Located just a six hour drive East from Los Angeles is Phoenix, Arizona. I quickly fell in love with the desert sunsets and rich history of Arizona. In fact our entire family thinks that Arizona is one of the best states that we have visited. It feels so far form California yet is actually close. Making Phoenix, Arizona the perfect family weekend designation.
The first reason you should visit Phoenix is the incredible resorts that are close to the city. We quickly fell in love with The Wigwam Resort and their resort is truly meant for families to enjoy. Our girls cuddled up in their tent in their room which joined a beautiful modern yet historic suite for my husband and I. This historic resort has all the charm of the old west with a modern twist. 
We enjoyed watching the sunset outdoors enjoying one of the many outdoor fire pits located around the property. Before bed our kids enjoyed milk and cookies and of course that mini tent. Our girls loved the pool with water slide and splash pad. You definitely get that luxury resort feel with amenities that even the kids love. 
Always ask the locals about what there is to do in the area. We ate at the delicious restaurant at The Wigwam and asked our waiter on the night we arrived if there was anything special to see or do close by. He suggested we see Star Tower. Created as an homage to the people who once lived in this area the Star Tower in Estrella Mountain truly is a local gem. You can look out over the entire valley and see the views of the desert night sky. 
Take the time to watch the sun set in the desert. 
What I love about Phoenix, Arizona is that there are so many things so close to the city. You can see ancient ruins, hike trails with giant cactus or even take a day trip to the Grand Canyon. My favorite thing to do on trips is just to get out and explore new areas. Arizona has so many things to see and do if you like to be outdoors this time of year is a great time to visit too. You should visit because there really is so much to see and do, we could spend weeks exploring all the hiking trails. 
The third thing you should know is that there are so many incredible places to eat. If you visit Phoenix you need to plan a visit to The Duce. Probably the coolest thing our family experienced on the trip. It very much reminded me of some of our favorite places in Portland, Oregon yet it’s all located within a warehouse right in Downtown Phoenix. It’s incredibly family friendly and the food is fresh and delicious. You’ll see lots of recycled furtanture and it just adds to the charm. 
Scottsdale is located right outside of Phoenix. There’s so much to see and do including hiking Camelback Mountain. After a morning hike be sure to stop in at Chelsea’s Kitchen. The kids menus are cafeteria style yet everything is so fresh. Our kids easily found things they liked right on the kids menus. I had vegetarian tacos and they were so fresh just what we needed after a busy morning exploring Phoenix. 
The number one reason you should visit Phoenix with your family is that it’s the perfect desert getaway that is also close to home. Arizona is one of those states that is so rich in history the food even speaks to that. It’s everything you think of when you think fo the southwest and we hope you’ll consider it for your next family vacation destination! 
I’d love to visit Phoenix, but it’s a lot futher for us.
Enjoyed a spring vacation there one year and caught some spring training baseball games. Now that was fun. Great to enjoy some nice weather in the winter time. Beautiful country.
I would love to take my children to the Grand Canyon! What a magnificent trip that would be!!
We went to Arizona last February, but not to Phoenix. Looks like we missed out!
My husband visited AZ two weeks ago for a golf trip! The pictures he took are beautiful!
Arizona is a state that has many attractions the biggest one is the Grand Canyon and is well worth the trip. We enjoyed the ‘old town’ also. The weather is always nice making it a perfect family vacation spot
I love Arizona! We are planning a trip to the Grand Canyon this spring. I went about 12 years ago, before I had kids, and it was fantastic. The kids are so excited to go. My son has really been into desert biomes lately, but has never been to one. He is super excited to go. Love the cacti in your pictures. Amazingly beautiful.
Wow that sounds great! The picture of that sunset is beautiful. I want to visit at least half the states in the US. That is one of the many items on my bucket list!