Phoenix Area:
The Heard
Museum - 2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix (602)252-8848-
The museum of Native American culture and
art. On Weekends they have festivals with food, drink, music
and dancing. Wonderful place - I've loved it since I was 5...
The
Arizona Science Center- 600 E Washington Street, Phoenix (602) 716-2000- Fantastic place for kids. The travelling exhibits are great for adults. Have fun!
Tucson Area:
San
Xavier Del Bac - 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson -
(520) 294-2624 Spanish Mission on the old mission trail. The
mission is slowly being restored. There are usually vendors
and dances on the weekends. Take I-10 south from Tucson to
Exit 92 - San Xavier Rd. Travel west on San Xavier to Little
Nogales Dr. Turn north on little Nogales Dr and west again
on San Xavier Rd to the mission.
Arizona
Sonoran Desert Museum - 2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson
(520)883-2702 - 12 Miles West of Tucson on Speedway Blvd through
Gates Pass. Signs will direct. Absolutely the best desert
museum around. Tickets are $12. Amazing exhibits.
Kitt
Peak National Observatory - 40 miles west of Tucson
on SR 86 - World's largest collection of telescopes. Fun all
year round, but I'd recommend a sunny day. Rains and wind
here are unbelievable when they come. Guided and self guided
tours, outstanding views.
Titan
Missile Museum - 25 miles south of Tucson off I-19
at exit 69. A complete titan 2 missile silo you can tour.
This is the real deal. Part of the Pima
Air Museum near Davis-Monthan AFB.
Around Arizona:
Jerome - Also listed here
as a ghost town. I can't say enough good about this place.
The town and getting there are amazing. The Museum incredible
and it's less than 3 hours from Phoenix. From Phoenix, take
I-17 to State Route 69 at Cordes Junction. Follow 69 to Prescott.
Stop in Prescott - it used to be the territorial Capital.
There is a line of saloons along the town square that's known
as whisky row. The buildings are so old that they have settled
into a nice state of tilt. There are pool tables where certain
pockets are inaccessible due to the extreme tilt! From Prescott,
take Alternate Route 89 to Jerome. This drive is very pretty.
"The Trip" including Jerome:
Starting early from Phoenix, take I-17 North to the
Bumblebee Exit (exit 248). Drive through Bumblebee and Cleator,
then turn around and take FSR 259 back towards Mayer. In
Mayer, turn right on SR 69, back towards Cordes Junction.
Turn North on I-17 again and drive on past Camp Verde to
Montezuma's Castle. This is an cliff dwelling in terrific
shape. Well worth the stop. Then, back down I-17 to SR 279
turn North toward Cottonwood, then turn South on ALT US
89 and on to Jerome. See the sights in Jerome and stay on
Alt 89 all the way through Prescott, Peeple's Valley, Yarnell
and if you can plan it just right - be at Yarnell at sunset.
There is an utterly amazing overlook where you can see Congress
and Wickenburg. 89 will meet US 60, turn left toward Wickenburg
and home.
In Jerome, I recommend:
The Haunted
Hamburger for a nice meal. Friendly staff and they dealt
with a raucous hoarde of children with a smile. The building
can get a little crowded, show up early.
Caduceus Cellars for wines.
OJ's Copper Country Fudge just because.
Grand
Canyon - must see for anyone. About 5 hours from
Phoenix. I-17 to Flagstaff. I-17 to SR 180. SR 180 to SR 64
and the Canyon.
Four Corners - Only place where four
states come together. Ok, so it's not just an AZ thing :)
I-17 to Flagstaff, US 89 to US 160, Local road to monument,
signs will direct.
Sunset
Crater and Wupatki
National Monument - Sunset crater is a volcano that
exploded in the year 1064. It affected the Indians in the
area. Wupatki is an incredible set of ruins unlike any other
in Arizona. Near Sunset Crater and absolutely beautiful. Wupatki
was a meeting place for three tribes of Indians in the area.
20 miles East of Flagstaff on US 89.
Picacho
Peak - Site of Arizona's only Civil War Battle.
On I-10 south of Phoenix on the way to Tucson.
Tombstone
- 2 Hours South of Tucson. Site of the West's most famous
gunfight. The shoot-out at the OK Corral. Wyatt Earp's town.
Lots of historical "stuff", more than I can remember.
Neat to see.
Tonto Creek - 15 Miles east of Payson
on SR 260. Take SR-87 North from Phoenix (Mesa or Scottsdale
actually) and follow it until you come into Payson. Turn Right
at McDonald's and you'll be on SR 260. Follow it East until
you pass Kohl's Ranch on the right side. They make great hot
chocolate and I've heard the food is good. The first turn
to the left is Tonto Creek. I'd say go past the bridge at
least and maybe drive past the falls. The creek is a beautiful
picnic area. A few miles north on the creek is the Tonto Fish
Hatchery which is open to the public. The site of Zane Grey's
cabin is nearby, but the cabin itself was destroyed by a forest
fire.
Skyventure
- Roughly half-way between Phoenix and Tucson off I-10. Follow
signs to Eloy Airport. Eloy is the busiest skydiving facility
in the world. They also have an absolutely fantastic indoor
vertical wind tunnel. The tunnel allows you to buy time in
simulated free fall without jumping out of an airplane. The
staff is knowledgeable and very helpful. I highly recommend
buying at least four minutes of flight time. 4900 N. Taylor
Road, Eloy. (520) 466-4640
Restaurants:
Phoenix Area:
- Thai
Lhana - 3738 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix (602)
955-4658- Very good thai food. Nicely priced, large
helpings and you can order as hot or as mild as you like.
- Cafe
Lalibela - 849 W University Dr, Tempe (480) 829-1939
- Simply fantastic Ethiopian food. The cheerful staff make
this one a treat. Closed Mondays.
Tucson Area:
- El
Charro Cafe - 311 N Court Avenue, Tucson (520)
622-1922 - The food here is wonderful. Their trademark dish
is Carne Seca - meat dried in a special enclosure above
the restaurant. The place has recently been "discovered"
and the wait times for seats and food have become longer.
You might want to call ahead or check out their other location
at 6310 E Broadway (520) 745-1922.
- I need more suggestions for Tucson - my favorites are
closing. Please hit the comments pages if you have a suggestion.
Flagstaff Area:
- Mike
and Rhonda's - Two locations around town. Great
breakfasts. The biscuits are wonderful. One on East route
66 (928) 526-8138 and the other at 21 S Milton
(928) 774-7008
- Black
Bart's - 2760 E Butler Ave, Near I-40 and Butler
Avenue in Flagstaff
(928) 779-3142 - Excellent steak and ribs. The servers are
music students from NAU, and they sing and play in between
courses. A fun, family oriented time.
Yuma Area:
- Asian
Gourmet - This is a fantastic Thai food restaurant.
Their chef is an Iron Chef competitor. The Hot and Sour
Seafood Soup is fantastic. Anything off the specialties
menu is wonderful. The sign is small, so keep an eye out
on the south side of the road. 2560 W 16th St Yuma (928)
819-0888
Around Arizona:
- Rock
Springs General Store and Cafe - Black Canyon
City - Near exit 242 on I-17. HCO 1 Box 2000, Rock Springs
AZ, 85324. (623) 374-5794 Great food on the road and you
can take a wonderful pie with you.
Motorcycling Around
Arizona:
US 89 - Take SR-60 (Grand Avenue) out
of Phoenix to Wickenburg and then past Wickenburg, turn north
on US 89. The hill at Yarnell is enough to make this trip
enjoyable, but beyond it are some nice curvy roads and scenery.
Be VERY careful at the top of the hill, almost every time
I drive past there, I see some kid who has munched his bike
(and usually his sidearm) coming around the curve at the top
of the hill. Further on, you can take 89 all the way to Jerome
and into Sedona but that's a long and usually slow ride.
SR 87 - This road is neat, all the
way to Payson. If you look above, you'll see Tonto Creek,
this is also a good "bike road". There are usually
lots of cars on this road on weekends, plan accordingly.
US 60 - East of of Phoenix towards
Globe/Miami, is a neat road. I don't know if I'd call the
traffic volumes "bike friendly" but if you're careful,
it's fun. It doesn't have to be too cold in Phoenix for this
road to have ice on it.
SR-177 Superior to Hayden - Neat road.
GM tests cars out on this road for handling. Lots of curves.
NOT A NIGHT TRIP! As you're heading South, you'll come
to an "Overlook" at the Asarco Ray Pit Complex -
it's well worth the stop. The pit is over a mile across, almost
1/2 mile deep and 6 miles long!
If you're traveling along I-17 and come near Black Canyon
City, look out for the Rock Springs
exit. The restaurant there is out of sight, and the bakery
is amazing. So, if you're not doing the iron butt thing, stop
for a drink.
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