Phoenix - March 2015

Normally, March is an excellent time to leave the wet and gray Sacramento winters and head to Phoenix, AZ for a warm, sunny week of baseball. Our winter has been dry and sunny, so the baseball is still the main reason to pack the bags for a quick vacation to the Valley of the Sun for Spring Training baseball. Thousands of other people have the same idea, so be prepared to pay a lot of money and deal with massive crowds, especially when cheering on the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants!

On this trip, the weather in Phoenix was surprisingly cool and wet. The desert always smells great after a fresh rain, and the cooler temperatures made baseball much easier. The rain stayed away from my games and eventually receded. This made the desert come alive in spring colors and blooms unique to any other place in the world.

I decided to start my day with a nice day baseball game in Phoenix with my Giants playing the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers play at the Maryvale Baseball Park in West Phoenix. The stadium is very nice, but they quickly become overwhelmed with extremely long lines inside the park and difficult parking.

The neighborhood is not the prettiest or richest, so it does scare off some of those who cannot stand looking at reality on their vacations. After a few home runs and a sausage race, the Giants pulled off a 3-2 victory, and it was time to head off to meet friends and continue my quest.

The Phoenix Coyotes are now the Arizona Coyotes which now makes sense since the team has been playing in Glendale for many years. Maybe the San Francisco 49ers will take over the Golden State 49ers name if and when the Warriors become a San Francisco team?

The Gila River Arena is a beautiful place to watch a hockey game - probably among the best in the NHL - and should be a top spot for any visiting fans. Unfortunately, the Coyotes have been struggling for the past few seasons, and the Colorado Avalanche defeated us 5-2. And there was no fight. Boo!

With a day of sports out of the day, it was time to hit some museums and restaurants to complete the experience. I was staying in the northern part of Phoenix, so it was easy to pop over to the Musical Instrument Museum. This world-class museum is nestled in the desert of North Phoenix and is not only gorgeous, but houses an expansive collection of musical instruments from around the world and across all time.

The admission is steep, but includes an audio guide that syncs with the displays to allow you to hear the instruments being played. It is like a continuous concert and can easily suck you in for hours. They also have a section where you can play instruments yourself and many concerts. Always an amazing place.

I have been dreaming of a fry bread taco for several weeks. Fortunately, I was able to make the drive to the Fry Bread House to indulge. Above is a Combination Taco with New Mexico red chili beef, refried beans, cheese, and lettuce. The fry bread is tender, flaky, and perfect. Yum! They are moving in a few weeks, but find them. You will not be sorry, except if you forget your Zantac.

This trip was extra special in that I got to see one of my college friend's successful glass business in action. He operates Recast Glass online and at the Phoenix Open Air Market and recycles and repurposes wine and liquor bottles into many cool and interesting things. Make sure to check him out before they are all gone! The market is also really nice and a good option for anybody in Phoenix on a Saturday morning.

Vacations always end, but fortunately the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is always a nice place to begin and end your journey. Terminal 4 - where US Airways & Southwest operate - is the newest and nicest terminal with lots of public art and interesting shops and restaurants. The above mural decorates the hallway linking the terminal to the light rail station and other destinations. If you are ever stuck here, you can get a nice workout walking all the moving walkways around the terminal or exit security for a nice little art museum in the central area.

It is always a nice trip to see my old neighborhood and friends in Phoenix. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.