I have visited Arizona a few times in the past, primarily in Scottsdale, and I loved it. I haven’t been able to visit with my family yet, but I know my girls would enjoy it. In this special Inside Scoop state edition, CitiScoop’s editor in chief and native Arizonan, Jayme Taylor, shares the best places to stay, eat, shop, and explore in Arizona. The state is big and there is a lot to do, but when you look up at the beautiful, clear, starry sky or across the vast greatness that is the Grand Canyon, you’ll be happy you made the trip.
-Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO and Co-founder, Citibabes
When I first moved to NYC from Arizona a few years ago, numerous people asked me if Arizona was just an endless desert with tumbleweeds blowing across the street. I’m not going to lie, I’ve seen my fair share of tumble weeds – and I have seen them blow across the street. But Arizona is so much more than that. It has cactus too!
STAY
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort: Five words – three acres of swimming pools. Not convinced yet? Then share this bit of information with your children: 138-foot waterslide. Done! Located only a short 20 minutes away from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, this hotel is perfect for the entire family. With an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa & salon, tennis courts, a workout center, hiking trails, and The Falls Water Village, there’s something for every member of your family to enjoy. Phoenix gets extremely hot in the summer (think high temperatures in the 100+ range from about May to August), so consider visiting in the spring or fall if you’re interested in the outdoor activities without the constant threat of heat stroke. And don’t forget the sun screen! @PointeHiltonTap
Loews Ventana Canyon: Nestled in Tucson’s beautiful Catalina Mountains, Loews Ventana Canyon offers a spectacular view of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. Take in the desert scenery with your family by enjoying a hike, a bike ride, nearby riding trails, or catch some rays (with sun screen, of course!) by one of their signature pools. Or simply relax at the Lakeside Spa, work out in their fitness center, or play golf on one of their PGA golf courses while your little ones are enrolled in the Coyote Kids Club! Family travel is made easy with their Loews Loves Kids program, including the Coyote Kids Club (which is unique to the Ventana Canyon resort) for children ages 4-12 years. Morning, afternoon, and all day sessions are available and include arts & crafts, desert walks, Koi Fish feeding, and more. Even the moodiest teens and tweens will find something to enjoy from stargazing to rappelling – and that in itself is worth the trip. @LoewsVentana
Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa: Sedona’s spectacular red sandstone formations set the scene for this beautiful resort. Located near shopping, dining, and numerous art galleries, The Hilton Sedona Resort & Spa has an on-site 18-hole championship golf course, a full-service spa & salon, and three pools. Is your family feeling adventurous? Then float through the impossibly blue skies in a hot air balloon or take a jeep tour through the stunning red rock formations. It’s also a great backdrop to enjoy horseback riding and mountain biking. @HiltonSedona
EAT
El Guero Canelo: While not as abundant as the hot dog stands in NYC, Sonoran hot dog stands can be found all over Tucson, Phoenix, Nogales, and Sierra Vista – and no trip to Arizona is complete without tasting one. So what is a Sonoran hot dog? El Guero Canelo’s original starts with a homemade steamed bun and a hot dog wrapped in bacon and is then covered with beans, onions (grilled and fresh), tomatoes, mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeno sauce. Don’t worry, your little one can order a plain hot dog or enjoy their tasty tacos, burritos, tortas, and caramelos. @ElGueroCanelo
Mi Nidito: Boasting famous guests like Bill Clinton, Madeleine Albright, and Enrique Iglesias, Mi Nidito has been a staple of Tucson Mexican cuisine since 1952. Enjoy their delicious tacos, burros, tostadas, enchiladas, tamales, flautas, chimichangas, or combination plates that include chile rellano, chorizo con huevos, and my favorite – carne con chile Colorado. You can also order the President’s Plate (ordered by Bill Clinton in 1999): bean tostada, birria taco, chile relleno, chicken enchilada, and beef tamale. Children can order tostadas, ground beef tacos (which aren’t too spicy), or even a side of chicken nuggets. The restaurant can get a little busy if you plan to eat at peak times (which is pretty much any time from 6:00 pm on), and they don’t take reservations so be prepared to wait – it’s well worth it.
Frost Gelato: Tucson (a.k.a. The Old Pueblo) can be extremely warm (especially in the summer) and as the two owners of Frost Gelato can attest to, there’s nothing better than a delicious frozen treat on a hot day. The owners first tasted gelato on a summer day in Rome. When they returned to the states and could not find anything that tasted as good as Italian gelato, they decided it was time to make their own and a new gelato shoppe was born! With ingredients imported from Italy, it’s no surprise that it has been voted “Best Ice Cream/Gelato/Frozen Dessert” by Tucson Lifestyle Magazine for 6 years in a row. After you take in the sight of the beautiful gelato on display, you may want to try a few samples before you make your final decision. While I am partial to the dark chocolate and seasalt caramel, there is a seemingly endless amount of flavors to chose from including bubble gum, caramel macchiato, chai tea, hazelnut, honey, nutella, peppermint, root beer, tiramisu, and more! There are even dietetic options like chocolate, espresso and hazelnut with no sugar added and an array of yummy fruit-flavored sorbets. Whatever your flavor, Frost Gelato will cure both your and your child’s sweet tooth. @FrostGelato
Pinnacle Peak Patio: What began as a general store in 1957 is now the world’s largest western steakhouse and the perfect place for your family to enjoy a taste of the Old West. Choose from numerous seating options including the Gunslinger Saloon, the Sunset Patio which overlooks a cactus-garden, West 40 with a view of Pinnacle Peak, and many more. Parents will appreciate the taste of their entrees grilled over real mesquite wood and the “Lil’ Folks Vittels” include hot dogs, hamburgers, and chicken all served with with their secret recipe cowboy beans. Your children will get a kick out of the ties that hang from the raftors – a warning of their strict “no necktie policy” – so remind dad to leave his at home. Or if you want, have dad wear one that he doesn't care about and they will cut it off him right at the table!
Carlos O’Brien’s: You may have noticed a pattern by now: Arizona has delicious Mexican food. Don’t let the name fool you, Carlos O’Brien’s Fine Mexican Food serves just that – fine Mexican food – and a lot of it! House favorites (in portions that are often big enough to share) include chicken chimichangas covered with jalapeno cream cheese and cheddar cheese, salmon with mango salsa, grilled chicken breast with ranchero sauce and cheese, and grilled shrimp with mango salsa. Children can enjoy classic favorites like chicken fingers, cheeseburgers, and grilled cheese or try the mini tacos, mini chimichanges, and bean burritos. @carlosobriens
SHOP
Scottsdale Fashion Square: If you’re ready to escape the heat and get in a little shopping, then visit Scottsdale Fashion Square. With 250 shops, every person in your family is sure to find something they like. Children will most likely drag you into the Build-A-Bear Workshop or the Disney Store, but you won’t mind after you’ve dragged them into Gucci, Neiman Marcus, Cartier, and Jimmy Choo. After your day of shopping, enjoy a nice meal at Grand Lux Cafe or Z Tejas Southwestern Grill, or simply grab something quick from Blue Burrito Grille or Five Guys Burgers and Fries. @ScottsdaleFS
La Encantada: Enjoy a shopping trip in this elegant outdoor shopping center complete with open courtyards, and beautiful Spanish-style architecture. Little ones will get a kick out of Mildred & Dildred, a locally owned toy store featuring toys that encourage imaginative play. Walk around, enjoy the outdoors, shop at your favorite Apple Store and browse Pottery Barn. If the desert is for some reason making you crave the sushi you usually eat at home, try RA Sushi Bar. Or dine on modern Italian cuisine at NoRTH. Don’t forget to pick up dessert at Frost Gelato, conveniently located in the shopping center. @ShopLaEncantada
Kid’s Center: Another locally owned Tucson toy store that your children will love is Kid’s Center. This toy store is packed from floor to ceiling (in a good way) with unique toys that are both entertaining and educational. They have a great selection of children’s books as well as exciting Creativity for Kids kits, puppets and stuffed animals, Breyer Horses, and so much more! Friendly staff members are there to help direct you to toys appropriate for your child’s age group and will even wrap presents if you can manage to sneak back to the store without your children.
LEARN
Pima Air & Space Museum: One of my favorite places to visit with my dad when I was young (and even now when I return to the Old Pueblo for a visit), the Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. The museum has a great collection of World War II aircraft, giant B-52’s, NASA’s “Super Guppy” transport plane, Korean and Vietnam War aircraft, modern combat aircraft, as well as President Kennedy’s Air Force One. One tour you should be sure to take is the AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Group) tour – also referred to as the “Boneyard.” Bordering Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AMARC is home to over 4,200 aircraft and other military equipment. Here the aircraft is stored and preserved, sometimes used for parts, and sometimes even restored to flying status.
Titan Missile Museum: Throughout the Cold War, there were 54 Titan II underground complexes that were on alert 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They were capable of launching their 103 foot tall Titan II missile in 58 seconds which could reach its target – more than half a world away – within 30 minutes. All Titan underground complexes were deactivated and demolished by 1987 – except for this one. This once top secret and important component of the Cold War is now a National Historic Landmark. From one-hour guided tours to a Titan Overnight Experience, there are numerous options for your family to explore the underground missile site. You will learn all about the Cold War, view the 3-ton blast doors and the 8-foot thick silo walls that served as protection from an attack, and see an actual Titan II missile in the launch duct. You can also experience a simulated missile launch (one of you may even be able to sit in the seat and turn the launch key!). Check out their Facebook page for some awesome vintage photos and the occasional sunrise or sunset over the complex.
Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum: If you want to learn about the plants, animals, and environment of the Sonoran Desert, then you must visit the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. Home to over 300 animal species and 1,200 types of plants, this unique museum allows you to see the inhabitants of the Sonoran Desert in their natural environments. From mountain lions and prairie dogs to Gila monsters and javelinas, there are many exciting things to learn about on your tour of this 21 acre museum. Take advantage of some of their special tours like the “Walk on the Wild Side” where you can go behind the scenes at some of the animal exhibits, or the “Take a H.I.K.E!” tour which brings you up close and personal with snakes, lizards, frogs, and arachnids. And I realize I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but don’t forget the sunscreen when walking around the almost 2 miles of paths in the hot desert.
EXPLORE
Painted Desert and Petrified Forest: Once you leave the Four Corners area and find yourself in the northeastern part of Arizona, you may begin to notice sculptured hills and flat-topped mesas with beautiful blue, purple, white, orange, red, and pink banding colors. This is the Painted Desert and what you’re seeing are layers the Chinle rock formation, exposed, sculpted, and revealed by erosion over centuries. This special place ends just beyond the Petrified Forest, where you can find the fossils of fallen trees that date back to the Late Triassic (about 225 million years ago). Download the “A Trip Through Time” handout before you get there to share more information with your little ones. You can find hiking trails in both the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest as well as many viewpoints where you can stop your car to take in the beautiful scenery. Just make sure that you don’t take any petrified wood on any of your hikes. It is estimated that 12 to 15 tons are lost every year because they are taken by visitors. Instill in your children the importance of leaving objects in their natural environment so they can be enjoyed by everyone. You’ll be teaching them a lesson and avoiding a stiff fine and penalty for theft. @PetrifiedNPS
Meteor Crater: In northern Arizona near Winslow lies the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site. At nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference, and more than 550 feed deep, this crater is the remnants of an impact from an estimated 150 feet wide and several hundred thousand ton meteorite over 50,000 years ago. Guided tours of the rim are available as well as a “Collisions and Impacts” documentary that shows the meteor’s trip through the Earth’s atmosphere to its collision in northern Arizona. There is also a nearby RV Park where your family can rest and set up a base camp to enjoy day trips to the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon: No trip to Arizona is complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon. We’ve all seen it on the Brady Bunch, but nothing can quite prepare you for the breathtaking view as you overlook the 18 mile wide and 1 mile deep canyon carved by the Colorado River. Touring the canyon on mule-back is a century old tradition but unfortunately is not available for little ones under the age of 7. Alternatives include guided hikes, jeep and van tours, and helicopter tours. And just outside of Grand Canyon National Park is the Skywalk at Eagle Point, managed by the Hualapai Tribe and located on tribal lands. This glass bridge is suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River and projects about 70 feet from the edge of the canyon rim. Before you leave this majestic place, check the sunrise/sunset times to ensure your family gets the view of a lifetime as they catch an extraordinary Arizona sunset over the Grand Canyon. @GrandCanyonNPS
By Jayme Taylor, Editor in Chief, CitiScoop
This Valentine’s Day, Arizona will celebrate its centennial. Yes, Arizona became a state 100 years ago – on February 14th, 1912. It was the 48th state to be admitted to the union. Here are a few other facts about Arizona: its nickname is The Grand Canyon State; the state bird is the cactus wren; the state flower is a Saguaro blossom; the state capital is Phoenix; and the state gemstone is turquoise. Happy Birthday, Arizona!