Seeking suggestions for trip in a few weeks

We were planning to go to Phoenix / Scottsdale after Christmas but had to reschedule because I had emergency surgery. We are going in a few weeks for much-needed renewal. We%26#39;re staying for a few nights at the Westin Kierland resort and a few nights at the Four Seasons. We enjoy golfing, off-roading, riding horses, and we%26#39;d like to do strgazing, which was mentioned earlier on this forum.

The only activity we have lined up is golf at Kierland and both Troon courses. I%26#39;d really appreciate suggestions on:

Hiking - where?

Off-roading - Should we rent a jeep? Where should we go? Is there a day trip we should do?

Riding horses (not walking slowly in a line)

Stargazing - someone mentioned FS may offer this free?

Naturalist tour - maybe on the geography or the wildlife

Restaurants

Some nice shopping for a rainy morning

Anything else we really should see/ do?

Thanks so much for any help you can give!

Seeking suggestions for trip in a few weeks

Check out these sites for hiking, naturalist tours, and stargazing opportunities:

http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/hiking.aspx

http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/hikemain.html

http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/trails.asp

also the East Valley Astronomy Club operates an observatory on Friday and Saturday evenings at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert, and will also be there for the lunar eclipse on February 20th.

Seeking suggestions for trip in a few weeks

Good choices on hotels! You%26#39;ll enjoy both.

Hiking and naturalist tours - check out http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/. It lists lots of activities. You%26#39;ll be close to McDowell Mtn. Preserve, Cave Creek and Spur Cross Parks.

Scottsdale Fashion Square for indoor shopping. Kierland Commons for a pleasant afternoon of browsing, pausing at one of the outdoor patios for a cool drink.

Lots of restaurants to choose from! Anything at Kierland Commons is good. Sassi up north. Binkley%26#39;s in Cave Creek. Also, plan an evening in Old Town Scottsdale - Maybe Olive and Ivy, Cowboy Ciao or Sea Saw. It%26#39;s just a fun area.

For a day trip - Sedona.

Can%26#39;t help you with horses or offroading. The developers have swallowed up all the open land.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Two great resorts, you%26#39;ll love it. Which do you plan to do first? They are both great, but also, different. Kierland is much larger, with more of everything- dining, pools, etc. FS is smaller, more intimate, and they will pamper you. Kierland could be considered more ';fun';, and FS more satisfying.

Hiking- The links mentioned above are great, also at FS you are directly adjacent Pinnacle Peak and you can hike it right from the resort, a great hike.

Off-roading- In addition to the links above, check out http://www.azdesertmountain.com/ This is a jeep tour, you may find yourself either limited or having to get out of town a bit to really off road on your own. (Don%26#39;t want to mess with the Sheriff)

Day Trip- Sedona is great, but you%26#39;ll wish you had more than a day. Also check into tubing the Salt River.

Horseback riding- Check with the concierge at FS there is a stable just north of the resort with great horses, it is a guided ride, but not the walking in a slow line thing. You won%26#39;t find any open riding that I know of.

Stargazing- In addition to the info already given, check your calander of activities when you get to FS, they have a semi-professional astronomer set up his scope at the resort on a regular basis, he does a great job.

Narualist tour- Again, I would recommend one of the jeep tours in town. Also, if you do go to Sedona, check out the Pink Jeep tours, they%26#39;re great.

Restaurants- LOTS to chose from, some of my favorites: El Encanto just north in Cave Creek. At Kierland commons my favorite is Tommy Bahama%26#39;s. For casual dining try Carumba! For a lot of fun with local flavor, try Pinnacle Peak Patio just outside the entrance to FS. It%26#39;s a cowboy steak house that is over the top.

Shopping- Kierland Commons, Fashion Square, downtown Old Town, Biltmore Fashion Park

Anything else? Can%26#39;t come to Scottsdale and not go to Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright%26#39;s school %26amp; studio) also while you are at FS, don%26#39;t pass up Meet the Pastry Chef (tell Anthony you want to try his Chocolate Tasting...it made my wife cry it was so good), or the Margarita %26amp; Salsa demontration (tell Sean I am still waiting for my book that the post office stole...he%26#39;ll understand) also, enjoy the tennis courts (with no fees, and complimentary equipment including use of the ball machine.)

Thank you so much! These are very helpful ideas.

I heard that there is a lot of traffic. We%26#39;re renting a car for the duration of our stay. Any particular areas and times of day we%26#39;ll want to avoid driving?

We%26#39;ve never had a huge issue with traffic, but then again we live in Southern California, so we live with traffic. The only trouble we had was getting on the freeway towards Phoenix between 4 - 6. You will probably feel the same coming from Chicago, what they consider to be ';traffic'; in Scottsdale is not the same as what we deal with everyday, so you shouldn%26#39;t worry. Having a car is HUGE though, it is spread out and FS is on the north end of town. Some see that as a negative, I see it as away from the crowds. Enjoy!

Re: traffic

Loop 101 can be a bear during typical rush hours. Scottsdale Rd. north of 101 is under construction - use Hayden or Pima to get to the Four Seasons. Also, parts of Loop 101 are being closed completely on weekends for addition of HOV lanes - it%26#39;s at 64th St. to Scottsdale, and Loop 202 to McDowell this weekend.

I usually use surface streets anyway.

If you go to Sedona - try to avoid rush hour. It%26#39;s a parking lot on I-17 north and south. Use Carefree Hwy instead and enjoy the ride.

You will have a great time, no matter what you choose to do. Weather should be excellent. You%26#39;re staying at Kierland which is next to great outdoor shopping. For indoor shopping you could go farther south to Fashion Square. Another lovely indoor/outdoor shopping area is The Borgata.

Hiking: Famous (for a reason) are Camelback Mountain (south part of Scottsdale, looks like a camel with its legs tucked under, and a most obvious mountain in the middle of ';the valley';) and Pinnacle Peak, in north scottsdale. Both give outstanding views. They are also great exercise without taking up your whole day.

Restaurants...depends on what you like. Some notables:

Sushi and people watching: Sapporo

Steak/Seafood and people watching: Ocean Club

Small plates/Tapas: Sol y Sambra

Neighborhood restaurant: Cafe Portobello

Organic: The Green House

French: Zinc Bistro

Pizza: Oggi%26#39;s or Pizza Picasso

Sports Bar: Fox Sports Grill or Jilly%26#39;s

Casual Italian: Sauce or Nick%26#39;s

Fancy Italian: Sassi

Steak, updated: Cartwrights

Japanese: Dozo

If you are into flora/fauna, check out the Botanical Gardens. it%26#39;s fascinating.

Many thanks for all of these helpful responses. I%26#39;ll make sure to take this information with me! We are very excited about this trip, and with your tips, I know it will be fantastic!

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