Glendale

A DAY IN GLENDALE

A thriving entertainment hub in the West Valley, Glendale is home to two of Arizona’s sports teams, arts and culture and plenty of dining and shopping options at Westgate Entertainment District. In addition, outdoor attractions at Sahuaro Ranch Historical Park Area and Downtown Glendale attract visitors to

enjoy all the city has to offer. 3BEST BETS

EXPLORE HISTORIC SAHUARO RANCH

This 17-acre ranch was developed in 1886, and still has 13 of the original buildings, including the dairy barn and corrals. There are also vineyards, orchards, a barnyard and a rose garden you can explore during your visit. glendaleaz.com

EXPERIENCE WESTGATE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

Visit Westgate and experience many activities including watching sports or playing arcade SHOPPING AND LUNCH IN games at Dave & Buster’s, try axe throwing at LumberjAxes, catch a comedy show at DOWNTOWN GLENDALE Stir Crazy Comedy Club or put your detective There is no shortage of shops to visit in Historic skills to the test at Escape Westgate with Downtown Glendale, which has been named by USA themed escape room games ranging from Today and Sunset Magazine as one of the country’s 10 Terminator 2 Escape to Bill and Ted’s best places for shopping in recent years. From vintage Excellent Escape Room. treasures to unique antiques, painted canvases to westgateaz.com hand blown glassware, and teddy bears to homemade chocolates, no visit to the Valley would be complete without a visit to Historic Downtown Glendale. visitglendale.com

EAT AT HAUS MURPHY’S OF GLENDALE

Check out authentic German cuisine at Haus Murphy’s which was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. hausmurphys.com

PLAY TENNIS AT PASEO RACQUET CENTER

Get active by playing tennis on one of 19 tennis courts, a pro shop, lessons, camps and more. paseoracquetcenter.com

CHEER ON THE CARDINALS

Watch the Arizona Cardinals at one of many sports bars in Glendale including Max’s Sports Bar, Jimbo’s Bar & Grill and The Nest Sports Grill. visitglendale.com

ENJOY PIZZA AT DESERT ROSE

This family-friendly sports pub serves pizza, burgers, entrees and pastas made from local ingredients plus games and entertainment. desertrosepizzaandgastropub.com

BET AT DESERT DIAMOND CASINOS

The state-of-the-art casino features 75,000 square feet of gaming with over 1,000 slots, poker and four restaurants and two bars. ddcaz.com/west-valley

FIND DEALS AT TANGER OUTLETS

Discover great deals from top designers on clothing, accessories, shoes, athleticwear, home decor and more. tangeroutlet.com

PAYSON/PRESCOTTA DAY IN

It’s no wonder that Payson has been called “The Heart of Arizona.” With its historic charm and outdoor wonders, Payson is an outdoor enthusiast paradise with trails perfect for hiking, biking, camping and taking many photos of the stunning landscape. Prescott may be small with a population of about 44,000, but there is plenty to do. Explore the outdoors and stop in at the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary before heading to Whiskey Row for a drink and entertainment.

3BEST BETS

MOGOLLON RIM

The Mogollon Rim is the largest ponderosa pine forest in the United States with stunning views of pines to desert from a 2,000 foot drop. Stretching 200 miles from Yavapai County to New Mexico, Mogollon Rim is a perfect way to reconnect with nature through hiking, biking, horseback riding along its historic system of trails, rock climbing, fishing, boating and camping at Camp Colley. And if you bring your telescope and blankets, a night full of stargazing awaits after your day adventure comes to an end.

HERITAGE PARK paysonrimcountry.com ZOOLOGICAL SANCTUARY

The Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary in Prescott is a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the conservation and protection of native and exotic animals including the endangered Mexican gray wolf, clouded leopard, bobcat, swamp wallaby, llama, miniature horse, ringtailed lemurs and great horned owl. Visitors can enjoy seeing these animals along with a covered picnic pavilion, children’s playground and interactive animal experiences. heritageparkzoo.org WHISKEY ROW Whiskey Row is Prescott’s — not to mention one of Arizona’s — most famous streets. In its heyday, Whiskey Row was lined with saloons that welcomed many well-known cowboys and outlaws on a regular basis. Some of the saloons still operating today include Matt’s Longhorn Saloon, which has been operating since the early 1960’s; Bird Cage Saloon established in 1967 and the Whiskey Row Pub. Today, Whiskey Row is the ideal place for unique shopping, dining and entertainment.

visit-prescott.com

HIKE A SCENIC TRAIL

Take a hike on Thumb Butte, just ten minutes from downtown Prescott. From the top you can see panoramic views of Prescott and many of the surrounding mountain ranges. visit-prescott.com

STRAWBERRY SCHOOLHOUSE

The Strawberry Schoolhouse has been in place since the 1800s and was restored to the museum it is today. pinestrawhs.org/schoolhouse

EAT AT PAPA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Enjoy a variety of pasta dishes, plus pizza, soup, salad and desserts at Prescott’s premier Italian restaurant. papasitalianrestaurant.com

VERDE HOT SPRINGS

Nothing says relaxation like a hot spring. Start with a scenic twoand-a-half-mile hike, and then sit back and let your muscles enjoy the natural heat. paysonrimcountry.com

VISIT THE SHARLOT HALL MUSEUM

The Sharlot Hall Museum is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the Central Highlands of Arizona. sharlot.org

END THE DAY STARGAZING

Spend the evening taking in unobstructed views of the stars and see if you can spot any constellations. paysonrimcountry.com

A DAY IN PINAL COUNTY

Pinal County includes Florence, Casa Grande, Coolidge and Oracle that have historic pasts for residents and visitors alike to explore. An outdoor adventure, dinner at a local restaurant or attractions such as Biosphere 2, Arizona Adventure Ziplines and Goldfield Ghost Town are just a few reasons Pinal County is a must-visit for history buffs and thrill seekers.

3BEST BETS

BIOSPHERE 2

Experience the world’s largest living research center focused on the future of our planet. Biosphere 2 aims to serve as a center for research, outreach and understanding Earth. On your visit, you’ll see seven model ecosystems including a live rainforest, million gallon ocean, tropical savanna grassland and coastal fog desert underneath 6,500 panes of glass.

biosphere2.org

WINDMILL WINERY

Sip on local wines produced in Florence with grapes that thrive in the Arizona desert terrain at this historic, scenic winery in Florence. Established as a brickyard then operated as a dairy farm, Windmill Winery has created a lush oasis to enjoy wine at their wine tasting room and is an award-winning wedding venue.

thewindmillwinery.com

bedillonsrestaurant.com

LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK GOLDFIELD GHOST TOWN

Step back in time at Goldfield Ghost Town as you explore Main Street’s many shops and historic buildings. Attractions include the Superstition Zipline, Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad, Goldfield Mine Tours, a ghost tour, reptile exhibit and shooting gallery, plus Mammoth Steakhouse & Saloon.

ARIZONA ZIPLINE ADVENTURES

Experience thrills on a day or nighttime zipline and enjoy burgers at Peppersauce Kitchen. ziparizona.com

Traverse the Sonoran Desert landscape on one of the six hiking trails and enjoy camping onsite after your day’s adventure. azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman

BEDILLON’S CACTUS GARDEN AND RESTAURANT

This restaurant in Casa Grande serves steaks, seafood and more in a vintage adobe home.

goldfieldghosttown.com

PINAL GEOLOGY AND MINERAL MUSEUM

Discover hundreds of minerals from Arizona and around the world in various exhibits. pinalgeologymuseum.org

FRANCISCO GRANDE HOTEL AND GOLF RESORT

This historic hotel has amenities including a pool, restaurant, lounge and golf course with scenic views. franciscogrande.com

THE MUSEUM OF CASA GRANDE

Explore the heritage of the Casa Grande region in special exhibits, collections and programs. tmocg.org