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, because out here the landscape is the main event. Old Town Scottsdale covers the eating and drinking, the cowboy places are corny and completely great, and Sedona has some of the most beautiful hiking I've done. Do Airport Mesa at sundown.
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? .