I'll be visiting Phoenix in mid-July and wife thought it'd be a good idea to leave me unsupervised for two days.



I've already decided I'm bringing an AR with me and a pistol, where to should I go shoot?



Also, looking for dining suggestions, I'm assuming I can get some good mexican or tex/mex, any recommendations on where I should dine?



Other than that, I plan on sitting by the pool and drinking...so not really interested in seeing any holes in the desert



I already planned on going to TheWilderness and buying a belt, maybe some other gear and going to SGC, any other places I should go?



Thanks

BOBBY-Qs

Mid July?  You're in for a treat my friend, it's going to be hot.  Take lots of water wherever you go.

BOBBY-QS

If you like craft beer & micro-brews I would hit up Papago Brewing in Scottsdale. The Orange Blossom & Coconut Joe are my favorite beers on the planet, and you can only get them on tap there. Food is pretty good as well. papagobrewing.com

Hit up Barrio Queen in Old Town Scottsdale or the original Barrio Cafe in downtown Phoenix. SGC is great to shoot at, some say the staff is a little stuck up but the range is great and you can program the targets to automatically turn on a timer or program.

If you are planning on shooting in the open desert, plan on going really early and not being out too long. July is a little on the toasty side here, so lots of water and/or gatorade.

I like to shoot at Rio Salado out in east Mesa, it has steel targets at 200 and 300 yards, nice to hear that ping when you hit it.

There's very few spots to shoot in the desert right now with the fire restrictions.

the wife and I like these Mexican places:

Ta'Carbon #1 - really good "taco truck" (so the wife says) tacos: http://www.yelp.com/biz/tacarbon-1-glendale

Popo's Fiesta Del Sol - we usually go to the one in Glendale (59th ave and Bell), depends where you'll be staying: http://www.yelp.com/biz/popos-fiesta-del-sol-phoenix
We really like their shrimp and carnitas taco's, other stuff is pretty good too.

La Perla Cafe - they've been around since 1946. Love their lengua plate. They also have really good horchata, though they may or may not refill for free: http://www.yelp.com/biz/la-perla-cafe-glendale

Manuel's Mexican Restaurant - we normally go to the 7th st and Bell location, but there are others. LOVE their hot salsa they give you for free. Fish tacos, tamales, and this shrimp dish (can't remember name) are also really good: http://www.yelp.com/biz/manuels-mexican-restaurant-phoenix-4

Hope this helps...these are the ones we frequent more often than others.

Quoted for truth!

Best bbq in phoenix

Do yourself a favor and heed the advise of others....Do Scottsdale Gun Club if you have to shoot. If you go out in the desert, you will have to be at the shooting spot at sunrise and you may have just a few hours before the heat stops the fun...It will most likely already be about 100 degrees outside....Bring lots of water and drink before you go...you dry out fast out here. If Sat night is free 6pm to about 9-10pm, there is a weekly car meet at the McDonald's at Indian BEND Rd, not School and the 101 freeway...a lot of cool rods to look at. Try out a Carne Asada burrito at Filiberto's just next to McDonald's....excellent  Mexican style fast food burritos. You can't treat all Filiberto's the same...some are good and others are bad...This one is excellent...Try the green chile or red chile sauce...A little bite but not bad with either....Enjoy your stay.

Thanks for the suggestions and advice, you've mentioned shooting in the desert and it has me intrigued



Any suggestions on how to do that will be appreciated



Thanks

If you haven't been to Arizona before then you have probably never had excellent Mexican food. I've been all over and no one makes it as good as they can make it here. I think my favorite right now is the Manuels on 7th st and Bell.



All around food I like Bobby Q's on the I-17 and Dunlap. Both of those suggestions are actually in Phoenix.



I think firebans are up right now so I dont know if you can go desert shooting. Ben Avery has lots of shooting sports though through out the week, if you have never done any of those they are really fun.

Here is a list of good eats:

Cibo Pizza in Phoenix - Very tasty and more room to sit than Pizza Bianco.  It is a fancy pizza joint, so a tad pricey, but very nice food.
Nando's Mexican food in Chandler or Gilbert - Excellent service (owners are on site), excellent food (they make real beans, not from mix or cans).
Haji Baba Mediterranean food in Tempe - Great food that is cheap.  The place is nothing to look at, but the food is as good as any.  I love it and will eat there any chance I get.
Filibertos is a step above fast food and a step below a sit down Mexican food place.  Good inexpensive Mexican.  But there are a lot of locations and not all are equal as mentioned above.
El Taco Tote, a great, inexpensive taco shop.  I haven't eaten at the Phoenix one, but loved the Mesa one (which closed).  So I put a slight disclaimer on it.  A step above Filibertos, a step down from Nando's.

If you wife is heading up to the Grand Canyon, have them drop you off in Prescott.  It is cooler than Phoenix and a pretty nice place to hang out.  I absolutely recommend the 89A from Prescott, through Jerome, through Sodona and finally to Flagstaff.  That is about as nice a drive as it gets.  I grew up in Hawai'i, have driven the PCH 1 from Mexico to Canada (up and down) and just got back from Alaska.  And I will again say, it is as nice a drive as it gets.

Carolina's Mexican Food ( in da gheeeetooooo) But awesome.. Same thing with Lolo's Chicken and Waffles ( although there is a location in South Scottsdale now)

Not since Rudy's opened on Chandler Blvd & I-10!

Not even close...Waldo's BBQ blows the doors off Rudy's....Honey Bears is way better also.