Christie & Keith
Things To Do
Wildlife World Zoo
A little way outside of the city but a large and unique zoo. Our favorite zoo by far!
OdySea Aquarium
We have been here many times. Has many restaurants and additional attractions in the same complex (dinosaur exhibit, mirror maze, Butterfly Wonderland, ice bar).
Casino Arizona at Talking Stick Resort
One of the best casinos in Phoenix. Top Golf is right next door.
Westgate Entertainment District
Home of the Arizona Coyotes and the Arizona Cardinals! Come check out a game if there is one while you are here. Westgate has many restaurants and shops including an outlet center.
Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town is a hot spot for things to do. The area is packed with restaurants, shops, bars, nightclubs, spas and art. You can get around with the free trolley, rental bikes, seqway tours or walking.
RoadHouse Cinemas - Scottsdale
If you want to catch a movie, we recommend RoadHouse Cinemas. It has full reclining seats. It is a full service restaurant and bar. You order your food and drinks from your seat and sit back and relax while you wait for them to bring your food. Even your free popcorn refills.
Organ Stop Pizza
Plays live music from a massive Wurlitzer organ, one of the largest in the world. Christie's favorite pizza in Arizona. Only accepts cash and only open for dinner. Is usually very busy. We typically go around 8pm and it is not busy at that time and we get good seats to see the organ.
Arizona State Fair
The Arizona State Fair is a family tradition across many generations. Filled with cute animals, blue ribbons, fried food, and all the fun carnival rides you can imagine. It is open from October 4 to October 27. It is only open Wednesday to Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission is $12 and kids 4 and under are free.
Mesa Market Place Swap Meet
Vast outdoor marketplace with 1,500+ vendors, a food court, live music & free admission & parking. Hours are 7am to 3pm. The swap meet is located right off the freeway you take to get to and from the venue in Globe. It would make a great stop Sunday morning or afternoon on your way home back to Phoenix after the wedding.
Hiking
Phoenix is home to many incredible hiking trails. We use All Trails to find different trails to check out. Some popular ones include Piestewa Peak, Camelback, South Mountain and Papago.
Sedona
About two hours away. We have been multiple times. It is surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s noted for its mild climate and vibrant arts community. Uptown Sedona is dense with New Age shops, spas and art galleries. On the town’s outskirts, numerous trailheads access Red Rock State Park, which offers bird-watching, hiking and picnicking spots. Slide Rock State Park is a popular spot that we like.
Tucson
A little less than two hours away. Some places to visit include Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Biosphere 2, Mount Lemmon, Kartchner Caverns State Park, Pinnacle Peak western town, International Wildlife Museum and Mi Nidito Mexican restaurant.
Tombstone
A little less than 3 hours away. It is known for its Wild West history. Exhibits include replica gallows and a 1881 cowboy gunfight re-enactment. Resident ghosts are said to haunt the bullet-riddled Bird Cage Theatre.
Grand Canyon National Park Headquarters
About three and a half hours away. If planning a visit here we would suggest visiting some other destinations that are on the way up to the Grand Canyon (in this order: Jerome, Sedona, Flagstaff, Bearizona Wildlife Park). If you want to stay in the park or take the train you will likely need reservations months in advance.
Page
About four hours away. We have been here a few times. It is home of Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell and most notably Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon is beautiful slot canyon and is one of our favorite places. You usually have to make tour reservations months in advance. We can help you make reservations if you plan on going. You can visit Horseshoe Bend on the way here.
Petrified Forest National Park
About three and a half hours away. This is Keith's favorite national park and you can visit the Meteor Crater on the way. In its south, the Rainbow Forest is full of colorful petrified wood. It’s home to the Rainbow Forest Museum, with its paleontology exhibits and many trail access points. In the park's center are the petroglyphs of Newspaper Rock and the ruined village of Puerco Pueblo. To the north, the Painted Desert Inn, a 1930s adobe building, is a museum with Hopi murals.