What is there to do in Phoenix?

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

I am going to be stuck in Phoenix for a few days and my girlfriend is coming out to keep me company. With all due respect to those of you from Arizona I found Phoenix to be the most forgettable place I have ever been.

What is there to do there that doesn't involve golf?

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. If your girlfriend is interested in shopping for antiques....

Glendale is supposed to be good for that.

Disclaimer: I have never been to Phoenix. But I have read that.

[leeroysphitz]

2. I've never been to Phoenix either but I have heard from a number of people that it's good

for being reborn from ashes.

[quip]

3. Go to Tucson and visit the Desert Museum. Tomorrow there is some football game going on...

[kwassa]

4. dig holes in the desert

eventually you might have a very grand canyon.

[leeroysphitz]

7. Yoink! Mine. Thanks.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Do they still have the Desert Botanical Garden? That...

was a fun walk years ago. And trying to find ghost towns up in the Wickenberg Mountains.

And that guru/artist who sold bells to finance his odd little underwater habitats in the gulches waiting for the flood season.

The place was really boring as shit when I was there and a bunch of us checked out the desert. We hadn't seen real desert before, bein' city boys and girls an' all, and it was incredible. Right outside of town the desert was so fuckin' big it looked like no matter how much they built they couldn't begin to touch it.

I hear that by now they've smothered it, but there's still desert out there somewhere.

Do not, under any circumstances, go to their art museum unless you idea of fine art involves rodeo clowns. Madness lies there.

[harmonicon]

6. I can't remember the name of it, but there's a good live music club there

maybe a few - check out a local paper and see who's playing. Being that cities are few and far between in the southwest, most good touring acts stop in Phoenix and/or Tucson. And, if you're going to have a car, you can just drive out to the desert, which is something I always enjoy.

[Mojambo]

8. In my experience? Sweat profusely. n/t

[MilesColtrane]

9. You could always take a bottle of vino out and look for the Phoenix lights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Lights

[Adsos Letter]

10. Check out the Indian Ruins! Take a hike in the Superstition Mountains!

[Tektonik]

11. drive to LA

:hide:

[petronius]

12. Exactly! I-10 goes lots of interesting places, and Phoenix has plenty of on-ramps

:)

As for the OP: sorry, I haven't been to Phoenix in years. However, I recommend a day-trip out to the surrounding desert parks. The SW desert is a fascinating landscape, but you need to get out into it and walk around and take in the details...

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

15. we live in LA

well, Santa Ana and Costa Mesa.

[Biscottiii]

13. It's been a lot of years since I grew up in Phx, Family Still There tho

Usually when I go home, I just visit the relatives but here's a couple of ideas:

Phoenix Zoo, interesting because of the desert flora and fauna. Ruby was their Painting Elephant using brushes via her trunk, but she died in childbirth a few years ago. Probably would still show her very abstract looking, whimsical artwork.

Not far from there was the 'Hole in the Rock' mountain, not sure if it's been graffitied too much, but we used to climb up the back as kids to look out over the desert. Might ask your hotel for input.

Nearby Hole in the Rock is 'Hunt's Pyramid', the first Territorial Governor's pyramid where he and his family are buried. Out of towners are surprised usually that it exists, fairly large when you're standing there.

Not far also, is the Rich Man's Castle, lore was that a rich man built it for his bride. By the time it was completed he was a POOR man. Once upon a time I believe they offered tours. Not sure of the name, but it's all out there in Papago area.

Around the Superstition area, family used to go here for special occasions: Mining Camp Restaurant http://www.miningcamprestaurant.com/index.html

Not sure if it's there anymore, but there used to be a Playboy Club in Central Phx. My BIL was a PB member so he would get tickets so that engineers I worked with could get in. Excellent restaurant. When they traveled to Phx on company business, they would take down my frozen wild blackberries from Seattle. Sis would meet them at the airport to collect berries and turn over the Playboy passes so they could take their wife for a classy dining experience which cost similar to any nicer restaurant. Not sure how it works now a days. But they and their wives were always impressed that it wasn't what they had expected.

If nothing else, take a tour of the Redrock Country, Sedona, or head up to the Grand Canyon perhaps if that's open yet this time of year. Or the Petrified Forest. All very beautiful.

Just some ideas. Naturally, I would get input from your hotel clerk. Not all places are as safe as when I was a kid, I'm sure.

[Indi Guy]

14. Tanning is nice...

...or you could make the best out of it & scope out a great restaurant to have dinner with your girlfriend?

[Chovexani]

16. Nothing

No really. I can't wait to go back home.

[CreekDog]

17. Ha ha, that's a good one!

:rofl:

Actually, White Tank Mountains are kind of interesting (west of town), so is Phoenix Mountain Park (just north of town), The Superstition Mountains too(east of Mesa).

Also a fairly easy and pretty drive is out into the desert/mountains taking Shea Blvd. east along the Salt River. During the summer, you can rent a tube and float for hours (everbody else has the same idea when it's 100+). This time of year, it's still a pretty drive what with canyons, saguaro cactus, various desert flora to look at. The desert is gorgeous.

Finally, if you are a sports fan, Phoenix is a sports crazy town with lots going on in any given week. I believe Spring Training is gearing up quite soon.

And Grand Canyon is 3 hours away, Sedona 2 hours away, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 2+hours, Sonoran Desert Nat'l Monument ~1 hour away, depending on how much time you have.