Phoenix & Arizona

Most of the National Forest land in AZ is available for camping. They tightened the rules some in the last couple of years, but you can basically drive off onto a Forest Service Road (make sure you close the gate behind you) and go camping, unless fire restrictions are in place. That said, I lived in Sedona for 13 years and mostly went to the GC. That place is awesome both North and South rim and was different every time I went.

Been here for a little over a year and still looking for interesting things to do as well. Doesn't help that I don't know a lot of people...and the fact it's 110 degrees out everyday now. I love the desert.

Tortilla Flats, Jerome, and Sedona.

Palum_sl said:

Oh yea, forgot I wanted to visit Jerome. Is there a season for Sedona to not be obnoxiously crowded? I like the town but damn was it terrible in March when we went. Just coated in people and cars, no tables in restaurants, shops were all full of dumb kids, bleh.

Click to expand...

No there isn't. It's wall to wall cars every fucking day and wall to wall non moving cars on the holidays. I lived there for 13 years up until this last Feb. The rule was get everything done in the morning and be home by 10AM.

BrutulTM_sl said:

Just eat a chimichanga with a blow dryer on high right in your face and you pretty much have the Phoenix experience.

Seriously though, I lived in Phoenix for 3 years and never really found anything worth doing except driving through Sedona and visiting the Grand Canyon.

Click to expand...

Seriously this, spent 2 years in Phoenix at Culinary School and its pretty much this. Phoenix itself is pretty overrated but nice in the winter, during the summer 114? is exactly that; "dry" heat or not. Also the only time I've actually burnt the soles of my feet taking garbage out to the dumpster.

The central metro area and Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe in particular have a fairly respected culinary scene that continues to grow. One of the best write-ups I've seen comes from Keith Law, who covers baseball for ESPN. He does an annual guide for people in town during spring training (also fun and many of the newer facilities are very nice) that covers a lot of ground, even out towards the suburbs.

http://meadowparty.com/blog/2015/03/...-2015-edition/

Just running through his list I can say I would also recommend: Virtu, Citizen Public House, Pomo, True Food, Cornish Pasty, Four Peaks, Siam Thai, La Piazza Al Forno, Pizzeria Bianco, Chelsea's Kitchen, crudo, cibo, Otro Cafe, Matt's Big Breakfast, and The Gladly. I haven't been to Little Miss BBQ although he raves about it as well and I've heard great things from others. We'll be going sooner than later and I'm really curious to compare it to la Barbecue from Austin, which I've had twice now over the last few months and have heard from locals there compares very well to Franklin.

Seven chefs from many of the restaurants he details are actually headed to the James Beard house in NYC later this year to host a dinner.http://www.azcentral.com/story/enter...hefs/71091660/They are:

Cullen Campbell: Crudo, Phoenix
Kelly Fletcher: Formerly of House of Tricks, Tempe
Joshua Hebert: Posh Improvisational Cuisine, Scottsdale
Scott Holmes: Little Miss BBQ, Phoenix
Stephen Jones: Yard Bird + The Larder, Phoenix; DCM Burger Bar, Phoenix; Walrus & the Pearl, Phoenix; and Tea + Toast Co., Phoenix
Bernie Kantak: Citizen Public House, Scottsdale; and the Gladly, Phoenix
Gio Osso: Virtu Honest Craft, Scottsdale

Other places not listed that are some of my favorites:
Dick's Hideaway (Phoenix. Go up the street to Richardson's/The Rokerij if Dick's is packed which happens fast as it is small, hence hideaway)
St. Francis (Phoenix)
Ingo's (Phoenix/Arcadia)
Nook (Phoenix/Arcadia)
The Stand (Phoenix/Arcadia)
Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe (Downtown Phoenix)
Angel's Trumpet House (Downtown Phoenix)
Phoenix Public Market (Downtown Phoenix)
Casella's (Scottsdale. Mom and pop of 38 years out of Philly, cash only)
Chizona's (Scottsdale)
Phoenicia Cafe (Tempe)
Chopstick Express (Tempe. Their Orange Tofu kills Orange Chicken)
Tandoori Times (Multiple locations but I prefer the Scottsdale one. Great lunch specials)
Cherryblossom Noodle Cafe (Phoenix. The TanTan-Men is killer)
Bosa Donuts (Multiple locations)

Summer is a great time to get out and take advantage of a lot of the resorts around town too. There are some great boutique hotels that have good pools with good food and beverage options. The Clarendon (North Downtown Phoenix), Hotel Palomar (Downtown Phoenix), Hotel Valley Ho (Scottsdale), and Saguaro (Scottsdale) are all solid.

Along with the restaurants there are plenty of good bars around. Make sure you go to The Vig (four locations in Arcadia, Central Phoenix, Downtown Phoenix, Scottsdale although I would recommend downtown or Central). Yelp is your friend.

lol @ Phoenix and good food.

I guess 100 billion people living in the Del Webb communities there should be a large amount of crappy geriatric steak houses.

If you're going to equate Phoenix to Del Webb (re: Sun City proper) then all you're really saying is "I have nothing to contribute to this conversation."

We have an office in Phoenix of like 6 people. I read a title on yahoo "Big heat wave in the southwest". So I looked at the weather deal. I think at 9pm local there it was 109F. Fuck that. The forecast for the next day was 115F. Fuck that. I don't care if it's a dry heat or not. I assume 115 isn't just an every day thing in the summer?