Posted: 8/16/2026 12:49:03 PM EDT
| Hi guys and greetings from Hot, Humid South Carolina. Going to be visiting in mid-late September and was hoping for ideas, suggestions, tips on things to do. Will be going up and down the middle of the state From Grand Canyon,Tuscon, Monument Valley (going to drive the loop myself). I have a lot of the big places already on my list but willing to add some more from you local guys so all replys are appreciated, places to eat would be most welcome too. |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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In Tucson there is the Sonoran Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Titan missile museum and the Pima air and space museum. In addition Tucson is a World Heritage Mexican food site, my personal favorite is El Charro. As a side note the monsoon season winds down in Sept. so rain is a possibility. We are having a pretty active monsoon this year so don't be surprised if it rains. |
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My region ( Prescott Prescott Valley and surrounding communities) have some nice things too. Sharlot hall museum in Prescott, the Prescott western art museum, what used to be called the Smoki Indian museum now “the museum of indigenous peoples” We also have montezuma wells and castle near camp verde, Jerome mining museum, and more. I have lived here now 11+ years and haven’t been able to hit everything yet |
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Top suggestions are already done, Pima Air and Space Museum and the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum, and the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum is a must see if you want to know more about Arizona. If you are going up in to the Phoenix Valley area, there are a few places, some local eatieries like the AZ chain Chompies, The Persian Room, Capital Grille, and the weirdly named but great food The Gladly. Also, a museum you have never heard of that my wife dragged me to years ago. I KNEW i was going to be bored out of my mind...and I was wrong, fascinating place, up on the north side of the Valley, the International Musical Instrument Museum. But between TuCSon, (get it right, please,   ), and Up North is the one and only Biosphere II, a very interesting place indeed. When you leave there you turn right and a few miles down the road is the Riot diner, the tiniest little food shack you ever saw with some DAMN fine chow. Then on your way north, go to Flagstaff and visit the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. Take the nighttime tour, it is WORTH it, then dine at Black Barts Steakhouse, where the NAU students working there burst into song and dance all through the night. Grand Canyon, big hole in the ground, really overpriced knickknacks...*yawn*... Welcome to Arizona. |
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Originally Posted By Crewdog05: In Tucson there is the Sonoran Desert Museum, Old Tucson, Titan missile museum and the Pima air and space museum. In addition Tucson is a World Heritage Mexican food site, my personal favorite is El Charro. As a side note the monsoon season winds down in Sept. so rain is a possibility. We are having a pretty active monsoon this year so don't be surprised if it rains. Originally Posted By JAFFE: Also in Tucson, separate but located on the same property with Pima Air & Space, is the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum. The wife is putting this all together so some of this is already on her list, I was not aware of the Tuscon Military Vehicle Museum so that goes on the list. Their is no way we'll get to see everything on her list no mater where in Arizona we go so we'll miss a few things along the way and put them on the "next time" list. Thanks for the tip on monsoon season, I know it winds down in September but I'm coming prepared just in case. |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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Originally Posted By captain127: My region ( Prescott Prescott Valley and surrounding communities) have some nice things too. Sharlot hall museum in Prescott, the Prescott western art museum, what used to be called the Smoki Indian museum now “the museum of indigenous peoples” We also have montezuma wells and castle near camp verde, Jerome mining museum, and more. I have lived here now 11+ years and haven’t been able to hit everything yet We did Montezuma Wells and Castle last time we were out that way, was in the Prescott Area too last time. I'll put the mining museum on the list too, Sedona makes the list too, wife wants to do one of those jeep tours. |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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Originally Posted By armoredman: Top suggestions are already done, Pima Air and Space Museum and the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum, and the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum is a must see if you want to know more about Arizona. If you are going up in to the Phoenix Valley area, there are a few places, some local eatieries like the AZ chain Chompies, The Persian Room, Capital Grille, and the weirdly named but great food The Gladly. Also, a museum you have never heard of that my wife dragged me to years ago. I KNEW i was going to be bored out of my mind...and I was wrong, fascinating place, up on the north side of the Valley, the International Musical Instrument Museum. But between TuCSon, (get it right, please, ), and Up North is the one and only Biosphere II, a very interesting place indeed. When you leave there you turn right and a few miles down the road is the Riot diner, the tiniest little food shack you ever saw with some DAMN fine chow. Then on your way north, go to Flagstaff and visit the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered. Take the nighttime tour, it is WORTH it, then dine at Black Barts Steakhouse, where the NAU students working there burst into song and dance all through the night. Grand Canyon, big hole in the ground, really overpriced knickknacks...*yawn*... Welcome to Arizona. Yes all the top suggestions are covered, We'll be staying in Scottsdale to start and be going up and down the Interstate for sure along with plenty of secondary roads. I'll make sure she sees these replys |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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As others have previously commented; Tucson Area: Pima Air and Space Museum, Titan Missile Silo Museum, Desert Sonoran Museum (really a desert animal zoo, but pretty cool), Kartchner Caverns State Park (if you like caves). Tucson has great Mexican food, but the roads are absolute shit *the big dem stronghold in AZ, so they spend their money on giving free needles to junkies instead of fixing infrastructure. Phoenix Area: Phoenix Zoo, plenty of good gun shops (Scottsdale Gun Club, Scottsdale Tactical, etc), Arizona Diamondbacks baseball (Marlins and Yankees are in town during your dates) Sedona AZ is beautiful, and Oak Creek Canyon is a great drive. Jerome AZ is nearby and is a cool old school AZ mining town (Haunted Hamburger is a great lunch spot). If you ride a motorcycle, Oak Creek Canyon and Jerome will make you wish you had yours for a ride. Flagstaff AZ is home to Norther Arizona University, as well as Route 66, and if you are stopping during the night time hours I would check out Lowell Observatory (discovered Pluto, no big deal...) Everyone thinks that AZ is just one big desert, but we are home to the largest Ponderosa Pine Tree forest in the world. Northern AZ is amazing. |
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Originally Posted By armoredman: I would add if you plan on doing any hiking/extensive walking, it is still hot in September. The desert has her own beauty, but if you turn your back on her, she will kill you without hesitation. Enjoy! Spinal stenosis and 5 degenerative lower disks in my back pretty much eliminates extensive walking, I know what the desert can do we'll have plenty of water with us. Appreciate the heads up. |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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Originally Posted By Will220: Spinal stenosis and 5 degenerative lower disks in my back pretty much eliminates extensive walking, I know what the desert can do we'll have plenty of water with us. Appreciate the heads up. If you haven't previously visited Pima Air & Space, it's a large museum. Five hangars, the Aerospace Gallery, the 390th Memorial Museum, and about 80 acres of outdoor displays. Pima does have tram tours of the outdoor displays, runs about 45 minutes, inquire at the front when getting your tickets. The Military Vehicle Museum is much smaller. TMVM also has a ride & drive experience, but it won't start back up until 1 Oct (Sep is still hot hours). Speaking of hours, both have reduced hours during the hot season which runs through Sep. Pima 9 - 3, last admission 1:30pm. TMVM 9 - 3, last admission 2pm. Both have areas for sitting indoors and out. TMVM has a snack bar next to the gift shop/ front desk. Pima has a gift shop and the Flight Grill (it is a bit pricey). Websites for anyone who doesn't have them: https://pimaair.org/ https://www.390th.org/ https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/ |
"Everybody's going nowhere slowly, they're only fighting for a chance to be last."
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I made a few Points of Interest maps a few years ago.. some crossover. But there might be some things on there you have not seen that could be of interest. Google Map AZ POI Google Map Grand Canyon area POI |
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The best Pink Jeep tour is the Broken Arrow route. It’s what all the 4x4 stuff they advertise. It’s also pricey. They also bundle it with a rim route which is nice but really bumpy with no rock climbing. Drive up 89A, oak creek canyon, to Flagstaff. The Rirdon Mansion State Park tour is cool if like history stuff. Take 89 north to the Grand Canyon and use the east entrance. Then you can take the loop road through Sunset Crater and Wupitaki National Monuments. Nice scenic drive, some hiking if you want and I’ve never driven it without seeing deer, or elk or pronghorn along the way. After Monument Valley consider driving SE and seeing Canyon de Chelly. I’m not a big fan of tours but both of these spots are better seen and experienced. In Chelly they use an old 8 wheel military vehicle to drive through the river. I really like driving through Chelly instead of just look down into the Grand. Then you can comeback via Holbrook or Winslow and Payson to the east valley. |
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Originally Posted By jsmurphy62: South Rim is having all kinds of problems due to the flash flood down near Phantom Saturday. It took out the water pipe that supplies the area. Best check with NPS before going there.  Saw that in the news here, will double check before we go. |
My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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Originally Posted By winmagbill: The best Pink Jeep tour is the Broken Arrow route. It’s what all the 4x4 stuff they advertise. It’s also pricey. They also bundle it with a rim route which is nice but really bumpy with no rock climbing. Drive up 89A, oak creek canyon, to Flagstaff. The Rirdon Mansion State Park tour is cool if like history stuff. Take 89 north to the Grand Canyon and use the east entrance. Then you can take the loop road through Sunset Crater and Wupitaki National Monuments. Nice scenic drive, some hiking if you want and I’ve never driven it without seeing deer, or elk or pronghorn along the way. After Monument Valley consider driving SE and seeing Canyon de Chelly. I’m not a big fan of tours but both of these spots are better seen and experienced. In Chelly they use an old 8 wheel military vehicle to drive through the river. I really like driving through Chelly instead of just look down into the Grand. Then you can comeback via Holbrook or Winslow and Payson to the east valley. Will be doing more planning the next few days,,,thanks
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My wife says I'm totally useless..that's not true.. I can be used as a bad example
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Welcome to AZ. I moved to South Carolina in June, well, moved the spouse there, I am retiring in a few weeks, so will be there in a few weeks. Arizona has much to see, as has already been posted above. I live in Georgetown, maybe i will catch you on the HTF for SC. Have a great time. |
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. - Dwight D. Eisenhower
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If you are staying in Scottsdale, rent something in 4WD and go to 4 peaks. Most likely will not need the 4WD, but good to have if you do. You can drive to the top of the mountain in about 1 hour. Scenery changes from desert to decent sized pine trees. If there are no fire restrictions, you can even pull over and target shoot. Just don’t shoot the cacti. These are from across the street (sugar loaf mountain). 4 peaks is much prettier. Attached File Attached File Attached File |