Phoenix Travel Diary: Part 2

I’m still somewhat in denial that I decided to hop on a return flight from my Phoenix trip. Seriously! My trip to Phoenix was definitely one of my highlights of 2017 so far, and I definitely plan on making another trip to Arizona soon (next time, I’ll hop between Phoenix, Sedona and the Grand Canyon for sure!) 

Here’s a roundup of days 3-4 for me for Phoenix. This one is a lot more culinary-based than my last travel diary, so it’s perfect for all of my foodies out there!

Arizona Goat Yoga

OH MY GOSH. If you followed me on Snapchat or IG Stories, you probably saw that I took a Goat Yoga class, which ended up being the best day of my life. You’re doing yoga with baby goats who like to cuddle and jump on your backs. If you’re looking for an intense workout, this really isn’t for you. But if you enjoy baby animals and a bit of exercise in between, this is right up your alley! They only have Goat Yoga in one other state right now, so definitely take advantage of it if you’re in Phoenix/Mesa!

Cooking Experience with Ashley Oakes

Guys, I have to admit: while I love eating, I’m kind of the worst cook ever! We got to take a cooking class with Ashley Oakes and I loved how she broke everything down. We made a delicious kale salad from scratch (we also even made our own dressing!), and she also taught us how to style our plates and really elevate our presentation. Not to mention, this cooking experience is literally farm to table: some of the vegetables we made are salad with were picked from The Farm at Smith Mountain that morning. She has a cookbook that I definitely plan on snagging after that wonderful experience!

The Spa at Arizona Grand Resort

I don’t have any photos from the spa because I really wanted that time to relax and unwind. But you really can’t go to Phoenix without checking out their amazing spa options! We went to the Arizona Grand Resort for our spa experience, and it did not disappoint! I had a lavender honey massage, and I pretty much never wanted to leave. The have a pretty impressive menu of services, as well as a salon, so I would highly recommend heading to the spa right in the afternoon after a long day of excursions.

DeSoto Central Market

DeSoto was only a short walk away from our hotel in Downtown Phoenix, and it was such a treat! It’s a gourmet food market that houses seven different food vendors, and I had a blast trying dishes from each vendor. My personal favorite was the shrimp and grits from the larder + the delta (of course I’m drawn to the southern style cuisine!) I would definitely start your day off here, and walk down Roosevelt Row and catch all the fun murals in the Arts District.

Desert Botanical Gardens

This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip! As someone who grew up on the east coast, the landscape of the desert never fails to fascinate me. You can see such a large variety of plants that grow in the desert at DBG, plus you can see some of the oldest cacti in the country here. We took a class and learned how to make jewelry out of cacti parts, and we had dinner over at Gertrude’s. Clearly I had to get a prickly pear margarita while I was in the desert! The Desert Botanical Gardens are an absolute must if you’re planning a trip to Phoenix.

A huge thank you to Visit Mesa and Visit Phoenix for hosting us and showing us around town! Stay tuned for a third little recap of my trip! 

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