You have dropped off your passengers, refreshed and closed up the aircraft, gathered your items and finally headed to the crew car… Now it is time for you to relax, hopefully! If you are fortunate enough to be on the ground for longer than an overnight, and not too worn-out from your flight, there are several activities, shops and eateries to experience while you are in Phoenix.
Activities
Phoenix-Scottsdale and surrounding areas are world famous for spectacular golf and first-class spas, but this is not all that is offered. Here are a few cultural and exploration suggestions.
Heard Museum – An affiliate of the Smithsonian Affiliations Program, the Heard Museum offers one of the largest collections of Native American artifacts and contemporary artwork with an emphasis on native peoples of the Southwest.
2301 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 252-8840
Monday to Saturday 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday 11:00 to 17:00
Pueblo Grande Museum – This site consists of two parts, a museum and an open-air archaeological site. The museum features Native American artifacts and information on the early Phoenix residents, the Hohokam. The National Historic Site is home to thousand-year-old structures, including a large platform mound and ball courts.
4619 E Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 85034 (602) 495-0901
Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 16:45, Sunday 13:00 to 16:45
Tovrea Castle – Located east of Phoenix, this three tier castle built by Italian immigrant Alessio Carraro in 1930 is part of the Phoenix Points of Pride. Situated on top of a hill that locals call “The Wedding Cake,” the castle is built in an Italian Rococo-style of stucco and wood. Castle tours are available, as well as tours of the grounds featuring a manicured cactus garden and walking trails.
5025 East Van Buren Street, Phoenix, AZ 85008 (602) 256-3221
Tours Friday to Sunday 08:30 and 11:00
Desert Botanical Garden – Located in Papago Park, this beautiful 140 acres features thousands of native and international plants, flowers, cactus and other desert flora from around the world. The grounds feature multiple trails for guests to wander through, including an agave yucca forest and a cactus and succulent gallery.
1201 N Galvin Pkwy Phoenix, AZ 85008 (480) 941-1225
Monday to Sunday 08:00 to 20:00
Camelback Mountain – Declared a Phoenix City Park in 1968, this area features great hiking, rock climbing and animal spotting. The Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail are a bit challenging, but the payoff is the fantastic view of the city and sunset when reaching the top.
5950 N. Echo Canyon Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ (602) 261-8318
Sunrise to Sunset
Food and Eats
Obviously the Phoenix area is well-known for the Southwest and Native American culinary influences, and there are several places to enjoy this type of fair. However, the city is not just another tortilla and salsa epicurean delight. Phoenix offers a wide arrange of top notch restaurants, featuring a world of cuisine.
Mrs. Whites’s Golden Rule Café – This family-owned, low-key southern café features traditional home-style soul food, from fried chicken and collard greens to smothered pork chops with candied yams. Don’t let the outside fool you: this chalkboard menu café has the locals lining up for lunch.
808 E Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85034 (602) 262-9256
Daily 10:30 to 19:00
Pizzeria Bianco & Bar Bianco – James Beard Award-winning Chef Chris Bianco has brought New York style pizza to the desert. Chef Bianco makes his mozzarella in-house, and procures his ingredients form local markets to create his wood-fired oven specialties.
623 E Adams St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 258-8300
Monday 11:00 to 21:00 Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 – 22:00
Pig and Pickle – A farm-to-table gastropub lead by local Chef Keenan Bosworth features an extensive arrangement of creative textures, flavors and presentations like pork shoulder tostadas and wood oven roasted bone marrow crostini at a reasonable price. P&P bakes all their bread in-house, concocts all their libations and even grows their own herbs. If you are looking for a late-night snack, P&P features a late-night menu until 01:00 nightly.
2922 N Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 990-1407
Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 – 15:00 Lunch, Tuesday to Sunday 16:00 – 22:00 Dinner
Matt’s Big Breakfast – How can a breakfast mecca with the slogan “Scratch cooking. Honest ingredients” be anything but a great start to the day? This is a downtown favorite for locals, featuring cage-free eggs, Niman Ranch meats, Molinari and Sons Salame, along with other small farm producers of high-end products. Be prepared for a bit of a wait and queuing up, but it is well worth it.
825 N First St., Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 254-1074
Open from 06:30 to 14:30
Barrio Café – An authentic Southern Mexican food experience found on the colorful mural-covered “Calle 16” area of Phoenix. Award-winning Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza takes traditional regional Mexican cuisine, combines it with her imaginative styles and creates dishes to be remembered and dreamed of. Featuring a patio and live local music Thursday-Sunday evenings.
2814 N 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85006 (602) 636-0240
Tuesday to Thursday 11:00 – 22:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 – 22:30, Sunday Brunch 11:00 – 15:00
Durant’s – Durant’s has been a fixture in the Phoenix area for more than a half a century and has all the signature dishes that come to mind when you think of an “old school steakhouse.” From Oysters Rockefeller and a Gorgonzola Wedge Salad to Slow Roasted Prime Rib and a 48-ounce Porterhouse, this place has it all. Be sure to check out the “humble wine list.” If your wallet is large and you are ready to treat yourself to a great cut of prime steak and fresh seafood, the legendary Durant’s is your place.
2611 N Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004 (602) 264-5967
Monday to Friday 11:00 – 16:00 Lunch, Monday to Thursday 16:00 to 22:00 Dinner, Saturday and Sunday Dinner until 23:00
Questions?
If you have any questions about in-flight catering for Phoenix, contact weborders@airculinaire.com.
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