Posted: 6/29/2014 10:50:15 AM EDT
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Hello my fellow ARFcommers!
I'm Erick, from Indiana, and I must say, I love your beautiful state! I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could. I'm starting a new job on July 7, so I'm treating myself to a last minute trip to AZ. I see its going to be around 110 degrees everyday. I know one day I'm meeting a buddy at Ben Avery Shooting range, and I had planned to spend a day with family in Tucson, but they are on vacation...(this was a very last minute trip...I accepted the job offer Friday, and made reservations yesterday, so not much time to do the typical planning...) Anyway, I will be staying in Fountain Hills, AZ and plan to soak up as much of everything as I can before I have to return home to plains ville. Do any of you have any suggestions of things/places that I should hit while I'm in town? Ideally, if time allows, I'd like to go on some trails and get some photos. I really wish I didn't have to come back to Indiana...Its nice but it sucks at the same time. I moved to Indiana from Illinois because of the freedom I enjoy with my guns, and the extremely cheap cost of living compared to Illinois but the winters are terrible. Any suggestions? |
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Go to Ben Avery early. Drink water.
If you're over in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale Gun Club is pretty close. Indoor, fancy, a little over priced and has rentable NFA items if you want to rock an MP5 or M240 Bravo. US Autoweapons is right next door. Before or after shooting I'd hit Habanero's for food. It's my favorite Mexican joint in the Valley and the family that runs it is really nice. Good success story. When they opened a few years ago it was Maria and her husband driving up to that location in a little white beater truck. They opened a second Scottsdale location last year I think. Try the special of the day.** If Mexican is not the way to go, K O'Donnells is next door. They give a 15% discount for SGC members and I don't think they ask for proof if you want to roll the dice on that. 
Bear Arms is east down Shea as the next closest gun store. Lost Dog Wash is near Fountain Hills. Good weekend trail. Lots of dog walkers. Gateway Loop is also in the area and has lots of smaller trails to romp on. A little farther north is Greasewood Flats. Supposed to be a good burger bar up there and more trails. Camelback is popular. I don't like it because it's crowded. The Mrs is tiny and usually gets shoved by some jackhole Bro or Bro-ette with their iPhone headphones in and no situational awareness. If you want to see a movie the Cine Capri is up on the 101 and Scottsdale Road. Lemme see what else I can think of... ** Disclaimer - I have an inordinate fondness for the place. Maria has remembered my birthday and given me free sopapillas several years running. |
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Quoted:
Go to Ben Avery early. Drink water. If you're over in Fountain Hills, Scottsdale Gun Club is pretty close. Indoor, fancy, a little over priced and has rentable NFA items if you want to rock an MP5 or M240 Bravo. US Autoweapons is right next door. Before or after shooting I'd hit Habanero's for food. It's my favorite Mexican joint in the Valley and the family that runs it is really nice. Good success story. When they opened a few years ago it was Maria and her husband driving up to that location in a little white beater truck. They opened a second Scottsdale location last year I think. Try the special of the day.** If Mexican is not the way to go, K O'Donnells is next door. They give a 15% discount for SGC members and I don't think they ask for proof if you want to roll the dice on that.
Bear Arms is east down Shea as the next closest gun store. Lost Dog Wash is near Fountain Hills. Good weekend trail. Lots of dog walkers. Gateway Loop is also in the area and has lots of smaller trails to romp on. A little farther north is Greasewood Flats. Supposed to be a good burger bar up there and more trails. Camelback is popular. I don't like it because it's crowded. The Mrs is tiny and usually gets shoved by some jackhole Bro or Bro-ette with their iPhone headphones in and no situational awareness. If you want to see a movie the Cine Capri is up on the 101 and Scottsdale Road. Lemme see what else I can think of... ** Disclaimer - I have an inordinate fondness for the place. Maria has remembered my birthday and given me free sopapillas several years running. Thanks bro! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE SGC! But at this juncture, I'd go broke if I walked in the door. Maybe I'll stop by and pick up some trinkets. But damn, that place is like my second home! When ammo was "cheap", I went there around 2006, and shot to my heart's content...then I got the credit card bill. That was hard to swallow! I fell in love with the scenery from the hotel, Inn at Eagle Mountain...absolutely breathtaking! |
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If you need another place to eat, I also recommend Pars over on FLW.
If you call ahead, you might be able to get a tour of Dillon. After 5 PM the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Friday and Sat. There are a couple cool exhibitions there right now. Page appears to be down at the moment. If you go to that, you're in Old Town and you can look at many commercial galleries filled with pictures of Indians looking sad, looking sad toward the sunset, looking sad while an eagle flies overhead, looking noble but sad while a wolf walks across the desert, sad on a horse, sad on foot, sad with a spear. Those are great if you're an 80 year old woman from Ontario who wants your winter home to look "Southwestern".  Rehab Burger Therapy is down in Old Town if you want a grilled PB&J hamburger. It's messy.
That's pretty much it for Scottsdale. I've lived here for about 8 years. It's a cross between a business park and a retirement home, so there's not a lot of cool stuff. Mesa and Tempe are usually where we head on the weekend. |
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Quoted:
If you need another place to eat, I also recommend Pars over on FLW. If you call ahead, you might be able to get a tour of Dillon. After 5 PM the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Friday and Sat. There are a couple cool exhibitions there right now. Page appears to be down at the moment. If you go to that, you're in Old Town and you can look at many commercial galleries filled with pictures of Indians looking sad, looking sad toward the sunset, looking sad while an eagle flies overhead, looking noble but sad while a wolf walks across the desert, sad on a horse, sad on foot, sad with a spear. Those are great if you're an 80 year old woman from Ontario who wants your winter home to look "Southwestern". Rehab Burger Therapy is down in Old Town if you want a grilled PB&J hamburger. It's messy.
That's pretty much it for Scottsdale. I've lived here for about 8 years. It's a cross between a business park and a retirement home, so there's not a lot of cool stuff. Mesa and Tempe are usually where we head on the weekend. I totally appreciate this... A tour of Dillon sounds really cool... Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson Museum tour should be cool... Definitely getting a shirt from Scottsdale Gun Club...that's a must... I do love Tempe and Mesa though...Orbitz had this hotel as #1 and I just fell in love with the scenery around it, that's why I booked it. Staff seems really nice. I have a Kia Rio (that should be fun to try and squeeze into) with unlimited mileage so driving around the state is not an issue before I have to leave paradise and come back to this... Anyone know of any truck museums? Gun museums? |
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Guys,
Thank you Thank you, Thank you for suggesting some places to check out when I was in AZ this week! I totally had a blast! It was exactly the vacation that I needed. Got to do everything I wanted except a horse back ride (haven't done that since I was 8), and tubing. It was a jam packed 4 days. The dust storm was interesting last night...The scenery, no matter where you go, is absolutely spectacular. Still hoping I can find a job out there so I can leave this hell hole of Indiana (although, financially the state is run very efficiently)... I'm now back home in Indiana where the land is flat, people are boring, and its ridiculously cold (71 degrees July 4). Many happy returns... Erick |
Next time come on out to Saguaro Lake and say HI!
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Thank you guys for everything! It was an amazing visit!
Winston_Wolf: I always vote Republican! The sapp that's in the white house right now is not my fault, but the fault of those that don't believe they should have to work for anything. Free healthcare? Vote for me! Free cell phone? Vote for me! Free money? Vote for me! Hate having any responsibility for anything? Vote for me! No, I don't think so! KB7DX: I thought I was at Saguaro Lake my last day. That is outside of Mesa? If any of you ever feel like punishing yourselves for no reason and decide to make a trip to South Chicago suburbs or NW Indiana, look me up! Many happy returns! Erick |