If you're planning a trip to the Grand Canyon state in the near future, you've probably already discovered that Frommer's Arizona is an invaluable planning tool. In this online update to our book, you'll find recent changes and other up-to-the-minute information.
Phoenix, Scottsdale & the Valley of the Sun
If you're headed to an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game and you're looking for Bank One Ballpark, you're probably going to miss a few innings. Bank One Ballpark, which everyone in the Phoenix area knew as BOB has been renamed Chase Field since the merger between Bank One and Chase banks. Likewise, since the merger of America West Airlines and US Airways, the America West Arena is now the US Airways Center. However, it is still home to the Phoenix Suns NBA and Phoenix Mercury WNBA basketball teams.
Postino is my favorite wine bar in Phoenix, and after it opened to rave reviews and a perpetually packed house, the owners went on to open the adjacent La Grande Orange Grocery and La Grande Orange Pizzeria. Now they've moved from their neighborhood corner to a slightly more mainstream Camelback Road location for their latest venture -- Chelsea's Kitchen (5040 N. 40th St., Phoenix; tel. 602/957-2555), which is set on the banks of the Arizona Canal just off Camelback Road.
At Kierland Commons shopping mall on Scottsdale Road, be sure to check out The Counter (15215 N. Kierland Blvd.; tel. 480/998-0202), a gourmet food shop and trendy diner. This unusual little spot is associated with some of my favorite Scottsdale and Tucson restaurants -- Bloom, Wildflower, and Bistro Zin.
Last December, Scottsdale got a couple new resorts that are worth checking out. Actually only one is new, the other is an extreme makeover of a 1950s resort. The former is the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino (10438 N. Fort McDowell Casino Dr., Fountain Hills; tel. 800/333-3333 or 480/836-5300; www.radisson.com/ftmcdowellaz), way out on the northeast side of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Although this resort is a long way from downtown Scottsdale or Phoenix, it is set on the edge of natural desert, so it has more of a Southwest desert feel than many other closer-in resorts.
The second new resort is the renovated Hotel Valley Ho (6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale; tel. 866/882-4484 or 480/248-2000; www.hotelvalleyho.com), which originally opened in 1956 and was a favorite of Hollywood celebrities in its heyday. After closing down for an extensive restoration, the downtown Scottsdale hotel is finally reopening. The décor integrates retro mid-century-modern styling with the latest in high-tech amenities including flat-screen TVs. There's even going to be a Trader Vic's Polynesian restaurant -- now that's retro, man.
Three Scottsdale resorts have undergone recent renovations. The lobby and lobby lounge of the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch (7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd., Scottsdale; tel. 800/55-HYATT or 480/991-3388; www.scottsdale.hyatt.com) have gotten a makeover. The lobby lounge has long been one of my favorite places in the valley to have a drink and listen to live music. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale; tel. 800/441-1414 or 480/585-4848; www.fairmont.com) has renovated its Fairmont and Deluxe rooms and added Italian linens of 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton. At the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain (5700 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley; tel. 800/245-2051 or 480/948-2100; www.sanctuaryaz.com), the 74 mountain casitas have all gotten fresh new interior designs. Best of all, these renovated rooms now take full advantage of the resort's awesome views.
¿This past summer, The Wyndham Buttes Resort (2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe; tel. 800/WYNDHAM or 602/225-9000; www.wyndhambuttes.com) added a new spa.
I know there are those of you out there who are going to be bugged about this, but the Katydid Insect Museum in Glendale has been exterminated, or, more accurately, has gone out of business.
The latest super-hot hot spot in Scottsdale is e4 (4282 N. Drinkwater Blvd.; tel. 480/970-3325; www.e4-az.com). With four separate bars under one roof and four different ambiances based on the four elements, it's not surprising that the over-the-top décor includes waterfalls and lots of flickering flames. Best of all, unlike other hip hangouts in the neighborhood, this place is open six nights a week.
Central Arizona
In Sedona, there's also a new 77-room luxury boutique hotel that you should consider. Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa (2250 W. U.S. 89A, Sedona; tel. 866/312-4111 or 928/203-4111; www.sedonarouge.com) was designed with an emphasis on the color red and hints of Andalusian décor, which sets it apart from other hotels in the area. Pamper yourself in the spa or get in some laps in the pool.
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! That's what you'll find at the newly reopened Out of Africa Wildlife Park (4020 N. Cherry Rd., Camp Verde; tel. 928/567-2840; www.outofafricapark.com), which for many years was located in the community of Fountain Hills on the northeast outskirts Phoenix. To find the new park, take exit 287 off I-17 and drive three miles west to Cottonwood and turn left on Verde Valley Justice Center Road. Admission is a whopping $28 for adults, $26 for seniors, and $20 for children 3 to 12. There are walk-through tours as well as tours in Unimog trucks.
You can see plenty of wild animals in Sedona these days, too. The city's Javelinas on Parade fund-raising installation has placed 50 artist-decorated life-size javelina statues around the city. The statues were unveiled in October 2005, and will remain on public display until October 2007.
Northern Arizona
Just a reminder: in Grand Canyon National Park, Maswik Lodge is closed for major renovations until the middle of March, when part of the lodge will reopen. The entire lodge won't be back in operation until mid-April.
Eastern Arizona
Fans of western novelist Zane Grey can now visit a reproduction of the 1920s cabin that Grey lived in on Kohl's Ranch, east of Payson. The original cabin, used by Grey as a hunting lodge and locale to write a few of his books, burned down in a 1990 forest fire. The replica cabin is at Payson's Rim Country Museum (700 Green Valley Pkwy., Payson; tel. 928/474-3483; www.zanegreycabin.org) and is filled with memorabilia pertaining to the author.
Tucson
I'm sorry to say that any gay or lesbian travelers hoping to stay at the Coyote Moon Health Resort & Spa in Tucson are going to be howling mad. The resort, the first of its kind in the country, has gone out of business. Also, don't despair if you go to eat at the wonderful Café Poca Cosa and it's not there. The restaurant is scheduled to move in February 2006 to a new space at 120 E. Pennington Street, just a few blocks from the old location.
Southern Arizona
There's a pretty new B&B down Bisbee way. Fred Miller, longtime bartender at the ever-popular Café Roka, has created the nicest little B&B to open in Bisbee in years. The Copper City Inn (99 Main St., Bisbee; tel. 520/432-1418 or 520/456-4254; www.coppercityinn.com) has long verandahs that look out on all of Bisbee's action, and rooms that are the plushest in town. Rooms are $100 to $125 per night.
Also, the Striped Stocking, a combination restaurant and inn, is no more. However, new businesses have taken over the spaces.
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