Morning everyone, my wife and 5yo son are visiting me in PHX this weekend and next. Looking for some fun places to visit and some suggestions for places around the sourh rim. I was thinking about Tombstone maybe tomorrow.

Any ideas?

I can recommend the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and the Tonto Natural Bridge Park just north of Payson. The Out of Africa Animal Park near Camp Verde is pretty neat.

If you make it to Tombstone, Kartchner caverns is well worth the visit. https://azstateparks.com/kartchner/

Edit to add:
When people visit me, I usually take them to to Cow Palace restaurant http://www.thecowpalace.com/ then to the Titan Missile Museum, then to Ruby http://rubyaz.com/

Tombstone is ok, very commercial though, If you decide on Tombstone, park near the white court house (check out the museum inside) and walk to the main street.

quote:

Originally posted by squint:
Tonto Natural Bridge Park just north of Payson.

I found this to be absolutely amazing. Almost stunning in its awesomeness. Well worth the trip.

Up by Flagstaff is the small National Monument of Walnut Creek. It is ruins of cliff dwellings that they have a loop trail running through. It gets little traffic and IMO is kind of a hidden gem. Hike is only a mile or so. There are a series of stairs down into it but even a 5 year old can easily handle it. Beautiful area as well.

YOu could go through Sedona, theres some good hikes and a good brewery there. Up by the grand canyon, theres "Bearazona" its like a drive through zoo with bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bears, wolves and deer and buffalo too, its pretty cool.

At the grand canyon, theres the rim trail which isnt challenging and good for the view.

Wow, 0730 in the morning

as always SF delivers

quote:

Originally posted by squint:
I can recommend the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and the Tonto Natural Bridge Park just north of Payson. The Out of Africa Animal Park near Camp Verde is pretty neat.

Zip lines! I haven't been there since they moved from the rez outside of Scottsdale but I get in free this whole month.

The Cottonwood/Sedona area is "Arizona Wine Country". Lots of restaurants that serve and cook with the local wines.

Arizona stuff to do

http://pimaair.org/view.php?pg=16 http://www.noao.edu/outreach/kpoutreach.html
ragon pipe: http://www.nps.gov/orpi/index.htm
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ http://www.gccaverns.com/ http://www.sanxaviermission.org/
htazstateparks.com/parks/kaca/ http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_r...tion/ben_avery.shtml
http://www.riosaladosportsmans.com/
http://www.dbg.org/ http://www.desertmuseum.org/
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/RIMA/index.html
http://www.azcaf.org/
a bunch of info here:
http://www.visitmesa.com/things-to-do/
http://www.quartzsitervshow.co...ontezuma-castle.html http://www.sandiapeak.com/
http://
the quartzite, az rock/gem/mineral/rv/garage sale is a full day event these days.

In the four corners area there is Hoven weep, canyon De chey , Mesa verde nat park and chaco canyon.

I'd zsuggest the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams to the south rim. Other than that get out of Phoenix and the heat!

I really enjoy Jerome. You can see it all in a few hours and there is stuff to do for all ages.

Meteor Crater near Winslow.

We have covered this question quite recently here: https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...450019714#3450019714

went to Walnut Canyon last Sunday

what a great gem of a place

If you want to go that far, the Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson is nice, also the Saguaro National Park, and the Amerind Foundation Museum at Dragoon, AZ.

And, of course, my birthplace--Bartlett Dam east of Cave Creek.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by 2000Z-71:
I'd zsuggest the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams to the south rim. Other than that get out of Phoenix and the heat!

This. We did that last month and really enjoyed it.

I like Tonto Natural Bridge Park State Park as well. Along the lower level are trails with water flowing right out of the rock next to you.

Doesn't help probably, but the weekend after next is Prescott's free bluegrass festival.

Boyce Thompson east on US-60 is nice in the early hours. As is Desert Botanical Garden. Stress EARLY.

Camelback Mountain.

It's near the airport. Awesome, short hike with great views of the city. Bonus points for going early am or sunset to avoid the heat.

The larger park around the mountain has some great hiking trails as well.

quote:

Originally posted by buffdriver04:
Camelback Mountain.

It's near the airport. Awesome, short hike with great views of the city. Bonus points for going early am or sunset to avoid the heat.

The larger park around the mountain has some great hiking trails as well.

That is a classic. Theres some hiking over at south mountain as well.

Hydration should be on you mind , the whole time you are in az

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,