100 Things to Do in Phoenix Before You Die

by Christine Bailey

Overview

The sixth-largest city in the U.S., Phoenix is home to more than 1.4 million people. The metropolitan area encompasses 4.3 million residents across more than 2,000 square miles, and includes the cities of Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler. Known for its soaring temperatures as much as its soaring saguaro cacti, found only in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix beckons the rest of the country from about October when the summer heat begins to loosen its hold until almost May when temperatures begin to climb once again. It is the climate - one of Arizona's 5 C's that brings more than 16 million visitors here every year. Few can resist the expansive blue skies, breathtaking mountain views and countless outdoor adventures from tee time on one of 200 golf courses to rugged mountain climbs that deliver panoramic views of the Sonoran Desert. So whether you're here for a short visit, a few months in winter or you've decided to make this beautiful desert oasis home, 100 Things to Do in Phoenix Before You Die is filled with plenty of opportunities to discover the best of what Phoenix has to offer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681060170
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	10/01/2015
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	684,346
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface xi

How Others See Us xii

Dedication xiii

Food and Drink 1

Dine down in the Barrio at Barrio Cafe 2

Feast on Food Truck Fridays 3

Dig into the Best Pizza in the Southwest 4

Sip an Umbrella Drink Poolside at One of the Resort Pools 6

See 360-Degree Desert Views at Compass Arizona Grill 7

Dine Rat-Pack Style at Durant's 8

Eat the Best New Mexican Cuisine in Arizona at Richardson's 10

Treat Yourself to Dinner al the Best French Restaurant in the Valley 11

Savor the Honey Vanilla Latte at Giant Coffee 12

Design a Donut at Fractured Prune Doughnuts 13

Quench Your Thirst at a Local Landmark 14

Take a Culinary Journey through the Desert at Arizona's Only AAA Five-Diamond Restaurant 15

Roast S'mores at Firesky Resort & Spa 16

Grab Some Grub at Last Drop Bar at LON's at the Hermosa 17

Taste the Rainbow at the Phoenix Public Market Cafe 18

Stop in for Griddlecakes at Matt's Big Breakfast 19

Take the Olive Oil Tour at Queen Creek Olive Mill 20

Tour the Family-Owned Cerreta Candy Company 22

Step down into the Salt Cellar for Seafood 23

Lunch at T. Cook's in the Shadow of Camelback Mountain 24

Arizona Adventures and Side Trips 27

Go Off-Roading with Green Zebra Tours 28

Hike, Slide, Swim, Climb, and Rappel Your Way through Salome Canyon 29

Watch the Arizona Sunset from Rustler's Rooste at South Mountain 30

Explore the Desert at Night at the Desert Botanical Garden 31

Enjoy Beer and Birds at Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center 32

Explore Arizona's Wine Country 33

Watch the Sun Rise above the Desert Floor from a Hot Air Balloon 34

Play Chicken on the Red Rocks 35

Lose Yourself in the Grandest Canyon in the World 36

Hear the Tale of the Lost Dutchman's Gold at Goldfield Ghost Town 37

Go Tubing down the Salt River 38

Take a Hair-Raising Ride along the Historic Apache Trail 40

Go Eight-Seconds Friday Nights at the Buffalo Chip 42

Watch the Desert Come Alive in March at Boyce Thompson Arboretum 43

Hike Oak Creek Canyon's West Fork Trail in the Fall 44

Tiger Splash out of Africa 46

Take a Sunrise Horseback Ride to Your Breakfast in Saguaro National Park 47

Glide through the Pima Air and Space Museum 48

Visit the Thriving Ghost Town of Jerome, Arizona 50

Tour the Ghostly History of Arizona's Territorial Capital 52

Music and Entertainment 55

Sample Your way through the Annual Chocolate Affaire in Glendale 56

Boogie the Night Away at the Rhythm Room 57

Explore the Cultures of the World with Your Ears at MTM 58

Revel in an Intimate Musical Performance at TCA Art Gallery 60

Listen to Live Music Friday Nights at the Desert Botanical Garden 61

Celebrate the Season with Lights 62

Get Your Groove on at Talking Stick Resort 64

Line up for Country Line Dancing Lessons at HandlebarJ in Scottsdale 65

Ride the Light Rail for a Night on the Town 66

Partake in Books and Brew at Changing Hands in Central Phoenix 67

Rock out to Outlaw Country Music at the Rusty Spur 68

Sip a Cappuccino at Jazz Night at Gold Bar in Tempe 70

Amble down the Fairway at the Arizona State Fair 72

Gamble at the Casinos 74

Night at the Improv in Tempe 76

Withstand the Forces of Nature at the Arizona Science Center 77

Slip and Slide Your Way through the Summer Heat 78

Watch Wide-Eyed as the Fighter Jets Fly by at the Luke Days Air Show 80

Climb Rock Walls at Phoenix Rock Gym 81

Surf the Big Waves in the Desert 82

Culture and History 85

Encounter Arizona's Native American Cultures with Native Trails 86

Witness the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest 87

Enjoy an Outdoor Evening Performance of Ballet under the Stars 88

Check out the Cowboy Art at the Phoenix Art Museum 90

Listen to the Phoenix Symphony Bring Music to Life 91

Meet the Artist in Residence at LON's at the Hermosa 92

Artwalk the Line through Scottsdale's Arts District 93

Take the Free Local Motion Trolley Tour of Downtown Scottsdale 94

Tour Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights 96

First Friday in Roosevelt Row District 97

Attend the Annual Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival 98

Catch a Glimpse of Taliesin's Fire-Breathing Dragon 99

Discover Phoenix's Historic Districts 100

Tour Phoenix at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century 101

Hail the Heroes at the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting 102

Climb to the Lower Cliff Dwellings at Tonto National Park 103

Start at the Little Red Schoolhouse 104

Stray off the Beaten Path with Stray Cat Theatre 105

Wander through Time at the Arizona Museum of Natural History 106

Take the Magical History Tour of the Hotel Valley Ho 107

Sports and Recreation 109

Watch the Cubbies Play a Spring Training Game at Sloan Park 110

Snag a Front Row Seat at the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field 112

Cheer on (or Boo) Your Favorite Golfer on the 16th Hole at the Waste Management Open 113

Tee off at Troon North 114

Cheer on the ASU Sun Devils 115

Tour University of Phoenix Stadium Where the Arizona Cardinals Play 116

Walk, Bike, or Run the Trails beside the Scenic Arizona Canals 117

Head to the Top of Piestewa Peak for a 360-Degree View 118

Mountain Bike through the Country's Largest City Park 120

Catch the City View from Camelback Mountain 122

Shopping and Fashion 125

Enjoy Arizona's Open-Air Shopping Experiences 126

Meet the Author at Changing Hands Bookstore 127

Buy Locally at the Farmers' Markets 128

Discover Unique Finds at These Valley Gift Shops 129

Stroll through Historic Glendale 130

Indulge Your Senses with an Uber-Relaxing Spa Treatment 131

Saddle up at the Cowboy Shops in Old Town Scottsdale 132

Discover Downtown Tempe 134

Feed Your Passion for Fashion at Scottsdale Fashion Square 135

Shop Downtown Chandler 136

Suggested Itineraries 138

Activities by Season 141

Index 143