Vegas —> Phoenix, AZ area options

Tim

Tim

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Flying into Las Vegas super early on a Sunday morning. Need to be in Mesa/PHX area Tuesday afternoon through Thursday morning, then back to Vegas for Sunday morning flight.

So, we have Sunday, Monday, Tuesday (end day in Mesa) to do stuff. Then Thursday, Friday and Saturday (end in Vegas) to do stuff. Early February.

Wife, 12yo & 15yo boys in tow.

Wife MUST see the Grand Canyon. Otherwise looking for stuff to do. “Shopping” is not on the agenda.

Budget isn’t necessarily an issue, but just on principle I’m not paying $1,200 for a helicopter into the canyon.

What’s your recommendation?
 
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CZfool68 said:
Might be too far out of your way, but Pink Jeep Tour of Sedona was great. Enjoy the change of scenery.
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I have family with a house in Sedona….trying to score an invite. They’re….odd.
 
I used to work in Las Vegas a lot. Bored of the city I would take the rental car out to explore ghost towns or go to Death Valley to take pictures. Death Valley is a 2 hour drive, take water.
One of the very best Thai restaurants in the US happens to be in a strip mall far from the strip, I forget the name.
There used to be an Italian place behind the Barbary Coast called Batista’s Hole in the Wall, loud and friendly. The food was pretty good 20+ years ago, unlimited house wine with dinner.
For shows check the same day ticket sales.
I used to enjoy walking the strip, people watching. Was back there maybe 10 years ago and they’ve built right up to the street, the hookers and hawkers are everywhere, and while smoking pot in public is not allowed, it is very common.
I don’t lime Hard Rock Cafe, but my least favorite is in Las Vegas.
The Palomino club is not about horses nor is it family friendly.
I was bored of the casinos, but they can be interesting to walk through. I find Paris to be one of the better places to get out of the sun.
It’s worth watching the water show at the Bellagio.

In Phoenix you’ll want to hike up camelback for the view.
There is a very famous bookstore for mysteries in old town Scottsdale, the Poison Pen, if you’re into that kinda thing. In the same general area there are a dozen wine bars and tasting rooms.
There are north and south mountain preserves, the north one is better for just wandering around in the hills. Hard to get lost, and you can always exit and get an uber.

I believe that there are several places outside each city that do guided tours of the desert on 4 wheelers.
There are gun ranges at each with just about any fun toy you might want to rent.
 
In the greater PHX area :

South Mountain at night is cool
The fountain in Fountain Hills
A 4x4 dive to horseshoe dam is a cool day trip
 
Hoover Dam is a must
 
Lived there 20 years, the Grand Canyon is super boring and a long drive. Sedona is where you want to see. Can even rent a jeep or side by side, drive broken arrow trail.
 
Ditto Hoover Dam. The train ride to the Grand Canyon from Williams AZ is fun too.
 
Battlefield Vegas can be fun, but spendy. But goes along with this being a firearms site.
 
myst173 said:
Battlefield Vegas can be fun, but spendy. But goes along with this being a firearms site.
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Neither the wife nor kids are into shooting at all. So, that's a bust. Looks like fun though!
 
Spent a couple of days in Vegas. Got kicked out of a bar in one of the casinos on the strip.
My impression of the city, if you are not there to gamble, see the shows, or visit hookers, you are in the wrong place. I was in the wrong place.
 
Chihuahua Floyd said:
Spent a couple of days in Vegas. Got kicked out of a bar in one of the casinos on the strip.
My impression of the city, if you are not there to gamble, see the shows, or visit hookers, you are in the wrong place. I was in the wrong place.
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Oh, we’re just using Vegas for the $200 round trip airfare. Heading out from that den of scum and villainy at first opportunity.
 
JimB said:
I used to work in Las Vegas a lot. Bored of the city I would take the rental car out to explore ghost towns or go to Death Valley to take pictures. Death Valley is a 2 hour drive, take water.
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It can also snow in death valley in January.... which were not exactly prepared for.

1641605702314.png

EDIT: he said February, so never mind. perfectly clear and warm for sure! :)
 
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Jayne said:
It can also snow in death valley in January.... which were not exactly prepared for.

View attachment 420215

EDIT: he said February, so never mind. perfectly clear and warm for sure! :)
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The desert can be unpredictable, at least for those of us that don‘t live there.
 
@Moth

Do this: https://visitsedona.com/

Go to the Grand Canyon, then at Flag Staff, take 89A south during daylight down to Sedona, stay a day, its worth it.

Once in Mesa/PHX go to

HALEY STRATEGIC HQ
16655 N. 90TH ST., SUITE 100
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
P / 480.351.8066

HOURS OF OPERATION & SHOWROOM HOURS

MON - FRI / 9AM TO 5PM
 
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I would avoid Sedona like the plague... Unless you like expensive resorts, overpriced food, and phoney artists that are primarily rich, bored housewives. There's nothing organic there anymore. The hippies, spiritualists, and artisans have all been priced out of the area.

It's so busy there you will spend the bulk of the day looking for parking at any trail or park to get to anything. The mansion owners who bought up everything around all the great natural areas have blocked off any parking besides a few small pay lots that are always full after 8am. The parking tickets are hundreds of dollars and they love to boot/tow. If you do find parking you'll have to battle the lines of Instagram girls from California to see anything. It's disgusting.

I absolutely hated it there... Shame because there's a lot of natural beauty in the area.

Still plenty to do in the area but not in Sedona proper... Jerome, Clarksdale, Cottonwood area is nice just west of Sedona...
 
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