This has been one of the most life-altering, surprising, and wild years for our family. From having a baby to a global pandemic, just about everything about 2020 has been a trip. Except, well, the actual “trip” part— because like everyone else we’ve been stuck at home!!
November hit and we were beyond anxious to get out of our living room. As we started to throw around destination ideas, we immediately got excited about Tempe, Arizona. Here’s why:
Access
(Disregard the fact that we planned a 5000 mile road trip for Jude’s first time out of state, we’re weird.) Most people we know (in SoCal) drive to Palm Springs, or San Diego, or maybe the mountains, for their kids’ first trip. But we’’re here to tell you that driving from the 375 miles from our home in Costa Mesa to Tempe is NO PROBLEM! It is so incredibly doable, especially if you get up early, hit the road, and arrive by noon.
You can take the I-10 or I-8, and either one is a smooth sailing interstate with minimal traffic (as long as you leave before 7 - thanks SoCal). We arrived in Tempe just in time to grab lunch and put Jude down for his mid-day nap- and we still had all afternoon and evening to explore!
Hotels that Welcome Your Pup (and Take Covid-19 Seriously)
To add to the adventure of our baby’s first road trip, we of course brought Sally (our bernedoodle) along too. Although that definitely creates a few more challenges, Tempe’s hotel options make it a no-brainer for traveling with a dog. We’ve now stayed at both the Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown and the Graduate Tempe and Sally LOVES each of them. Both hotels provide your pup with a goody bag on arrival, which means major first impression points.
This time we stayed at the brand new Canopy, and were quickly aware of how clean and secure the hotel felt. With hand-sanitizer stations throughout, new cleaning standards for both the room and public areas, and a face covering requirement throughout the hotel, we were able to relax and not worry about Covid.
Our room was spacious and thoughtfully designed, and we were all obsessed with the big cozy bed (especially Sally and Jude). The Canopy is in a perfect location, within walking distance to a multitude of shops and dining options. While Jude napped, we’d take turns exploring!
Jude was loving time with his sister!
Sally is always the first one on the bed.
The Canopy treats pups like royalty!
Amazing rooftop at the Canopy!
The Canopy lobby is a great place to relax :)
Outdoor Dining
When we planned this trip, we had no idea what the state of Covid-19 would be. Visiting a destination with ample outdoor dining was a must, both because of safety and Sally (ha!). There are so many tasty options, and currently our favorite spots include:
Postino Winecafe - A bruschetta and wine bar that is as picturesque as it is delicious. A MUST.
Chuck Box - Get a burger and thank us after you get another. It’s iconic.
Daily Jam - Great spot to start your day with a hearty breakfast and healthy juice options.
Fate Brewing - Good beer and pizza? Sign us up. (Oh, and they have a killer happy hour, too!)
Sauce Pizza & Wine - Yes, we had pizza twice in one day. And we weren’t mad about it. Tell them what type of pizza you like at Sauce and they’ll give amazing recs!
Pedal Haus Brewery (dog friendly patio and another great happy hour) - Love the their beer!
Shady Park - If the temperature dips down at night and you need a warm up, head to Shady Park for some warm and flavorful ramen.
Culinary Dropout - delicious pretzels, famous fried chicken, and a rockin’ live music venue (when available)
Cartel Coffee - Our go-to coffee spot in Tempe. There are others that we like too, but we’re here daily!
Jude hoping for his first taste of bruschetta!
Look at this pizza at Fate Brewing!
Jude trying to snag a slice at Sauce.
Outdoor Activities for the Whole Family
Global pandemic or not, we love Tempe because there is so much to do outside. Hiking, shopping, art-walking… we’re good at burning off all the food we eat while we’re in town (most of it at least).
“A” Mountain - A short but steep climb that’s worth the view! A great start to our day!
Rooftop at the Canopy - If you’re staying at the Canopy, then the rooftop is perfect for pool time, a cocktail at Alibi, and a sunset. Enjoy!
Art Walking Around Town - So many murals to see! We loved the “Look Ma, It’s Tempe”.
Kiwanis Trail at South Mountain Park/Preserve - Another easy trail that takes you to a beautiful lookout
Tempe Town Lake Pedal Boats - We pedaled around in a swan at sunset and will never forget it (both because of the view and Jude’s meltdown).
Desert Botanical Garden - A serene spot for a stroll, the desert botanical garden is beautifully manicured and very educational. They often have incredible art installations, with the “Electric Desert” in 2019 being one of the most remarkable light displays we’ve ever seen! The most recent exhibition was Cracking Art’s “Wild Rising”, a display of animals sculpted in brightly colored, recyclable plastic throughout the garden (you’ve seen Cracking Art’s penguins if you’ve ever visited a 21c hotel - they’re amazing!)
Hiking off all the pizza - on our way down from “A” Mountain.
Jude loved the swan for about 10 minutes… we needed a babysitter.
The sunset was still insane, even though Jude killed the vibe. Ha!
Art walking around town.
Sunsets
This needs to be its own category because of the consistency. We’ve now been in Tempe 4 times together in the past 2 years, (at different times of the year), and we have ALWAYS gotten a show in the sky. We’re not going to guarantee that you’ll get a colorful explosion every night, but your chances of seeing a rad sunset are high in Tempe. If you don’t see one, come back with us.
Tempe sunsets never disappoint!
Epic night at Tempe Town Lake!
A short drive, delicious food, relaxing hotels (even with a baby and a dog), plenty to keep you busy outside, and most importantly - safe. Tempe is a great destination to test the waters of travel again, especially if it’s within driving distance. When you visit, leave a comment and let us know your favorite spots!