Top 5 Reasons Why Phoenix Should Be In Your Travel Plans This Winter
Beauty is all around Phoenix
Mark
Phoenix has a long history of being a destination for snowbirds, who flock to this desert metropolis to escape the cold from wherever they live up north. But this city is a vacation destination in its own right, with fabulous places to eat, stay, and play day and night. From the fabulous resorts in the Scottsdale area to the nightlife scene in the Melrose District, Phoenix is a top destination for winter travelers who want to enjoy the sun.
Here are our Top 5 recommendations for making the most out of a trip to Phoenix:
The Hotels
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The Phoenix metro area has some of the most gorgeous hotels and resorts in North America, ranging from cozy little properties to sprawling all-inclusive resorts. Most of the famous hotels are in the northeastern area of the metro, particularly in or around Scottsdale, taking advantage of the colorful desert scenery. The Arizona Biltmore, Boulders Resort & Spa, The Phoenician, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, these are legendary names in the world of resorts, where the property itself is the destination. Beyonce and Jay-Z spent their honeymoon at Sanctuary; Lady Gaga was reportedly seen playing golf with heavy metal singer Alice Cooper at the Arizona Biltmore. This is world-class glamour, with a side of cacti.
The good news is, staying overnight at these resorts is not necessary for experiencing their grandeur. Book a spa treatment, or reserve a table at one of the restaurants, and guests can spend time exploring the grounds and soaking up the majestic views of the desert. Or book a pool pass for the day through ResortPass.com to enjoy the pool and poolside cocktails, like the magnificent pool at The Phoenician (photo above).
The Food
Who knew Phoenix was a destination for foodies? Phoenix has a food scene that is rich with cultural heritage, creating a New American fusion that blends the styles and flavors of Native American, Mexican, and a melange of other cultures of the various people who have migrated to this sunny desert destination. Fry Bread House is a casual counter service restaurant serving authentic Native American dishes, like fry bread tacos, chili stew, and tamales. Mi Patio and El Barrio are longstanding Mexican restaurants with legions of local fans.
There are three locations of French bakery JL Patisserie, which shot to social media fame after an aspiring (and irrelevant) influencer attempted to get hired for promotional posts, but was rejected, and she then gave them a negative review; the bakery fought back online, the resulting media storm highlighted how amazing these bakeries actually are, and lines now stretch out their doors. Seriously, go get a croissant and some coffee, it’s worth the wait.
Valentine serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a wonderful fusion of Sonoran and classic American dishes, sourcing many local ingredients like Sonoran wheat, prickly pear gochujang, and locally distilled liquors in the cocktails. (The hot dog is also absolutely delicious.) The menu may seem complicated, but the vibe is very relaxed and user-friendly, and the staff is fantastic. The restaurant is in a cute Mid-Century Modern building, near the Melrose gay bar district.
Speaking of the gay district…
The Nightlife
The gay bar scene in Phoenix is centered mostly in the Melrose District, where bars like Charlie’s and Stacey’s at Melrose have been mainstays in the nightlife scene for many years. Anvil is Phoenix’s leather bar, and Kobalt features popular drag shows. Phoenix is fortunate to have a lesbian bar, Boycott Bar, which can get rowdy.
Related: Check out the gay bars in Phoenix
Beyond the gay scene, Phoenix has several award-winning bars that have been recognized nationally for their cocktail creations. Carry On welcomes patrons into a 1970s jumbo jet, for a 90-minuted curated cocktail experience that is legitimately delicious. Bitter and Twisted has won a long list of awards for their cocktail menu, which ranges from inventive cocktails to the simplicity of a good glass of wine.
For true mixology aficionados, Little Rituals is a must-visit: they serve an array of cocktails with freshly-made ingredients, with flavors that are rich and inventive but still fun to drink. Little Rituals has won the Spirited Award for Best Hotel Bar, it has been nominated for James Beard awards, and has been recognized by critics for its creative menu. This bar is located on the 4th Floor inside of a Residence Inn in Downtown Phoenix, which is an uncommon setting for such a prestigious venue, but the city views at night are quite nice.
Speaking of nice views…
The Sky
With all of that open space, and the lack of stormy weather, Phoenix is a great place to take a hot air balloon ride, and soak in the expansive views of the gorgeous desert. There are lots of hot air balloon charter companies in Arizona, like Rainbow Ryders (the name doesn’t have any hidden meaning about the LGBTQ “rainbow”, sorry) who take guests on sky tours above the desert, giving a stunning perspective of the gorgeous colors of the mountains and valleys around Phoenix. The rides are usually around $200 per person, and may include a glass of champagne just for fun.
Speaking of looking at the desert…
The Desert
The City of Phoenix is a very large, spread out metropolis, and much of the city is covered by the asphalt and concrete of roads and parking lots. But the surrounding area can be gorgeous, often stunning, with desert landscapes and open blue sky. Check out the views of the desert from Papago Park, which has some easy hiking trails, which are nice when the weather is cooler in the winter months. There are also amazing views of the desert sunsets from Dobbins Lookout, and hikers enjoy Camelback Mountain, although those trails can be somewhat challenging. For a less challenging experience, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve has lovely walking paths amongst the cacti, and some of the trails are ADA accessible. Maricopa Trail in White Tank Mountain Regional Park (photo above) is east of the city and has lovely trails for saguaro-spotting.
Common sense caveat: This is a desert. At least half of the year, daily temperatures are over 100 degrees. The sun is very bright, and the surrounding desert rocks radiate a lot of heat. Regular mortals who don’t live in the desert full-time should not hike in the Phoenix heat. White Tank Mountain Regional Park
To enjoy the desert from the confines of air conditioning, check out the Wrigley Mansion, adjacent to the Arizona Biltmore. Formerly a home of the wealthy Wrigley family of chewing gum fame, the Wrigley Mansion is now a collection of restaurants and event venues, perched atop a hill that opens to expansive views of the surrounding desert and mountains. The restaurants are open to the public, although reservations are highly recommended. The owner’s daughter likes to sing jazz, so they have jazz nights on Thursdays and sometimes she is the singer.
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