Liz & Blake
Things To Do
Camelback Mountain
One of the rites of passage of Arizona is climbing Camelback Mountain. This is the highest peak in the Valley. Although it is popular among tourists, it's not necessarily an easy hike. Be prepared with hiking boots (or at least shoes with good traction) and LOTS of water. The peak has one of the best views of downtown Phoenix. As of now, the only trailhead that is open is the Echo Canyon Trail. Note: This trail might require using your hands on the rocks to get up, as it is pretty steep. Shoes with good traction make the descent much more manageable.
Sedona
If you're planning on staying for a couple of days, we highly recommend taking a day trip (or half-day trip) up to Sedona. It's most famous for its beautiful red rock formations. Sedona is about 2 hours away from the Phoenix area, so a car will be required. If you're going on a weekend, there tends to be a lot of traffic, so we recommend leaving early. Some of the hikes in Sedona include: - Devil's Bridge (photo above) - Cathedral Rock - Bell Rock Climb - Fay Canyon If you're not up for a hike, there are also Pink Jeep Tours and hot air balloon tours (need to be booked in advance).
The Wild Thaiger
Wild Thaiger is one of our favorite restaurants in Phoenix. It was also featured on Guy Fieri’s show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. We usually order the same thing at restaurants, but we consistently mix it up here and have not been disappointed. We highly recommend the Dragon Eggz, Beef Panang, Candy Chicken, and Mi Dang.
McDowell Sonoran Preserve
If you’re looking for a hike that’s close by, look no further. There are plenty of trialheads at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve/Mountain Range, depending on how long of a hike you are looking for. Here, you can get a taste of desert wildlife. Some of the popular trails are: - Lost Dog Wash Trail - Tom's Thumb - Pinnacle Peak
Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale is a charming downtown area with plenty of shops and restaurants for the whole family. There is also very active nightlife scene in Old Town Scottsdale. If you're lucky, you might be able to catch athletes in their off-season at these bars and clubs.
Desert Botanical Garden
Looking to channel your inner Georgia O'Keeffe? The Desert Botanical Gardens is the place for you. With over 50,000 plants on display and unique rotating exhibitions, it is one of our favorite places to visit. There is also a seasonal butterfly exhibit about Monarch butterflies that will be running in Fall 2022. If you plan on visiting, you will need to make reservations ahead of time. Fun Fact: the Desert Botanical Gardens is powered by 100% renewable energy.
Phoenix Zoo
If you love animals like we do, you might enjoy visiting the Phoenix Zoo. The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the US with more than 3,000 animals on exhibit. There are 4 different trails: Africa, Arizona, Tropics and Children's. Some unique activities are an in-house animal presentation (show is at 10:30 AM daily and second show at 12:30 PM Fri - Sun), Sting Ray Bay, and camel rides.
Arizona Wilderness
Being dangerously close to our apartment, AZ Wilderness is one of our favorite and most frequented establishments. There are locations in both downtown Phoenix and Gilbert. We love trying out their continuously changing beer selection and their amazing food. The beer garden atmosphere is social and relaxed. They even have some fire pits and table games in the downtown Phoenix location. Kids and dogs are welcome during the day. Some of our favorite entrees are the Downtowner Burger, the AZ Trail Burger, Honey Hot Pulled Pork Sandwich, and the Wilderness Duck Fat Fries (YUM!). The drink options constantly change, but our favorite permanent drinks include the DON'T F#%K IT UP and Prickly Pear Cider.
Golfing
Arizona is home to some top-notch golf courses. We aren't huge golfers, but here are some top courses in the area: - Troon North Golf Club - TPC Scottsdale (home to the most attended golf event, the Waste Management Open aka the Greatest Show on Grass) - Wickenburg Ranch - We-Ko-Pa Golf Club - The Boulders Club As golf connoisseurs, we recommend the Angry Birds game at Top Golf (locations in Scottsdale and Gilbert).
Wild Horses at Tonto National Forest
If you're feeling lucky and are on an Central or Eastern time sleep schedule, you could have the once in the lifetime experience of seeing some of the few wild horses left in America. Fortunately, you can catch a glimpse from the close-by Tonto National Forest (Mesa District). Just before sunrise and just before sunset, there's a good chance you can spot horses grazing on underwater plants in the Salt River or Saguaro Lake. We actually saw some wild horses while kayaking in Page, AZ (see above for a bad picture Blake took of one). Fun Fact: We had our engagement photos taken in Tonto National Forest but near the Mongollon Rim (around 2 hours away).
Musical Instrument Museum
Even if you didn't enjoy your 3rd grade experience of playing Hot Crossed Buns on the recorder, you should definitely check out the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM). Why? It's the ONLY musical instrument museum in the world, which is pretty cool if you ask me. The museum is bigger than you would think it would be and has so many well-curated galleries. One gallery contains memorabilia from various artists and bands spanning across decades and genres, including Elvis Presley, Roberta Flack, Maroon 5, and Johnny Cash. The second floor of the MIM has instruments by country. All the galleries have TVs synced with the audio headsets explaining and even playing some of the instruments on display. Even if that sounds boring, there's an interactive musical instrument exhibit where you can fulfill your lifelong dream of hitting a gong or absolutely shredding it on the harp. It's a must visit in our opinion!
Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours Inc.
If you're a fan of old country westerns and good old family fun, you need to visit Goldfield Ghost Town. This used to be an old mine town that was established in the 1890s and was active until the 1920s when the Mammoth Gold Mine ran out. There are attractions for the whole family, including: - Goldfield Mine Tours - Reptile Exhibit - Gold Panning and Gem Sluicing - Zipline with views of the Goldfield Mine and Superstition Mountains - Narrow Guage Railroad
Papago Park
Papago Park has something for everyone. The most popular attraction is the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail (only 0.3 miles). The lookout is well worth the short hike, as it has an amazing view of the lagoons and Phoenix skyline (photo above). We highly recommend a sunset trip there. Another unique attraction is Governor Hunt's Tomb, who was the first governor of Arizona. The tomb is in the shape of a white pyramid. While it's not the Great Pyramid of Giza or a Bass Pro Shop, it's a cool item to add to the list. Other Papago Park attractions include several other hiking trails (all relatively flat), baseball fields, fishing spots, and the Papago Golf Course. If you're looking to plan out a day's worth of activities, Papago Park is close to the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden.
Roosevelt Row Arts District
We are definitely biased because we live in the Arts District, but we think it's definitely worth the trip. There are a plethora of cute art galleries, delicious restaurants, and unique bars. The area has murals and street art all around the district. Our favorite restaurants and bars in the area are: - AZ Wilderness - Trapp Haus BBQ - Phil Johnson (pitmaster) has won awards in the competitive BBQ circuit. We recommend the burnt-ends, brisket, and pork belly - Taco Chelo - This is a staple in our diet. We recommend the costra, Sonoran, and carnitas tacos and the flamingo. - Pemberton - Housed on the Pemberton Mansion, there is a collection of food trucks with outdoor seating. It's a great place to hang out. - From the Rooftop - This is a cool rooftop bar on top of the Cambria Hotel. It has comfy chairs, a pool, and a great view of downtown Phoenix. We have a bunch of other recommendations for the Arts District, but highly recommend just walking around and taking it all in.