As promised, the following is a quick overview of our recent trip to Arizona.
Trying to avoid the summer heat of Phoenix, we decided to visit well before it hits 120 degrees in the shade. This quick little trip was just the ticket to relax, enjoy the pool, visit the botanical garden, dine on great food and enjoy friends again.
We were lucky enough to find a great AirBnB in Mesa. The town house was way too big for our needs and exceeded our expectations with its location, amenities and overall comfort level. Because I needed to do some work, I set up in the dining room and did what I needed to do each morning before going out and exploring.
Our first evening, friends recommended that we have dinner and drinks at The Grille at Las Sendas Golf Club, located in Mesa not far from where we were staying. www.lassendas.com
We were seated in a prime spot to watch the sun slowly disappear past the rocky hills jetting up along side the course. We enjoyed our dinners and cocktails while being amazed at the desert landscape made up of a variety of brush and cactuses, or is it cacti? After dinner and in the golden glow of the day’s last drop of sunlight, we walked past the tee box of the 10th hole and on to the fairway. The desert was lit with a golden hue as we basked the final bit of the day's sunshine. I look forward to coming back and playing the beautiful desert course.
I don’t have a picture, but the next day we met a friend at the Blue Adobe Restaurant for lunch. www.originalblueadobe.com What a treat! We were wanting to try the local Mexican cuisine and didn’t want the glob of beans and rice like so many places offer. The Blue Adobe has “new Mexican” food with a twist on the traditional. I had a combination consisting of an enchilada and a soft taco. It was wonderful and we highly recommend it.
Throughout our visit, we spent time by the pool enjoying the warmth and speaking with some of the residents of the complex. They offered suggestions for local places to go and gave us a glimpse in to life in the desert. Most times, we had the pool to ourselves.
We really wanted to know more about the landscape and and its flora and fauna. We figured the best place to learn and experience nature was at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens. www.dbg.org
We spent a few hours wandering the many paths throughout the various areas of the gardens. Each had their own unique flavor, from The Sonoran Desert Nature Loop to the Desert Wildflower Trail. Each of the four or five paths offered something different. We particularly enjoyed the walk that featured sweeping views of the surrounding valley and distant mountains. We don’t always visit a city's botanical garden, but after this experience, we may change that!
Before departing the garden, we met another friend at its onsite restaurant. It was called "Gertrude’s" and was named after one of the founders of the gardens in 1939. We had a nice leisurely lunch outside overlooking many plants native to Arizona.
Sadly, all good things come to an end but the night before we flew home we had dinner at Postino Wine Cafe. What a great wine and food selection. We made a meal out of small plates and a charcuterie board. Good friends, wine and food are great combination. www.postinowinecafe.com
Trip Monkee Tip: Try the Meatballs and Goat Cheese and Mozzarella and Tomatoes.
We look forward to returning to Phoenix and exploring more of the many interesting things it has to offer. We’ll just wait until the temperature in a bit more mild.
We used to go to Phoenix several times a year and enjoyed the warm, dry climate. Always made new friends there who shared suggestions, like a hayride to a cookout in the desert. Seeing your photos makes us want to return soon. Thank you!
Diane & Cricket