Am looking for advice on planning a short weekend in Phoenix. It will be from Friday, Aug 6, around 11AM until an early morning flight on Sunday the 8th.

Will be going to the baseball game on the evening of the 6th (sec. 241, row 1). My map shows a rail line going by the BOB and hoped it might be a passenger train to the stadium, but the mlb.com site just offers up driving directions to the game. From that site, it sounds like it is a PITA to get to the game.

On Friday afternoon, before the game I have about 5 hours free. If it is going to be nasty hot, then without better ideas blackjack in Chandler sounds good to me (too bad that TuP isn't racing).

Friday night, I might stay at the airport Hilton ($52 or $69). Saturday night will probably be spent there since my flight out is at 7:40 AM.

For Saturday, I could use some help. I am not at all interested in day spas and not much of a shopper. Scenery?, yes, so I am considering heading north after the game and staying someplace along I17. Then spending the day in Sedona and returning to PHX after sunset. Or drive from PHX to Sedona on Sat. morning?

Apache Trail sounds interesting. I would go to Petrified Forest, but it's too far. Balloon ride, glider ride in Phoenix, chopper tour would be fun. Would like to visit a paleontological site, if was an option.

Hi mrwunrfl. I can help you for a change. Not w/Phoenix, as when I have been there in the dead heat of summer all I want to do is what you don't want to do, the pool, day spas and shopping. But regarding driving out of Phoneix on Sat. night and staying somewhere along I17, there are some considerations. It would give you a jump start on getting out of Phoenix and closer to Sedona on Sat. a.m., and that would be good, because IMO the earlier you can get to Sedona, the better that morning, to take advantage of the cooler (well, at least not as hot as it will be later in the day) a.m. time and also because you will encounter traffic going into Sedona later on Sat. morning. Not talking about major city traffic, but there is only one road in and out, and one stoplight at the "Y" junction in Sedona and that area gets pretty backed up on Friday afternoon & evening, and Sat. a.m. w/people coming into town, or driving through on the way up to Flagstaff and on to the GC. However, if you have not done this drive btwn Phoenix and Sedona before, be aware that it is deserted desert, long patches of Hwy w/nothing out there and no lights, and some of the road has some twists and turns w/some drop off. Personally, I would not drive very far out of Phoneix late at night, but then I am female and am usually driving alone or w/another female friend when I go. You may be more daring and willing to go further. If you are cautious, you could get out in the area of I17 on the way out of Phoenix to give yourself a jumpstart in the morning. There is one big business area on the outskirts of Phoneix going in the direction of Sedona; hopefully someone will chime in w/the name of that area, and there are I believe a few chain hotels there (there is a Pappadeuax seafood house in that area that I stop at, but I can't think of the name of the area).
In Sedona, there are areas and hikes that can be done in summer in the cooler areas of Oak Creek Canyon going up towards upper elevations of Flag(esp. West Fork trail, it goes down in to the canyon and is very tree covered, and you cross Oak Creek many times and can get blissfully wet, and the canyon walls rising around you are spectacular in color and quality). There are two sets of Indian ruins on the other end of West Sedona, out 89A west. IMO, balloon rides or other outdoor activities in Sedona proper are best done in very early morning in either Phoneix or Sedona areas that time of year, before it gets too hot, or late evening but that is not as good as the land has already heated up.
I am looking forward to hearing about any paleontological info you might get. I believe there are some palentology offerings in Flagstaff, 40 min up Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona (and btw, that drive from Sedona to Flag through Oak Creek is one of the most scenic hwys. in the U.S.; and Flag has the great Lowell observatory where Pluto was discovered). Flag is also much cooler; I've actually had to wear a sweatshirt up there at night in summer. So a drive up to Flag might be nice, then come back down to Sedona for dinner at one of the places w/the great views, and sunset out by the airport vista, and drive back to Phoenix.

No rail to the BOB....Apache Trail is a sensational little drive, but would look very barren and dry at this time of year......possibly one hour tour at Taliesin West, really interesting. You MIGHT want to pick up some little bus tours from on of the hotels downtown, they can get you around the cityor up north without you having to do the drive yourself.

Get your hotels from Priceline. You can get great hotels for about $30-32 night. Check biddingfortravel.

Thanks for the replies. I think I will save Apache Trail for a different season (i.e. when Turf Paradise is open). I've never used the hotel auction sites since I assume that you have to pay in advance and with no refund, but I'll take a look.

emd, thanks esp. for the idea of the scenic drive on 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona. I think that will be in my plan, subject to change, of course And for the caution about driving. Maybe I will find out where the Phoenix glider flights are and stay in the general area that night. Then up to Flagstaff, Sedona, and back to Phoenix on Sat.

If you are heading up to Flag on 89A, and it is lunchtime, stop at Junipine resort (it's not a real resort, just a bunch of small houses on Oak Creek, but it is rustic and nice). It is on the left going up 89A toward Flag, about 20 min. up the canyon. This is where I stay. Their cafe is quite nice and rustic, and they have local art on the walls (including good photography by the local retired astronomer Dennis Young, of Hale Bop and Leonidis etc. w/the red rocks as backdrops, great stuff; see his online gallery at www.sedonastarlight.com). Food is good (good fresh grilled trout from the Creek) and service is friendly. And then you can go out in the back of the grill and walk down to the creek and take off your shoes and stick your feet in that rushing cold creek water and it is great. It's stocked w/trout, but you won't be in a position to fish; too bad as all it takes is dropping in a line w/a piece of corn on it and you've got a fish; they are everywhere. There is a nice scenic overlook past that on the right of 89A going towards Flag, and the Indians sell jewlery there; once you make your way through the trinkets, I've gotten excellent quality Zuni jewelry there- malichite, mother of pearl, coral, tourquoise, all mixed together in lovely pieces. You go through several riparian zones going up the canyon.
Oak Creek Canyon is my all time favorite place in the U.S., can you tell? It is lovely, beyond words. I think you'll like it. Such a contrast to Sedona, which is of course lovely also, but in a very different way.

BOB is easy to get to if you have a car which it seems you do. THere are plenty of parking lots around the stadium - I use the ground level one just south of the stadium.

If you are into Indian stuff, check out the Heard Museum.