Glendale, AR
 

Unplanned trip to Glendale. I will have a car. May I have some suggestions for restaurants? Budget isn't so much an issue as food quality. I am a vegetarian and enjoy Tex-Mex, organic/whole foods, local specialties. Also any suggestions for hikes or walks in the area or special attractions. I am not normally this illprepared for a trip and welcome suggestions.

AR is Arkansas, Not sure what you are wanting here.

Glendale, Arizona(AZ)?

AWWWW GEEZ, rookie mistake. I am sorry. Yes, Arizona. Mea culpa.

Glendale used to be a rather sleepy bedroom community, part of the greater Phoenix urban sprawl. It's located just a bit north-west of Phoenix. In the past 10 years the new football stadium for the Phoenix Cardinals was built here (because they had open land and gave good tax breaks) and the ice rink for the NHL Phoenix Coyotes was also built here in the past decade or so. So now it's a rather sleepy bedroom community with two pro sports arenas.

For "food quality" I'd look to Scottsdale or even Phoenix, I'm not aware of too much going on out in Glendale foodie-wise. Likewise for 'hikes or walks', there are several large urban parks in the general area but not precisely in Glendale. Likewise for 'special attractions', unless you enjoy playoff hockey as the Coyotes are doing uncommonly well and are still alive in the chase for the Stanley Cup (first time they've won a playoff series since moving to Phoenix from Winnipeg many years ago).

Anyway, since you have a car I'd suggest widening the search a bit and you'll find plenty to do.

Here's a link to Chowhound with recommendations for good Mexican food within 20 minutes of Glendale, which should give you some good starting options (I live at the other end of the valley almost an hour's drive away so don't have any personal experience with these places):

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/844582

Thank you, Bill. That is helpful.