Phoenix in March at month's end - suggestions for things to do
 

I might be touching down in Phoenix for a couple of days at the end of March. Any thoughts on what I can do. I am completely open to suggestions, all types.

Hi,

A few ideas,

The Heard Museum ( very good museum relating to the native americans of the southwest)
Desert Botanical Gardens

Sedona ( c 90mins -2 hours north of Phoenix with lots of trails and beautiful red rocks

Tuscon ( c 90mins south of Phoenix

The Apache Trail ( nice drive)

Shopping around Old Town Scottdale

Relax by a resort pool.

Regards

TBS

Definitely worth the trip up to Sedona - the red rocks are like nothing else! Check out a Pink Jeep tour and stay at the Enchantment Resort.

Things to Do in Scottsdale
 

Golf - ubiquitous throughout the valley, try We Ko Pa for an amazing setting.

Hiking in the city - Camelback Mountain (east and west trails), South Mountain, Squaw Peak, Pinnacle Peak, McDowell Mountain Preserve, Camelback Greenway, Desert Botanical Garden

Fishing - Scottsdale's Camelback Greenway is bejeweled with numerous ponds, lakes and canals in which your kids can fish with said permit, while you sit and read and soak up some sun

Riding - several of the local farms and farriers have horses to rent or ride on the many, many trails. MacDonald's Ranch is the biggest, and the rides there are on their own property and guided if want. See also Cave creek Outfitters and Fort McDowell Adventures

Biking - hotels like the Hyatt Gainey Ranch have bikes for guest use on site and are close to the Camelback Greenway, which stretches some 15 miles down the length of Scottsdale to the Tempe Town Lake in the south. Also numerous bicycle rental stores exist all up and down Scottsdale, and they will deliver the bikes and equipment you specify to your hotel or home, and then pick them back up anywhere you want. You could ride west all day on the Arizona Canal, starting at Indian Bend and Hayden, through the Scottsdale Watefront, stopping for lunch at the La Grande Orange Grocery, and continuing on west to the Biltmore, for instance

Shooting - Rio Salado Sportsman's Club, Scottsdale Gun Club, Ben Avery Shooting Facility. All of them will rent you shotguns at least, and Scottsdale will rent you everything up to a machine gun for a price

Swimming - March is starting to be swimmable, even in an unheated home pool, and the hotels (Hyatt, Westin, etc.) have some nice multi-pool facilities.

Karting - Numerous go-kart and racing spots - Octane Raceway offers Sodi karts with electric engines on an indoor/outdoor course, and of course Bondurant's offers Corvettes and (at one time) Cobras and Vipers

Eating - Vietnamese, Thai, Sushi, Steak, Mexican, Mexi-Cali, Italian, Chicago-style Italian, Western Fusion, Burgers, etc. etc. all at reasonable prices

Shopping - Scottsdale Old Town and its haven of all things Turistika, Fashion Square Mall, Kierland, Scottsdale Quarter, Scottsdale Promenade, etc.

Trains - The Verde Canyon Railroad is a great day out. It's about 75mins N of Scottsdale. Make reservations, ride the train through the high desert and canyons of the Mogollon Rim, see the nesting eagles. http://www.verdecanyonrr.com/. Inside Scottsdale is the McCormick Railroad Park, with $1 rides for the kids and a large indoor miniature train arena

Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wright's mecca in the eastern slopes of Scottsdale

Within a two-hour drive you can also hit:

- Payson and Tonto Bridge
- Prescott, Jerome and the Yarnell Hill
- Flagstaff and the Lowell Observatory
- Tuscon, real Sonoran Hot Dogs and the Sonoran Desert Museum
- Picacho Peak

For day trips south, there's Bisbee, Tucson, Kitt Peak, Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon - one of the world's premier ornithological sites - Kartchner Caverns, Sabino Canyon, and much more.

For swimming, also suggest going off the beaten track and finding a natural fresh water cave. The water is soothing and fresh in the desert sun!

It depends on your interests and your tolerance for heat. The Sonoran Desert (where Phoenix is located) is beautiful and there are massive parks with great trails. If walking is your thing, the Moon book Take a Hike Phoenix has detailed suggestions. Try walking around the Buttes in Papago Park. Climb Piestewa Peak. Go to Cave Creek park and walk the Go John Trail. Go to Pinnacle Peak in north Scottsdale. And stay at one of the JW Marriotts or the Biltmore. Go for a cruise on the Desert Belle on Lake Saguaro (but reserve in advance). Eat at the Red Rock Buffet at the Fort McDowell Casino. If you find a real Mexican restaurant - one that doesn't have food that seems to come from Costco, let me know.

Some great suggestions here. I'd like to add that if you want great views but don't want to hike, you can drive your car up South Mountain. It's beautiful at sunset.

Also, Arizona State in nearby Tempe has a very picturesque campus to walk across.

If you like gambling, some of the Indian casinos are close to Vegas style, they even have pretty good poker rooms.

Will be in Phoenix over this coming MLK Jr weekend.

I've read/heard great things about the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), hey if Tony Bennett & Carlos Santana both rave about it.... www.themim.org MIM also hosts concerts.

A friend of mine used to volunteer at a big cat sanctuary and it was thrilling to be up close to tigers & lions. There is the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde AZ which is about an hour north of Phoenix www.outofafricapark.com

Has anyone been to either?
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I went to the Musical Instrument Museum back in October and I absolutely loved it. Frankly, I could have spent all day there. It's one of the most fun and memorable museums I've ever been to...well worth a visit.

Both the MIM and Out of Africa are good day trips.

Wow, 11 posts in and no one has mentioned Spring Training.

found a local food/dining message board for the greater Phoenix area. After a quick read it looks like they have some worthwhile contributors & suggestions.

They also have a very user friendly map feature.

http://phxfoodnerds.com/

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That is a cool resource - Thank you, SW!

Oh wow thanks for this! We will also be spending a week in the Phoenix area in March, definitely will be having a look for eateries on there.

Incidentally, I don't know if anyone here has been before, but we are going to this on the 19th: http://www.chandlerbbq.com/

And as someone mentioned upthread, it's Spring Training!

Glad the food site is useful.

Booked a spa afternoon for the wife & I, 80 min massage for me, massage & mani/pedi for Mrs Willie. Going to Joya Spa in the Omni Montelucia resort, Used this article as a reference, http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/...hoenix-6575569
Article is dated by 2 years, but I'm sure most any spa listed hasn't gone downhill that much.