Phoenix, AZ
City Recap
Here is our fun for the whole family, in Phoenix, recap
The Phoenix area was on our original radar when we embarked on this family travel journey. We had been to Denver (3 months), Albuquerque (2 months) and then 3.5 months in the Phoenix area (Chandler, AZ). We tried to get to the Phoenix in mid-January, but couldn’t get the house cost to where we needed it to be. An average $1500 furnished apartment was going for $3000-$4000 per month. This was due to all of the snowbirds in town, of course (us being in that group too). Once the temperature climbed to the ’90s and spring training finished, you can definitely see a decrease in population (and rent price!). We ended up arriving March 1 and staying till June 15.
Keli was in love with every cactus she came across beginning with our first drive into the area via Flagstaff.
We loved our 3.5 months here. The weather was perfect, until the last 2 weeks when every day was over 100 degrees including a few days over 110 ☹. We were able to meet up with old friends from college and our home towns, while making new ones.
We were very fortunate to have some great restaurants close to our rented townhouse. Valle Luna and Hash Kitchen being 2 of our “go to” places. Stone & Vine, Caldwell County BBQ, Baby Kays Cajun Kitchen (they have a 90-year-old man playing Blues music-good food too).
Each city that we’ve stayed in has had its share of unique excursions, and Phoenix was no exception. Rooster Ostrich Ranch, OdySea Aquarium, the Phoenix Zoo (3x’s), Hall of Flame Museum, Phoenix Recycling Facility Tour and Mesa CC Planetarium. If you have a layover and only have time to do one thing in Phoenix, we’d recommend the Desert Botanical Gardens. This is different than any other botanical gardens that we’ve ever been to. We also went to the newly opened Crayola Experience in Chandler and to the Phoenix Children’s Museum on their FREE first Friday of the month. It was packed and we’ll pay the extra few bucks to get in at normal hours. 🙂
We definitely scratched our baseball itch; a spring training Cubs game, a tour and ball game at Chase Field and even found some little league games at an impressive 8-field facility, Cactus Yards.
We also took multiple day trips to Tortilla Flats, Sedona and Tucson seeing fabulous sights such as Saguaro National Park, touring Biosphere 2, and hiking Devils Trail Bridge.
I had written in our New Mexico recap that they had the best sunsets, but we believe that AZ actually surpassed NM. EVERY night was better than the next.
Our 2-year-old son came with us on all of these excursions and loved them all. Scroll down and check out our FB or IG account for some other kid-friendly activities.
Activities To Do In And Around The City
The National Park Junior Ranger Program has educated our son...and us immensely. We all love…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 17599 E Peak Ln, Picacho, AZ This place is way more than just…
East entrance: 3693 South Old Spanish Trail Tucson, AZ West entrance: 2700 North Kinney Road…
6101 E Van Buren St Phoenix, AZ This is the largest firefighter museum…
5345 W Glendale Ave Glendale, AZ ⦁ 30-minute tours ⦁ FREE tours are given…
North Gateway Transfer Station and Materials Recovery Facility 30205 N Black Canyon Hwy Phoenix, AZ…
32540 S Biosphere Rd Oracle, AZ ⦁ Adults = $21, Children 5-12 = $14,…
1833 W Southern Ave Mesa, AZ Monthly shows on the first Friday of every month…
Chase Field 401 E Jefferson St Phoenix, AZ During the 3 months, we’ve been…
Chandler, AZ This children’s play area of the park is called Playtopia. The park…
330 E. Ryan Road Chandler, AZ ⦁ Only open weekends 12-4: 00 pm ⦁…
6024 W. Southern Ave Laveen, AZ When…
⦁ $7 for adults, $3 children 4-6 and free for children 3 and under…
701 N. Gilbert Rd Gilbert, AZ We were invited here during a "friends and…
2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway Mesa, AZ We always search for unique activities. Whether…
2330 W Rio Salado Pkwy Mesa, AZ Finally, some nice weather and a live…
Best Places to Eat
18324 E Nunneley Rd Gilbert, AZ [caption id="attachment_2424" align="aligncenter" width="746"] Texas Style BBQ in…
1949 W. Ray Road Chandler, AZ This was our go-to restaurant while in Phoenix/Chandler for…
1035 W Queen Creek Rd #103 Chandler, AZ We’ve been here a few times…
2855 W Ray Rd #4, Chandler, AZ This place is the $HIT. Friday, Saturday…
2161 E University Dr, (corner of University & 101) Tempe, AZ We had…
Health & Fitness
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] 2160 W Chandler Blvd #18 Chandler, AZ We had put our 1.5-year-old son in…
6135 W Detroit Street Chandler, AZ I was picky about the CrossFit gym I…
1900 W Germann Rd #6 Chandler, AZ Keli and I had joined Orangetheory Fitness…