If you're interested in hiking around the Phoenix area, please see our recommendations:

NOTE - Hiking in Phoenix is beautiful, but it can also be rocky and strenuous. Wear close-toed shoes and bring extra water. The sun is strong here!

Easy Difficulty:

- Hole in the Rock at Papago Park (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hole-in-the-rock-trail)

- Bajada Nature Trail

(https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/trailhead-main/gateway)

- Brown's Ranch Trailhead

(https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/browns-ranch-short-loop)

Moderate Difficulty:

- Gateway Loop Trail (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/gateway-loop-trail)

- Fatman's Pass (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/hidden-valley-trail-via-mormon-trail)

- Dobbin's Lookout (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/holbert-trail-to-dobbins-lookout)

Hard Difficulty:

- Piestawa Peak (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/piestewa-peak-summit-trail-300)

- Tom's Thumb (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/toms-thumb-trail-to-lookout)

- Camelback (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/camelback-mountain-via-echo-canyon-trail)

- Flatiron (https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/flatiron-via-siphon-draw-trail)

Other:

- Superstition Mountains

- Lost Dutchman State Park

https://www.alltrails.com/us/arizona/phoenix

Our favorite places to eat:

Hispanic

- La Santisima

- Diego Pops

- Barrio Cafe

- El Salvadoreno

- Gadzooks Enchiladas

- Habaneros Mexican Grill

- Maskadores Taco Shop

Ethiopian:

- Authentic Ethio African Spices

Ice Cream

- Sweet Republic

- The Screamery

Southeast Asian

- Unphởgettable

- Happy Bao's

- Sosoba

- The Clever Koi

- Krua Thai

- Ramenhood

- Thai House

- La's Thai Cuisine

- Obon Ramen

Indian

- Udupi

- Hyderabad House

- Taj Mahal

- Sweet Magic

- Pastries and Chaat Bell Rd

American

- Hopdoddy

- True Food Kitchen

Pizza

- Pizzeria Bianco

- Venezias

- Doughbird

Middle Eastern

- Golden Restaurant and Bakery

- Saba's Mediterranean Kitchen

- AZ Kabob

- Uptown Farmers' Market

- Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market

- Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market

- Songbird Coffee & Tea House

- Cartel Coffee Lab

- Lux Central

- Desert Botanical Gardens

- Musical Instrument Museum

- Heard Museum

- Snakes and Lattes Board Game Cafe/Bar

Shopping

- Oldtown Scottsdale (Wild West themed shopping area)

- Desert Ridge

- Kierland/Scottsdale Quarter

- Fashion Square

- The Churchill

- Roosevelt Row (the main street of downtown Phoenix)

- Oldtown Scottsdale (Lots of bars along Scottsdale Rd between Camelback and Osborn)

- Whining Pig

- Bonus Round

- Buffalo Chip (western themed bar)

- First Friday happens in downtown the first of every month.

- Tap That Downtown

- The Casual Pint

- Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.

- Greenwood Brewing Co.

- Huss Brewing Co. Taproom

- Wren House Brewing Co.

- SanTan Brewing Company

- Four Peaks Brewing Co.

If you're in the area for a little longer, there are some really awesome places within a short drive!

2-3 hour drive

- Sedona: This is a nature focused town with amazing red rock formations and hiking.

- Flagstaff: This is a town in the mountains where people go to beat the heat. It's covered with pine trees and fun local businesses.

- Jerome: If you're up by Sedona/Flagstaff, this is a little town up in the mountains known for it's haunted hotel hospital and saloon bars.

- Tucson: This is home to a number of state and national parks, as well as Mt. Lemmon. There's a small historic downtown area and lots of beautiful nature.

3-4 hour drive

- Grand Canyon: Yes, we've done it in a day. The south rim has the main tourist center and can be reached in about 3.5 hours.

- Petrified Forest: Another national park full of, you guessed it - petrified trees.

- Joshua Tree: A national park in California known for it's unique trees.

5-8 hour drive

For anyone seriously considering this section, you're probably making a vacation of this trip. We can recommend all sorts of fun things, so feel free to reach out to us. The border of AZ/UT has some spectacular nature!

- Monument Valley: Striking rock formations in the middle of nowhere

- Canyon de Chelle: It's like a mini grand canyon

- Bryce/Zion National Parks: Two of the more famous parks in Utah

- White Sands National Park: Gorgeous park in New Mexico

- Death Valley: Haven't actually been...but it's famous

- Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego: All within about a 6 hour drive