Howdy friends,

The wife and I are staying at the Royal Palms in Scottsdale in a couple weeks. We have never been and are looking to just hang out, adventure out, eat good food, drink good drinks. Please throw some ideas out of fund things to do, places to go, best places to eat, best places to get drinks with a view etc. Morning desert hike?

All your ideas are appreciated.

TIA,
Shane Lechler

Go to Thea Mediterranean at the top of the Global Ambassador Hotel around an hour before sunset. Get drinks and dinner. It has a great view of Camelback mountain and you can watch the sun set from inside or the very large patio area.

The whole place is a real scene, so I'd get a reservation if it is on the weekend for sure. The lobby and lobby bar is pretty fun after dark too. High quality cocktails and people watching. Sometimes live music.

Second vote for Thea. Pizzeria Bianco is also always on my list when I'm in the area, I thought it lived up to the hype.

I also like Talavera, the restaurant at the Four Seasons.

Papago Park is a nice alternative to Echo Canyon if you're looking for something easier.

Cafe Monarch - we go every year for our anniversary.

Mastro's City Hall and Ocean 44 are both good as well. For a decent burger try Rehab Burger Therapy.

There are some good bars/lounges at the W and more within walking distance of that area. For live music Wasted Grain can be a lot of fun.

The Sanctuary for a drink or dinner at sunset.

In Scottsdale go to Taliesen West for the Frank Lloyd Wright studio.

Mathguy64 said:

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In Scottsdale go to Taliesen West for the Frank Lloyd Wright studio.

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Great idea, but check before you go and make sure they are open. They had storm damage that resulted in a death recently. I don't know if they are back up and running.

C

Caladan said:

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Mathguy64 said:

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In Scottsdale go to Taliesen West for the Frank Lloyd Wright studio.

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Great idea, but check before you go and make sure they are open. They had storm damage that resulted in a death recently. I don't know if they are back up and running.

C

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I saw that. Crazy. But the grounds and tour are very cool. I would kill to have a FLW house.

RXAggie02 said:

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Howdy friends,

The wife and I are staying at the Royal Palms in Scottsdale in a couple weeks. We have never been and are looking to just hang out, adventure out, eat good food, drink good drinks. Please throw some ideas out of fund things to do, places to go, best places to eat, best places to get drinks with a view etc. Morning desert hike?

All your ideas are appreciated.

TIA,
Shane Lechler

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JoJo Coffee House has a solid breakfast.

Volanti at Scottsdale Executive Airport is pretty cool.

Pinyon in old town is good with a solid happy hour. It's sister restaurant Buck and Rider (I like the camelback location better than North Scottsdale) also good. Also, Vecina, one on Indian School and the new one in McCormick Ranch is good and has a great patio. I tend to stay outta old Town, but if it is your first time, it is worth a stroll and drinks and dinner. FnB is good as well in Old Town and handful of wine tasting shops down there too.

For hikes, if you want a popular one but decent burner, Tom's Thumb is good. I also like Sunrise Peak. Theres also some good create own adventure hikes in the PHX mountain preserve and gateway at McDowell Sonoran preserve.

jja79 said:

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Volanti at Scottsdale Executive Airport is pretty cool.

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We will be in Scottsdale next month and while scouring googlemaps for possible restaurants I found this restaurant. Are there views of the working tarmac from within this restaurant?

thanks,
C

You can sit on the patio which overlooks the tarmac and runway. It's more about the experience than the food. It's good but that's not really why people go.

View from patio.

Wow - pictures and everything! Thanks a bunch!

C

Sugar Jam is my favorite breakfast place

Good call.

I took those pictures from our table on the patio so I think that's what you were looking for.

You live in southern AZ don't you?

jja79 said:

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I took those pictures from our table on the patio so I think that's what you were looking for.

You live in southern AZ don't you?

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We live in Tubac. In case you aren't familiar, Tubac is between Tucson and Nogales.

C

I thought I remember you live south of Tucson. Is the Tubac Golf Resort worth a weekend?

Sorry to the OP for the thread derail.

jja79 said:

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I thought I remember you live south of Tucson. Is the Tubac Golf Resort worth a weekend?

Sorry to the OP for the thread derail.

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I don't golf, so I could not say if the Tubac Golf Resort is worth a weekend. However, if you add in the town itself, then I think it is indeed worth a weekend. The "downtown" area of Tubac has many shops and restaurants, along with the original Presidio you can tour. I tend to think of Tubac as a "day destination". A few miles south of Tubac on the frontage road is the Tumacacori National Historic Site, the Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Co., and a locally famous Mexican restaurant.

The Santa Cruz River runs alongside the eastern edge of Tubac, and this area is famous for excellent birding. The Juan Batista de Anza National Historic Trail runs alongside the river, so a lot of shaded hiking to be had. If you were to hike this trail from Tubac down to the Tumacacori site, you would hike right past our house. The history of this trail is worth looking up. JBdA was the dude who lead Spanish settlers from Mexico up to what is now San Francisco in 1776 (or thereabouts).

Tubac is extremely easy to get to as the main entrance road is right on the I-19 northbound frontage road. The main entrance to the golf resort is about a mile further north. If you need more detail or recommendations about the area, let me know.

C

Thanks. That's what I was looking for.