We left Marfa late morning as we had a lot of hours in the car ahead of us. Our first stop after Texas was in Arizona for breakfast in Tucson. We went to 5 Points and it was a perfect spot for us. Delicious breakfast and coffee and easy going with kids. Walter and Holger had the best pancakes ever which says a lot. Secret was cinnamon. In Phoenix we stayed at a resort called Arizona Grand Resort & Spa. I sometimes forget that we’re in America and the meaning of Grand is that the place is huge! I will keep it short and leave it like that we enjoyed the spacious room for our family and kids had so much fun at the waterpark. But overall it was too big and crowded with people for us to be honest.
We’ve never tried a heat before as in Phoenix. Even though it was so hot it actually felt more comfortable than the humidity in Houston. But it was really our hottest days in Arizona.
Walter always wants to find somewhere to play basketball and we went to explore in the morning to beat the heat. We had much fun at the Cactus Park. Walter and Holger loved the basketball layout and Hannah the playground. We actually did not explore much of Phoenix city by foot. It was too hot to walk around with kids and we also only had a few days. We met up with some friends from The Woodlands who moved to Scottsdale a few years ago and it was amazing to reconnect with them. Scottsdale is such a beautiful area and so much to do. Scottsdale is located in the Phoenix metropolitan area and offers ranches, hiking trails and acclaimed art galleries. Scottsdale Quarter is for sure worth a visit for shopping, food and fun. We had ice cream at Jeni´s Ice Creams and it was so delicious!
While in Phoenix we did a day trip to Sedona.
Our first stop in Sedona was McDonald's. In Sedona the McDonald's is famous for its teal arches, which are a unique departure from the iconic golden arches found at other locations. This distinctive color choice was made to align with the city's commitment to preserving its natural beauty and aesthetic, particularly the iconic red rocks. It was a fun quick stop.
A few key spots in Sedona that we managed to visit are Airpot Mesa, Devil's Bridge, Boynton Pass Vortex. It was stunning at these viewpoints. We did a few shorter hikes, as it was too hot for us to do longer hikes.
For lunch we visited Enhancement Resort. An absolute gem. I have never been in such surroundings. Just stunning. We had a lovely lunch and a few hours at the resort doing outdoor activities and relaxing indoors to cool down.
On our way back to Phoenix we stopped at the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona for an ice cream. Very cute area with some local shops. Sedona is such a special place. We will for sure be back!