in-lifetime sort of experience, fully preserved by the state in hermetically sealed air locks, and it is truly amazing what you can see in all the different living caves.

On the way down to Tucson is Marana Air Park, which is about 10 miles north of Tuscon, right off the I-10, a huge commercial aviation boneyard. It is private, but one time the gate guard let me drive along the perimeter road.

And here in the valley, I don't think that anyone has mentioned the Confederate Air Force in Mesa. At that time of the year several of the aircraft are actually flying tours, as we see them come up over our place, but it still is a nice museum with static displays. http://www.azcaf.org/

Originally Posted by The _Banking_Scot (Post 23340500)

Hi,

Also the Desert botanical garden in phoenix is worth a visit.

Heard Museum also is good.

A Pink jeep tour in sedona is worth while ( may need to wrap up a bit as Sedona is at 4000 ft and cooler than PHX)

Regards

TBS

Originally Posted by Lost (Post 23340698)

Four corners drive should be alright during the winter unless a storm has just come through. We typically get most of our winter storms in February/early March, though with this el nino we might get a little more weather than normal this winter. The drive to four corners is about 4-4.5 hours one way from Phoenix in good weather and dry roads.

You might want to bring some warmer clothes if you go up there. 0-20F are typical overnight lows up north; 20-40F daytime highs. Remember you're waaaay out there if your rental breaks down, and there's limited cell phone coverage once you get past Flagstaff.

Since you're like me and you'll head out a ways to get a few pictures, if you go all the way to the four corners you might as well head through Monument Valley while you're up there. Drive US 163 north from Kayenta. Monument Valley straddles the Arizona/Utah line. Oddly enough, stop by the Burger King in Kayenta and check out their Navajo Code Talkers exhibits. Really interesting story.

Originally Posted by Lost (Post 23342620)

If you didn't do it last time... when you go down to the Pima Air Museum you might schedule a tour of the D-M boneyard. Sounds like it'd be right up your alley.

If you want to hit a sporting event, the Suns (NBA basketball- Downtown Phoenix) and the Coyotes (NHL ice hockey- in Glendale) will be in season. Both area a lot of fun. That's also NFL Playoff time, but it's anybody's guess if the Cardinals will make it (my guess is no :rolleyes: )

Piestewa Peak (formerly known as Squaw Peak) and Camelback Mountain are good hikes, so if you like hiking by all means do it. The Camelback parking lot fills up so you might have to wait for a spot (avoid sunrise to 10am-ish, especially on weekends. That's when it seems to be the busiest. In January the temps are cool enough to permit hiking any time of day)

Another good hiking area that I like during the winter is the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve. The city has been building these trails over the past five years or so and they've done a wonderful job. You could also look towards the Superstition Mountains for more hiking (I've never been over there).

Originally Posted by shady (Post 23346236)

Another question on a different topic: Any fine restaurant recommendations? I want to take mrs shady for anniversary dinner. Last year I took her to Differente Pointe of View and we liked it there a lot.

Originally Posted by shady (Post 23346236)

I saw the Marana Air park last year while driving to PIMA and was wondering if it is public. I'll try my chances for a few 747 pictures.

Originally Posted by symbols (Post 23351465)

Echo Canyon hike on Camelback Mountain is not to be missed if you like hiking. However, it is not a day trip. It is in the city (15-20 minute drive from Sky Harbor). You can hike it and be home/hotel and cleaned up before lunch.

Originally Posted by shady (Post 24122589)

Hi, just checking in as I owe you all a lot for all the tips. Piestewa, Camelback, Dixie peak are all defeated, beautiful views. I've just returned from Titan missile museum and guess what? I've turned the key!

Originally Posted by shady (Post 24122589)

Hi, just checking in as I owe you all a lot for all the tips. Piestewa, Camelback, Dixie peak are all defeated, beautiful views. I've just returned from Titan missile museum and guess what? I've turned the key!

Originally Posted by Wilbur (Post 24124840)

Congratulations, and come back again soon.

Originally Posted by Lost (Post 23342620)

That's also NFL Playoff time, but it's anybody's guess if the Cardinals will make it (my guess is no :rolleyes: )

Originally Posted by shady (Post 24125313)

I am still for the next two weeks and getting short of peaks :D

Originally Posted by shady (Post 24125313)

That was a good season with a terrible end. If Palmer or Stanton didn't get injured maybe they would have get further than the wildcard.