Dreamy Draw Recreation Area is one of our favorite places to hike & is just south of our house! There are plenty of trails to choose from. For a challenging climb with great views, try Two Bit Peak. For something more moderate with lots of desert scenery, Yates Trail is a great option. The Yates Trail also connects to the 32nd Street and Lincoln trailhead, which is convenient if you’re staying farther south. Parking is limited at both spots, so we recommend going early.
32 Shea is one of our favorite spots to stop after a hike. Everything on the menu is delicious! Elizabeth always orders the croissant breakfast sandwich, and Ryan goes for the short rib breakfast burrito. They also have great coffee drinks (some with fun twists) and a drive-through if you need something quick before heading out.
Duck and Decanter is a longtime Stuckey family favorite. In fact, they even opened early the morning after Elizabeth was born so her mom, Sarah, could get a ham sandwich! This Phoenix classic has been family-owned since it opened, and it’s well worth a visit. Elizabeth drags Ryan here often and always orders the same thing: ham on pita with cheddar cheese, extra mustard, and mayo. Ryan has a more “grown-up” order—the Spicy Italian.
Wren House Brewing is home to Elizabeth’s favorite (and one of Ryan’s favorite) IPAs. There are two locations in Phoenix: the original taproom in Arcadia Lite (linked here) and a newer one near our home in the Paradise Valley Mall complex. We went to the Arcadia location on one of our first dates, so it’s a bit of a full-circle spot for us! The Arcadia taproom doesn’t serve food, but you can bring your own or grab something from a food truck parked outside. The Paradise Valley location has a full menu and lets you order pizza from Trevor’s next door, highly recommend.
Wilderness Brewing Co. is one of our favorite spots in Phoenix. They have an awesome patio, the best chicken tenders and fries, and a great selection of beers—Elizabeth’s favorite is the La Ciudad (a hazy IPA). This location sits right along Roosevelt Row, a lively area full of breweries, bars, and restaurants. It’s also where we’ve both hosted plenty of birthday bar crawls over the years, so it’s another place that feels like part of our story.
The Little Woody is a great dive bar and an Arcadia classic. It’s also the first place we hung out after meeting at a housewarming party, so it holds a special spot in our story. Bonus points if you play a round of skee-ball while you’re there!