When it comes to visiting Phoenix, you can't go wrong with whatever you decide to do! The hiking and nature scene is one of the most defining aspects of the city, but the restaurant scene offers just as much to both the tastebuds and the eye.
Sprawling mountains, towering cacti, colorful flowers and unique storefronts make this city an ideal place for both bloggers and tourists looking to experience a new climate and get tons of great photos along the way. Here are a few recommendations for what I experienced, saw, ate and drank along the way!
EAT
The Henry
Dinner & Drinks | Craveable American | Website
Breakfast Club
Breakfast & Brunch | A.M. Classics | Website
Farm & Craft
Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch | Sustainable Food | Website
The Montauk
Restaurant & Lounge | American & New England Fare | Website
Bandera
Dinner & Dessert | Southern Comfort Food | Website
Sugar Bowl
Dessert | Vintage Sweet Treats | Website
HIKE
Piestewa Peak
Moderate to Difficult | 360 Views | Website
South Mountain
Drive or Hike | Sunset Views from Dobbins Lookout | Website
Camelback Mountain
Difficult | Phoenix Icon, 360 Views | Website
EXPLORE
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Garden with Peekaboo Mountain Views | $25 | Website
Phoenix Art Museum
Large Contemporary & Renaissance Collections | $18 | Website
Japanese Friendship Gardens
3.5 Acre Grounds | $7 | Website
Phoenix Public Market
Open Air Market & Community Gathering Place | Free | Website
Old Town Scottsdale
Shops & Eats | Free | Website
MY EXPERIENCE
I felt really small this entire trip. Like, smaller than normal and I have a pretty good grip on where I stand with the universe, always feeling relatively tiny in the big scheme of things. But when I was near the top of Piestewa Peak, looking down at the neighborhood cradled between the sprawling mountains, I was reminded how big and powerful and exciting the world is once more. I haven't felt that small since my trip to Morocco, when I was traveling with a terrible health problem and experienced things that I have since found to be life-changing lessons.
I had a blast visiting Phoenix for a girl's trip with my friend Hunter Wuensche of Vital Blonde, and think the city would be a wonderful place for any girls looking to get away for a few days and lounge by a pool, get active, and eat some amazingly healthy and equally amazing food, or for any family wanting to explore a new landscape without breaking the bank. Phoenix, we love you!