dfr1966

Hi, everyone. I'm heading out to Phoenix for the Insight Bowl this year (Go, Rutgers!). Unfortunately, the only reasonably priced flight I could get was on Christmas Day, arriving in Phoenix at 10:30 am. I'm staying at the Springhill Suites in Downtown, and my traveling companion will not be arriving till the next day.

So, my question is whether there will be anything of interest open for me to do solo. My fallback plan is to just go to the movies, but if anyone has any better suggestions, please feel free to offer them up. I'll also be looking for someplace to eat--preferably Mexican, but given that it's Christmas, I'll be happy with anyplace that might be open.

Thanks!

amwosu

Don't go to the movies! AZ is too beautiful to miss out even for a day. One thing I would do is hike at least a little bit of Camelback and sit there and enjoy the scenery or take pictures. It is beautiful. If you aren't a big hiker you don't have to go far up to see a great view.

http://www.2az.us/hike-camelback.html will whet your appetite. It can get treacherous but as I said, you don't have to go very far up to enjoy it.

dfr1966

Thanks--how far is that from downtown? I won't have a rental car (free shuttle from the airport to the hotel, and then a walk from the hotel to Chase Field).

giro

As far as eating, you may want to check out the Arizona Center at 7th street and van buren. A number of restaurants including sports bars etc.
On Jackson street which border the south side of chase field are several sports bars including Cooperstown, Bar/restaurant operated by Alice Cooper. With two bowl games going on along with other events things should be open. Camelback mtn. is not walking distance from downtown.
There are mexican restaurants but they escape me at the moment.
Go to newtimes.com phoenix edition for events that might be happening downtown.
Chase field has a Fridays that is open to the public year around (xmas day?)Chase field also offers stadium tours....good luck on your trip and beat ASU!

dfr1966

Thanks--what about gambling out there? Is there casino gambling anywhere in the area? Or, a horse or dog track?

Just looking to kill some time...

Judy24

There is a casino right by the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort which is south of Phoenix, right by Chandler. It's a beautiful resort, and they run a shuttle boat ride over to the casino.

emd

Wild Horse Pass is a wonderful place. Go there to the casino and have dinner at Kai or the other more casual restaurant at the hotel. Beautiful achritecture, great food, wonderful scenery w/the mountains out the back of the two story glass windows in back part of great lobby area. They'll be decorated for the holidays and have the fireplaces on. And there is a big Santaworld display on the road into the resort, at the racetrack.

dfr1966

Thanks--I won't have a car, so I assume a taxi would be my best bet to get out there. Approximately how far is it from downtown?

emd

If you can check a map, it is just past the Chandler area. You can Mapquest it from your hotel address to Wild Horse Pass address to and find out the mileage.

paula1470

Wild Horse Pass is wonderful but it's about 15 miles from downtown Phoenix. I would imagine a taxi ride would be pretty expensive. With the exception of the Arizona Center which might have restaurants open, there is not much around your hotel. Go to arizonacenter.com and it lists the restaurants and movie theater. I really doubt any of the restaurants will be open as the whole mall will be closed but you could call and ask.

I was in Arizona for Thanksgiving Day, it was like a ghost town as it probably is everyplace else. If it was me, I would see about renting a car for the day. The weather should be beautiful and it would be a great opportunity to do a little sightseeing with no traffic. You could go south, do a little hiking at South Mountain and then continue on to Wild Horse Pass for a few hours.

paula1470

meants to say "it was a ghost town just like everyplace else is on Christmas Day".

emd

paula, that is a great idea about combining South Mtn. and Widl Horse Pass (w/a rental car from downtown location, assuming they are open Christmas Day). I've hiked at South Mtn. while staying at Wild Horse Pass a few times. South Mtn. is easy to find and there are trail maps on the web for it. Trails are well marked and well traveled so it is fine for solo hiking even on Christmas Day. Easy trails but very nice.

paula1470

emd-My parents live in Chandler and my friends live in Ahwhatukee right by South Mountain so we've hiked those trails several times. Like you said, easy trails and I am sure there will be a few people out even on Christmas Day enjoying the weather and the view.

I would doubt that car rentals downtown would be open on Christmas Day but it's worth a phone call to see. Unfortunately if dfr rents at the airport, they have all those extra charges. I have never rented at Sky Harbor as I always drive to Arizona but for just one day, the extra charges might be worth it so that dfr isn't just stuck at the hotel.

amwosu

It will be double whammy for a car rental on Dec. 25th as it is a big holiday and a Sunday as well. While the airport will rent cars it may be tough to find them away from the airport.

onegraylensman

Not many restaurants will be open on the 25th., but a handy alternative to taxis is the regional bus system. Details available at valleymetro.org.
Ask Springhill if they can provide info on restaurants that might be open in the immediate area.

desertduds

Yikes, I wouldn't depend on our bus system! Could you change your hotel to an area that would have more to do??? I'm thinking of Biltmore Embassy Suites, an area that is hopping, restaurants, movie theater, etc...and I'm sure the concierge there or at the Ritz Carlton, across the street, could arrange a tour for you any day, for any length of time. I'm sure E.S. will be alot more expensive than Springhill...where is the Springhill anyway?

emd

either that or just spring for a cab to go to one of these places away from downtown. Just don't stay in downtown Phoenix all day; it is Christmas and that would depress the heck out of me.

dfr1966

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. The primary purpose of the trip is to attend the Insight Bowl at Chase field. A friend is meeting me there on the 26th, so it's really just 1 day (Christmas) that I'm looking to kill time. I may take your advice re: a taxi to go somewhere and I'll ask at the hotel (on E. Van Buren) about a local restaurant that may be open. If all else fails, there's always the movies!

emd

All those good suggestions and answers to your specific inquiries on casinos in the area, etc, and you are still considering going to the movies?

giro

Give the guy a break! He's from Jersey!...in phx for a football game, some beer and the dogs if near by. Forget the fancy shmanzy suburban restaurants. Noone has mentioned it, but he might be interested in some "cabarets" which are near downtown! or as he says the movies... downtown is not that bad! at the very least he can walk to the az center, enjoy the outdoor gardens take in a movie and get a meal at one of the hotels downtown which will be open to serve their guests.