Phoenix and Tucson
 

I will be making my first trip to this area of the country. On a search here, it seems that I have found a lot of negative comments about both cities. But since I have never been I would still like to go to both and be able to form my own opinions. Any suggestions from those who like these cities on how long that I need to plan in each city? What that city has that is unique to itself? I plan on visiting Sedona and the Grand Canyon after visiting these two cities.

Hi Karen,<BR>I have just recently returned from the Scottsdale/Phoenix area and cannot say enough good about that place. I am ready to return!!! <BR><BR>Do a search on "Scottsdale, AZ" and you will find my information posted as, "Is My Scottsdale Itinerary Missing Anything," and another one, "Thank you Fodorites for making my trip to Scottsdale so Perfect." <BR><BR>I had a lot of help from people here on what to see and do in the area, and it is pretty well documented in these two posts.<BR><BR>Happy Trails,<BR>Paul

Karen: Read your post and had to laugh. I go out to AZ every year and have asked some questions on this board too. Interestingly, my name is also karen and I always post my questions under [email protected] so at first I thought this might have been my question. Anyway, Paul is right, his post had lots of good comments. I might be able to help you out further if I knew when you were headed out there and if you'll be with children or not!

I will be going in late April. It will be just me and my husband.

Karen,<BR>I've spent a lot of time in Tucson, and it's beautiful. The mountains, the desert, there's nothing in Arizona quite like it. Phoenix may have more shops and restaurants though, it would be nice if you could see both. It's just over an hour drive, so you can stay in one city and go back and forth. We went 2 years ago in late April, and to our surprise we got a lot of snow, so be prepared it might get really cold.

I'd say that all you need to know about Phoenix is summed up in every post about the city: "Scottsdale is nice ..." Phoenix just flat-out has no redeeming value, which is exactly why people start talking about Scottsdale when asked about Phoenix.<BR><BR>Tucson? Yeah, the mountains are kinda picturesque (like they are in Scottsdale!) but I've never really seen much that's attractive about the city itself.

I really enjoyed seeing Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture school, in Phoenix. And of course the desert museum near Tucson.

Taliesin West is in Scottsdale, not Phoenix - which kind of supports the argument that Scottsdale is the nice part of that area.<BR><BR>The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson is nice; so is Saguaro National Park (especially the western portion of it), also west of Tucson.

arizona is a great trip. there is plenty to do in both phoenix and tucson. and the drive to the grand canyon is very interesting. there are desserts, canyons, mountains, cactus, and greenery. Pheonix is bigger then tucson. socttsdale (pheonix) is filled with fancy shopping areas and some very nice resorts. Tucson is smaller and there are quite a few touristy type sites to see. we were in tucson & scottsdale for 2 days each but easily could have spent more time in each. the suggestions already made are the highlights. The senora desert museum is a must and so is taliesen west.