Guest post by asockel
Map tips: each color represents a different day. Click a marker to learn more about the spot, and click the star in the map header to save the entire map under Your Places in Google Maps.
Our flight arrived in Phoenix, Arizona at midnight and we drove to our Airbnb in Goodyear (30 mins west of Phoenix).
Day 1: Cleveland Indians game
If you’re going here in the spring, find a baseball game. Lots of parks, they’re small and you’re close to the action. Players take a lot of time to talk and sign autographs, so if you’re a baseball fan it’s a great place and time.
Day 2: Sedona
Drove 2 hours each way to Sedona.
Broken Arrow trail to Chicken Point Overlook – 2.5 miles one-way. Absolutely worth it. There were other trails we wanted to do, but we did this one because it was the only one that had parking. Since we got there around 10, there were already lots of people hiking. We spent all morning here.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village was our next stop. Tons of coffee shops, food, live music, art galleries. Lot of Navajo influence. Somewhat touristy but still had an older, authentic feel. Really liked this area.
We only had one day, but I would make a whole trip out of Sedona. I want to go back, loved it.
Day 3: Phoenix
Started the day in downtown Phoenix and ate at the Phoenix Public Market (nice, open-air). There were a lot of farmers markets around, too, very walkable area.
The Wren House Brewing Company – literally a brewery in a house, awesome beers.
The Grand – looks like an old Victorian train station. Huge ballroom, has a coffee shop, bistro, bar, big open space. Definitely recommend making a stop here.
Hiked around Estrella Mountain Regional Park in the evening, which is in Goodyear. We went up to the Estrella Star Tower – really cool, 50 foot tower at the end of a very short hike. Made for stargazing but awesome in the daylight, too. We also did the Quail and Baseline Trail Loop (2.5 miles roundtrip).
Day 4: Old Scottsdale
They call it the west’s most western town, lots of shopping and went around to a lot of the old bars and walked around. Neat area on the other side of Phoenix, about 35 minutes east of Goodyear.
Blue Clover Distillery – pretty new place, good poke and drinks.
After we got back, we went back to Estrella Mountain Regional Park and did the Rainbow Valley Trail Loop (4 miles). Both the hikes we did in the park were pretty easy.
Day 5: Avondale
Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium – shockingly awesome. White lions, white tigers, lots of different animals that we didn’t expect to see. Kangaroos were walking around with no fence between us and them.
Gordon Biersch brewery – delicious food and beer (now closed).
Good, Bad, Ugly Brewing Company – same thing. Really good beer and huge portions for food (now closed).
Traveled in March 2018
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