Things To Do

If you're not from Arizona, chances are you're not going to want to spend a lot of time outside during the day in Phoenix. Heck, even those of us who grew up in the desert don't want to spend a lot of time outside during the day. So, we've put together some suggestions to keep you out of that blistering heat!

• The Grand Canyon National Park
• Sedona, Arizona
• Flagstaff, Arizona
• Jerome, Arizona
• Tucson, Arizona
• Kartchner Caverns
• Tombstone, Arizona
• Phoenix Metropolitan Area

The Grand Canyon National Park
About a 4 hour drive one-way to the Grand Canyon, and though it may not be much cooler there, it's something everyone should see!


Sedona, Arizona
About an hour and a half from Phoenix.  Home of the famous red rocks, Sedona offers a beautiful escape from the sweltering heat (though still plenty toasty), a plethora of fun day hikes, wineries, and a few favorite spots to cool off in Oak Creek.


Flagstaff, Arizona
About two hours from Phoenix.  Flagstaff will definitely get you out of the heat and into the woods.  Here's a few favorite things to check out:

• Lowell Observatory
  The telescope that discovered Pluto (no, it's not the telescope Jenn's dad runs, but it's still pretty cool). 
• Lava River Cave
  It's about a mile long and amazingly dark. Grab some of those round LifeSavers or Altoids wintergreen mints at the gas station before you head out of town and watch the sparks fly out of your mouth when you turn off your flashlights at the back of the cave.
• Meteor Crater
  The world's best-preserved meteorite impact site. (The website says so!)

Suggested Dining:

• Beaver Street Brewery
  Yummy woodfired pizzas, a chocolate bread pudding that's to die for, and great beers. I personally enjoy having them mix their Bramble Berry Brew with their R&R Oatmeal stout for berry-twist on a Black and Tan.
• Brandy's
  A great bakery with a sit-down cafe that offers yummy hot breakfast if that's your thing and some pretty amazing sweet potato fries.
• Buster's Restaurant
  A little more upscale, but well worth the price.
• Black Bart's
  It's a steakhouse, saloon, and musical revue all in one - what more could you ask for. Also, Black Bart's usually has gift certificates available for a discount on Restaurant.com.

Jerome, Arizona
About two hours from Phoenix. An old mining town that's now a haven for ghosts, artists, and winemakers. Get there by taking the long way through Prescott, Arizona for a beautiful scenic drive through the mountains.


Tucson, Arizona
About 2 hours from Phoenix.  Tucson is only going to be mildly cooler than Phoenix during the day, though the temperature drop at night is usually much more drastic, but there are two things I would recommend checking out anyway.

• The Titan Missile Museum
  A real missile silo!  You'll be up top and outside for about 10-15 minutes, and then the rest of the tour takes place in the silo itself.
• The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
  A must for those who have never experienced the Arizona Desert. Get there when it opens as it will still be relatively cool and all the animals are usually out (the hotter it gets, the more they go into hiding). I would suggest picking up a cheap white or light-colored umbrella to use for shade as you walk around.

Suggested Dining:

• Cafe Poca Cosa
  A Mexican bistro. The menu changes twice daily! I recommend getting several of the chef's plates and sharing - you'll get to try a little of everything.
• El Charro Cafe
  One of the many southwest restaurants claiming to have invented the chimichanga. Here you can get the best of everything Mexican and deep-fried.
• El Guero Canelo
  A grown-up Taco stand. Try the hotdog. You'll thank me later.
• Eegee's
  Tired of the heat? Cool off with an Eegee's frozen fruit slush. A Tucson original.  My favorite is half strawberry, half pina colada. I also like the Teagee - iced tea with the lemon Eegee's. Great subs and fries too.

Kartchner Caverns
Just under three hours from Phoenix or an hour from Tucson.  A real living, breathing cave. No seriously, it's still alive and growing stalactites and stalagmites and all those good things.


Tombstone, Arizona
Just over three hours from Phoenix or an hour and a half from Tucson.  The real old, real bad, wild, wild west fondly known as The Town Too Tough To Die.  Follow in the steps of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, or just watch the locals reenact the shootout at the OK Corral.  And when you think the heat is unbearable, go check out Andrea's Museum of Victorian Fashion and look at the black velvet ridiculousness the locals used to wander around in!


The Phoenix Metropolitan Area

• Water parks. Why not take a break from the heat and be a kid again?  Check each park's hours because some only operate through Labor Day.  Recommended: Golfland Sunsplash.
• Arizona Museum of Natural History.  Lots of cool dinosaur stuff.
• Phoenix Art Museum.  For you sophisticated types.
• Phoenix Heard Museum.  Explore the Native American culture of the Southwest.
• The Phoenix Zoo.  Get there early to see the animals and avoid the heat of midday.
• Scottsdale Artwalk. Every Thursday night.  Or browse through the galleries during the day.
• Major League Baseball. The D-Backs are playing the Padres.

Dining Suggestions:
(I'm working on it. We have so many favorites! I'll get some up soon.