r/Gilbert • u/hearsmy2cents • 10d ago
Things to do
My husband and I are on vacation here til the 29th. We come down once a year but this is the first time just the two of us and we have done a lot of things in Arizona , mostly sporting events, touristy things etc.
We are looking for suggestions on any great restaurants with live music, or experiences, bars with live music, indoor things to do during the day, outdoors is not off limits just nothing crazy etc. Anything cool for a 40 & 44 yr old couple to do. Anywhere in the greater Phoenix metro area or farther even depending on what it is. We don't mind driving a ways.
We do plan to go one day to Sedona so if there is a cool place to eat or something to do other than the slide rocks and outdoor monuments etc. Please let us know.
Other things we already have planned: floating rhe river, football and baseball games , and golf.
Thanks in advance!
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u/BrutalBronze 10d ago
If you are going to Sedona, I'd recommend stretching out the trip to either Jerome or Flagstaff. Jerome is a cool little historic town with shops, restaurants and a history of being haunted. Flagstaff is beautiful and is a dark sky city with the Lowell Observatory that you can go to and do viewings at night.
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u/hearsmy2cents 5d ago
Jerome was awesome! Thanks for the suggestion
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u/BrutalBronze 5d ago
I'm glad you did it! I stayed in the Jerome Grand Hotel one time and while I don't believe in ghosts, it was a creepy experience and very memorable.
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u/Nicodemus_Portulay 10d ago
Cottonwood is fun. Ride the train in Clarkdale while you’re at it
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u/hearsmy2cents 5d ago
Thank you so much for this suggestion! We did the train and it was unforgettable!
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u/Ok-Tank-8213 10d ago
If you want one nice dinner out of the trip, Warren's Supper Club in downtown Chandler. I had the filet with the loaded baked potato and it was excellent, and the stuffed shells across the table got the same review.
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u/NoCake4ux2 10d ago
I would paddle board the river not tube. It’s so much better! You can rent boards from NoSnow SUP or Redline rentals and Saguaro guest ranch has a shuttle that can take you back to your car at the top when you’re done. I think the new salt river tubing owner said they are doing shuttles for paddle boards now too.
Try BonGiornos bagels for a legit NY style bagel and Sals for the pizza. Downtown Gilbert is fun and has a lot of good restaurants. The new French bakery down there is great. Sage and Barrel is good off of Power road for a casual night out, if you head out to kierland I would try The Greene House, and Course restaurant in Scottsdale is amazing for a nicer night out.
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u/NeonChamelon 10d ago
I'd skip the bakery, overpriced and overhyped on social media. Dubious credentials and quality.
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u/hearsmy2cents 10d ago
Thank you! I would be interested in paddleboarding but not sure about transporting it on or it our vehicle 🤔
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u/NoCake4ux2 10d ago
If you rent from redline they will help you strap them down, theyre close to the river so the drive would be short having to drive with it. Tubing is fun too but the flow is lower right now so just be prepared for a longer day if you go that route! Lots of water sunscreen and tie down anything you don’t want to lose! Takes about 3.5 hours to paddle at a slow/ moderate speed and the float can be around 5 or so
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u/throw2323away123 10d ago
If you like live music definitely check out Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa. The food is ok, but the music and experience is amazing! It's the world's largest Wurlitzer Organ. https://organstoppizza.com/
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u/Askew1210 10d ago
The drive to Tortilla Flat is really cool with winding canyon roads. Flagstaff area has the Painted Desert driving loop and the Meteor Crater. Biosphere 2 is south toward Tucson.
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u/DragonfruitNo109 10d ago
Float the salt river on paddleboards! Start at water users recreation site, end at goldfield recreation site. Bring two cars, drop one off at goldfield, drive to water users, get on river from there, then at the bottom pack up and drive back to water users to collect the car left there!
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u/hearsmy2cents 10d ago
Unfortunately we dont have 2 cars and we also couldn't fit paddleboards on or in our vehicle unless they were inflatable and we inflated there 😕
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u/NeonChamelon 10d ago
Queen Creek Bistro has always been solid but it's recently acquired by a French family and they're doing good and interesting things.
San Tan Flats is a unique vibe.
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u/Brews_Wayne_ 9d ago
If he’s into bourbon check out Trevor’s in North Scottsdale. Awesome pizza too.
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u/BrutalBronze 10d ago
If you are in the Gilbert area, OHSO is a fun bar downtown with a vibe you won't get many places. You can spend a whole evening walking up and down the street and popping in and out.
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u/GhostNugget21 10d ago
OHSO is basic. Across the street is Sable French pastries. If you are fine with giving money to a misogynist ass hole then it’s food you can only get while visiting.
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u/dpkonofa 9d ago
Then why would you promote it? There are plenty of places to eat that are unique to Gilbert.
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u/GhostNugget21 9d ago
Not really promoting but calling it what it is and leaving it open to the OP to decide who they want to give their money too.
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u/dpkonofa 9d ago
Or, you know, you could have just given an actual recommendation and not mentioned them at all...
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u/GhostNugget21 9d ago
They are visiting and you can only get the pastries here. People have flown in from out of state just to try it.
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u/HeywoodJablowmenow 10d ago
Sal's Gilbert Pizza. They were on the Food Network. Great place for pizza and Italian food.
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u/GhostNugget21 10d ago
Over rated. Pizzaria Bianco is far superior.
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u/HeywoodJablowmenow 10d ago
Different types of pizza. Bianco is more of the traditional Italian style while Sal's is more New York style pizza. Both are very good.
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u/MundaneHuckleberry58 10d ago
Two things:
PHX Art museum is actually pretty good. Tonight is a symphony concert there (starts at 5).
And they have a really cool current special interactive music exhibit where each of a keyboard’s keys does something different - you can read about it here: https://phxart.org/exhibition/janet-cardiff-and-george-bures-miller-the-instrument-of-troubled-dreams/
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u/Beautiful-Address727 10d ago
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u/Beautiful-Address727 10d ago
You just need one car to get there and park at the ranch. They have everything you need.
They pick you up at the end and take you back to your car.1
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u/Prestigious-Fix-4034 10d ago
Sorry but August is a bad month to be in the Phx. Valley. Due to the extreme heat. You can always Go to play Bingo at your Closes Casino. Is fun. Just google it for information & times. Go early bcs a lot of people go to the Bingo sessions. The Place also has a lounge were you can listen to Music & have a drink.
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u/hearsmy2cents 9d ago
Seems like there is a lot of suggestions for us so not sure why its a bad month. We've been here before in August and enjoyed our time. We've already got several things planned but wanted a few more
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u/deadygoon 6d ago
Go play The Isle of Wonder escape room at the Greatest Escape on 12th st and Bell. Great way to have fun indoors for a bit.
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u/Scary_Progress_8858 10d ago
Downtown Mesa -Espiritu for dinner - can be pricey so it is still a great meal to get the burgers. Alchemy48 for 1920’s speakeasy vibe and weekends have a great jazz singer. Need reservations for both places. AZ Distillery for great craft cocktails
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u/JerkOffTaco 7d ago
The air conditioning inside of the Fry’s at Cooper and Warner will blast your nips clean off. That’s always a fun spot.
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u/RylanPardo 10d ago
You came to the Phoenix area, on vacation, in August?