A suburb travel guide, what?? Yes, friends! This weekend, Eric and I took a quick trip to Arizona to visit Eric’s brother and sister-in-law, P & K. It was a fun, and very over due, sibling weekend together!
While the city most folks will recognize is Phoenix (about 20 min away), P & K technically live in a large town nearby called Gilbert. Fun fact, Gilbert is referred to as Phoenix’s coolest suburb! Throughout the trip, we bopped around lots of towns and fun spots. The current AZ winter temps reminded us of early Chicago summer, ha!
The desert weather meant beautiful 70 degree days and cool evenings. The dry climate is also good news for allergy prone-folks and curly hair gals (*raising my hand*). Humidity is basically non-existent. #praise
I’ve rounded up our favorite activities! If you live somewhere chilly right now, you might feel inspired by all the sunshine and outdoor fun to book a weekend escape – like us. 🙂
{THINGS TO DO}
Goldfield Ghost Town // A small mining town that looks like it’s been trapped in time! We only spent a brief time here, but the sunset and mountain views were gorgeous. Grab a drink or burger at Mammoth Saloon, then check out the shops and historic buildings. Cue major wild west vibes.
Golf // We had never been golfing before, but P & K were the perfect first-time hosts at Mountain Brook Golf Club! We played “best ball scramble,” which meant going off the best swing, rather than playing off your individual ball every time – a hard idea when you’ve never swung a golf club before! It was the perfect way to keep the game moving and get good practice in.
For all you talented friends who are golfing pros, you already know that it’s such a relaxing way to spend the day outside! I would 100% recommend as a way to soak up the weather and pretty views.
Hike // We did the Goldmine Hike at the San Tan Mountain Regional Park – an easy trail that took about 1.5 hours! We were just fine in our normal running shoes, as opposed to actual hiking boots, but this would totally vary on level of trail difficulty, so make sure to research the route you pick. My favorite part? The pretty cacti and cute pups.
Cacti Lovers Dream // Ok, so less of an official thing to do, and more of just an FYI. I love cacti, because they’re so darn cute (and really the only plant I can keep alive). Regardless, all the different varieties of cacti + desert plants make a total point of interest for any visitor – and great photo opps!
{PLACES TO EAT}
Downtown Gilbert (Heritage District) // Quaint and cute! You’ll find restaurants, bars, and coffee shops to bounce around in. We grabbed tasty, elevated bar food at Whiskey Row (a Dierks Bentley gastropub for any country fans out there). Then, tasty soft serve from Topo down the block. P & K said Joe’s Real BBQ & Postinos East are good too!
The Brickyard // This spot in downtown Chandler is serving up tasty tapas that cross cuisine lines and excellent cocktails. It was the perfect location for a Valentine’s Day double date. We got cozy near the fireplace and heaters on their outdoor patio. Literally, could not believe we were outdoors in February in short sleeves/straps!
BoSa Donuts // You know we had to find a donut shop for E! I’m very picky about my Old Fashions, and these were indeed delicious. Nothing fancy, just good ol’ fashioned treats. Multiple locations in the area.
Hope you found something in this round up that excited you! Have you ever been to this area of Arizona?
If you’re hungry for more travel guides, check out some of my favorites on Days By Day: 3 Days in Washington D.C. | Denver Breweries | NYC Favorites.
