12/29/19

Phoenix with Kids - A Travel Guide


After having Poppy, I have really worked on tailoring all of our little getaways to be as family and kid friendly as possible, while still being able to explore, and relax and HAVE FUN. Our last getaway was no different. We had the opportunity to visit Phoenix, Arizona over Thanksgiving weekend and we had the BEST TIME EVER.



We wanted to stay in the heart of Downtown, Phoenix and The Residence Inn, Phoenix Downtown was the PERFECT spot. We checked in, and the staff was BEYOND helpful. Getting in late night on Thanksgiving day meant that few places were open for dinner and they helped us find the perfect place to order some late night snacks and even shared their boiling water with me to make Poppy some plain noodles. Talk about hospitality!

The room was UH-MAZING.



It had a whole kitchen, full sized fridge (and freezer!). A dining area, a couch, two huge beds and an amazing bathroom. The whole thing was huge and felt like a cute studio apartment in NYC! The standout, though, was THE VIEW. The Phoenix skyline was breathtaking from the wall to wall window.

We loved rolling out of bed and grabbing some of the ::FREE:: breakfast each morning. From there we would hit up the cafe on the main floor which had a full Starbucks. THANK YOU COFFEE! There was also an amazing bar in the hotel called Little Rituals which had some incredible cocktails (and views!)



Once we grabbed coffee each morning, it was time to EXPLORE! Here is what we LOVED:

ATTRACTIONS:

Children's Museum of Phoenix
Named one of the TOP 3 Children's museums in the nation, this was a MUST see for us. At 48,000 square feet, you can literally spend the entire day in here. There are 3 floors and 300 play experiences, WOW. We barely scraped the surface in here, but Poppy LOVED the grocery area, the cooking area, the ice cream stand, hot dog stand and flower garden.





ODYSEA Aquarium
Great for all ages, this aquarium offers entertaining, interactive and and education experiences. We were lucky enough to see the Mermaid exhibit where we saw mermaids swimming with the fish! Poppy also got to get her hair and makeup done, mermaid style and have a meet & greet with a mermaid. She was floored! We loved the Penguins and the touch pools. Also, you don't want to miss the bathrooms here on the main level, seriously, just trust me and check it out!





Butterfly Wonderland
Located right next to the aquarium is this incredible sight! Butterfly wonderland is the biggest butterfly conservatory in the country, with over 3000 butterflies! You can also experience koi feedings and face painting, which were Poppy's favorite!

Roosevelt Row
This walkable arts district in DTPX was one of the highlights of our trip. Boasting incredible murals, award winning galleries and exhibitions, amazing coffee, food and shopping, this is a MUST see. Every wall, alleyway, street etc is covered in beautiful murals. It is like an entire museum at your fingertips!





Phoenix Flea
We were SO excited that the Phoenix Flea was going on during our trip to Phoenix! It is an amazing market with handcrafted gifts, vintage clothing, art, food, crafts and so much more. This was located in the amazing Heritage Square which was also an incredible place to visit! Dating back to the 1800's this little area is a charming memory of Phoenix's past.






FOOD:

The Churchill
This place was GREAT for kids. It was comprised of 10 different small businesses, with lots of outdoor seating and games! It was chilly, but little heaters made the atmosphere super cozy. This was a great place to relax, and eat and let Poppy run around without judgement. Highly recommend!




Cartel Coffee Lab
We stopped here for some coffee and breakfast. The coffee was amazing and we got delicious chia puddings and pastries. Super laid back and quick. Perfect for families on the go!

The Duce
This place was our FAVORITE! You walk in, and there is a boxing ring inside! We got to watch some people spar, which was great (I love boxing!!) Then we walked to the outdoor area to order some delish food, which is all made in a 1968 streamline camper...umm GOALS! Again, a great atmosphere for Poppy to run around and the decor could not be cooler! This would be an amazing place to go have a drink at night, too. But we didn't get to do that! Next time!




Squid Ink Sushi
This amazing sushi place was right outside the hotel and across from the Christmas festivities and ice rink, which was awesome. The food was incredible, contemporary asian fusion. If you are looking for sushi, this is the spot, for sure!

Hash Kitchen
This brunch place was a little farther, on the way to the aquarium but SO worth it. They have a DJ spinning and a disco ball and a crazy bloody mary bar (Arizona's largest!). This place was hopping.



We were able to fit all this in in just a long weekend. Phoenix is just overflowing with culture, fun, excitement and so much more. We can not WAIT to go back and see more!