Phoenix: What to do with One Free Day?
 

I'll be traveling to PHX on business next weekend after a week on the road in Philly. Arriving Friday night and have a free day (with a car) on Saturday. Am looking for outdoor, scenic hiking opportunity. Have looked at Lost Dutchman as a possibility -- any other ideas? This is my first visit to the area... Thanks!

Paul

A day in Sedona
 

I was in Phoenix last year and took a day trip to Sedona. With all it's interesting rock formations I would think some scenic hiking would be possible. Try http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/Sedona.htm or http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/sedona/.

Also found this for Phoenix: http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_6200.asp

It's probably less than you're looking for, but I took a stroll around the Boyce Thompson arboretum last time I was in that neck of the woods and enjoyed it a lot: http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/

Here are a few more suggestions:
Phoenix area hikes

I lived in Scottsdale for several years and the weather around this type of year should be excellent (sunny, high around 70-75).

There are a ton of hiking places within the Phoenix area. And if you are looking to get out of town for a few hours - Sedona would probably be your best bet.

Depending on what you are looking for on Sat night (restaurant, bar, etc) - there are many places in Scottsdale that are easy to sit around and people watch.

Thanks, all (so far)...excellent suggestions and links. Sedona seems to be the common thread among those I talk to about the area...keep 'em coming!

P.

I'd also recommend heading toward Sedona. Maybe not Sedona itself (I tend to be "contrarian" in my picks, wanting to avoid the top destinations), but somewhere nearby to get a taste of the area.

Sedona is indeed nice, but you will be spending 4-5 hours in the car, so you need to take that into account.

Besides Lost Dutchman (Apache Trail), two easily-accessible attractions I'd reommend are Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West and the Desert Botanical Gardens.

Hit the links. bro. Scenery, hiking, and maybe some "bird-watching." :D

Well, I'm headed out on US 1011 this afternoon from PHL-PHX, and here's the plan...Scottsdale and the Frank Lloyd Wright site first (brother is an architect and I have an significant interest in it), then to the Apache Trail for some exercize and desert scenery, then back to Phoenix for the evening. I'd love to hit the links, and would if I had a couple of days. Priority for me is seeing the natural state of the area. Thanks all for your input!

pg

LOL. I hear there is some good "bird watching" in Tempe - esp at night. :D

Shame on you...one of those ASU birds is my kid.

My recommendationn, which can be ignored, is to head east to the Superstition Mountains for a good hike.