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...

Arizona State Mining Museum - 1502 W. Washington St. Everything you wanted (or didn't want to) know about mining. Lots of "hands on" exhibits with all the equipment...

Tucson Area:

San Xavier Del Bach - 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.

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

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.
• The Italian Grotto - 3915 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale (480) 994-1489 - The Seafood Linguini is amazing. Chicken Piccata spectacular. Expect to leave very full and very happy.
• 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:

• Barrio - 135 S Sixth Ave, Tucson (520) 629-0191 - Large, tasty portions and attentive staff.
• Chaffin's Family Restaurant - 902 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson (520) 882-7707 - Best breakfast in Tucson. Close to U of A. Things come a little bigger than Mom used to make them.
• 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.

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
• Beaver Street Brewery - 11 South Beaver Street # 1, Flagstaff (928) 779-0079 - Microbrewery and wood fired pizzas. You won't be disappointed.
• 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:

• Highway 95 Cafe - 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. 2585 E 16th St Yuma (928) 329-8882

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.
• Rock Springs Farmers Market - Black Canyon City. Right next to the Rock Springs General Store off exit 242 on I-17. PO Box 1832, Black Canyon City, AZ 85324 (623) 374-0253. Fantastic produce year round. They pick their products personally and are always happy to see you. Nothing I've ever bought here has been substandard. My personal favorite is the jalapeno stuffed olives.
• Byler's Amish Kitchen - Fantastic breakfast selection, with a buffett. Friendly staff. 34351 Old Black Canyon Highway, Black Canyon City (623) 374-5787

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.