7 minutes drive from my house and I often ride my bike here for different events during the winter…read morecooler season. This weekend May 1-3 is the Home & Flowers show and I highly recommended because there are so much to see and learn if you are into the flowers, gardening and home improvement. This show is very reasonable only $10 for adults if you buy cash at the door and $15 online. Parking is free for this specific show which is great!

We attended Scottsdale Art Week presented by Ferrari at WestWorld of Scottsdale for the VIP Opening…read moreNight Vernissage. The venue is great. There's plenty of parking, with both valet and self-parking options available. Self-parking was $10 per car ($13 if paying by card) We've been to WestWorld for other events before, but this was our first time attending Scottsdale Art Week, and the layout inside was very well done. The booths were thoughtfully arranged, making it easy to walk through and enjoy the different galleries. As you enter, there's a bar right at the front, but staff did a great job directing guests to additional bars located throughout the space, helpful since most people naturally gravitated toward the first one. We arrived at 7pm for the 6-9pm event and headed to the VIP area for some complimentary hors d'oeuvres. Unfortunately, about half of the food options were already gone. While they continued to replenish items like meatballs and chicken egg rolls, other offerings like chips, guacamole, salsa, and additional non-meat options were not restocked at all. When I asked a staff member from M Catering, I was told they hadn't ordered more beyond what was initially put out in the first hour, which was disappointing for a VIP event still in full swing. Additionally, the upkeep in the VIP area could have been better. There were quite a few dirty plates and glasses left on high-top tables and seating areas, and it didn't seem like the catering staff was keeping up with clearing or refreshing the space. That said, the artwork itself was the highlight. The variety of galleries and pieces on display was impressive, and we really enjoyed exploring everything. We also really enjoyed the entertainment throughout the evening, and the models wearing artwork were such a unique and creative touch, it added a fun element to the event.

This was my second year at AZ Rise Up, and while I haven't been to Tempe Beach Park as an actual…read morepark in... honestly, I don't even know how long... as a festival venue? Solid. Like, genuinely well done. They space the vendor area far enough from the stages so you're not fighting for your life trying to shop while also dodging people who are deep in their "vibe." Huge win. The stages are set up in a way where, even when artists are playing at the same time, it doesn't feel like a chaotic sound clash, which I did not expect but fully appreciated. Also noticed they adjusted the layout a bit this year (especially around the Rise Up stage), and it worked. Way smoother flow overall. GA+ still not exactly bursting at the seams, but hey, more room for the rest of us. Sound? On point. Setup? Thought out. Experience (overall)? Actually great. Now... the people. Let's just say there comes a moment in life where you realize a fan base is no longer your fan base. And for me, that moment was somewhere between hour 8 and hour 9 of holding down my spot, when I got full-on trampled by someone who apparently believed personal space is a myth. Ma'am. I had been standing there for nearly 9 hours. NINE. This was not a casual pop-in situation. Up until that point, everything had been amazing. The music, the energy, the flow, chef's kiss. But that one interaction? Immediate vibe break. That said, I'm choosing growth here: I genuinely hope she finds whatever she's running toward... and maybe learns how not to run directly through people to get there. Overall though? As a venue for this fest, Tempe Beach Park absolutely delivers. I'll be back... just maybe with stronger crowd boundaries and a little more side-eye.

We've visited the Tempe Beach Park area a few times for events like breast cancer walks and…read morefestivals. It's a beautiful location with scenic views of the bridges and water, and there's even a nearby museum which adds to the experience. Parking can be a bit of a mixed situation. There is a parking garage available, but it does require payment. We also noticed an additional open lot next to the garage where you can park for free; however, it is gated and the surface is mostly dirt and rocks, so just something to keep in mind. One thing we didn't come across was a public restroom, so it's unclear where the nearest one is located. Overall, it's a great area to visit and enjoy events. My only suggestion would be to add more parking options or provide a designated free parking area for visitors, so not everyone has to pay for parking.

The Scottsdale Culinary Festival is two days of food, drinks and entertainment spread out around…read morethe Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Calling the event a "culinary" festival might be misleading but "The Food, Wine, Beer, and Music Festival" is kind of long and not very exciting. When you arrive, do not pay for parking because there is plenty of free parking around the area. You can use the money you saved to buy your food tickets to spend at the festival. I got discounted tickets online (2 for $10) from coupon site. These were general entry tickets and did not include food tickets or the Beer Garden and VIP areas. But, did include areas like: Big Green Egg Grill-tainment Zone, Kid's Zone, Teen Cook-Off, and 3 music stages. The event makes great use of both indoor and outdoor space around the center which include the outdoor amphitheater, water fountains, a lagoon, and Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. We went on Sunday, which was the second and last day of the festival. It was a breezy afternoon but felt warm-ish due to minimal shade. Luckily, many of the booth lines were short, if there was a line at all. Lots of the vendors gave out freebies like coupons, stickers, energy drinks and snack bars. There were many different booths to choose from but not everything we tried was that good. It is really just depends what you pick. However, a few of my favorite tasty items from the day were: Fried Mac N' Cheese Bites with Chipotle Aioli from Aioli Burger, Honey Sesame Chicken Biscuit from Two Brothers and Bailey's Cheesecake Beignets from the Beignet Babe. If day-drinking is your thing, buy tickets for the Beer Garden and you'll probably be happy. If people watching is your thing this event provides plenty of opportunity to do so. And if listening to music while trying food and drinks is your thing, then you'll enjoy spending time at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival.

Almost everything you wanted to eat you could find here, a…read morelittle bit of everything. A plethora of Food Trucks, Food Stations, Beer and Wine Gardens. They also had two stages with Live Bands, a Kids Zone and more.

A quick trail to get your steps in with an amazing view once you reach the top. Make sure to watch…read moreyour step and be careful when you head to the open cave like peak. Once there take a seat and enjoy the view. There is a nice breeze that passes through even in the heat. Plenty of free parking and there are restrooms. *Proper shoes, sunscreen and a hat are highly recommended ~ and that's all I have to say about that...

Depressing, barren and not dog friendly…read more After exploring the great parks in parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Gilbert, the dead trees and stagnant water at Papago Park were more like an inner city experience.

This company truly lives up to its name. I was scouring the internet looking for a last-minute big…read moresparkler candle for my mom's birthday (she's obsessed with them) and somehow stumbled across this business. In a bit of desperation, I found a phone number and sent a text before the sun was even up--and to my surprise, I received a response within minutes. After a quick exchange, he personally called me to confirm he had exactly what I needed and that I could get it the same day. He absolutely didn't have to help me, but he chose to--and because of that, my mom's 65th birthday was extra special. She was completely shocked and couldn't believe we pulled it off! People and businesses like this are hard to find these days. He genuinely cares, is incredibly responsive, and has such a big heart. I can now say I "know a fireworks guy"--and you can too. Highly recommend and will absolutely support this company again. Please consider them for any of your fireworks needs!

I needed something fast and it was already out of firework season and these guys came through in a…read moreBIG way!! Amazing customer service, super friendly and locally owned. PS they have smoke bombs for gender reveals and photog!

Forever and a day ago, we attended this event with family but honestly can't remember how that…read morewent. Last weekend, we attended this festival for the first time as parents and were pleasantly surprised. We have two toddlers who seemed to have a blast! There were so many inflatables so my older child (3) was ecstatic. We had gone to another event in Scottsdale recently that only had a few inflatables, which caused very long lines - which is not ideal with impatient kiddos. This was so much better! Lots of food trucks/vendors to choose from for every palate. We got there shortly after the event started so we got to see a lot of the hot air balloons being set up. You can walk to each one to collect candy. With my little ones being so young, I just had to go up to a few to trick-or-treat for the experience. Some would have no lines and others would have 20+ people waiting. Not sure what I was missing. Maybe it was the lighting? It was dark around some of the hot air balloon baskets that were centered in the field as well. Wish there was some sort of lighting to help others see that they could go up to those. They had fun just watching and dancing around them. The countdown to all of the hot air balloons lighting up was very enjoyable for us all. Some families had blankets laid out or fold-up chairs to relax while their kids had fun around. Noted for next year!

Came here with me and my girlfriend and the kids. They loved it!…read moreThey loved seeing the hot air balloons inflate, and they loved all the inflatable attractions there! One even asked to come back. Sorry bud, but gotta wait till the next holiday lol

As a recent resident of Phoenix, I have heard a lot about the intensities of the summers here. I…read moredon't know what it is about me, but maybe the heat doesn't phase me as much. With that in mind, I braved the heat and stopped by Eldorado Park for a hour-long walk (hydration pack and sunscreen in tow). Located in Scottsdale, there's plenty of parking. The first thing that stands out is the size of the park. There's plenty of greenery, there are benches, there are picnic tables, there's a lake, there are playgrounds, there's disc golf, and more. Eldorado actually bleeds into another park so it takes quite a while if you're trying to explore it in its entirety. I wouldn't say Eldorado Park is the most picturesque park I've been to. Nor is it in the nicest part of town. But it did the job. There are so many hiking and walking opportunities in Phoenix. It was nice to try out a new spot.

I'm not sure of the history of this park or anything. I just know it was easy to find on the…read morephone, and chill to use as we ate our lunch, and walked around in. Relatively clean, lots of parking available. A good break from the everyday.

Fork 'em, Devils. If…read moreyou attended ASU, you have probably climbed "A" Mountain. It's a rite of passage as a Sun Devil. Did you even attend ASU if you haven't stepped foot here? It's a tradition for me to hike this mountain on New Year's Day. You got to start the new year heading in the direction you want to go: upwards and forward. Hayden Butte Preserves is a very doable and easy hike in the heart of Tempe. Come for the sights.

Pretty easy hike. Trail could use some maintenance- missing/washed out steps. Not too crowded at…read more8am on a warm Sunday. No bugs or overgrown shrubs. Rails toward the top for safety and easy to grab/hold onto for stability. We finished in 33 mins and that includes a couple stops to take in the views and catch our breath after a set of steps.