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Arizona -- Spring Training -- What else?
Eeveelution
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Registered User regular
So I'm driving to Arizona this year to catch a few Brewer's spring training games, and was wondering what else I should be looking for to do in Arizona, Phoenix area, while I am down there. It will be me, My wife, my best friend and his G/f.
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Hmm.... quadruple bypass burger...
Anyway, go to Sedona, go to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff is nice. But for the love of god, go to Sedona. You won't regret it. It's about 2 hours north of Phoenix.
Phoenix has more golf courses than Seattle does cafe's. Ok, well probably not that many, but it's close. If you like to Golf, the Wigwam golf resort is about 7 miles west of Maryvale Stadium (where the Brewers play) in Lichfield Park. www.wigwamresort.com If you actually plan on golfing then post here and I'll give the full run down.
If you're looking for a memorable place to eat, consider Pizzaria Bianco. It's downtown near the Diamondback's regular season stadium. Yes, it's just pizza, and yes you will probably have to wait two hours for a table (get there by 3:30 for the first seating at 5, get there by 5 to get seated at 7), and there's no parking nearby either. Worth it any way. www.pizzeriabianco.com
If you're looking for a solid alternative where you won't have to wait two hours, try La Grande Orange Pizzaria. It also happens to be next door to the best gelato shop in the world (Arlecchino), I shit you not. www.lagrandeorangepizzeria.com
Best beer in town, Four Peaks Brewery. Two locations one in Scottsdale (subdued) one in tempe (riotously loud) www.fourpeaks.com
Phoenix is also well known for Mexican food. Yes, purists will point out that the food they serve isn't really Mexican, but who cares, it tastes good. My personal favorite is Julio G's, run by the family that started (and then sold) the Garcia's chain of Mexican resturants. www.juliosaz.com Avoid Garcia's like the plague that it is. Other good options include Ariba's (if you like it spicy) Guarduno's (if you like tequilla and margarita's more than the food) Macayo's (great lunch specials) and Barrio's Cafe (if you're looking more upscale) www.barriocafe.com
Finally there are two really good brazilian steak houses in town. Fogo E Brasa is why the heck south in Ahwatukee (burried in a strip mall) but it's fantastic. Fogo de Chao is a national chain, but still very good. Both relatively expensive but worth it if you're going to splurge. Skip lunch that day. www.brazilianbullsteakhouse.com or www.fogodechao.com
If you're looking for a day trip (or a half day trip) you cannot go wrong with Sedona. If you're an outdoor type, you must visit. Basically, I third the suggestion of Sedona.
This is going to sound like an odd thing to say, but Phoenix better movie theatres than any city in the country (outside of Mann's Chinese in CA). When I left Phoenix there were a number of things I thought I'd miss, but I didn't realize that one of them would be the great movie theatres. Take in a show on one of the Cine Capri screens at a Harkins Theatre and remember what going to the movies is supposed to be like. www.harkinstheatres.com/CineCapri.aspx
If the girls want to shop, theyll probably want to go to Scottsdale. Scottsdale Fashion Square, 5th Avenue in Old Town Scottsdale, etc. The good news is that there are also some great outdoor bars in old town (see poster above).
If you want to save everyone some money and spare them from exposure to the people who populate Scottsdale, tell them you heard that Chandler Fashion Square is just as nice but less snobby (it's mostly true). Problem: It's way the hell out in Chandler.
Sedona is a great place to shop as well, lots of hand made crafts and antique stores (you know, for tourists).
I can talk about stuff to do in Phoenix *all day* (and will, given the opportunity) so I'll just cut it off here. If you have any questions about specific things you want to do just ask.
You could also hike South Mountain, that's pretty fun and a popular thing to do, but it won't compare to the hiking in Sedona.
As much as I used to love to hike, its out of the question ever since I destroyed my knee at work (tore meniscus, had surgery, problems since).
Rumor is we're also hitting up vegas for a day, seeming we'll be driving everywhere.
So far the food choices seem amazing, and there is a good chance we'll go to Chandler for the Heart Attack Grill, mostly because We're a meat and potatoes type of group.
Still, there's no doubt that they offer a unique dining experience. And cute girls in nurses outfits. . . (do they still? I know the local nurses association filed a complaint about it a year or so ago)
If you actually want a really good burger go to the ChuckBox in Tempe. Bonus: It's near ASU and right off Mill avenue (where all the bars are) http://www.thechuckbox.com/ or Delux Burger www.deluxburger.com or FEZ www.fezoncentral.com which is on Indian School and Central, a few miles from where the Brewers play.
If you're serious Meat & Potato people, hit Fogo E Brasa.
Best Fried Chicken in town.
My favorites from the above...
Pizzaria Bianco (get there early!!)
Barrio Cafe
Chuckbox
LoLo's Chicken & Waffles
A couple more suggestions...
Matt's Big Breakfast - delicious meat & potatoes kind of breakfast in Downtown Phoenix. Also, get there early. The place is really small, so you'll be waiting awhile. On any day other than Sunday, there's a farmer's market nearby that you can check out while you wait.
Los Dos Molinos - very spicy New Mexican food in South Phoenix (Central & Baseline)
If you're going to be in Scottsdale and/or Tempe, it's pretty hard to go wrong. There's always something going on, and the food is generally excellent.
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