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A March 2008 trip to Phoenix by weeblewobble46

Mother Earth Photo - Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix, Arizona

Quote: The desert is not as bleak a place as most people imagine.

6 Photos

Uncle Sam's Pizza

Restaurant

Quote:

Uncle Sam's sits in front of a shopping center just off "the 101" at Shea Blvd. The red, white and blue decor strikes a casual note and the pre-requisite TV's hung all around keep you entertained if the conversation should lag. The pizza is delicious. You have several choices for your toppings - including artichoke (which disgusted my daughter). They also have calzone and white pizzas. Salads and wings are also available.The service was spotty. (We were seated in the back corner due to the size of our party, and I don't think the server knew that his table had been seated.) Once he took our order, he served up the drinks quickly, but the pizza took much longer than we though...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 31, 2008

Uncle Sam's Pizza
3217 E Shea Blvd
Phoenix, Arizona 85028
602-996-

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Oregano's

Restaurant

Quote:

If you want a large sandwich, a robust pizza, wings of fire, Italian Wedding Soup to die for, or a salad and stuffed mushrooms, just head for Oregano's. There are several locations throughout the East Phoenix area, one in Tucson and one in Flagstaff. I ordered the Veggie Wedgie baked sandwich and had enough left over to have for lunch the next day. It is full of fried eggplant (tender), sauteed portobello (meaty), fresh spinach and tomato (crunchy) and several cheeses (smooth). All of this is located on a slab of foccacia. Yum!!!Hubby ordered the Meatball sandwich (he refused my offer to split it with him which is why I ordered the Veggie) and he handed half of it over to son ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 31, 2008

Oregano's
328 N. Gilbert Ave
Gilbert, Arizona 85234
(480) 882-9336

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Fry Bread House

Restaurant | "The Fry Bread House"

Quote:

This small restaurant is located in a business section of the city rather than in a shopping center. Don't be put off by the bars on the front door. The Fry Bread House is a friendly fast food place - local edition.Fry bread, for the uninitiated,, is the local equivilent of "funnel cakes". It is precisely what it says it is...fried bread! You can get your fried bread with different toppings or plain. I chose the cinnamon and sugar - yum! The bread is large. It covers the whole paper plate. Great for a meal, or share it for a snack. That's what hubby and I did. Son #1 and wife split a powdered sugar fry bread. Also, yum!!!The Fry Bread House also has other items on it's me...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on April 1, 2008

Fry Bread House
4140 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
(602) 351-2345

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Phoenix Zoo

Attraction | "Phoenix Zoo (The)"

Quote:

The Phoenix Zoo is more than the normal zoo. It is also a sanctuary habitat for the animals that live there. The paths meander beneath shading trees - keeping you cool as you wander from exhibit to exhibit. For a nominal fee you can also take a tram around the main loop. They will let you off at the lion/tiger exhibit and at the monkey exhibit. You can reboard another tram about every 30 minutes or so. This way you can see almost everything without having to walk all the way around. The monkey exhibit is one where you can walk among the critters (all named for Star Trek characters if I remember correctly) and have them within arm's reach. The caged critters swing around you...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 31, 2008

Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway, 64th Street Between Van Buren & Mcdowell Roads
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
(602) 273-1341

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Desert Botanical Gardens

Attraction

Quote:

The desert is not quite as barren as most people imagine. In fact, go to the botanical gardens in the spring and see an array of blossoms on the otherwise prickly cactus. The softness and transparancy of the flowers are in stark contrast to the strong spines and quills of the cacti. Each variety is labeled for easier identification. Who knew (besides those who live around them) that there were so many cacti? Teddy Bear, Pipe Organ, Beaver Tail... names that describe and inspire. These are just a few of the hundreds on view in the gardens.

There is also a Butterfly Exhibit (for a small extra fee) that is housed in a screened enclosure. There are about a dozen different varieties of butterflies in this enclosure, but not all of them are easy to spy. One problem is the sheer number of human bodies - even though the numbers are limited at any one time. People just stood and would not move to allow a traffic flow from one end to another. It took a lot of "excuse me" and "pardon me" phrases to get from one end of the enclosure, around the pond and gardens, to the opposite end and the eventual exit. Photographing these colorful critters is easy since there are so many of them and no where for them to go. If you have been to the butterfly exhibit at Calaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia, this one will be a disappointment, but if you have not, then this one is one that you will enjoy.

The gardens also have display areas set up to show the historical lodging and daily lives of the local native population. Wikiups and roasting pits sit near ramadas and cooking tools. It is interesting to see the similarities and variations in shelter designs that were used by the desert peoples.

The main path through the gardens are of brick and very easy to walk. To see the majority of the garden, however, you must leave the brick path and take to the sandy/gravel mix that forms the paths through the desert displays. Wear good walking shoes that will not pick up the stray pebble. Wear a hat with a brim and don't forget the sunblock. The sun can be intense - even in the winter. The air is quite dry, so take water along. There is a snack bar at the rear of the gardens (along with restrooms) if you don't want to tote something from "home" (or forget).

The gardens is next to the zoo and both can be viewed in the same day if you start early.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 31, 2008

Desert Botanical Gardens
1201 North Galvin Parkway (southeast Of Mcdowell Road & 64th Street)
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
(480) 941-1225

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Arizona Science Center

Attraction

Quote:

This is a "Hands ON" type of museum. There are several areas set up for you to experiment and observe others doing their own experiments. We had the most fun in the area devoted to the human body and the one devoted to building (both on the main floor). We had a great time building, leveling, creating and connecting in the building section. The "Titanic" exhibit was also there during our visit. It cost extra, but was worth it. Everyone is given a "boarding pass" as they enter. It bears the name of one of the actual passengers and you can check the roster at the end of the exhibit to see if "you" survived the sinking. The one thing that surprised me the most was that the majority of th...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 31, 2008

Arizona Science Center
600 East Washington St
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
(602) 716-2000

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About the Writer

weeblewobble46
Marietta, Georgia

"I enjoy travel, but wish someone would invent a self-unpacking suitcase. I've pared down my content..."
42 journals
297 photos
124 reviews

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Uncle Sam's Pizza

Oregano's

Fry Bread House

Phoenix Zoo

Desert Botanical Gardens

Arizona Science Center

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