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PHX Stories

If you put stock in the wisdom of locals and are a sucker for a good story, you’ve come to the right place. The articles and essays below are authored by writers who call Phoenix home. We asked them to share their thoughts about the city—and how to spend quality time in it—in the hope their stories will inspire your travel ideas.

  • 'Microhoods' of CenPho

    In Midtown and Uptown, eat/drink/shop gathering places thrive where strip malls once stood.

  • Phoenix Museum Dining

    Inspired by a meal and moments of reflection at the Louvre in Paris, a local writer spotlights Phoenix cultural attractions that elevate the dining experience.

  • Melrose District

    Phoenix's Seventh Avenue "gayborhood" welcomes all to its diverse mix of LGBTQ-friendly eateries, shops and galleries.

  • Paddling the Salt River

    A float trip down the Salt River douses desert stereotypes and puts paddlers up close and personal with wild mustangs, blue herons and bald eagles.

  • Canal Walks

    A stroll along Phoenix's historical canal system promises artful waterfalls, craft beer, homemade paella and a bat cave.

  • Bootmaker David Espinoza

    Local bootmaker stitches colorful, custom leatherwork in his Central Phoenix storefront.

  • Japanese Friendship Garden

    This secret garden above I-10 creates a cocoon of tranquility in downtown Phoenix.

  • Kid-Friendly Coffeehouse

    The Teapot lets parents retain their latte-sipping sensibilities while their kids frolic in a backyard playground.

  • Grid Bike Art Tour

    Hop on a Grid Bike and take a tour to the Japanese Friendship Garden, DeSoto Central Market and more of Central Phoenix’s cultural gems.

  • Spur Cross Wildflowers

    400 species of wildflowers grow in this tiny county park, and ranger Kevin Smith knows (almost) all of them.

  • The Arizona Trail

    Hiker who’s traversed the state (twice) on the AZT shares her favorite trail segments near Phoenix.

  • Analog Phoenix

    In search of tangible things in a digital age, a local writer finds where to ditch screens and go old school in Central Phoenix.

  • Maker of Relics

    Jewelry designer Alex Ozers forges brass and copper into wearable art that feels aged by desert forces.

  • Crop to Cup at Peixoto Coffee

    A daughter carries on a legacy by roasting beans from the family farm in Brazil at Peixoto Coffee in Chandler.

  • Cocktail Hour(s)

    Bitter & Twisted barman Ross Simon takes writer on a tour of his favorite Central Phoenix cocktail spots.

  • The Tamale Store

    In her quest to create the perfect tamale, Martha Castillo built a family business with a cultish following.

  • Desert Botanical Garden

    For one Phoenix transplant, visiting the Desert Botanical Garden is a life-balancing ritual.

  • Scenic Drives

    These intra-city road trips allow you to travel from Point A to Point Beautiful…and be back home in time for dinner.

  • Moonlight Hiking

    An avowed ‘night owl’ communes with glowing scorpions and night-blooming cactuses on a guided, after-dark hike.

  • Dark Bars

    Phoenix’s summer sunshine compels local barflies to step out of the light and grab a drink in cool darkness.

  • Summer Love

    One Arizona transplant shares how she learned to stop worrying about summer’s heat and embrace monsoon showers, twilight hikes and the year’s best sunsets.

  • Cobra Arcade Bar

    Ariel Bracamonte’s passion project—a retro arcade bar—is a game changer for downtown Phoenix’s nightlife scene.

  • Central Phoenix Dining

    In the culinary landscape of Central Phoenix, fried rattlesnake is extinct and innovative eateries reign.

  • Light Rail Pub Crawl

    Who needs a car when a ‘conveyor belt’ can transport you between Central Phoenix dining and drinks?

  • Doc's Artisan Ice Creams

    Ex-Phoenix cop shows off his softer, sweeter side by cranking out some of the city’s best frozen treats.

  • The Catalina Pool

    Arizona Biltmore pool is where Marilyn Monroe preferred to sunbathe, and Irving Berlin first dreamed of a ‘White Christmas’

  • Phoenix Pride

    Phoenix loves a parade, but diving into the city’s LGBTQ community also entails rodeo, softball and frequenting ‘The Collection’.

  • Slices of Heaven

    A local writer and bona fide pizza fanatic gives us the rundown on Phoenix’s formidable pizza scene.

  • Phoenix Summit Challenge

    This multi-mountain trek inspires hikers to look beyond Phoenix’s iconic peaks for their next excursion.

  • Watson's Hat Shop

    At his shop in the cowboy town of Cave Creek, Eric Watson crafts hats that last a lifetime.

  • Allred Guitars

    Little shop on Grand Ave fulfills the guitar dreams of curious customers—and its meticulous proprietor.

  • Aji Spa's Native Healer

    Pima massage therapist Belen Stoneman brings a talent to the spa table that no peer can match: the gift of healing.

  • David Wright House

    Tour of midcentury home provides glimpse of Frank Lloyd Wright at the peak of his powers.

  • Secret Speakeasy

    One night a month, an upstairs room at the Arizona Biltmore becomes a portal to prohibition-style tippling.

  • Southern Food in Phoenix

    A transplanted Southerner satisfies her hankering for the tastes of home at these local joints.

  • Lucha Libre

    Masked acrobats of Mexican-style wrestling give audiences a reason to scream on Sunday night.

  • Welcome Diner

    It's a neighborhood mainstay for when you absolutely, positively have to have a chicken biscuit and a boulevardier after midnight.

  • MacAlpine's Soda Fountain

    Bouffant-coifed waitresses serve up ice cream and nostalgia at this Coronado Neighborhood eatery and retro boutique.

  • Independent Bookstores

    At Phoenix’s indie bookshops, you can find a sense of community while losing yourself in a book (and maybe a brew).

  • The Wigwam Resort

    A resort built on cotton has a soft spot for families, neighbors and loyal employees.

  • Curious Nature

    This taxidermist’s shop in Central Phoenix is the place to go for freeze-dried bats and beetle earrings.

  • Mexican Rodeo at Rancho Ochoa

    Rancho Ochoa, a rodeo arena in southwest Phoenix, treats local fans to traditional charreada.

  • Phoenix Public Market

    Market shoppers scoop up farm-fresh goods next to downtown’s de facto living room.

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