Jen Russum

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Phoenix Tourist Guide

So we have officially lived in Phoenix/Scottsdale for two years now. And we love it even more than when we first arrived in that dusty Budget truck with all our wedding gifts hastily stuffed into the back and our honeymoon-tanned bodies sitting in the front. Today I thought it would be fun to share a little city guide with you. One of the best things about living in Arizona is all the visitors we get. I’m not sure if it’s just that all of our Pacific Northwest friends and family are dying to get out of the rain or that Phoenix is some type of crossroads between the west, the north and the south, but we have no shortage of visitors since moving!  If you think you might be visiting the Phoenix area anytime in the near future, here are my suggestions for what to do, where to go, and what to eat.

First things first. If you are thinking about visiting our desert, let me briefly explain the weather to you. It’s not really HOT all the time, and even when it is, it’s not as bad as the locals make it out to be…
Mid-May through early-October… it’s hot. We are talking anywhere from 90 to 120 degrees. Usually there are only a few days that approach 120 in July or August. Most of the time it’s between 100-110. And it’s a dry, lovely heat that makes you feel you are a cookie baking in an oven. I love it.
November is beautiful month with 70-85 degree temps.
December, January and February range from 55-75 degrees. Usually there is one cold week per winter when it gets into the 30s or even the 20s at night and remains in the 50s during the day. The average temp in January is 65 degrees. And it’s sunny almost every day of winter. Glorious! Consider coming to run the Arizona Rock and Roll Marathon {or half marathon} on MLK Jr. weekend.
March and April are also amazing months here if you need to escape from a place where winter just won’t seem to end. You can almost count on 75-85 degree temps and can usually start lying out by the pool in April, although it’s still a bit too cold to swim unless you are really brave.
But enough about the weather. Here are some fun things to do around the city…

FASHION SQUARE
 Let’s just say I have never been to a mall before that has so many stores that I like in one place. Nordstrom, Banana, Anthro, J.Crew, Crate and Barrel… you name it, it’s probably there.

OLD TOWN SCOTTSDALE
 
This the touristy area of Scottsdale. It’s mostly filled with art galleries and shops that sell Native American jewelry. You might not find a lot to buy here, but it’s fun to walk around and there are lots of delish restaurants in the area… try The Breakfast Club, The Herb Box, Oregano’s, Salty Señorita, or Saddle Ranch Chop House.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
 
This is where I go to school. It’s the largest university in the nation. It’s the home of Sun Devil sports, if you want to check out some PAC-12 action, and the Gammage Theater, which features Broadway shows each season. We went to see Stomp there at Christmas and it was so much fun! Also, next to the university is Mill Ave. where you will find some shopping and lots of great places to eat. Some of my favorites are La Bocca, Rula Bula, Bison Witches, and NCounter. If you want a treat, I highly recommend Paletas Betty for a Mexican popsicle or Slickables for an ice cream sandwich.

TEMPE TOWN LAKE

If you are near ASU, you should also check out Tempe Town Lake. Yes, it’s man-made but it’s still really pretty. Take a jog or a stroll along the pathways or you can rent a paddle boat if you want to go out on the water. At night, it’s my favorite view in all of Phoenix because of the pretty lights on the bridges above the water. If you are really hard core, you can come do the annual Iron Man hosted at the lake in November.
Spring Training
 
{via}

Okay, I have to admit… I have yet to go to a spring training game. Micah got to go for work this year and said it’s lots of fun. I’ve heard tickets cost only a few bucks and you can sit on the lawn in some of the stadiums. Count me in for next season! {Update: I finally went to a game and it was super fun! Such a laid-back atmosphere and beautiful weather!}

LA GRANDE ORANGE
La Grande Orange {LGO} is hands down my favorite restaurant in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. By day, they serve amazing coffee, delish breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and sushi in a seat-yourself dining room, and they don’t care if you hang out there all day on your computer or with your books. At night, this place turns into a candlelit pizzeria. Oh, and there is gelato shop right next door if you want dessert. I also have to give a little shout-out to the wine bar Postino that sits in LGO’s backyard. If you aren’t in the mood for pizza, I highly recommend Postino’s bruschetta!
HIKING
The Phoenix area is known for its urban hiking — meaning there are a few mountains that pop up right in the middle of the city that are just begging to be climbed. The famous Camelback Mountain towers over Scottsdale and offers a short but intense hike for breathtaking views of the whole valley. Down the road a bit you will find the Phoenix Mountains Preserve with hundreds of trails right in the city. If you are farther south, South  Mountain offers a variety of trails and some fairly easy hikes if you don’t want to sweat too much!

SALT RIVER TUBING

If you are brave enough to venture here in the summer, I highly recommend floating the Salt River. One of the downfalls to the summer heat is that the pools often get too warm to be refreshing. That’s when you escape to the river and take a three hour float. The water is perfect… cool-but-not-too-cold… and the views are breathtaking. You feel like you are in the middle of nowhere, but it’s just 30 minutes outside the city. Salt River Tubing will rent you a tube and shuttle you to and from the river. Don’t forget your sunscreen! *A word of caution: the river can get pretty crowded and rowdy on the weekends, so try to go on a weekday if you can! Tubing is open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
That’s it for now. Come visit our Valley of the Sun! You won’t regret it!
Let me know if you have any other questions down in the comments…

Comments

  1. Love your list! I would highly recommend all your spots! I was even at Postino's on Central last night, one of my faves as well!

  2. Love your list! I would highly recommend all your spots! I was even at Postino's on Central last night, one of my faves as well!

  3. i was in phoenix in february this year, and it was amazing. also, LGO holds a special place in my heart. 🙂 we flew to phoenix the morning after our adoption failed and a fellow blogger, corinne (thesaltyshark.blogspot.com) noticed on instagram that i was there. we got together to meet, and she suggested LGO. i have one of their mugs sitting right here on my desk at this moment! haha!

  5. Great list! Spring Training is one of my favorite things to do! LGO and Postino's are also two of my favorite places to eat. I was so happy when Postino's opened in Gilbert this year!

  6. I've always wanted to go to Arizona, and now I HAVE to! I lived in Nevada as a kid, so I'm accustomed to the dry heat, but I still think I would die in the summer. But 65 in January? YES PLEASE! I don't even know you and I'm coming to visit!

  7. That is awesome for me to read since Phx is only two hours away from me! I wanna try the salt river tubing!

    I am going to Phx tomorrow evening actually! Just a really quick stop in and out for the American Idols concert in Glendale. That is an area of town I am not too familiar with. Any thoughts on places to eat there? Or off of 10 on my way there?

    BTW love fashion square! It is one of my favorite places to be! haha!