Good places to clear your head in Arizona?

Does anyone know of a good place to go clear your head in Arizona? Not too far seeing as I have an old car...I'm in Phoenix...Help?

Public Comments

1. sedona its a very spiratual place and its very different from phoenix
2. On top of South Mountain, just watching the city lights coming on.
3. Climb South Mountain in the summer, that will really clear your head! Go to the park! Camelback Mountain Summit Trail.
4. also, drive up to fountain hills park. Water and mountains and grass and not too many people.
5. you could go up to sedona which is spiritual and has beautiful scenery and is cooler than phoenix so less head to give you a headache and make you feel dizzy. hike south mountain and enjoy the beauty of nature and when you get to the top you can enjoy the scenery fo the city especially at night all those beautiful lights it loosk auhmazin. if your looking for water you could go to near by lake pleasant and go for a swim.
6. Without question .........Sedona/*Oak Creek Canyon (less than one mile north of Sedona-proper). Take a drive up to the Grand Canyon. *Oak Creek Canyon has been voted as one of the most beautiful drives in the United States. For a most relaxing and "head clearing" visit while in Sedona, take a break from "uptown" and enjoy a scenic and easy day-hike and/or a jeep tour. Also be sure to take a drive up to to scenic overlook on Airport Road ---especially at sunset. Be sure to bring your camera. The Grand Canyon is approximately 100 miles north of Sedona. You'll drive through Oak Creek Canyon on your way through Sedona, and on up to Flagstaff. The drive itself, it most beautiful and a great "head-clearing" experience. Flagstaff is just 25 miles north of Sedona. Once you hit Flagstaff, you'll travel approx. 79 mile north-east to the Grand Canyon. Have a fantastic trip! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oooooookay ----so you're wanting to clear your head without traveling too far ----understandable. Go up to Papago Mountain Park. You can hike up to the big hole in the rock --- go around the back; it's an easy and smooth walk. You'll have a nice nature walk and a great view of the valley. Walk a golf course early in the morning. It's cool out, and you'll see and hear all types of birds and see all kinds of plants, trees, flowers, and perhaps a few water falls. Go to Encanto Park. Rent a peddle-boat. It's quite cheap, fun, and relaxing. Feed the ducks while you're there. Go out to the Japanese Flower Farm, off of Baseline road -----beeeeeeeeeatiful. South Mountain is nice, but brutally hot during the day this time of year. Someone suggested taking a drive up there and watching the lights come on in the city -----nice idea. Go miniature golfing! It'll take your mind off of your every day life ---it's fun. Do something that is out of your element ---perhaps visit the Phoenix Art Museum, if that is not something you would normally do. I could go on and on here, but I know you're anxious to get out and do something to clear your mind. So, go out and have a nice and relaxing time.
7. If you just want to get out of the smog belt for a short while, you can take a drive up to Cave Creek or Carefree, and find a place that sells a cold drink. And then just relax awhile and let the cares of the city fade away. There are shops in both locations to browse through and you can do that to kill some time as well. Driving up to Sedona is uphill, and it might be hard on the old car you have. I'd stay close to where there is a gas station in case of a repair needed along the way. So I wouldn't travel too far to feel safer. But if you feel really adventurous, you could drive up to Jerome for a few hours of browsing around old buildings that have shops and a much cooler temp. than at the valley below, unless it's water you're after. And there is always the Verde River close to the turn off for Jerome. You could always dabble your feet to cool off there. And you'd not have the tourists to cope with as in Sedona. And while you're in the Verde Valley area, you could check out old Camp Verde. Which was a military post during the campaign to round up Geronimo. They have an interesting window where they have medical tools from that period on display at the post surgeons office. And there are cliff dwellings also nearby from the Anasazi period. Also worth checking out. Montezuma's Castle it's called. There is ad- mission to enter there though. It all depends on how long a head clearing you need. And then keep in mind how far you should allow yourself to drive. Make sure to check the air in your tires before leaving, as the heat can do a number on a tire in the severe heat. Or you can pick up a nail, and get a slow leak. I hope you find the perfect getaway.
8. Can't go wrong with Denny's and their bottomless coffee service. It's a grand slam... :P
9. Just go to any local bar and clear your head away 8oz. at a time. It always works for me, and I don't spend a lot on gas either.
10. I like the white tank mountain regional park, a little past Avondale. There's petroglyphs and little waterfall. Lots of different trails. http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/