Despite the sluggish economy and general reluctance on the part of many people to travel, Arizona has remained a very popular vacation destination. Sure there have been the inevitable closings, but the state has also bucked economic trends by opening three huge new mega-resorts in the Phoenix area. Here are some of the highlights on the Arizona travel scene.
Phoenix, Scottsdale & The Valley of the Sun
Although the Phoenix area's three new resorts are for the most part geared toward conference business, they all have plenty of great amenities for vacationers.
The JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Blvd., Phoenix (tel. 800/835-6206; www.desertridgeresort.com), in north Phoenix, is the largest of the three new resorts, has a huge pool area and several good restaurants.
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, 6902 E. Greenway Pkwy., Scottsdale (tel. 800/WESTIN-1; www.westin.com/kierlandresort), goes out of its way to reflect the essence of Arizona and is our favorite of the three. The tubing "river" and adult pool by the spa make this a great choice for both families and couples. It's also adjacent to the Kierland Commons shopping center, which has some excellent restaurants.
The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, 5594 W. Wild Horse Bass Blvd., Phoenix (tel. 866/837-4156; www.sheraton.com/wildhorsepass), is located on an Indian reservation south of Phoenix and has a long, winding artificial river leading up to the resort. The spa and river-like swimming pool are the best features here.
However, if it's a wildly entertaining water park your family is looking for in its next vacation destination, then book a room at the Pointe South Mountain Resort, 7777 S. Pointe Pkwy., Phoenix (tel. 877/800-4888; www.pointesouthmtn.com), which now boasts the biggest and best water park at any resort in Arizona.
On the other hand, if you and your significant other are looking for a romantic getaway where you can enjoy a few spa treatments, then check in to the deliciously romantic Royal Palms Resort and Spa, 5200 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix (tel. 800/672-6011; www.royalpalmsresortandspa.com), which last year added a small spa. This boutique resort was once the winter home of Cunard Steamship executive Delos Cooke.
Make a reservation at the Wrigley Mansion Club, 2501 E. Telawa Trail. (tel. 602/955-4079 or 602/553-7387; www.wrigleymansionclub.com), and you can dine in the former winter home of chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. Although the historic home is now owned by Geordie Hormel, you won't find Spam on the menu.
Fire eaters take note: Under pressure from pepperheads, we have included in this edition Los Dos Molinos, 8646 S. Central Ave. (tel. 602/243-9113), Phoenix's famous purveyor of New Mexican-style food for people who think Mexican food is never hot enough. To prove that New Mexican food does not have to be incendiary, we have also included the Blue Adobe Grille, 144 N. Country Club Dr., Mesa (tel. 480/962-1000), which serves deliciously complex dishes that don't come with a fire extinguisher.
Of course, we all know that fried dough is bad for us, but aren't vacations all about indulging in a few guilty pleasures. At the Fry Bread House, 4140 N. Seventh Ave. (tel. 602/351-2345), you can sample Indian tacos, which are made with big slabs of, you guessed it, fry bread. These hefty meals are a mainstay on reservations all across Arizona, but those served here in Phoenix are some of the very best.
The Valley of the Sun lost a couple of its more unusual museums over the past year. The Fleischer Museum, which specialized in works from the California School of American Impressionism, has closed its doors. Also, the Champlin Fighter Museum has moved its extensive collection of fighter planes to Seattle. To make up for these losses, we've added several other interesting little museums.
On the campus of Arizona State University, you can space out at the Center for Meteorite Studies, Bateman Physical Sciences Center, Palm Walk and University Drive (tel. 480/965-6511; https://meteorites.asu.edu/), or get fired up at the Ceramics Research Center, which is affiliated with (and across the street from) the ASU Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center, 10th Street and Mill Avenue, Tempe (tel. 480/965-2787; https://asuartmuseum.asu.edu). There are often interesting art exhibits at the Schemer Art Center, 5005 E. Camelback Rd. (tel. 602/262-4727), which is near The Phoenician resort. Also, if you're shopping in Old Town Scottsdale, be sure to wander through the Scottsdale Mall (a park, not a shopping center) to see Robert Indiana's LOVE statue.
If too many dinners out have you thinking you should get some exercise, join the fitness fanatics on the trail at north Scottsdale's recently opened Pinnacle Peak Park, 26802 N. 102nd Way (tel. 480/312-7955; www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/pinnacle), which preserves 150 acres of Sonoran Desert. You can do a 3.5-mile out-and-back hike across the park's namesake mountain.
The Arizona Cardinals NFL football team is finally getting its new stadium, which is currently under construction in the west valley city of Glendale. Until it's ready in 2006, the Cardinals will continue to play at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Stadium. During baseball's spring training season, you can now catch both the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers at the west valley's Surprise Recreation Campus, 1580 N. Bullard Ave., Surprise (tel. 623/594-5600).
Central Arizona
In Sedona, L'Auberge de Sedona, 301 L'Auberge Lane, Sedona tel. 800/272-6777; www.lauberge.com), has given all its rooms a total makeover -- gone is the chintz and lace. This boutique resort now has rooms as beautiful as the setting on the banks of Oak Creek.
However, the biggest news in Sedona is the opening of El Portal Sedona, 95 Portal Lane, Sedona (tel. 800/313-0017; www.innsedona.com), a 12-room bed-and-breakfast inn built of hand-formed adobe blocks. The building is a labor of love for its owner.
The Grand Canyon & Northern Arizona
In Flagstaff, Josephine's, 503 N. Humphrey's St. (tel. 928/779-3400), is now serving excellent food in a historic Craftsman bungalow.
Despite ongoing traffic congestion problems at the Grand Canyon, it got a little bit more difficult to get around the national park without a car this past year. The Grand Canyon Eco-Shuttle, which used to operate between the community of Tusayan and Grand Canyon Village, is no longer running. You'll now have to call a taxi.
The Four Corners Region
Due to security concerns, tours down into Glen Canyon Dam no longer operate when the nation is on Code Orange alert level. Also, with the lake's water level down almost 100 feet, tour boats can no longer cruise right up to Rainbow Bridge; it's now necessary to walk a mile from where the boat moors if you want to stand in the shadow of the largest natural bridge in the world.Eastern Arizona's High Country
In the summer of 2002, you probably heard plenty about the huge Rodeo-Chediski forest fire that raged through the pine forests of eastern Arizona. Although the massive fire leveled hundreds of thousands of acres of forest and destroyed homes throughout the region, it never made it to the prime tourist area's of Pinetop-Lakeside, Greer or the Coronado Trail. So if you're planning on exploring this region of the state, which is little visited by out-of-staters, there's no need to worry about hiking amid charcoal and ash.
Tuscon
The former Sheraton El Conquistador Resort & Country Club is now the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 800/325-7832; www.hiltonelconquistador.com), and is adding a splashy new water playground, complete with water slide.
Two noteworthy Tucson restaurants -- the top-end Stone Ashley and the ever-popular Presidio Grill -- served their last meals this past year. However, frugal travelers should take note of some new restaurants listed in this book this year.
Fans of economical and authentic Japanese food should be sure to search out Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Food & Café, 2745 N. Campbell Ave. (tel. 520/320-1574). If it's Cajun food you prefer, head to Nonie New Orleans Bistro, 2526 E. Grant Rd. (tel. 520/319-1965). The owners of Tucson's popular Bistro Zin and Wildflower restaurants have also now opened a casual pizza place called Sauce, Casas Adobes Plaza, 7117 N. Oracle Rd. (tel. 520/297-8575).
History buffs and anyone else curious about the history of Tucson will want to visit the new Arizona Historical Society Museum Downtown, 140 N. Stone Ave. (tel. 520/770-1473). If you or your kids are crazy for trains and you happen to be in town on the right day of the month, you can visit the Gadsden-Pacific Toy Train Operating Museum, 3975 N. Miller Ave. (tel. 520/888-2222; www.thepepper.com/tucson_toy_train.html).
Southern Arizona
If Old Tucson Studios was just too touristy for you but you still want to swagger down the streets of a Hollywood cowtown at high noon, then head to Benson and Mescal (tel. 520/883-0100), a movie set that is operated by Old Tucson Studios. This place sees only a handful of visitors each week.
Western Arizona
How about a little dinner theater in the shadow of the London Bridge? At the London Arms Pub & Playhouse,422 English Village (tel. 928/855-8782), you can catch live theater and savor some of the best food in Lake Havasu City.
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