Last time I went to Phoenix I only stayed one night. So this time I wanted to get to know it better. I definitely accomplished my goal.
We stayed a whole week and got to visit almost every corner of it. And, this was my first trip (alone) with a baby and it went swimmingly! We stayed at a hotel, got to see two of my sister’s graduation ceremonies, and did a lot of shopping.
My favorite neighborhood is definitely Melrose. There are a lot of kitschy vintage shops and funky coffee spots there. I had a burrito there that I will never forget. It was so good.
I also spent an afternoon in Chandler, which I don’t think I liked very much.
My sister and I love a store called Reclectic, which is a discount outlet of Free People, Urban Outfitters, Nuuly, and Anthropologie. The place is ginormous and there are no dressing rooms. So there are packs of women who enjoy the hunt trying things on in front of mirrors. People come prepared, they wear bicycle shorts and sports bras so they can slip clothes over themselves. It can be stressful, but it can also be amazing fun.
The hotel Elise and I stayed at was near a library. We went for three different mornings. It’s interesting to see the vibe of libraries in the different places. Some things are universal and some are unique to each location. At this library, you have to show up to get “tickets” in order to attend any children’s programming. If you don’t get a ticket in time, they don’t let you in. And they police people about this! I thought it was low-key fash so here’s a ticket that I stole and didn’t put back.
This is for all the kids and families that had to sadly turn around because they didn’t show up “early” enough for an event.
Elise and I actually went to two different aquariums during our week in Phoenix. I could talk your ear off about the pros and cons of each but this isn’t a mommy blog.
My favorite activity for kids (ok, I guess this is a mommy blog) in all of Phoenix was the Musical Instrument Museum. We went twice because we enjoyed it so much. The cafeteria was on point. Elise really liked using headphones for the first time at the exhibits. And we took a baby music class together. I will definitely do it again when I return to Phoenix.
Overall, it was an amazing trip. I really saw what I was capable of in terms of doing fun things for me but also keeping Elise fed, rested, and happy. We loved sharing a bed in our hotel room. Actually, I had moved it to the floor for a week and kept the Do Not Disturb sign on the door because I didn’t want anyone to find out. We took sweet baths in the tub every night and we loved buffet breakfasts in the lobby. We played in the pool almost every night.
She was amazing during each of the graduation ceremonies, too. I mastered the art of smuggling in snacks in a baby wrap. She was also such a great eater at every kind of restaurant- Mediterranean, boba, Indian, Ethiopian, and more. I love that we have this little trip that was just us two and that she seemed to be having so much fun.