The 5 Best Things To Do In Phoenix During Spring
Digital advertising is not a business in which you can ever fully clock out, even if its an evening, weekend, or holiday. We are almost always on call for our clients as projects grown, campaigns evolve, and workflows through the door. Content marketing doesn't happen on its own after all. Frankly, we love working in such a dynamic and active environment. It is engaging in a way that can almost make you forget about life outside the office walls. Which... isn’t good for sanity, productivity, or creativity! That is why we try to prioritize some semblance of work/life balance. With that in mind, as an office, we recently came up with some of our favorite things to do right here in Phoenix during the spring. Here are 5 of the top activities which were brought up!
- Hike Camelback Mountain
Hiking Camelback is one of the most quintessentially Phoenix experiences you can have. It’s a masterclass in frustration, sweat, inconvenience, accomplishment, suffering, community and wonder. From parking lot to peak, Camelback’s signature Echo Canyon trail rises an arduous 1,300 feet in just 1.16 short miles. Expect your hamstrings to burn. Expect to be desperately out of breath. When you finally reach the summit, slumped and exhausted, you will be rewarded with a unique and comprehensive 360-degree view of Phoenix - all the way from Chandler in the south to Cave Creek almost 40 miles to the north. It is an incredible sight, well worth the exertion required to earn it, that captures the full enormity of the city’s expansive mountain-rimmed geographic space.Right now during spring - while the air crisp, fresh and invigorating - is the time to get outside this signature metro-Phoenix adventure. Unfortunately, this is a nearly ubiquitous sentiment throughout the Valley. If you plan on hiking on a Saturday or Sunday, be prepared for a modest parking nightmare. Spaces are limited and the situation can become… a bit of a situation. Officers or park rangers oversee the lot while it is open, from sunrise to sunset, to ensure a degree of civility is maintained. If you are patient (you may have to wait upwards of 30 minutes) you will find a spot. Then, it will be time to hit the trail!
- Go To A Spring Training Game
For baseball, spring is a time of fresh starts and renewal. Where better a setting for rebirth than Phoenix? Hey Diamondbacks, it’s about time to rise from the ashes, okay?The Valley of the Sun becomes the center of the MLB word from February 21st through March 27th as the Cactus League plays host to 15 teams in facilities across Tempe, Goodyear, Peoria, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, and Glendale. It is a bustling time of year as teams integrate new players, tune their lineups, hype their offseason improvement, and prepare themselves for the upcoming 162 game slog of the regular season. Even if you are not a huge baseball fan, an afternoon at the ballpark can be a lot of fun. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a blanket on the grass, a large Bud Light in a plastic cup, and a stadium hot dog smothered in relish and mustard? I know I sure I do! For families, couples, or groups of friends, the fresh air and atmosphere of a spring training are hard to beat. There is even a baseball game going on which you can watch if you are inclined. Tickets to Cactus League games are available right here. See you at the ballpark!
- Modern Phoenix Week
On March 16th, Modern Phoenix Week begins its 14th year providing award-winning events, education, and tours all across the city. This is a week that celebrates Phoenix’s remarkable contributions to architectural history (especially to midcentury modern design) while showcasing the cities most distinctive and exciting modern spaces. If you are as fascinated by midcentury modern design as I am, you can attend talks given by 29 industry experts on topics ranging from the history of midcentury modern design to the challenges faced by contemporary designers. If you are interested in a less formal experience, you can attend one of the many mixers hosted by the Modern Phoenix team, most of which are free with an RSVP.Of course, the flagship experience of Modern Phoenix Week is the Modern Phoenix Home Tour of the Marion Estates area and the surrounding Camelback foothills. Spaces are limited on the tour and typically tickets sell out very quickly. If you miss out, you can opt to join the waitlist, or attend one of the many other events taking place throughout the week. A personal favorite of mine which tours the Valley’s midcentury modern area schools. That particular tour takes place on March 24th. For more details regarding Modern Phoenix Week, simply visit their website.
- McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F)
Taking place the weekend of March 2nd, McDowell Mountain Music Festival will be celebrating its 15th year hosting a diverse and exciting musical lineup in the heart of downtown Phoenix at Margaret T. Hance park. The ethos of the festival is built around their 3 Cs of community, culture, and charity. In full commitment to the third C, the festival donates 100% of its profits directly to local charities. That means you can part, jam, eat, and celebrate all while knowing that you are contributing to a great cause. Over the years, the festival has booked headliners such as Chromeo, Kid Cudi, Porter Robinson, The Shins, Beck, The Avett Brothers, Leon Bridges, The Roots, and Flume. From hip-hop and folk to electronic, there has been something for every musical taste. This year’s festival is headlined by Chet Faker, Father John Misty, Griz although Dr. Dog, Jaiwolf, and Washed Out are all high on my list of must-sees as well. If you are interested, you can check out the festival’s official playlist right here. In addition to the killer lineup, M3F will feature live art performances by local artist, a marketplace featuring local vendors selling custom apparel and art, and FOOD. You are going to work up an appetite dancing your butt off in that fresh spring air. There to serve your culinary cravings will be food trucks and restaurant booths from Even Stevens, Hungry Monk, Pho King, Casa Rey’s, Island Noodles, The Hitchin’ Post BBQ, and much more. Music, food, art, community, charity, and a bright spring weekend - how can you beat that? Tickets to M3F can be purchased by visiting the website right here.
- Desert Botanical Garden
Located in Papago Park, the 140 acre Desert Botanical Garden is a haven of biological diversity and beauty. Home to over 50,000 unique desert plants, the garden’s winding paths offer visitors an opportunity to connect with the desert and learn about the unique botanical life of the Sonoran Desert. Visitors can enjoy trailside exhibits, seasonal experiences, and temporary art exhibitions which take place throughout the year. The Botanical Gardens has a packed events schedule with something fun and interesting going on almost every single night. Upcoming spring events include the Devour Culinary Classic food festival, Agave On The Rocks which celebrates tequila, food and music, and the Garden Project curated by composer Michael Brown. My favorite recurring event is the Desert Night Cinema where you can enjoy classic movies like The Sandlot under the desert night sky while chomping down on food from local food trucks. It is a great date night activity. In a few short months, sweltering summer temperatures will have blanketed the Valley, so make sure you get out an enjoy the gardens while it’s still beautiful out! This is just a small sampling of the many awesome ways to stay busy, learn, and entertain yourself here in Phoenix during the spring. As an advertising agency, promotion is intrinsic to who we are, but we are never prouder to promote than when we are talking about the unique opportunities offered by our home city. If you have any other uniquely Phoenix experiences in mind that you would like to see added to this list, please don’t hesitate to reach out and tell us. We love collaborating with other passionate Phoenicians and local business, especially when it comes to helping our community prosper and grow.If you have any business inquiries, we are quite happy to talk about those as well : )Reach out by clicking here.
