Phoenix in March-2004

Another spirit-lifter was a trip to a Surprise AZ (a suburb of Phoenix) for a spring-training game between the San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals. I am not a sports fan, but it was the best baseball game I have ever seen. I will definitely go back just for that experience! It’s great for families at a price that won't require that you re-mortgage the house.

A fun time for the kids and adults both was dinner at Pinnacle Peak Patio just outside Scottsdale. The food is guaranteed to please anyone and the atmosphere is sheer cowboy with lots of fun and hokey stuff thrown in just for us Greenhorns! Loads of photo ops.

Quick Tips:

Plan to got to Desert Ridge later in the afternoon so you can shop ‘til you drop and then try out one of the MANY super restaurants there -- something for all tastes and budgets!

Best Way To Get Around:

The menu is simple, which makes deciding easy. There are several different types of steaks, ribs, and chicken in various combinations. This comes accompanied with genuine cowboy beans, some delicious cowboy bread, and a real cowboy salad (with ranch or Italian dressing). You can add sides of baked potato or corn on the cob. The desserts are the best, and include cowboy-size portions of warm apple pie topped with cinnamon swirl ice cream and a hot fudge brownie sundae – that’s all we could manage. When my brother ordered his steak well done, they actually brought him a cowboy boot on a plate to let him know the chef's opinion on THAT!

Beer and wine go great with cowboy food and the million hanging ties dangling from the ceiling (cut off unknowing patrons in the past). They take their casual and relaxed atmosphere SERIOUSLY here. The food was unbeatable and it is definitely a place you want to take the kids . . . or a date!

While the mall is all outdoors, it provides easy walking from store to store. You do need a map to find your way around. (We wanted a nail salon and found a great one in an obscure corner next to Smoothies!). Plan to spend a little time exploring even if you don’t want to shop! There are some great specialty shops filled with unusual Arizona souvenirs.

The stores offer mostly value-priced, bargain shopping, but there are so many that the selection is great.

Despite the final score (the Padres got creamed), the game was thrilling until the last two innings and even those were still fun. We had a box seat on the third base side and the strong sunlight only burned us for the first half hour or so. After that, the spring breeze provided a most enjoyable respite. I could see every facial expression and every slight nuance made by the players. You could almost hear what was going on at the pitcher's mound every time a pitcher got canned!

Food vendors are varied, reasonably priced, and easy to access.

I even witnessed a double-steal (players stole second base and the home plate in one play). It was great. If you have the opportunity, don’t miss this!