How fun, Beth. Don't you wish WE were going back there? Obviously, YOU can tell them about Tucson. As for other parts... here are a few things I know:
First, please tell your friends that it can be very cold in the
Grand Canyon area in March, snow is a real possibility and the North rim will be closed until mid-May. For example:
temperature in Grand Canyon, March 15, 2004
The later they can delay their trip to the Canyon, the happier they might be. If they are looking for lodging there and their preferred date is unavailable, it is often possible to find a cancellation. It takes some diligence, but the M.O. is to call every morning at 8am (reservations desk time) to see what is available. The clerks know that some folks will do this and are often helpful. Truly, to wake up and see the canyon as it is hit by morning light is not to be missed. The only way you can do that is by staying there.
Below the canyon towards the west is a place I have always wanted to go. It is remote, it is not open 'til April 1st, but it is said to be life-changingly fabulous.
http://www.kaibab.org/gc/supai/gc_supai.htm
While in the Phoenix area, if they don't care for giant & impersonal hotels, they may be interested in a great little place in Scottsdale where we stayed a couple of years ago... inexpensive, unasssuming, small place, big rooms & cute, run by a gay couple. Hmmm, wonder if I can find it again. The best Mexican food we found (and we looked hard) was at a take-out place across the street.
Going to the Biltmore for breakfast on the patio is wonderful fun. Very posh and not nearly as expensive as going there for dinner. After breakfast it is OK to stroll around the grounds & public lobbies.
Taliesin West is definitely worth a visit. We took the longer tour -- expensive -- but it was great to see behind the scenes. The mid-morning snack, however, led us to quote from Abraham Lincoln, "If this is coffee, bring me tea. If this is tea, bring me coffee." Maybe they're better now.
Quote:Mondays and Thursdays only: 9 am. Cost: $45 per person. (Reservations requested, but not required.) For travelers interested in an in-depth, intimate look at Taliesin West, this exclusive experience is a must. Visitors talk with Wright associates, have mid-morning refreshments in the colorful Taliesin Fellowship dining room, visit all the spots on the Insights Tour--plus walk to the historic Sun Cottage or another unique desert site--all with ample time to take photographs and ask questions.
My mother-in-law was a docent at the Desert Botanical Gardens (the DBG) in Phx, so I have to recommend that place. If they have any interest in the flora (& fauna) of the desert, it is a good place to see & has a great gift shop.
Most visitors to Phoenix know to go to the
Heard Museum, one of my favorite spots, but far fewer know about the
Pueblo Grande park. That place offers a very interesting education about the original inhabitants of the "Valley of the Sun." Shocking, really, to understand that it used to be a riverine habitat.
Do they golf? Readily available around Phoenix -- the best place used to be "The Boulders" but that could have changed. Are they interested in baseball? I'm pretty sure that spring training will be in full "swing." It is a way to get up-close & personal to baseball stars.
Are they willing to travel very far? Do they love birding? We spent some time at the
Ramsey Canyon Preserve & Inn south of Sierra Vista and recommend that, but it is a full day's drive from Phoenix. Some of our best birding was outside the preserve along the river, but the folks there can tell them about that and offer guided trips if they wish. If they are interested in wild west history,
Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista (if it is open) was one of the original army cavalry posts.
Quote:The fascinating history of the U.S. Army in the Southwest, as well as the history of the Southwest itself, unfolds at the Fort Huachuca Historical Museum. Opened in 1960, the museum has grown rapidly and now houses one of the most representative collections in the state. The museum is one of some 500 in the country to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Its goals have remained unchanged. Simply said, the Fort Huachuca Historical Museum endeavors to bring to the military community and general public a heightened awareness of, and an increased appreciation for, the colorful history of the Southwest and, especially, the prominent part played by the U.S. Army.
The exhibits are instructive, entertaining, and aesthetically satisfying. Some of the U.S. Army manuscripts and documents, dating back as far as 1861, can tell the viewer a great deal about the way of life on a rugged frontier.
The museum, in building 41401, is open to the public without charge. Civilian visitors are welcome. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. A leisurely walk through the museum has proven to be an enriching and stimulating experience for the thousands of guests who visit each month.
There are a few towns to the east of Sierra Vista, (very few) -- but if they go there, they might want to see them. Tombstone is way too touristy for me and I'd give it a miss, but
Bisbee supposed to be arty & fun. I remember someone talking about another town there too, also arty, but I can't remember the name.
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