Description:
Only have two days to spend in Phoenix? The Valley of the Sun is famous for its suburban sprawl, which can make it difficult for visitors to navigate the city and uncover some of its highlights. Here are the places the locals go when they want to experience the best of their city.
Photo courtesy of Sean Horan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/combusean/2569113678/
View Iternary mapDay Note:
If you only have two days in town, start by fueling up at one of Phoenix's favorite breakfast joints, Matt's Big Breakfast. Get a sweeping view of the valley from atop Piestewa Peak (worth the hike), then reward yourself with an early dinner at Pizzeria Bianco. Relax after a long day of sight-seeing on the rooftop deck and lounge at the Clarendon, where you can take in one of those famous Arizona sunsets.
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Matt's Big Breakfast
Contact:
- (602) 254-1074
- visit website
Location:
- 801 North 1st Street
- Phoenix
- Phoenix,AZ85004
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Map
Description:
On any given weekend morning, you are likely to spot a long line streaming outside a tiny brick house on First Street in downtown Phoenix. What's all the fuss about? The fuss is Matt's Big Breakfast, one of downtown's perennially popular breakfast spots. The menu features classic breakfast platters made with organic and local ingredients. Try The Five Spot, one egg and two slices of thick-cut bacon, or The Chop and Chick, two eggs and a skillet-seared Iowa pork rib-chop. Bring a friend and line up to enjoy the retro charm of this unique downtown diner.
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Piestewa Peak
Contact:
- +1 602 254 6500
- visit website
Location:
- 2800 East Squaw Peak Lane
- Phoenix,AZ85016
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Map
Description:
Piestewa Peak is the jewel of the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area, with dozens of trails leading to this popular summit. The challenging hike to the base of the 2,608-foot peak will reward you with incredible views of downtown Phoenix and the surrounding valley. Although a popular Valley hiking destination, there is a good chance you'll enjoy some desert solitude if you come on a weekday. Don't forget your camera--even the most casual hiker will probably want to preserve part of this view.
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Pizzeria Bianco
Contact:
- 1 602 258 8300
- visit website
Location:
- 623 East Adams Street
- (between Seventh and Adams streets)
- Phoenix,AZ85004
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Map
- user rating
Description:
Chris Bianco became a local celebrity of sorts when his exquisite, wood-fired pizza caught the attention of a New York food critic, who promptly named it the best pizza in the United States. Since then, lines of foodies have lined up outside of Pizzeria Bianco to revel in the simplicity, texture, and flavors of Bianco's pizza creations. Don't let the unassuming small house in downtown Phoenix fool you: there is a lot going on inside.
Day Note:
Start your second day in Phoenix by having breakfast or brunch under the shade of the pecan groves at The Farm at South Mountain. See some amazing Native American art at the Heard Museum, then head north to experience the Sonoran Desert at the Desert Botanical Garden. You can't leave town without enjoying some authentic Mexican food. You'll find fresh, creative Mexican dishes at the Barrio Cafe.
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The Farm at South Mountain
Contact:
- 1 602 276 6360
- visit website
Location:
- 6106 South 32nd Street
- (southwest of Southern Avenue & 32nd Street)
- Phoenix,AZ85040
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Map
- user rating
Description:
The Farm at South Mountain is Phoenix's popular country-flavored getaway. Located just a few miles south of downtown, this quiet ten-acre property will make you feel as if you traveled to another place altogether. Hundreds of pecan trees create an oasis of shade and calm, creating one of the best places in town to enjoy a picnic. The Farm is home to several restaurants, including The Farm Kitchen, featuring sandwiches, salads and other wholesome fare. Quiessence, also located on the property, offers daily-changing menus featuring the freshest local ingredients. The Morning Glory Cafe is the Farm's cozy breakfast spot, playing hosting to one of the best and most popular brunches in town.
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Heard Museum
Contact:
- +1 602 252 8848
- visit website
Location:
- 2301 N. Central Ave
- East side of Central, between Thomas & McDowell Roads
- Phoenix,AZ85004
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Map
- user rating
Description:
The Heard Museum is one of Phoenix's biggest cultural treasures. Founded by pioneer settlers Dwight and Maie Heard, the couple built a large, Spanish-style building in which to house their growing collection of Native American art. Today, their home is one of the best museums in Phoenix, with galleries filled with textiles, jewelry, paintings, pottery, statuary, kachinas, and other art artifacts representing tribes from across the Americas. The Heard is also a hub of culture events, sponsoring an ongoing film series and hosting numerous Indian art and dance events throughout the year.
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Desert Botanical Gardens
Contact:
- +1 480 941 1225
- visit website
Location:
- 1201 North Galvin Parkway
- (Southeast of McDowell Road & 64th Street)
- Phoenix,AZ85008
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Map
- user rating
Description:
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is handily one of the city's best attractions. The Sonoran Desert comes to life in the miles of paved garden paths, dusty nature trails, and interpretive displays. In recent years, the Garden has become a nexus of cultural activity, hosting wine tastings, seasonal fairs, music in the garden series, and outdoor art exhibits from world-renown artist. Truly one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Valley of the Sun.
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Barrio Cafe
Contact:
- +1 602 636 0240
- visit website
Location:
- 2814 North 16th Street
- 1 1/2 Blocks South of Thomas Road
- Phoenix,AZ85006
-
Map
Description:
While other Phoenix-area Mexican restaurants continue to labor under the premise that all dishes must be drowned in yellow cheese, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza of the Barrio Cafe knows better. Come here for fresh, inventive takes on old classics, as well as traditional, vegetable-rich Mexican dishes that usually don't get the menu space they deserve at more mainstream chain restaurants. The ambiance is cozy and friendly, perfect for a night out with friends or a significant other.
- Destination(s): Phoenix
- Type: Best of...,Cool and Hip,First time visit
- 2 DAYS
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