Long weekend in Phoenix, AZ
February 21-25, 2025
Quick summary: We have friends in Phoenix / Scottsdale area and spent a long weekend taking in the sights and SUN!
Where we stayed
We stayed with friends so don’t have great recommendations on where to stay. However, I think the best way is to determine what you want to do. If you want to be able to get out of the city quickly to head to the desert to hike, we stayed in Arcadia area, near Camelback hiking entrances. We were 15-17 minutes from the airport and were on the interstate quickly when we headed out to the Superstition Mountains.
What we ate
Our friends live in the area and took us to some really great restaurants. Here’s what we recommend:
Mexican: We went to Historic Old Town Scottsdale for dinner. We chose Frank & Lupé’s for dinner. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong in that neighborhood. We all loved our dinners and ordered pitcher’s of house margaritas for the table. We ate outside in the back. It was well lit and comfortable in February. We had a party of 10, 6 adults, 4 kids. It’s great for a large group and sitting outdoors worked well for the kids.
Pre-dinner drinks: Before going to Buck & Rider, the ladies went to The Grand Ambassador Hotel for drinks. This is a new hotel and is the place to be at the moment. There is often a line to get in and they prioritize guests. The night we visited, the Lobby Bar was full so they escorted people to the pool bar. We’re Wisconsinites so we were fine with that! It was a lovely evening, perfect weather and a really nice place to sit. We had a drink and then were on our way to the restaurant.
Seafood: For adult’s only night, we chose a seafood restaurant. Buck & Rider – the Camelback / Phoenix location was an excellent choice. They had fantastic cocktail and wine options. The ladies shared plates and we highly recommend the ceviché, caesar salad, and tuna tartare. We wanted the Ahi Tuna Crispy Rice but they were out! Our friend highly recommends ordering it if they have it. We were disappointed they were out but at least not disappointed in our other options. The gentlemen chose swordfish, snapper, and steak – all were very pleased!
Bar & Grill: If you need a more relaxed location, want a beautiful view, and need a spot the kiddos can run around, we recommend Lou’s Bar & Grill at Papago Golf Club. It’s a big venue and has indoor / outdoor seating. They also have a fenced in grassy area which is GREAT for entertaining the kids, giving the adults some time to relax. We had a big variety of food from salads, to salmon, to pizza, and mac & cheese. It was all delicious. And the sunset over the golf course wasn’t half bad either. They also had live music. Really great place, whether a couple, group, or family.
After-dinner drinks: This was one of the coolest places we’ve ever been! Undertow Arcadia has themed areas of a 1920’s European Train Car and a colonial pirate ship. There might be one more areas, but this what we could see when we came in. Reservations are required and your reservation is timed. It’s worth it! The drinks were amazing and it was one of the coolest venues we’ve ever been in.
What we did
We really only had three full days in Arizona so we tried to find ways to be active and to relax. Here’s what we did:
Infrared yoga: Thursday morning we went to Blue Buddha Yoga Collective. The instructor Yumi and coffee shop staff were incredibly welcoming. As were the students. The class was packed! If you prefer heated yoga and live in the area or are visiting, we highly recommend you check this place out! Either for coffee or yoga!
Ladies spa day at Royal Palms Resort & Spa: We found a Groupon for a massage at Royal Palms, which was very close to where our host lived. We each had a massage, then sat by the pool for drinks and lunch. Drinks were awesome and lunch was fresh, healthy, and delicious. Also really large portions so we shared.
Gents only golf day at Arizona Biltmore Golf Club: The guys had a golf day at Biltmore. Sean thought it was a nice course!
Family day at Desert Botanical Garden: This was a great way to kill a few hours and family friendly. The gardens are beautiful and walkable. The staff were friendly, helpful, and there are some great activities geared towards the kiddos.
Hiking at Superstition Mountains: We did a day trip out to Superstition Mountains. We did about a 5 mile hike. You can enter at Lost Dutchman State Park and pay the park pass fee. The park was at capacity when we were there so we had to park .3 miles down the road and hike in from there.
Goldfield Ghost Town: This is an old mining town they have kept alive with a train, live old west style gun shows, and old west buildings/shops. It’s a fun place to spend a couple of hours and the kids enjoyed it.
