Every time I visit Phoenix I feel a bit like I’m being pulled in a hundred different directions: I want to catch up with friends and family, and meet everyone’s new dog/cat/baby (that was a new one this time around!) and visit all of my favorite haunts while checking out the hottest new places. Last week’s trip was complicated by the fact that IĀ also wanted to hit up some spring-training baseball games – in fact, it’s the whole reason I planned my vacation for March.
Miraculously, though, I always seem to pack it all in and return to New York feeling refreshed and accomplished. Here’s a little peek at what I got up to during my homecoming.
As soon as I climbed into my brother’s car at the airport, I announced that I was hungry for an In-N-Out cheeseburger. Nevermind that it was 10 a.m., next thing I knew we were stuffing our faces, surrounded by baseball fans and hungover frat boys. Who knew greasy burgers were so popular on Sunday mornings?!
I made it to three baseball games during the week, thanks to my awesome parents who joined me on this trip and footed some little things like game tickets and a hotel room š First up was my beloved Texas Rangers, who put on a hilarious comedy of errors in an entertaining, if disappointing, loss.
This was the view from our hotel room and encompassed everything I love about Phoenix and Arizona: The mountains, the palm trees, the blue skies.
I spent much of National Puppy Day curled up on my best friend’s couch with her pugs, Jak and Sheena. This one here is Jak – Sheena wasn’t quite as fond of the camera (or me, to be honest).
Lux is my favorite coffee shop in Phoenix and has been for years – I used to spend entire days there, going from coffee to mac and cheese to cocktails, curling up with a book or working on school projects or catching up with friends. A return trip seemed necessary, and although they’ve raised their prices, Lux will always have a specialĀ spot in my heart.
My brother declared that I wouldn’t even recognize downtown Phoenix, the neighborhood I called home for six years. While that wasn’tĀ quite the case, I was surprised at all of the street art and local restaurants that have popped up in the fifteen months since my last visit. Dare I say it feels like San Francisco?! Just a little warmer and a lot less crowded!
Of course what I miss most about the Arizona landscape is the beautiful sunsets. They’re just not the same on the east coast! I actually got up in the middle of happy hour to take thisĀ picture – shoutout to patient and understanding friends!
All in all, a successful trip – my fifth of 2016! You can read about my past Phoenix adventures here.
Phoenix has quite the scene right now. Also, how cute is the mural! I really like it
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I was happily surprised by Phoenix this time around! And I love the mural too – it’s on the same block I used to live on, which just blows my mind.
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I’ve never explored Arizona. Great pictures. Thank you for sharing! Food looks yum! š
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Oh, Arizona’s the BEST – although Phoenix wouldn’t be my top choice if not for the nostalgia. Check out Flagstaff and Sedona sometime if you get a chance! Thanks for stopping by!
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I’ve heard a lot about Sedona! Thanks for the heads up! Take care! š
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Woah, you sure fit a lot into this trip! I am super impressed. I’m also pretty intrigued, I must say. The fact that you say Phoenix is a bit like SF…that just pushed Phoenix higher on my to-visit list. I have lately been obsessed with the Southwest, as it seems like a much needed break from the northeast. Blah!
I bet you I would spend all of my time in that coffee shop too. š
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Don’t get me wrong, Phoenix has a long ways to go but as someone who moved there in 2008 I was BLOWN AWAY by how much it’s changed… and as someone who moved to NYC in 2014 I was also blown away by how CHEAP everything was! I highly recommend it but if you’re thinking Southwest (my favorite region!) there are other places I’d suggest over Phoenix – Sedona and Flagstaff in Arizona, small towns in New Mexico, and I’ve heard great things about the national parks in Utah. Definitely a great break from the northeast!
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