Phoenix Baseball Trip in April 2012
Jan 18th, 2012, 07:57 AM
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Phoenix Baseball Trip in April 2012
Hi, every year my dad and grandmother and I go on a baseball trip to visit a new stadium and this year it's Phoenix. We are looking for some suggestions as to which hotel to stay at. (and no, it does not have to be downtown right by the ballpark). We would also like some suggestions on day activities we could do (of course the nights will be reserved for the games) we will be here from a Sunday to a Saturday.
THANKS SO MUCH for any suggestions or input. (please keep in mind, We dont really want to spend a fortune on the hotel, but never the less do NOT want to stay in a dump
I would really like to stay in a hotel that makes me feel like I'm in Arizona
Thanks again,
(and of course any inside information on the ballpark (where to park, where to sit etc. would be most helpful)
THANKS SO MUCH for any suggestions or input. (please keep in mind, We dont really want to spend a fortune on the hotel, but never the less do NOT want to stay in a dump
I would really like to stay in a hotel that makes me feel like I'm in Arizona Thanks again,
(and of course any inside information on the ballpark (where to park, where to sit etc. would be most helpful)
Jan 19th, 2012, 07:06 AM
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I always used to get seats in the upper deck, right behind home plate. To me that gets the best view. If you can get one of the lower rows, it is better, but I have had the last row and still enjoyed it.
Outfield seats are ok if you like that view. The time I sat there, all the balls hit to the outfield except 2 went to right field where I was sitting. It would have been terrible if I had been in left.
I sat once down the left field line - terrible view lines.
If you have a car, and I assume you will, then I recommend parking just south of the stadium. Close to walk and the fee is only slightly higher than much father away.
Depending on your interests, the Heard Museum (Indian crafts), Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright studio), Arcosanti studio (arhcitecture/crafts) , Desert Botanical Garden, Sedona/Verde Valley, Apache Trail and Boyce Thompson Arboretum are some places you might consider.
Outfield seats are ok if you like that view. The time I sat there, all the balls hit to the outfield except 2 went to right field where I was sitting. It would have been terrible if I had been in left.
I sat once down the left field line - terrible view lines.
If you have a car, and I assume you will, then I recommend parking just south of the stadium. Close to walk and the fee is only slightly higher than much father away.
Depending on your interests, the Heard Museum (Indian crafts), Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright studio), Arcosanti studio (arhcitecture/crafts) , Desert Botanical Garden, Sedona/Verde Valley, Apache Trail and Boyce Thompson Arboretum are some places you might consider.
Jan 19th, 2012, 12:10 PM
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Thanks Bigtyke, we like to sit in a variety of places (we will be going to 5 games) we will definetly sit upper deck behind home, thanks! and yes, I really want to go to Taliesin WEst and Sedona....you think we could wake up early and drive to Sedona and still make it back for a game that night? Isnt it only like 2 hrs. away?
Jan 20th, 2012, 05:46 AM
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You can easily go to Sedona and still see a game at night. I recommend you go up to near Flagstaff on the freeway (exit 337) and then drive down hwy 89A to Sedona. That way you get better views of Oak Creek Canyon.
Jan 20th, 2012, 08:10 AM
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Any good restaurants near by?
Three suggestions for interesting non-traditional meals, two near the ballpark and one about 20 blocks east of the hotel ...
Nobu at Teeter House and Pizzeria Bianco are both near the Arizona Science Center and about two short blocks from Chase Field. Nobu serves simple Japanese-oriented cuisine and is especially good the nights it has a fixed menu (I think Friday and Saturday, should check to be sure if interested). Pizzeria Bianco is about 100 ft from Nobu and serves mainly pizza. Several times it has been recognized as having "The Best Pizza in the US" by critics from The New York Times and on the Rachel Ray show, for examples.
Both places serve lunch, Nobu is particularly inexpensive at lunch, with a limited menu. The chefs at each restaurant are former James Beard winners for "Best Chef - Southwest", which is pretty impressive.
The third place is kind of gourmet Mexican but in a rather simple building in a barrio, "The Barrio Cafe". This place serves dishes from southern Mexico so it's not the typical Sonoran fare you find at most Mexican restaurants. Best guacamole I've ever tasted (ate there last week with my wife).
This place often wins the "Best Mexican" awards in Phoenix. The lady chef, Silvana, has been nominated for the James Beard award but hasn't won (yet).
There are a zillion chain restaurants and hundreds of resort restaurants serving typical resort food in and near Phoenix, but these three are different and worth the drive.
Some links to reviews from the local food critic and from a well-known food blogger who was recently in Phoenix:
http://endoedibles.com/?p=861 (Pizzeria Bianco)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzeria_Bianco (wiki write-up of Pizzeria Bianco ... they mention long waits of up to 4 hours but this was when they were only open nights; last year they began serving lunch and the last two times we went (early afternoon) there was no wait ... if there's a wait just go to Nobu across the plaza)
http://endoedibles.com/?p=925 (Barrio Cafe ... the guacamole -- there are great youtube videos of Silvana making this -- and the "Churros Rellenos de Cajeta de Cabra" for dessert are must-haves for me)
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...ix-review.html (Nobu review ... makes it sound like a fancier place than it really is, and Nobu stopped with the omakase after the Japan earthquake interrupted his fish supply last year, but a good description of the dishes)
Three suggestions for interesting non-traditional meals, two near the ballpark and one about 20 blocks east of the hotel ...
Nobu at Teeter House and Pizzeria Bianco are both near the Arizona Science Center and about two short blocks from Chase Field. Nobu serves simple Japanese-oriented cuisine and is especially good the nights it has a fixed menu (I think Friday and Saturday, should check to be sure if interested). Pizzeria Bianco is about 100 ft from Nobu and serves mainly pizza. Several times it has been recognized as having "The Best Pizza in the US" by critics from The New York Times and on the Rachel Ray show, for examples.
Both places serve lunch, Nobu is particularly inexpensive at lunch, with a limited menu. The chefs at each restaurant are former James Beard winners for "Best Chef - Southwest", which is pretty impressive.
The third place is kind of gourmet Mexican but in a rather simple building in a barrio, "The Barrio Cafe". This place serves dishes from southern Mexico so it's not the typical Sonoran fare you find at most Mexican restaurants. Best guacamole I've ever tasted (ate there last week with my wife).
This place often wins the "Best Mexican" awards in Phoenix. The lady chef, Silvana, has been nominated for the James Beard award but hasn't won (yet).
There are a zillion chain restaurants and hundreds of resort restaurants serving typical resort food in and near Phoenix, but these three are different and worth the drive.
Some links to reviews from the local food critic and from a well-known food blogger who was recently in Phoenix:
http://endoedibles.com/?p=861 (Pizzeria Bianco)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzeria_Bianco (wiki write-up of Pizzeria Bianco ... they mention long waits of up to 4 hours but this was when they were only open nights; last year they began serving lunch and the last two times we went (early afternoon) there was no wait ... if there's a wait just go to Nobu across the plaza)
http://endoedibles.com/?p=925 (Barrio Cafe ... the guacamole -- there are great youtube videos of Silvana making this -- and the "Churros Rellenos de Cajeta de Cabra" for dessert are must-haves for me)
http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/...ix-review.html (Nobu review ... makes it sound like a fancier place than it really is, and Nobu stopped with the omakase after the Japan earthquake interrupted his fish supply last year, but a good description of the dishes)
Jan 20th, 2012, 08:28 AM
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Note that Pizzeria Bianco is closed on I think Mondays.
sf, I think they changed to being closed only on Sunday ... last time I was there I asked the waiter what was the best day to come for the impatient types like me who don't like to wait and he said "Monday, because apparently people think we are still closed Mondays but we're not" ...
sf, I think they changed to being closed only on Sunday ... last time I was there I asked the waiter what was the best day to come for the impatient types like me who don't like to wait and he said "Monday, because apparently people think we are still closed Mondays but we're not" ...
Jan 20th, 2012, 09:58 AM
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Great! definetly want to try these all out! ...we will go to that PIzza place MOnday for sure, I too am an inpatient person, but really want to try it out THanks for all the great suggestions. I cant wait till April!!!
THanks for all the great suggestions. I cant wait till April!!!
Jan 20th, 2012, 11:01 AM
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Check out The Dish on Keith Law's blog. He's a former scout and asst GM for the Blue Jays who now works for ESPN (if you're a big baseball information fan, you know who he is). He's also a BIG foodie and now lives in the scorching plains of Hell that comprise the Phoenix area (Phoenixians can come to Dallas in summer to cool off) and has reviewed various restaurants in Cactusville.
