scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

A short distance north and a little west is Sedona. Great place for photographers.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

Great places to visit! I would suggest, if you go through Rockport, there is a photographers studio & gallery in their small downtown area. Odd hours; so catch by luck. The photographer that owns the place is interesting; spent an hour talking with him about photography.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

CanonPrinter1 Loc: West Michigan

We Stay in Mesa. +55 community & will be there the month of January.

You may want to consider a short trip up South Mountain. Nice view of the Phoenix metro area.
I enjoy going there late afternoon and watch the darkness arrive at the city. Bring your tripod along for good dusk photos of the metro area.
https://www.visitphoenix.com/sonoran-desert/parks/south-mountain-park-and-preserve/


You also may want to consider the Riparian Water Preserve in Gilbert for a nice walk. Perhaps some wildlife photos may occupy your SD card.
https://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/riparian-preserve-at-water-ranch

About 45 miles east of Phoenix is Tortilla Flats/Canyon Lake. A paddle wheel vessel provides a relaxing ride in the Superstition Mountain area. There of views of mountain goats & we have viewed a bald eagle or two nesting in view.
https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwNa00TTdg9BJOTsyrzM9TyEnMTlVILMqsys9LBACcEAp1&q=canyon+lake+arizona&oq=Canyon+Lake&aqs=chrome.3.0i355i433i512j46i433i512l2j46i512j0i512l2j46i175i199i512l2j0i512j46i175i199i512.7422j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


Enjoy

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Ditto on PBG (Phoenix Botanical Gardens -- it's always the 1st place I recommend for visitors and you can spend anywhere from a couple of hours to all day there). Also ditto on Old Town Scottsdale, including Main Street art galleries and 5th Ave. shops (again you can spend all day exploring and shopping there, including AZ88 for either lunch or early dinner alfresco on the patio -- it's our favorite place to eat and they have absolutely the best martinis in town (all kinds, of course, we prefer the Bombay Sapphire martinis -- they're doubles and filled to the brim and all of their bartenders know how to make martinis). Next, if you have any time left, the Heard Museum on Central Ave. in midtown Phoenix -- a great display and history of Arizona's Native American culture, artifacts and history. Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West is also a good place to visit along with nearby Carefree, although I would put that last on my list.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Phoenix Pueblo Grande museum/archeology park, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, The huge Hall of Flame Fire Museum, Rosson House and Heritage Square, Superstition Mountains, Mesa Temple, State Capitol, Casa Grande Ruins, Montezuma Castle and Well, Copper Museum in Clarkdale, Jerome Ghost town, Prescott Whisky Row, Wickenburg Desert Caballeros Museum, San Xavier Mission Pima Air Museum, Saguaro National Park, Science Museum in Phoenix, Hassampya River (upside-down river), Old Town Scottsdale, Florence AZ, Globe/Miami historic mining communities, Phoenix Zoo, Papago Park and finally Tempe Camera and say hi to Joe, Sue and David for me.
That will be some stuff away from the usual tourist traps like Sedona that there are millions of me too photos everywhere.

francosp Loc: Arizona

In town I suggest the Musical Instrument Museum (it is great), the Heard Museum (to know more about native american) and the Botanical Garden (all AZ desert plants). Also, I suggest a walk in Scottsdale old town or Cave Creek village. Out of town you cannot miss the red rocks of Sedona and to enjoy the Arizona landscape while driving there. Just one hour and thirty minutes from Phoenix. Have fun in the city of sun.

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Way too much for 2 days especially the out-of-town spots, like Case Grande, Montezuma's Castle, Clarkdale, Jerome, Prescott, Wickenburg, San Xavier Mission. If you have only 2 days, stick to the sites in metro Phoenix like PBG, Old Town Scottsdale, AZ88 and Heard Museum. And, as far as the Phoenix Zoo (which is adjacent to the PBG), it's really spread out, hilly and involves a lot of walking (aka hiking) -- skip it, too. It's a nice zoo but there are a lot better ones (like San Diego, Denver, Chicago, San Francisco, New York). To get the best flavor for the Phoenix SW desert areas, the PBG, Main St., Old Town Scottsdale (western art galleries and AZ88), and Heard Museum would be my top choices, especially for such a short visit.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I gave a dozen things in town.
Casa Grande is a hell of a lot closer than stupid Sedona.
But again I gave it weeks worth of right in Phoenix metro things to do.
The Phoenix zoo is far better than the ones you mentioned.
Again you are clueless about 90% of the in Phoenix things I noted and could name 2 dozen more things in the immediate area.
Why are you so pissy?
Go be a jerk elsewhere.
Let the OP decide.
Perhaps they would enjoy the 1/2 dozen or so things near Phoenix in one day.
Oh well.

crapshooter Loc: Fox, Alaska

Right On

louparker Loc: Scottsdale, AZ

Your remarks in reverse order:
1. Have you been to "the 1/2 dozen or so things near Phoenix" you listed in one day? They're all good, but have you been to all of them in one day especially at this time of year with less than 10 hours of daylight and heavy holiday traffic?
2. Sorry you misconstrued my suggestions as being "a jerk" or "so pissy." The OP asked for recommendations and that's exactly what my listings and descriptions were -- nothing more, nothing less. Of course, the OP will make the decision of where to go and visit. Your type of commentary is precisely why UH took down the General Discussion category a few years ago.
3. I have lived in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area since 1979, so your accusation that I am "clueless" about the things you recommended is ridiculous -- I have been to most of them. How long have you lived here?
4. Have you been to any of the other zoos in the country that I listed? I have been to all, including the Phx Zoo and, again, I was expressing my opinion, and I'm not the only one who thinks that. Don't get me wrong, the Phx Zoo is great, but it's just not one of the things I would recommend a 2-day visitor going to. Actually, the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park is more enjoyable, especially if you have kids and like acquariums.
5. Yes, Casa Grande is "a hell of a lot closer than Sedona," but depending on where in Phx you are driving from, it's still an hour or so away (besides, what's "stupid" about Sedona?). Sedona is great and very enjoyable for a full-day or overnight trip, especially Oak Creek Canyon, the Red Rocks and the Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village in Sedona.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Oak Creek canyon is further than Sedona, and the only thing really worth is West Fork and that has been nearly destroyed as bad as slide rock.
PS, I have a house deep in the Canyon.

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

I don't think he was saying to see it all!!! Just a list of close things to do. The op can the set his own route and time.

neco Loc: Western Colorado Mountains

Totally agree. Great photo ops

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind