Let me just start by saying, Phoenix is a pretty cool city, and I’m not talking temperatures. I spend a decent amount of time traveling there for work, but I always find time to do some exploring. Contrary to some, I really have an appreciation for the scorching dry heat and clear skies. Once you get over the above 100 degrees F temps that could be experienced in the summer season, there’s a lot to discover in this majestic mountain ranged, desert city.
One of the first adventures I went on while in Phoenix was visiting the Desert Botanical Garden. I had the opportunity of visiting this place twice, once during the daytime and again at night, during their Electric Desert Light and Sound Exhibit. Both are two very different and amazing experiences. What you can expect by visiting the garden during the day is Arizona’s beautiful landscapes, lots of desert, various types of cacti, a butterfly garden, wildflowers and even some wildlife. There are about five trails that can be hiked to get the best views of the mountains in Phoenix, all giving a different experience. Fun fact: over 4000 different species of desert plants reside here, so there’s plenty to see, plan to spend a few hours exploring.
The garden at night for the electric light show, was a mesmerizing art installation, which runs from October to May. There were displays of coordinated bright and colorful lights and sounds, which really took me on a journey with the illuminating plants and environment. It almost felt like I was in a rave. I do want to mention, a few of the trails are closed during the electric show, due to safety reasons at night. So if you want to explore all of the trails and the electric show, plan a day and night trip to the garden; they have a bundled price for that experience. I enjoyed this mainly because it’s different from other botanical gardens, being that it is desert style.
I have a love for fitness, so whenever I’m away from home, I try to find fun and unique ways to stay in shape. One of my favorite things to do is hiking, and what better place to find a hike, than in a state that’s home to over 200 named mountain ranges. One of the easier hikes in Phoenix is the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail in Papago Park. And I mean it’s very easy, even for the most self-proclaimed non-rock climbers, with only a 0.3 mile up the mountain. Although I typically try to stray away from high trafficked hiking times, I went on this trail in the early evening to catch the sunset. It was moderately trafficked, but the view of the sun setting from the top was so worth it.
Now let’s get into the food. I love a good happy hour after a long day at work. I found a few spots that I just loved! One of my favorite cocktails in Phoenix was the ‘Mint and Cucumber Mule’ at The Henry. Refreshing on a hot day, to say the least. They have great drink and food specials, for an upscale casual eatery with a modern 1920s Gatsby vibe. I stumbled upon another restaurant called Diego Pops, to grab a quick meal before my trip to the botanical garden, and it was a great choice. This Mexican eatery has a playful and colorful aesthetic of the 70s feel to it. But let me tell you what you have to order…now before you turn your nose up to sight of Brussel sprouts, you have to try their ‘Brussel Sprouts Nachos’ before you completely right it off. I promise you it’s ‘nacho average nachos.’ Phoenix has a ton of terrific happy hour spots and eateries in general, and exploring them is definitely one of my favorite things to do when I visit.
Before heading to the airport to catch my flight, I like to stop at coffee shops if the time permits. One of my go-tos is not really a coffee shop, but they have great coffee, is Snooze A.M. Eatery. They have creative morning cocktails and coffee. I had the AM Manhattan, which was recommended to me by the waiter, and I would definitely order it again. During another trip, I stumbled across the cutest little dainty tea shop and I’m glad I did. The shop is called Ruze Cake House and it’s located in Old town Scottsdale. I had to stop and taste the roses, so I ordered the prickly pear boba tea topped with cotton candy, with a couple of macaroons on the side. I was glad to find this little gem; it was the cherry on top of a great trip.
See you again soon Phoenix!
