The Best Of Phoenix/Scottsdale
We really made the most of our short week in Arizona. We started and ended in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area so here are our favorites for your next trip!
Hot Air Expeditions
Alright, I’m starting here because this hands down takes the cake as the highlight of our trip. We had the amazing opportunity of taking flight in a hot air balloon with Hot Air Expeditions and enjoying the gorgeous sunrise over Arizona.
The day started quite early, checking in at 6:30am and then we headed out to the starting zone. Everyone was super friendly and took necessary Covid precautions, temperatures were also taken before heading out. Derrick was our driver, Stephanie and Justin were also part of our crew and best of all, Jonathan our pilot. He did such a fantastic job and knows his sh*t!
We were in the air for about an hour and I can’t even describe the feeling. It was so calming and soothing. If you are afraid of heights or scared, don’t be. I felt so incredibly safe and you couldn’t even tell you were moving by how effortlessly Jonathan flew us. We watched the sun rise and the other balloons in the distance. It felt like a dream.
After the hour was up we headed back down and they set up a breakfast for us right there in the middle of the desert full of fresh fruit, birthday cake for those we celebrated and best of all, CHAMPAGNE! Jonathan gave a lovely toast, that was also printed on our glasses that we obviously had to buy because they are awesome, and we had such a swell time! I CAN’T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH!
Where To Stay
Obviously when planning a trip, a very important factor is where to stay. After visiting Williams and Sedona we decided to make our way back towards Phoenix and stay in Scottsdale for a few days.
We stayed at Sonesta Suites where all rooms are suits and they have a gorgeous outdoor space and HOT TUB! We didn’t spend a whole lot of time there but the hot tub was nice for a mid day refresh and they provided a safe and free breakfast which was great. Scottsdale has many fabulous options for accommodations however we felt this was the best deal for affordable but still great amenities.
Hiking
SanTan Mountain
I always think hiking at sunrise is the time to go, however hiking SanTan at sunset is a whole new experience. It’s a pretty easy and short hike except for last little bit before the peak being pretty steep. As we got to the top we had the sun setting behind us and the moon rising in front of us and for a hot second we could see them both and it was incredible! We really enjoyed it all and it was a great start to our trip!
Now lets explore our favorites for food and drink
Eating out was something we were being very careful about during our stay due to the pandemic, however we felt very safe at the places listed below. It is Important to mention as well that all had outdoor seating avaialble which was a huge plus for us.
I would have to say this was my favorite spot for lunch. Not only are the tacos absolutely delicious, but the vibe is hands down the vibest! It wasn’t too busy which was great, we shared some chicken and shrimp tacos. The area has a lot of seating for being so small, the employees were so kind and you can’t beat the photo opps.
The Drunk Munk
Best Sunday Happy Hour I’ve ever ever experienced. We stopped by for a quick bite, shrimp tempura rolls and a drink, but came back just a few hours later because everything was so good and you couldn’t beat the prices. It is a tiki vibe place with a dark and viby inside and outdoor seating with heaters too.
Barrio Queen
We visited the Barrio Queen out towards Queen Creek, however the orignal location is in Old Town Scottsdale.We had margaritas and their table side quac which had pomegranates in it and it added such unique refreshing flavor to it! For dinner, Keaton had the Mariscos Enchiladas which were crab and shrimp on blue corn tortillas enchiladas. I had a variety of tacos, Camaron, blank and blank and everything was FIRE! Highly recommend!
Culinary Dropout
We asked many friends for their top picks and this was many of theirs. We had great drinks and shared their famous pretzels bites. The atmosphere is fantastic but I have to say I was not impressed with the service. We enjoyed everything we ordered but nothing super special and the server just seemed like he didn’t care for helping us. I would definitely still give them another chance for everyone had nothing but great things to say.
Olive Mill
Olive Mill was a great little place for brunch. This is located more towards Queen Creek. It was a market style place with a ton of seating outdoors super spread out. They are known for their olives and olive oil but had a ton of great purchases inside!
We ordered a variety of plates from French toast, to the Olive Mill Basic breakfast and everything was great! I also ordered a mimosa flight which was delicious!
We had some time to kill before the airport so Keaton and I drove near the Desert Botanical Garden and walked around a small path they had. I had a goal of taking a photo with a cactus and we got it just in time. Truly was such a wonderful trip and I can’t wait to get back!
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