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Spring Training tips

  Long time reader, first time poster.  I live in Texas and will be visiting the Cactus league for the first time.  I'd love to hear any tips about places to visit in Phx and Tuscon, how accessible the players are for autographs/etc before games (if at all), how bad is the traffic to get to the games (for example, going from near the airport to Scottsdale, Mesa, etc), and anything else that might be helpful.
  Thanks!

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Welcome Recon!
The Republic has a good overview here. Places to visit in Phoenix? Er...must confess, I'm always a bit stuck when guests come to visit: most of the really cool stuff is north of the city. Flagstaff, Sedona and the Grand Canyon are all worth seeing.

Old-town Scottsdale is worth a wander around, and you can do so before going to a game at the stadium. I'd also take in the Body Worlds exhibition at the Science Center; I saw it back in 2002 in London, and it was fascinatingly creepy. Or maybe creepily fascinating, I'm not sure. ;-) We always take overseas visitors to Rawhide, and feed them deep-fried rattlesnake, but if you're from Texas, you probably have had your share of pseudo-Western kitsch!

Tucson, I've only ever been to for baseball, wrestling and the Gem Show, so I can't really comment on its delights. It seems, if anything, to have less to offer than Phoenix, but hopefully a local will provide more useful info. Traffic in Phoenix is generally not bad, given the size of the city, but rush-hour can certainly get a bit messy, and is best avoided if possible.

With regard to getting autographs, I believe it may be easier at the practice sessions, than before a game. Here's the info on those. If I think of anything else, I'll add it: hopefully others will chip in with hints and tips too.

by Jim McLennan on Feb 21, 2007 8:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Tucson
I lived there for a year.  There's nothing to do there except go up to Mt. Lemon.  It was awesome before it burned.

The aircraft museum is ok, if you like that sort of thing.  They may still have a SR-71.

by nihil67 on Feb 22, 2007 10:12 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Tucson
I grew up in Tucson and then lived in the Valley for 3 years.  Tucson has some of the best hiking in the state  (Picacho Peak is also a great place to hike).  Catalina Park, Huachuca Mountains, Rincon Mountains, Santa Catalina, and Santa Rita all have great hikes.  Old Tucson is a great place if you are a fan of Westerns, and the Desert Sonoran museum is fantastic.  If you like art, Tucson is home of a fairly large art community and there are various pockets around town with great art shops.

If you have the time, check out Sedona and the Grand Canyon as well -- you won't be disappointed.

by johngordonma on Feb 22, 2007 11:23 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Old Tucson
Burned down too.  Someone is trying to tell Tucson something :)

by nihil67 on Feb 22, 2007 11:26 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I lived in Tucson briefly....
and agree with everything John said. I especially like the Az Sonora Desert Museum - understated, 100% Arizona, the antithesis of Disneyfied megazoos (ie San Diego).

Another cool, utterly unique place is Kartchner Caverns , south of the city. The park rangers can be overbearing but the caves are world class and worth a special trip, IMO. Tours run about 20 bucks per head. Have fun!

 -- Matt

by Diamondhacks on Feb 22, 2007 5:34 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Caverns
Kartchner Cavers are definitely one of the most underappreciated/undervisited wonders of the state.

by johngordonma on Feb 23, 2007 8:28 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

But It's a DRY Heat...
AZ can be deceptively hot, even in March: one of the worst sunburns I ever had was got at a Spring Training game in Scottsdale, after I forgot my SPF40. Use the lotion, drink lots of water, and wear a cap, even if you don't feel it's really necessary.

by Jim McLennan on Feb 22, 2007 12:11 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Thanks
  Thanks guys, I appreciate the info and tips!

by Recon on Feb 22, 2007 2:15 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Sonoita Wineries and Tombstone
Sonoita was the bomb. A very SMALL town, but there are wineries nearby and then Tombstone is pretty interesting. You can do both those and Kartchner Caverns in one day, they are all in the same general area.
http://azsportshub.com

by bobman024 on Feb 23, 2007 4:54 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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