Visiting Downtown PHX, AZ...

[McLovin]

I want to check out this place sometime: http://www.pimaair.org/

And maybe http://www.azcaf.org/ also.

Been to both places and they are phenomenal if you love aircraft.

Pima Air Museum is actually down by Titan Missile Museum and I do believe you can buy a pass that covers both.

The Boneyard at David Monthan Air Force Base is a cool thing to see as the tour departs from Pima Air Museum also.

You can also go to Old Tucson Studios where they filmed parts of Tombstone and Hey Dude! lol. The Sonoran Desert Museum is by Old Tucson and is an absolute MUST IMO.

XavierMace, I didn't spend that much time in the East Valley growing up so you'd probably have a better grasp of that side of town than I would. I would agree Organ Stop Pizza is most definitely not a must go for the food, but the ambiance is what's so cool about it. Oreganos is good pizza on the flip side.

If you get the chance, Harkins Theatres is my go to Theater. Their projection and sound systems are some of the best in the business and walk all over AMC IMO.

I am also a HUUUUUUUUGE QukTrip fan and would also recommend a stop at one (or 5) when at all possible!

Also, when you go north to the Grand Canyon, be sure to stop in Jerome. Not a huge tourist attraction, but a cool little city and a nice drive.

Certainly isn't what it used to be, but you can always go to Castles and Coasters lol.

 

[XavierMace]

Its way worth the visit, but it isn't halfway between Phx and Tucson, its about 15 miles further south of Tucson. (more than halfway to Mexico...)
While you are down there the Pima air and space museum is worth a visit too, if that sort of thing interests you.

If the wife likes to shop there are decent outlet malls on the way out of Phx if you decide to head down to Tucson.

Yeah, you are correct. It's been a long time since I've been. I don't know why I have the idea of it being in between stuck in my head.

I want to check out this place sometime: http://www.pimaair.org/

And maybe http://www.azcaf.org/ also.

For the record, you realize you used to live like 4 miles from the second one? LOL.

 

[Ns1]

2 somewhat related questions

1) Has anyone gone to a concert @ Tempe Beach Park? How's the parking/transit options there? I need to find a way to get there from my hotel and back...in a significantly less than sober state.

2) How's the Uber/Lyft penetration in Tempe? Related to #1 above, I'd rather not drive to Tempe Beach Park if Uber/Lyft are viable options when I leave, ie not 6x surge pricing @ $3/mile.

 

[IronWing]

If you're going to the Titan Museum then you might as well go to San Xavier del Bac mission as it is on the way. Let me know if you wish to dine in Tucson and I'll provide the rundown of the best ghetto food. Green Valley is a culinary dead zone.

While in Tempe, head up to The Persian Room in Scottsdale for dinner or lunch. It now tops my list of restaurants in the valley.

Sedona in October is a traffic nightmare. Jerome then Prescott is a better bet. Stand on the lawn where Billy Jack whumped that guy upside the head.

 

[Ns1]

If you're going to the Titan Museum then you might as well go to San Xavier del Bac mission as it is on the way. Let me know if you wish to dine in Tucson and I'll provide the rundown of the best ghetto food. Green Valley is a culinary dead zone.

While in Tempe, head up to The Persian Room in Scottsdale for dinner or lunch. It now tops my list of restaurants in the valley.

Sedona in October is a traffic nightmare. Jerome then Prescott is a better bet. Stand on the lawn where Billy Jack whumped that guy upside the head.

Had to scratch Titan, it's too far in the wrong direction.

 

[RossMAN]

Sedona is beautiful, great choice. Drink plenty of fluids.

 

[jlee]

2 somewhat related questions

1) Has anyone gone to a concert @ Tempe Beach Park? How's the parking/transit options there? I need to find a way to get there from my hotel and back...in a significantly less than sober state.

2) How's the Uber/Lyft penetration in Tempe? Related to #1 above, I'd rather not drive to Tempe Beach Park if Uber/Lyft are viable options when I leave, ie not 6x surge pricing @ $3/mile.

I stopped driving for Lyft because there were so many drivers out. You can park at the McClintock Park & Ride (McClintock and Apache, there's a parking garage) and take the light rail west from McClintock/Apache to 3rd/Mill. The beach park is a short walk (north) from there. An all day light rail pass is $4 and the park & ride lots are free. Make sure you catch a train back before they stop running, unless you want to take Lyft/etc back.

Edit: aaaaaaaand just caught the 'to/from hotel'. I'd check the light rail stops and see if there's one nearby.

 

[XavierMace]

What hotel are you staying at?

 

[Skel]

2 somewhat related questions

1) Has anyone gone to a concert @ Tempe Beach Park? How's the parking/transit options there? I need to find a way to get there from my hotel and back...in a significantly less than sober state.

2) How's the Uber/Lyft penetration in Tempe? Related to #1 above, I'd rather not drive to Tempe Beach Park if Uber/Lyft are viable options when I leave, ie not 6x surge pricing @ $3/mile.

1. Yes, I have. The venue is an outdoor one, so it really depends on what time of year you go. In the summer it's too hot for me to enjoy but during the nice month (just the one) it's pretty good. The parking blows when it's a major show. You're better off parking a bit away and taking the rail or cab/uber it in. Where's the hotel?

2. Not a clue. I'm pretty sure it's OK as the venue is really close to ASU. I couldn't tell you about pricing, I've personally found the cabs to be reasonable.

I live about 2 miles away from Tempe Town Lake (where the venue is) so let me know if there's anything I can answer for the area.

 

[BurnItDwn]

WHOA ... I didnt realize Portillos had left the Chicago area.

 

[Zeze]

I really miss Sedona. What a beautiful, serene little place.

Be sure to do the Purple Jeep Tour- you can't miss it in their town center with their huge shop & obnoxious purple jeeps. Do the Broken Arrow trail ride. Blew my socks away- 50 degree climbs / declines in a military-grade jeeps.

And absolutely breathtaking views & stops.

Also visit that huge church thing. Grab a local and ask "where's a huge church?". They'll know. It sits off of a cliff and offers a great view of Sedona.

PM me for details.

 

[Zeze]

wtf dp

 

[Ns1]

What hotel are you staying at?

jury is still out - one of the Marriott related properties around the airport is likely, about 5 miles to Tempe Beach Park.

@Zeze

Sedona is also up in the air at this point, but a Pink Jeep Tour is a mandatory requirement for Sedona.

 

[Skel]

jury is still out - one of the Marriott related properties around the airport is likely, about 5 miles to Tempe Beach Park.

@Zeze

Sedona is also up in the air at this point, but a Pink Jeep Tour is a mandatory requirement for Sedona.

Are you coming in for the Jay Z concert?

Here's a good hotel that is right behind my personal favorite bar Rula Bula.

Link

Link to Rula Bula Yelp

Link to Rula's website

Rula's food is OK, but the back patio was a great place to chat up women. You could hear everyone without issues and it always had tons of college women flowing through there. It's where I met my wife to be.

This is a Marriott Courtyard that's down the street from both the bar area (Mill Ave, or as I used to call it in my single days.. My Happy Hunting Grounds)

Link

Here's a Tempe ran website link for all the food down in that area.

Link

If you like burgers, you really should try Chuckbox. They make some of the best burgers I've ever had. Like all things food YMMV

Link to Chuckbox (very bad website but awesome food)

Link to yelp of Chuckbox

One note about Chuckbox.. they're cash only.

Hope this helps you. As before, if you've any questions or need any help around this area please let me know.

 

[Ns1]

I'm coming in for monster mash actually

Thanks for the tips all. I'll take a look in detail later.

 

[RossMAN]

Where is the most famous Arizona ATOT'er? They haven't posted in this thread, yet.

 

[XavierMace]

Here's a crappy image for your assistance.

Red square on the left is the airport. Green line is the light rail. You can see Tempe over on the lower right corner. If the Mariott you are staying at is the Phoenix Airport Mariott, you can see it in the top left. If you're staying at Tempe Butte's, that's just south of where the map cuts off.

 

[JBT]

Are you looking for touristy stuff or just general hang out stuff? If touristy stuff...

If you're at all interested in military stuff, the Titan Missile Museum is well worth the drive. It's about half way between Phoenix and Tucson so it's a bit of a drive from Tempe (2 hours-ish). Last Titan II missile silo open to the public. The short tour is available pretty much any time. The longer, more extensive tour is only certain days.

The museum is further south than Tucson. But ~2 hours from Tempe is still pretty accurate.

 

[Ns1]

n/m.

 

[Skel]

I'm coming in for monster mash actually

Thanks for the tips all. I'll take a look in detail later.

Oh cool. That's going to be a great few days of shows. A few of my friends and I are def going on the 31st to see Tool.. and look at the coeds in the various stages of undress yet still technically a costume.

I have a bunch of old friends coming in for the Jay Z show next month so that's stuck in my mind.

 

[Ns1]

I'll see you there. I may or may not be the guy with the tool shirt.

However, you may actually recognize me because I will be the only Asian dude in Arizona with a tool shirt ^_^

//edit

Courtyard Phoenix Airport is look pretty good right about now. Might fly in afterall...

OR OR OR OR

Renaissance Downtown Phoenix is apparently right next to a light rail stop. And it's also next to Pizza Bianco (but FML downtown PHX Pizza Bianco closed Sundays).

Am I right that I would be able to walk 1 block to the light rail stop, take light rail to the station a block from the venue, and then the reverse on the way back? I could completely go car-less by flying into PHX, taking Skytrain to Valley Metro Rail, then Light Rail to Downtown PHX?

If everything fails it's only an 11 mile uber ride.

 

[Skel]

I'll see you there. I may or may not be the guy with the tool shirt.

However, you may actually recognize me because I will be the only Asian dude in Arizona with a tool shirt ^_^

//edit

Courtyard Phoenix Airport is look pretty good right about now. Might fly in afterall...

OR OR OR OR

Renaissance Downtown Phoenix is apparently right next to a light rail stop. And it's also next to Pizza Bianco.

Am I right that I would be able to walk 1 block to the light rail stop, take light rail to the station a block from the venue, and then the reverse on the way back?

If everything fails it's only an 11 mile uber ride.

I'll be easy to find.. I'll be the drunk obnoxious white going up to every Asian going "Ns1?"

The rail does go back and forth. It may be really crowded as the Mill area will be a utter zoo. Mill is always slammed on Halloween, you combine that with the fest I've no doubt the place is going to be crazy. I heard the morning that most of the hotels are booked solid around ASU.

 

[Ns1]

Damn Halloween, that's the X factor for sure. Is that night gonna be 10x surge pricing?!?

Decisions decisions...

 

[XavierMace]

Ugh. I'd avoid staying in actual downtown Phoenix unless you're sure you're going car less. Limited free parking, everything is packed during lunch time. Too many stupid one way streets. LOL. Marriott Tempe at the Buttes would be preferable (if it was me). Downtown Marriott is only a block from a lightrail stop as you said though where as Buttes is not.

What about Tempe Mission Palms Hotel? Looks like decent reviews and it's right off Mill. They are both about the same distance from the airport. Unless you're swinging this through corporate booking or something.

JLee should be able to give some feedback on Light Rail during events.

 

[Ns1]

TMP is sold out. Everything within 2 miles of Tempe beach park is sold out