Phoenix AZ Trip

[Hess687]

Looking for some tips on what to do in Phoenix AZ in March and suggestions on hotel stays. It will be my wife and I and our 10 month old son.

As of right now we are flying in late on Monday and got a cheap Tru by Hilton hotel by the airport.

I was looking for a hotel Tuesday thru Friday and as of right now, I have the Biltmore Waldorf Astoria booked for Wednesday thru Friday as they are sold out on Tuesday. I have a call in to Hilton to see if they can get us in on Tuesday night as well.

If not, would you find a completely separate hotel to stay in (must be a Hilton property) for Tuesday thru Friday? I was thinking the Tapatio Cliffs Resort. Or is the Biltmore all that it's cracked up to be and definitely stay there the two nights and find a different hotel (possibly stay one more night at the Tru) for Tuesday night?

[TheFrenzy]

You coming into town with a completely open schedule? What kind of time slots are you looking to fill?

[Hess687]

Originally Posted by TheFrenzy

You coming into town with a completely open schedule? What kind of time slots are you looking to fill?

Completely open schedule. Just trying to get out of the Indiana winter and enjoy some heat. We do have a 6 month old (10mo at the time of the trip).

Figured we'd enjoy some pool time at the hotel in the morning along with a breakfast place. Then at least get in one attraction each day during the afternoon and a good lunch spot.

So far I've only looked into places for infants such as the Phoenix Zoo, Idea Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, Children's Museum and the Arizona Science Center. Not even sure if these are worth going to, but we are definitely open to suggestions for my wife and I as well.

Unfortunately, our nights will be capped short as bed time for the little one is right around 7p.

[TheHeel]

Sedona
Camelback Mountain

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by Hess687

Completely open schedule. Just trying to get out of the Indiana winter and enjoy some heat. We do have a 6 month old (10mo at the time of the trip).

Figured we'd enjoy some pool time at the hotel in the morning along with a breakfast place. Then at least get in one attraction each day during the afternoon and a good lunch spot.

So far I've only looked into places for infants such as the Phoenix Zoo, Idea Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, Children's Museum and the Arizona Science Center. Not even sure if these are worth going to, but we are definitely open to suggestions for my wife and I as well.

Unfortunately, our nights will be capped short as bed time for the little one is right around 7p.

If you feel like moseying over to Tempe for a lunch at the Four Peaks brewery, it’s worth it. Definitely one of my fav places to eat and super close to home for my family.

The Phoenix zoo is great and the interactive big cats exhibit (suspension bridge and all sorts of cool stuff) should be open by then.

[coltsnsox07]

You're less than 3 hours away from Tombstone, lots of cool historical stuff there.

[majestik101]

Originally Posted by coltsnsox07

You're less than 3 hours away from Tombstone, lots of cool historical stuff there.

I'd say no to Tombstone. Three hours away and it's off the beaten path in a very remote area of Southeastern AZ. But if you do go, make sure you bring spending cash, nearly every spot of significance (Ok Corral, Boot Hill Cemetary, etc.) has a separate admission fee.


For a more 'unique' Ghost Town experience, try Jerome AZ. It's a more 'modern' Ghost Town, and similar to a town you might see in Red Dead Redemption. Plus, it's said to be extremely haunted, if that's your thing.

Jerome is a 2-hour straight shot north of Phoenix, plus you have the added benefit of being a short drive away from picturesque and breathtaking Sedona AZ, which is an experience in and of itself.

[nyisle]

You will be about a 10min walk from my house...

I think location wise, the Biltmore is a better option than Tapatio. Closer to shopping, and access to the Freeways. Science Center and Childrens Museum would be about 15mins from the Biltmore by car.
For breakfast, I would recommend Snooze, it is in the Camelback Colonnade shopping center, Southeast corner of Camelback and 20th st. There is a Trader Joes and a Whole Foods in there as well if you need food or snacks, and a Frys just across the street from that.

Childrens Museum is really good, but never took a 10mo old... so not sure how much is geared towards the kids that young, but I am certain you would still find quite a bit to do there.
Science Center is more for older kids. The one attraction that I think a young one would enjoy was an outdoor water feature, but I havent seen it in some time.
Phoenix Zoo is always fun. They have a few interactive features, feeding Manta Rays. Its not huge, but big enough that it would take a good portion of the day to see it all.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by nyisle

Childrens Museum is really good, but never took a 10mo old... so not sure how much is geared towards the kids that young

Yeah, the Children's Museum is definitely geared more toward kids who are mobile. Once they can run, the four-story junkyard treehouse and the pool-noodle forest maze are really fun.

For a young kid like that, maybe the aquarium?

If you're up for a bit of a physical challenge (maybe five minutes), you can easily push a kid in a stroller up to the landing about halfway up on "A" mountain here in Tempe. It's not really a mountain, it's a butte. There's a nice sloping asphalt road that everyone walks up to get a nice view of the city. If one of you wants to climb the other half while someone waits with the kid at the landing, it's about another five minutes and you get a view of everything in the Valley.

[Hess687]

Sweet! This really helps out a lot where I can start crossing stuff off the list on what not to do. I'll definitely try the Zoo and the Aquarium as that seems to be the consensus. I'll talk to my wife about the travel for the "A" Mountain as well as we'd like to get some adult activities in too.

Thanks for all the input! Looking forward to the trip!

[thor_rider08]

I am a sucker for Grimaldis Pizza! Every time I am in AZ I got there at least once!

[BigL7370]

Catch a spring training baseball game?

[BraveAtlanta]

1. Sedona 2. Grand Canyon 3. Horseshoe Bend 4. Monument Valley