Phoenix, Arizona
Stayed at the Arizona Grand; ventured into Scottsdale; drove up to Sedona for a hike and slept the night. Desert basecamp. Use it for Scottsdale, Sedona and the drive north - out here the landscape is the main event.
9 recs · Last visited Spring 2026
A sprawling resort with everything on site, and a good base for Scottsdale and the drive north to Sedona.
It's a big franchise and I don't care - great burgers, colder beer, zero pretension.
A Paradise Valley institution sitting under Camelback Mountain. Go at sundown and don't skip the famous sticky buns.
Cowboy steakhouse up on the hill by the Arizona Grand - valley views, live country music, and a slide down into the dining room. Leans all the way into it and is better for it.
Old-town Scottsdale cowboy saloon - packed, live music, sawdust-and-dollar-bills energy. Corny and completely great.
A little western mining town built into the cliffside. Worth the winding drive up on its own.
Old Town is a must - friendly locals, good dining, and an easy casual beer-and-burger scene. Head over to Tempe when it's time to party.
Some of the most beautiful hiking I've done - Airport Mesa at sundown is unreal. The town itself is expensive and skippable; the rocks are not.
The museum of the wild west in Old Town - fun if you have an interest, and especially good on movie history.
Know somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona I should go? .