Our annual calendar of quick-trip Arizona adventures returns with an emphasis on remote high-country hikes, gorgeous glamping spots and rickety saloons.
Travel Archives
Arizona is ground zero for all things Western. Make an adventure of them.
Diya Marketing owner Kirti Dwivedi was a food and beverage “influencer” long before the term was coined, so her vacations often revolve around food and drink. Her recent trip to Napa and the San Francisco Bay Area with boyfriend Bobby Borszich was no exception. “In the Bay Area, there are so many amazing cocktail bars and restaurants that you really can’t go wrong,” Dwivedi says. The Morris This eatery in San Francisco’s Potrero Flats immediately...
TravelNewport Beach, Revisited
Craig OuthierDecember 2019
What happens when a 40-something returns to his college stomping grounds? A great family vacation, is what.
FeaturesValley NewsRocky Relations
Dan GleasonDecember 2019
Will two cases of mass cartel bloodshed in the Mexican state of Sonora cripple tourism in Rocky Point – aka “Arizona’s Beach”?
Who says you can’t travel with kids? Mingle + Graze cheese bar and kitchen owners Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon and Cristobal Alarcon recently took their two young children and Cristobal’s parents on a three-week tour of Berlin, Leipzig and Prague. “Of the three beautiful cities we visited, Prague was by far my most favorite. It was magical!” Moeeni-Alarcon says. “Castles! Gargoyles! And beer!” She shares her favorite spots. Prague Castle “The detailed work on the frescoes was...
The PHiXNew Around Town: Aspen
Helena WegnerNovember 2019
Pack your skis and winter jacket for a getaway in Aspen – the ritziest of Colorado’s fabled Rocky Mountain resort towns. Shredding fresh mountain powder, trying new restaurants and wine tasting are all on the menu. Mini Jimmy’s ’Tis the season to warm up with wine and spirit tastings at Mini Jimmy’s, a new intimate speakeasy within Jimmy’s restaurant. Choose from a delicious selection of spirits like mezcal, Scotch or Japanese whiskey, or your choice...
When John F. Kennedy convalesced at Castle Hot Springs following his World War II duty, he didn’t have Instagram to distract him. Founded in 1896, the health and wellness resort catered to prominent clans like the Kennedys, Roosevelts and Wrigleys before falling into disrepair and closing in the 1970s. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, it reopened to the public last year, and launched its current season in October (it’ll be open through May then close for...
TravelFeliz Navidad, Fredericksburg
Leah LeMoineNovember 2019
With its German Christmas square, down-home shops and old-fashioned vibe, this Texas Hill Country town is perfect for a holiday getaway.
The PHiXBag Bites
Craig OuthierOctober 2019
Trailing Off: Enchantment Resort in Sedona, profiled at the top of this Explore section, is certainly all-in with the trail thing. In late October, the 218-room resort – epically ensconced in lush Boynton Canyon – broke ground on the Trail House, a one-of-a-kind staging lounge for hiking and biking that will open in summer 2020. More details to come. enchantmentresort.com Leaf-Peeper Alert: With prime fall color lasting just a few weeks in Arizona, Amara Resort...
The PHiXBag Bites
Craig OuthierOctober 2019
Coconino Missionary: Mormon Lake Lodge, one of Arizona’s true high-elevation treats, has a new equine-themed package designed to lure Valley folks to the mountains for a quickie autumn getaway. The Giddyap Mountain Getaway package ($198-$239/night) includes a 90-minute horseback ride for two, plus breakfast, lunch or dinner. Offer good through October 15. mormonlakelodge.com Making Like Magnum: If Hawaii travel is in your fall/winter plans, the Hotel Wailea in Maui offers this sweetener: a joyride in...
“I had to skip wine,” CRUjiente Tacos chef/co-owner (and big-time wine guy) Rich Hinojosa says, his face full of regret. “We kind of focused on food and all the architecture.” This past summer, Hinojosa and his 15-year-old daughter visited Italy for the first time, traveling through Rome, Modena, Florence and small villages in Tuscany with family friends. He shares their highlights. Da Nerbone “There were two things I had to eat when we got to...
TravelHave Houseboat, Will Powell
Craig OuthierSeptember 2019
Realize one of Arizona’s great bucket list vacations by houseboating on Lake Powell.
AdventuresThe PHiXNew Around Town: Payson
Helena WegnerSeptember 2019
Adventure north to the scenic town of Payson – known as the unofficial capital of Rim Country – for a monster dose of mountains, lakes and trails, along with some new stuff.
Chad Nikkel travels internationally three times a year, and he always makes sure to stay away from the common tourist itinerary and immerse himself in the local culture. “I’m anti-touristy,” says the Aquaman Pools founder. “It’s OK to see the palace or whatever, but I like the local feel.” His recent trip was to the seaside town of Cascais, Portugal, famed for its historical Cidadela de Cascais fort and picturesque marina. Nazaré As the owner...