Thinking of going to Phoenix this summer. Any suggestions of good restaurants, side trips, entertainment spots, sightseeing?

First of all--VERY HOT in Phoenix in the summer!! Otherwise, I would say shop and hike,but hiking is not easy in 100 degree heat! You can hike to the top of Camelback Mt. if you're hardy---be sure to wear a hat and bring water. Sedona is about 2 hours north of Phoenix and has pretty red rock formations and nice hotels. Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West is in Scottsdale, next door to Phoenix. Old Scottsdale has a gallery row and some Indian silver jewelry plus the Pink Pony--cute place. I never found a fabulous restaurant in Phoenix--maybe someone else has.

Phoenix is indeed HOT in summer. You might think about Sedona which is a two-hour drive north and at a higher elevation, therefore cooler. And, it is gorgeous. Take a pink jeep tour, do lots of hiking, meandering.

If you end up in Phoenix, don't miss checking out the Arizona Biltmore (architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright) even if you don't stay there. Stop by for a drink or afternoon tea or a meal in one of their several restaurants. The grounds of this hotel are spectacular!

Try going tubing down the Salt River. It is alot of fun. The Salt River is located about 30 minutes out of Scottsdale. If you are young and like excitement go about noon time. If you are older and like it quite try tubing early in the morning.

I was just there in January and stayed at the Camelback Resort & Spa. It was wonderful, you sit by the pool in a white robe inbetween spa treatments. I had a facial, manicure, massage and body scrub. The Spa food in really good and lo-cal. I want to go again!

Is it still hot in Sept? How is the new baseball stadium?

Phoenix is hot all through September, day and night. The
new baseball park, Bank One Ballpark, (BOB) has received rave reviews all the way around. It is a beautiful asset to our downtown, already a very bustling place. America West Arena, home of the Phoenix Suns, is just a block away. There are many restaurants, bars, shops in The Arizona Center...it also has about twenty movie theaters. The Symphony Hall, Civic Center Convention Center, Herberger Theater(live) and the Orpheum Theater (historical & remodeled)

We are amazed that nobody has mentioned the fabulous Heard Museum, home of possibly the largest collection of Indian art and artifacts in the world. It's only a few blocks north of the center of town. Across the street you will find the newly-expanded Phoenix Art Museum. The Arizona Science Center is also worth your time. Check with the Phoenix Visitors Bureau. I bet they have a web site.

Definitely go to the Heard Museum...it is the one cool place we found in Phoenix in July! Seriously...it is a great museum and don't overlook the Kachina doll exhibit housed within.

I apologize for fogetting the Heard Museum, it is indeed a wonderful place to visit. I guess I was focusing on the hot temps during the summer! But, if you go to Phoenix, certainly do go to the Heard.

Phoenix has several good resturants. Christos on 7th st. Italian food. Los Dos Molinos on Central for Mexican And Monty's La casa Vijejo in Tempe for steak

The only thing I would do in Phoenix is drive south to Tucson or north to Sedona or Flagstaff. Sorry. As for the new stadium...the stadium is great; the team stinks

We can only suppose, Doris, that you live in Chicago. Why? Because of what Matt Williams and his teammates did to the Cubs last night! Seriously, for a first-year club, they are doing all right. Mark my words: if he stays healthy, Travis Lee will one day be in the Hall of Fame. This rookie is the best first baseman to come along in the NL since Mark Grace or Keith Hernandez.