Things To Do
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre (57 ha) botanical garden located in Papago Park, at 1201 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, central Arizona. Founded by the Arizona Cactus and Native Flora Society in 1937[1] and established at this site in 1939, the garden now has more than 50,000 plants, in more than 4,000 taxa, one-third of which are native to the area, including 379 species, which are rare, threatened or endangered.
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower. Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Jerome
Jerome is a town in central Arizona. The Mine Museum explores Jerome's history as a booming copper-mining town. Jerome State Historic Park is home to Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 by a mining magnate. Nearby, Audrey Headframe Park has a glass viewing platform over a 1918 mine shaft. Art galleries and small wineries dot the downtown area. To the east, Tuzigoot National Monument preserves an ancient hilltop pueblo. One of Lukas and Amanda's favorite places to eat here is the Haunted Hamburger. They also love to walk the streets and never go without stopping by the glass blowers workshop, located below his gallery.
Sedona
Sedona is an Arizona desert town near Flagstaff that’s surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s noted for its mild climate and vibrant arts community. Uptown Sedona is dense with New Age shops, spas and art galleries. On the town’s outskirts, numerous trail-heads access Red Rock State Park, which offers bird-watching, hiking and picnicking spots. Lukas and Amanda think that this town is an awesome opportunity to take in some of the stunning views that Arizona has to offer of its Red Rock deposit, while eating at the Sedona Pizza Company. The city is a perfect mix of small shops and an outdoor lover's dream. This town also has one of the five unusually colored 'golden' arches in the world.
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is a 215-acre zoo and aquarium in Litchfield Park, Arizona, United States, near Phoenix. The zoo specializes in African and South American animals, and has Arizona's largest collection of exotic animals. Unlike the Phoenix Zoo, the Wildlife World Zoo is a privately owned zoo that Amanda has been going to for as long as she can remember. It also has a restaurant that you can visit without going into the zoo that is home to a tortoise that lives in one of the adjacent neighborhoods, but come to the zoo on his weekends. Lukas loves to visit him and lovingly refers to him as Jim.
White Tank Mountain Regional Park
The White Tank Mountain Regional Park is a large regional park located in west-central Maricopa County, Arizona. Encompassing 29,271 acres of desert and mountain landscape, it is the largest regional park in the county. The bulk of the White Tank Mountains range is located within the park's boundaries. Lukas and Amanda have picked this location to get married for the beauty that this park has to offer. There are many trails that you can take at almost every level of activity. Just make sure to bring lots of water.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is a city in the U.S. state of Arizona, surrounded by mountains, desert and ponderosa pine forests. It’s a gateway to the San Francisco Peaks, home to Arizona’s tallest mountain (Humphreys Peak) and the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort. Nearby, Wupatki National Monument has Native American pueblo sites, and Walnut Canyon National Monument is dotted with their cliff dwellings. Home of the University that Lukas and Amanda met at, Flagstaff is a beautiful mountain town with something to offer for everyone. Lukas and Amanda highly recommend walking around downtown, to enjoy the sites and incredible shops that they called home for over four years. Make sure you get a table at their favorite couple stop, Karma Sushi Bar and Grill, where they go for every special occasion they can. Sometime they go even if the special occasion is Sunday.
Downtown Glendale, AZ
Historic Downtown Glendale has been named by USA Today & Sunset Magazine as one of the country’s ten best places for shopping. Historic Downtown Glendale is actually two neighborhoods – Historic Catlin Court with its white picket fences and mature shade trees welcoming visitors to the bungalows-turned-specialty shops, Old Towne boasting brick-trimmed sidewalks and glowing gaslights leading the way to the famous antique stores and ethnic eateries. Lukas and Amanda always stop here when they have a sweet tooth. This town has the Cerreta Candy Company , which makes its own chocolate treats on site, every day. The town is also home to many cute antique stores and home-style eateries.
Falcon Dunes Golf Course
Not far from Waddell, Falcon Dunes Golf Club offers terrific views and challenging play for golfers at every skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep Falcon Dunes Golf Club difficult yet friendly, and the staff can offer tips and tricks for playing your best round. Falcon Dunes Golf Club is a terrific choice for your regular rounds of golf or a new destination for you and friends when visiting Waddell.
Arrowhead Mall
The West Valley’s premier shopping destination, Arrowhead Towne Center features over 180 stores for the whole family, with brands like Apple, Macy’s Sephora, Coach, H&M, Disney and Victoria’s Secret. The destination offers a selection of restaurants and a food court with over 15 of the most popular fast dining options. One of Lukas and Amanda's favorite way to kill time on the weekends. This mall features clean, organized and well priced store. Just make sure that if you visit, you keep up with the couple's tradition of stopping at one of the three pretzel stores located throughout for some pretzel bites.
Mystery Castle
Mystery Castle is located in the city of Phoenix, Arizona, in the foothills of South Mountain Park. It was built in the 1930s by Boyce Luther Gulley for his daughter Mary Lou Gulley. After learning he had tuberculosis, Gulley moved from Seattle to the Phoenix area and began building the house from found or inexpensive materials. Boyce Gulley died in 1945, and Mary Lou and her mother were notified by attorney that they had inherited the property. Shortly after, the mother and daughter moved in. Their story attracted attention, giving the home some notoriety as well as its exotic name: A Life Magazine story (January 26, 1948) used the headline "Life Visits a Mystery Castle: A Young Girl Rules Over the Strange Secrets of a Fairy Tale Dream House in the Arizona Desert." The photograph featured Mary Lou posing atop the cantilever staircase leading to the roof of the house. That same year, Mary Lou and her mother began offering tours of the home.
Rainbow Ryders, Inc. Hot Air Balloon Company
Fulfill your bucket list with a one-of-a-kind experience. Our team launches spectacular sunrise flights every day of the year. Experience the gorgeous scenery of Deer Valley and the Sonoran Desert vistas from up above. Bring your family and friends, and don’t forget your camera. You’ll want to share your pictures with everyone. The post-flight celebration includes our Sonoran Sunrise Gourmet Breakfast with our signature Prickly Pear Mimosas and local Arizona treats. You’ll also receive a commemorative flight certificate
Surprise Towne Center
The perfect place to pick up any last-minute things you might need. This shopping center has shoe stores, clothing, a Target and Walmart. Within close distance to two of the hotel listed on the previous page, this shopping center also will provide eating options for all budgets.
RoadHouse Cinemas - Scottsdale
Carrabba's Italian Grill
Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
Taco Guild
Haus Murphy's of Glendale
Ocotillo Restaurant
Vogue Bistro
Lazy Palm Sports Grill
