Phoenix What to Pack

Luggage and bags: Pack light. You're not going to find a lot of souvenirs here and unless you're from another hot place, you're going to want to wear virtually nothing to survive - especially in the summer. A single duffle bag could fit enough for more than a weekend.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: There are a ton of hiking and camping opportunities so boots are a plus. Don't wear thin shoes, either - in the summer, the sidewalks get really hot and can burn your feet through your soles! You won't need a jacket if staying south of Payson, either.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: If hiking or staying out doors, make sure you bring plenty of sunblock. In Arizona, it's easily found in much higher SPFs than in most places with less sunlight so visit Walgreens or CVS once you're in town and stock up. Bug repellent isn't as necessary here but watch out for more deadly bites - snakes, spiders and scorpions are in abundance.

Photo Equipment: There are a ton of great photo opportunities of desert landscaping you won't find anywhere else in the world. The Sonoran Desert is a pretty unique place. Also, if you have it, have your sun filter lenses handy - the sun gets pretty bright.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: All easy enough to find in town but if you already have your own, you'll definitely need a tarp to lay under your tent - even in the forest, it gets rocky and that's the last thing you want to be feeling through the night. A lot of the man-made lakes in Arizona are outfitted with swimming areas and docks, too. Fishing for trout is common.

Miscellaneous: Just remember it's a desert and you'll be fine.

Luggage and bags: I prefer small carry on luggage, I drove from LA to Phoenix and had 4 other people in our SUV then flew home. It would have saved us a lot of room if I packed lite (but I didn't) I was only there for 3 days and packed for 3 weeks. Really stunck when I flew home and had to pay all the baggage fees!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Shorts! Dresses, and tennis shoes. (I wore flip flops and it was SO hot and the sun is so strong it burnt my feet! Also a hat its SO bright even with sunglasses.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sunscreen! I should have worn a lot more than I did!

Photo Equipment: Small digital camera, fits easy in your purse or a guys pocket and the heat cant hurt the film!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: I suggest you go to a pool! SO beach towels, here you come!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: We began our trip in Phoenix, where it was in the high 70's to low 80's in the month of April; afterwhich our travel plans took us to Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, back to Flagstaff again and finally to Sedona--all within a week's time.

We dressed in shorts in Phoenix, I had to buy a sweatshirt at the Grand Canyon where we experienced snow flurries, when we drove back to Flagstaff I had to purchase a light fleece jacket for layering, then we were back to short sleeves in Sedona. I didn't do my homework very well, don't make the same mistake...

Spring apparently can bring very diverse weather conditions.

Miscellaneous: Moon Handbooks have proved to be exceptional guidebooks on our travels. ARIZONA by Bill Weir was a wonderful research tool when planning our trip to the Grand Canyon and other parts of this state.

The publisher is Avalon Travel and the ISBN # is 1-56691-689-5. The price was $21.95, but I purchased it at Barnes and Noble and received a discount on it. It was worth the price, believe me!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Wear light colored breathable clothing, even in November because the weather can still be in the 80's until late November. If you are visiting in the winter bring a jacket but nothing too heavy unless you plan on going to Norhtern Arizona to ski. But in the summer bring a hat, shades are a must and shorts and comfortable shoes.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Do not forget sunscreen and plenty of lotion and hair moisterizer because the air is really dry. If your eyes are sensitive it may help to carry eye drops because the dust can be irritatng especially if you wear contacts.

Photo Equipment: Be sure to bring film, but if you forget, there are plenty of grocery stores and convenience stores around to buy more at an affordable price

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: In the months of May through September it can get Very warm-to just downright- miserably hot, during the day. At night depending on your altitude can get chilly. Up in Northern Arizona the nights are cooler. In Phoenix during the 'Spring' and 'Fall' there can be as much as a 40-50 degree temperature change between the night and day.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Go equipped with both warm and cold clothing! Wear Tennis Shoes, or something like them.

***ALWAYS CARRY WATER WITH YOU***YOU ARE IN A DESERT!!!!!...ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTHS OF MAY-SEPTEMBER!!! IN THE HOTTER SUMMER MONTHS, JUNE-AUGUST, YOU MAY WANT TO BE SURE TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUND OF WATER EQUIVALENT TO 1 GALLON PER PERSON.

Miscellaneous: In the summer months Check tires, water, and oil, in your vehicle frequently.

***AND ALWAYS CARRY EMERGENCY WATER!!!***

Check out the Arizona Office of Tourism website for great tips, etc...

Miscellaneous: During the summer months (May - Sept), NEVER EVER go anywhere without a lot of water readily available. Because it is dry, you don't notice the fluids leaving the body that are being sweated off. A small 5' 90 lb lady told me how her 45 minute jog with a quart of water almost turned out to not be enough. People who have problems or die are invariably tourists.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Sun Block -- even if you have a "base" tan or have an olive complexion, the Phoenix sun can be brutal. If you do not take precautions you will get a sunburn. Period. I highly recommend a waterproof sunblock, SPF 30 or even higher. After you get out of the shower in the morning, slather it all over your body, just like a moisturizer. Use about 1 oz or a shot glass-ful. Do this before you get dressed and you'll lessen your chances of missing a spot and give the sunblock a chance to soak in and properly bond with your skin. Don't forget the back of your neck and knees, the tops of your ears, and your lips -- you'll need a good sunblock for your lips, too. Wear a hat, too. You won't regret it. And large, dark sunglasses. You'll can feel like a movie star (think mirrored lenses) and still be protected. A tell-tale sunburn -- from the golf course, or the pool, or hiking, or whatever -- is a sure sign that you are a "tourist".

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Casual clothes like tees and shorts

Photo Equipment: If you are interested in nature and photography then this definitely a place for you. The sunsets here are very beautiful and every evening the sky looks very beautiful and nice bcoz of the different sunset colors.

Luggage and bags: suitcase

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: sandels and sports shoes

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: i am sure you can get most things here. But a good moisteriser and suntan lotion is probably essential with the sun

Photo Equipment: good camera

Miscellaneous: Sunglasses(even when the sun is behind the clouds you will need them, especially when you are driving)