Our dear friends from Dallas, Frank and Vaneica, visited us last week. I cannot even tell you how happy we were to see them and spend time with them.
So of course, we wanted to treat them to the ultimate Phoenix itinerary, showcasing many of the highlights both in town and within a day-trip’s drive.
Many things we did by the seat of our pants so the itinerary wasn’t exactly printed out and set in stone, but I’ll share what we did day by day.
Day 1
Old Town Scottsdale
After picking up our guests from Sky Harbor Airport, we drove the short distance to Old Town Scottsdale and strolled around the historic Western town.
Temps were heading towards 100° mark and it was still early in the day, so the sidewalks were mostly empty.
The highlight was a quick visit to The Old Adobe Mission, a beautifully restored church that provides a glimpse of what Scottsdale once was.
Goldfield Ghost Town
Vanieca saw a write-up about this attraction, and since we were already half way there, we decided to head there. Despite the heat. They were really good troopers.
We strolled through the little town and stopped in the saloon for a snack and a drink before heading home.
The first night John made ribs on the grill and we relaxed because we knew the next day was going to be an early one!
Day 2
Montezuma’s Castle & Well
Two separate areas and both National Monuments, we visited both areas.
The picture below is in front of ancient cliff dwellings.
Sorry about the shady faces, but I thought it was cheaper than a facelift.
Since these places rate among my most favorite places on earth, we were so happy to share them with our visitors.
Many, many times, I’ve included adventures at Montezuma’s Well. We didn’t spend too much time there, because we needed to get back on the highway and up to Flagstaff!
Flagstaff & Sedona
We had planned to do a bit of exploring in the Arizona high country, but alas. It was the Saturday of Labor Day and everything was packed to the gills.
We enjoyed the cooler temps with a little walk at Fort Tuthill County Park which John and I did recently.
The park was hosting the big county fair which was jam packed. We weren’t interested in that, but we got out, stretched our legs and did a little hike on the mountain trail.
Sedona was maybe even MORE packed with cars backed up on the road to every popular trail and site.
We made the correct decision to stop for lunch, recharge and then take a drive to enjoy the beautiful rock formations.
It was a picture perfect day in Northern Arizona with brilliant blue skies, dry air and a few fluffy clouds. It was hard to come back down the hill into Phoenix, but we did.
Day 3
Restaurants, Casino, South Mountain
First stop early Monday morning was breakfast at Hash Kitchen on the west side of town. They are known for their build-your-own bloody Mary bar.
A live DJ creates a very fun vibe with people mostly younger than we are.
I don’t drink bloody Mary’s but enjoyed a strawberry mimosa. Yum!
Frank built quite a concoction though.
Next stop in an effort to get out of the heat for a bit, we did a bit of game play at Desert Diamond Casino in the West Valley.
Vanieca and John were the big winners.
South Mountain Park
We continued heading south and ended up at South Mountain Park and took the 5 1/2 mile scenic drive that ends at Dobbins Lookout.
The complete city views are just stunning and even though it was a bit toasty, it was worth it.
Frank and Vaneica were able to do a little shopping from the local Indian vendors and I even bought the cutest arrowhead.
One more restaurant stop on the way home – the Stillery in Happy Valley just a few miles from our house. I have to say this visit was disappointing, so I’m not going to recommend it right now.
Game Night
After resting a bit, we broke out the card games and played Five Crowns and Phase 10. They caught on right away and we did a lot of laughing and some people (who will remain nameless but who are much more competitive than I) were doing a bit of trash talking.
Rain Night
Out of nowhere all the little clouds came together and formed a lovely rainstorm. After we played games we sat outside and enjoyed the evening. It was such a nice surprise.
Day 4
Day 4 was a half day because they traveled home. We made a big breakfast which included sourdough pancakes.
After packing and a bit of kitchen clean up we headed out for a little more adventure.
Well, adventure our style. Ha! We took them to a grocery store. But not any store. Ranch Market on Roosevelt is a Mexican market and a Phoenix treasure.
The bakery is just stunning with one creation after another. I did see a couple little purchases made by our group.
But then! We headed to the taco bar. It was taco Tuesday and we all had street tacos and Mexican Coke. Can I just same YUM in Spanish!
Historic Neighborhoods
Before we headed to the airport, we took a drive through the beautiful Encanto-Palmcroft neighborhood and park.
Every home is a treasure.
Wrap Up
I hope Frank and Vaneica return when the weather is a little cooler and maybe when the landscape is a little more colorful.
In any case, I had a fantastic time and it was so good to spend time with them.