You call yourself an Arizonan? By ADRIENNE FRANK
Get Out
June 19, 2003
Theres more to being an Arizonan than knowing what a monsoon is and understanding how invaluable window tinting is come summertime.
Weve compiled three to-do lists of Arizona attractions to chart your progress. Check it out and see how you stack up against these Arizona adventures.
To-do list for someone living here one year or less
So youre a newbie? Get acquainted with the Grand Canyon State by checking these 10 bad boys off your to-do list:
In this part of the country, Taco Bell simply doesnt constitute authentic Mexican cuisine. Thus, one of the first things newcomers need to do is locate a quality Mexican food restaurant. Among our faves is Rancho de Tia Rosa (3129 E. McKellips Road, Mesa, ). Not only does this east Mesa gem boast one of the best patios in the Valley, the menu including grilled salmon enchiladas and shrimp quesadillas is top-notch. For those who are new to the Valley but no strangers to spice, we suggest Los Dos Molinos (260 S. Alma School Road, Mesa, and 8646 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, ). The margaritas are fish bowl-size, the south-of-the-border vibe is kick-back and charming and the fare is hotter than your steering wheel in July.
Get a birds-eye view of the Valley atop Camelback Mountain (McDonald Drive and Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix, ). Even beginners will make quick work of the red sandstone cliffs, and for more experienced hikers, the park also offers two trickier summit trails.
Music is almost as essential as good Mexican food. Whether you crave country, rap, rock or the oldies, check out the Valleys tastiest place for new and used CDs, Zia Record Exchange (105 W. University Drive, Tempe, ). Located just a hop, skip and a jump from the ASU campus, Zia is the place to indulge in music, from local artists to TRL chart-toppers to the utterly obscure.
You cannot, in good conscience, call yourself an Arizonan until youve visited the Grand Canyon (located 250 miles north of the Valley, ). Encompassing 277 breathtaking miles of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, the Canyon is awe-inspiring the first time around, and even more so during the second, third and fourth go-rounds.
Youll also want to check out Bank One Ballpark (401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, ), home to the 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks. Boasting a nifty retractable roof and a swimming pool (which can be rented out for a cool $5,500 per game), BOB is as much a star as Luis Gonzalez or Randy Johnson.
By now you shouldve begun to explore the local music scene and check out a few of our homegrown musicians. Our fave? Mesa boys Jimmy Eat World (www.jimmyeatworld.net). Though the band frontman Jim Adkins, guitarist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind has been making beautiful music together for nearly a decade, the release of 2001s self-titled disc, which spawned such hits as Sweetness and The Middle, truly catapulted them into the national spotlight. JEW has played such venues as Nitas Hideaway in Tempe and Mesa Amphitheatre.
When settling into a new city, locating a neighborhood pizza joint is a priority. Thank goodness for Oreganos Pizza Bistro (www.oreganos.com). Boasting four Valley locations, this quaint eatery serves up tasty thin-crust pies, huge salads and the best dessert in town, the Original Pizza Cookie. The sweet treat features a half-pound of chocolate chip or white chocolate macadamia nut cookie dough, slightly baked and topped with vanilla bean ice cream.
When it comes to books, Barnes & Noble will do. But if you prefer a bit of ambience and charm with your literature, look to Changing Hands Bookstore (6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe, ). The south Tempe store offers new and used books (trade is welcomed), stationery and greeting cards and must-have artsy knickknacks. The store is also connected to Wildflower Bread Company, so you can enjoy coffee and a fresh-baked muffin with your new books.
Forget San Diego or Rocky Point, Sedona (located 125 miles north of the Valley, ) is the perfect first-year road trip. Land of red rocks and crystals, Sedona is home to lots of art galleries and Southwestern-themed shops selling everything from jewelry to furniture to pottery. Two of the tastiest Sedona stops are the Sedona Fudge Company (the Rock Slide fudge a mix of chocolate and vanilla is the best) and nearby sandwich shop Sedona Memories. And afterward, you can burn off all those fudge calories at Slide Rock or by exploring nearby Oak Creek Canyon.
When it comes to Valley nightlife, Dos Gringos (216 E. University Drive, Tempe, and 4209 N. Craftsman Court, Scottsdale, ) is a consistent crowd-pleaser. Serving up cheap Coronas (with lime, of course), equally inexpensive Mexican eats and a festive outdoor feel, Dos Gringos is the favorite hangout of college students and professionals alike.
To-do list for someone living here five years
By now youve had five years to settle in, get acclimated and do a little exploring. If you havent checked these 10 off your to-do list yet, you best get crackin :
Even if you didnt attend ASU, by now you should be a Sun Devil fan. And as such, shame on you if youve not yet attended an ASU/U of A football game (www.thesundevils.com). The matchup, always held the day after Thanksgiving, is usually one of the best games of the year, with Devils and Wildcats fans turning out in full force to cheer on their teams. This years game is slated for Nov. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.
Theres no better way to cool off during a scorching Arizona summer than by tubing the Salt River (located 15 miles north of U.S. 60 on Power Road, ). Tubers can choose from two-, three- and five-hour adventures down the river, which is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Enjoy a juicy steak and chew on a piece of East Valley history at Montis La Casa Vieja (1 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, ). Located just south of Tempe Town Lake, the restaurant originally constructed by the Haydens in 1871 is actually the oldest continuously occupied structure in the Valley. Old photos and newspaper articles line the walls of the restaurant, which serves steaks, burgers and the best Roman bread in town.
Sure, youve done the D-Backs, but how bout the Cactus League (www.cactus-league.com)? The league includes 12 teams, four of which play in our corner of the Valley the Anaheim Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Chicago Cubs at Mesas HoHoKam Park, the Oakland Athletics at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Spring training runs through March every year.
Youve lived in Arizona for five years; isnt it about time you got on a horse? Head to OK Corral Stables (North Tomahawk Road, Apache Junction, ). The stable, the oldest pack station in the Superstition Mountains, offers one-, two- and four-hour horseback trail rides and, for those particularly adventurous types, one- to five-day camping trips. During the summer (May through October), riders can opt for an excursion on the Mogollon Rim near Payson, or they can tour the Superstition wilderness near Apache Junction.
The Valley hosts its share of festivals. Among the biggest and best are the Mill Avenue Festival of the Arts (www.millavenue.org), featuring works from hundreds of artists from across the country, and the Scottsdale Culinary Festival (www.scottsdaleculinary festival.org), featuring cooking demonstrations, a huge beer garden and the Great Arizona Picnic, at which folks can sample food from some of the areas top restaurants. Next years Culinary Festival is slated for April 16-18 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, while the next Festival of the Arts (its held twice each year) will be Dec. 5-7 in downtown Tempe.
Lake Havasu (located 200 miles northwest of the Valley, ) isnt just for thong-wearing spring breakers. Home to the world-famous London Bridge, Havasu boasts more than 400 miles of coastline and more than 300 days of sunshine each year, making it one of the top weekend destinations for Valley residents. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, fishing, houseboating, camping and water sports.
By now, you shouldve discovered the joys of Long Wongs (701 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, ). The Mill Avenue hole in the wall is the place for wings, beer and live music, regularly hosting such local favorites as the Pistoleros, Haggis and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers. And did we mention the wings? Priced at $5.25 per dozen and $26.25 per bucket (bring your appetite), the wings available in mild, medium, hot, suicide, BBQ and honey barbecue are among the best our fair state has to offer.
Laugh it up at the Improv (930 E. University Drive, Tempe, ). As one of the countrys premier comedy clubs, the Improv has hosted such funny folks as Jerry Seinfeld and David Spade; upcoming performers include Brian Regan Thursday through Sunday and Bill Bellamy June 26-29.
You may not have ever been to the Fiesta Bowl, but after five years, you shouldve checked out the Fiesta Bowl Block Party (www.tostitosfiestabowl. com) at least once or twice. The party, held along Tempes Mill Avenue, from University Drive to Rio Salado Parkway, is consistently named among USA Todays top 10 places to ring in the new year. Festivities include beer gardens, food vendors and plenty of music; previous headliners have included the Goo Goo Dolls, Sugar Ray, the Go-Gos and the Valleys own Gin Blossoms.
To-do list for someone living here 10 years
Youve lived here a decade youre almost a native! So shame on you if you havent checked the following off your to-do list:
By this point, youve probably visited the Grand Canyon more times than you care to remember. But, have you ever rafted the canyon? Check out Adventure Bound (www.raft-colorado.com or ), which has offered professionally guided white-water rafting trips for more than 40 years. Thrill seekers can choose from one- to seven-day adventures on the Colorado River.
By now you should've discovered there's more to Sedona than American Indian jewelry and the world's only teal-arched McDonald's. Sedona Jazz on the Rocks (www.sedonajazz.com or ) attracts nearly 8,000 music fans each year. Proceeds from the several-days-long festival, set against Sedona's red rocks, benefit music education programs throughout the state. This year's 22nd annual festival is slated for Sept. 25-28.
Former mining town Jerome (located 125 miles north of the Valley, ) isn't as roarin' as it once was in the 1920s. Nonetheless, the artsy community nestled on a hill is still one cool, colorful Arizona destination. Now home to quaint cafes, cozy bars, galleries and specialty art shops, Jerome just two hours outside of the Valley is the perfect day trip.
Some burgers are just worth the trek. Sister steakhouses Greasewood Flat and Reata Pass (27500 N. Alma School Parkway, Scottsdale, ) are anything but fancy, but the grub is good and the folks friendly. City slickers can enjoy their vittles burgers, hot dogs and the like under the stars on picnic tables, nestled underneath old shade trees. And if the crowds on a Saturday night are any indication, the secret's already out about this gem of a cowboy hangout.
After a decade in the Valley, it's not enough that you've been on a horse or two. It's time to take your four-legged adventure to the next level a weekend visit to a dude ranch. Arizona is home to more than a dozen dude ranches, where city dwellers can trade in their suits for chaps and mingle with cattle. Ranches vary from the very rural to the resort-style. For more information on all of the state's ranches, check out the Arizona Dude Ranch Association's Web site (www.azdra.com).
Explore Arizona's rich American Indian history at Canyon de Chelly National Monument (www.nps.gov/cach or ). Featuring ruins of Indian villages built between A.D. 350 and 1300, Canyon de Chelly offers visitors a glimpse of how the earliest basket makers once lived. Visitors can camp and hike throughout the monument.
Check out Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Cactus Road, Scottsdale, ). Built in 1937, the architect's home and studio nestled near the McDowell Mountains is open for tours daily. And while the bedrooms, kitchen and dining room aren't open to visitors, tourists can sneak a peek of Wright's office, the music pavilion and the cabaret cinema. Tours range from the hourlong panorama tour to the two-hour twilight tour.
Chill out at the Rhythm Room (1019 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, ). The Valley's premier blues and roots club regularly hosts national acts and such local favorites as Big Pete Pearson and Hans Olson. Owned by harmonica great Bob Corritore, this tiny gem is among the Valley's best live music venues, though don't feel bad if it takes you a while to unearth it.
Even if youre not a golfer, you have to check out the Phoenix Open at least once (www.phoenixopen.com). The PGA Tour tourney known for being one heckuva party is held every January at the Tournament Players Club in Scottsdale. Next years event is slated for Jan. 26 through Feb. 1.
You've lived here for a decade, so you've gotta know the best place to beat the summer heat is Lake Powell. Located near Page, in the northernmost part of the state, Powell with its spectacular red rocks, sandy beaches and perfect blue-green water is the perfect place for houseboating. Check out the lake's Web site (www.lakepowell.com) for rates, which start at $1,075 for three days.
Only here for a weekend?
Sure, the Grand Canyon will dazzle your out-of-town guests. But you dont have to venture 250 miles north of the Valley to find tourist-worthy sites.
Heres our to-do list for visitors only in town for a weekend:
Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, ). Majestic saguaros and other desert flora await visitors at this tourist favorite.
Goldfield Ghost Town (4650 E. Mammoth Mine Road, Apache Junction, ). Pan for gold, enjoy a steak and do a little shopping at this Old West-themed spot.
Heard Museum (2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, ). Enjoy American Indian pottery, baskets and other Southwestern art at this nationally recognized museum.
Phoenix Art Museum (1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, ). The permanent collection includes more than 17,000 works from such masters as Monet and Picasso.
Pinnacle Peak Patio Steakhouse (10426 E. Jomax Road, Scottsdale, ). This casual steakhouse has a no-necktie policy; come in wearing one and it'll be cut off and tacked to the wall.
Rawhide Wild West Town (23023 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, ). In addition to galleries, games and musical entertainment, Rawhide offers sundown cookouts under the stars.
Rustlers Rooste (7777 S. Pointe Parkway West, Phoenix, ). Rattlesnake and prickly pear margaritas are on the menu at this fun Pointe South Mountain resort steakhouse.
Scottsdale ArtWalk (Main Street and Marshall Way, Scottsdale, ). Every Thursday evening, the galleries in Scottsdales Old Town district stay open late for art lovers.
South Mountain (Central Avenue and Baseline Road, Phoenix, ). The city lights below are amazing from atop the mountain, which is open nightly.
Tortilla Flat (18 miles northeast of Apache Junction on Highway 88, ). This town of two features a steakhouse where visitors sign $1 bills and tack them to the wall.
