love_cab_chard  
Master of Wine
Posts: 12582
 | | 06-18-2003 04:29 PM |
| Planning a trip to the Arizona-area:
Part I:
Want to stay in Phoenix for 2 days. Need suggestions/help on the following:
a. A nice Hotel (like a 4-5 star, not overly expensive but nice).
b. A couple of nice Restaurants that would be considered as a “must” when visiting Phoenix.
c. A few nice Lunch-type places.
d. Where to go, what to see, etc… (for your typical tourist)?
Part II:
Want to see some of the famous Arizona sites. And, there are a lot, I know. I want to stay in a resort/spa type place for a few days (this is what Arizona is famous for) & do the desert hike (another thing that Arizona is famous for). So, what is a good area to stay/do all that & meanwhile see some of the famous Arizona sight-seeing spots/attractions.
TIA for those that have done similar type deal &/or are familiar with what I am asking/planning in that area. | | |
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Lee Ann
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1232
| | 06-18-2003 04:42 PM |
| LCC- my sister lives in Phoenix- I will ask her. (you met her at AZ)
You'll prob. want to stay in Scottsdale. There are some great wine shops in the Phoenix area , too.
I'll get you some info. | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Master of Wine
Posts: 10194
| | 06-18-2003 05:16 PM |
| Last time i visited we stayed at the Wyndham Buttes Resort in Tempe. It was nice. If you've never been, make a day trip to Sedona. You won't regret it.
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Matt Carton
Grape Destemmer
Posts: 72
| | 06-18-2003 07:01 PM |
| | I've been going out to Scottsdale the past 5 years, and found that the Boulders Resort and Spa is the best I've seen anywhere. They have 2 fantastic golf courses and a Golden Door Spa. Summer rates are a LOT less expensive than in-season. It is north of Scottsdale in Carefree and has incredible views of huge boulder formations. A wonderful place, 100% class. | | | |
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JonesWineNo1 
Sommelier
Posts: 8568
| | 06-18-2003 08:22 PM |
| | Course the last time I played the Boulders in the summer it was 113 degrees. I agree though it is a top of the line resort. Its located in Carefree Arizona. | | | |
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kimber
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1254
| | 06-18-2003 08:43 PM |
| The Biltmore in Scottsdale is an unbelievable resort as well. Top of the line. I saw BOTH George Bush Sr and Bill Clinton there during the same week last April.
Another vote for Sedona as a side trip. | | | |
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JimmyV
Central Connecticut
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5168
| | 06-19-2003 03:17 AM |
| | The Boulders is really neat. I'd also recommend The Phoenician for one-stop shopping. World Class spa. Unbelievable pools/golf/hiking. And Mary Elaine's is the most sophisticated restaurant in the area. I also like The Royal Palms. Much smaller. Not a mega-resort. The kind of place that Hollywood types go to be pampered, but not swarmed by lookie-loos. T. Cook's at the Royal Palms is a wonderful restaurant. | | | Beta testing a new signature. | |
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Brian Loring
Grape Sorter
Posts: 386
| | 06-19-2003 04:09 AM |
| Here are a couple of restaurants I thought were very good (I was in Phoenix/Scottsdale last week)
Cowboy Ciao
7133 E. Stetson Drive
480- 946-3111
Drinkwater’s City Hall Steakhouse
6991 E. Camelback Rd
(480) 941-4700 | | | |
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Matt Letson
Barrel Filler
Posts: 1339
| | 06-20-2003 01:46 PM |
| Mentioned this in another Phoenix thread:
I visit Scottsdale 3 times a year. I would recommend this "locals" place that hardly any of the locals know about: Grazie's Wine Bar and Pizzeria.
First off, half the staff barely speaks english--so this place is authentic. They make all types of southern italian cuisine and it is excellent--much of it cooked in their brick oven (including their italian-style pizza, which only comes in one size). The pizza is the best that I have ever tasted, anywhere.
Second, they have an extensive wine list at almost retail prices (because they also own a wine shop). A month ago, I had a bottle of Falesco Montiano for $55. That ought to tell you something. They only have Italian wine on their list.
They do not sell liquor. They only sell one beer (it used to be Peroni but they switched over to another Italian beer--it's not Moretti either).
This place is a small, hole in the wall in downtown old Scottsdale, on Main Street. Just a few doors down from the Old Tortilla Factory (another good restaurant, by the way).
Oh, and by the way, they hire the most outstanding-looking waitresses.
Highly recommended.
As far as hotels, The Phoenician is the best. Also worth looking into would be The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain--very nice and little more cosmo in approach and decor.
Phoenix/Scottsdale is all about golf--hope you play. If not, take a drive up to Sedona and check out the red rocks--very pretty. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12582
| | 07-09-2003 12:53 AM |
| Thank you to all. Still working on this. Not easy to get info (from NJ) & put a thing like this together w/o a Travel Agent.
I contacted a couple of Agents in that area about our plans, but heard nothing back from these guys.
Which leads me to a request: does anyone (living in the surrounding area/states) have a Travel Agent that I can contact about this? Thank You.
P.S.: if not comfortable with posting such info, please send a PM. | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts: 13767
| | 07-09-2003 12:56 PM |
| I would think mdriver would be able to pipe in here, but I haven't heard from him in a while. Anyone know what's up with him?  | | | www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts: 11004
| | 07-09-2003 07:43 PM |
| | LCC - try sfrye. He lives in that area and might have some suggestions. | | | |
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S Frye
Grape Puncher
Posts: 787
| | 07-11-2003 12:15 AM |
| Here's a couple things off the top of my head (any questions pm me):
The resorts are all doing specials right now because of the heat, so shop around.
Some of the nicest:
Royal Palms - great place, good restaurant - T.Cooks
Four Seasons ($$$)- connected with Troon North, nice steakhouse
(Acacia)
Fairmont Princess - connected with the TPC Course, great spa, good
restaurants (Marquesa and Hacienda)
Boulders - Golden door Spa, good courses nearby, great burger!
Sanctuary - very modern, great views, Elements is a pretty nice
restaurant
Great prices:
JW Marriott Desert Ridge - big place, has a Roy's that's decent
Westin Kierland - good course, place is a little blah (corporate) to
me, but good restaurants nearby and inside.
Others:
Phoenician ($$$)
Biltmore
Hyatt Gainey Ranch
As for restaurants, I second Cowboy Ciao and its sister restaurant (Seesaw - Japanese fusion - chef is really doing nice things) and their wine bar (Kaz's). Great list, though strangely arranged, but one of the more eclectic offerings and prices arent that bad (you can always find something if you take the time).
Drinkwater's is good for steak, but I'm partial to Mastro's - one of my favorite steakhouses (#3 on my alltime), although their wine list could use some help. Actually going there tonight. 
Also, Roaring Fork is always great and its wine list is decent.
Remember, this is Scottsdale - no corkage available  , wine lists are catch as catch can. Couple other good places are Tarbell's and their sister rest, Barmouche. Also, Michael's at the Citadel is nice (great bar to watch the sunset upstairs) and Vincent's on Camelback is very good (pretty good wine list but high prices).
For lunch - Kierland Commons has 2 nice places - Zinc Bistro and North - small patios in a nice walk through shopping area, as does the Biltmore Center: Christopher's Fermier Brasserie and Roxsand. All of the nice resorts have decent lunch/brunches though - and Marquesa at the Fairmont Princess does one of the nicest Sunday brunches ever (even beats the SF Ritz's IMHO).
For great Mexican: Barrio Cafe and El Tlacoyo are fabulous and Los Dos Molinos is very good too. Keep in mind, these are drives and dives places (away from any resorts), but they are authentic.
Hope that helps - ping me w/any questions. | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12582
| | 08-15-2003 08:35 PM |
| | Thanks all. The trip is set. Great help from all. Thank you. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Picker
Posts: 3
| | 08-29-2003 05:59 PM |
| Not sure if you are still looking for ideas, but Maestros (Scottsdale) is fabulous. Also great is PIZZERIA BIANCO in Phoenix. It was just featured in Gourmet actually....
Have fun! | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts: 12582
| | 08-29-2003 06:44 PM |
| Yes, I am. Thank You.
Oh yeah & welcome, spa_girl. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2284
| | 09-05-2003 11:52 PM |
| Chalk another one up for the Phoenician as the place to stay. Mary Elaine's is one of the best meal's I had in my life.
I don't really know about other restaurants in the area, I mostly ate at the hotel (I think they have around 8 restaurants). I did have one incredibly poor meal at Mortons (not on my volition), but that's pretty typical.
Lots of golf and tennis to play, and the Phoencican has a great spa - The Center of Well Being, or something along those lines.
Great views of the Sonoran and Camelback Mountain. If you hike or bike, plenty of trails. You can also take a guided humvee tour throught the desert. The tour guide carries a pistol, which I thought was pretty cool.
If all else fails, you could try to shoot naked women with a paintball gun (did anyone else hear about that guy who is allegedly running that operation?)
P.S. They now have In-N-Out burger in the Phoenix area. | | | |
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S Frye
Grape Puncher
Posts: 787
| | 09-06-2003 01:24 AM |
| | There's been In & Out here for the year plus that I've lived here (thank the stars), that plus Rubio's Fish Tacos - probably the ONLY 2 fast food places I'd ever eat at. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts: 11004
| | 09-06-2003 02:17 PM |
| Sfrye - is Rubio's the same chain that is in San Diego? My husband, who is from San Diego, took me there the last time we were in San Diego. Great fish tacos!
And he starts drooling immediately when you mention In & Out Burger. We don't frequent fast food but there are just some things we have to have. | | | |
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David Walker
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2284
| | 09-06-2003 02:33 PM |
| I think there is some type of addictive ingredient in the burgers at In-N-Out. Once you have one, you can't stop yourself.
Almost a "cult" burger. | | | |
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