My Badass Girls Weekend in the Valley of the Sun
‘Sup everyone! I just got back from the most epic girls weekend with my besties Tasha, Amy, and Megan tearing it up in Phoenix. We hit up so many lit spots and made dope memories. Lemme break it all down for ya!
Meeting Up in the Desert
My girls and I haven’t gotten together in forever since we all chose different colleges across the country. But we stayed close and knew we were due for a bomb reunion vacay.
I suggested a weekend in Phoenix since it was pretty central between UNLV where I go, ASU where Tasha goes, and U of A where Amy goes. Megan is doing her thing at UCLA now but was so down for a Arizona road trip.
I found the cutest spacious vacation rental in Phoenix for us on Karta website and booked it immediately. It had a gorgeous pool and hot tub overlooking Camelback Mountain plus a fire pit – perfect for chilling after adventures.
We all flew in early Friday morning and met up at the swanky pad. After excitedly catching up on life and gossiping about boys and school, we claimed rooms then hit the streets ready to explore!
Wandering Old Town Scottsdale
We started our Phoenix weekend off right by wandering around chic Old Town Scottsdale. It was such a vibe strolling the streets browsing the trendy boutiques, art galleries, and bougie restaurants.
We had a blast popping in and out of stores trying on cute cowgirl boots, hats, and fringed bags. I found the perfect turquoise jewelry to bring back memories of the trip. When we worked up an appetite, we grabbed a bite at the lively Farm & Craft restaurant.
Farm & Craft had epic modern southwestern cuisine with fun twists on classics. I got the Navajo taco piled high with all the fixings that totally hit the spot after a long travel day. Washed it down with a prickly pear margarita too! Old Town Scottsdale was the perfect taste of that Arizona charm.
Hiking Camelback Mountain
The next morning we woke up early, ready to get our hike on! We drove over to Camelback Mountain to climb the trails and earn those Instagram-worthy views. The trail climbing up the red rocky summit was pretty challenging, but so intensely worth it.
The 360 degree panoramic views of Phoenix and the entire valley once we reached the top were absolutely breathtaking. We had fun taking cute pics and bonding during our trek. Such a gorgeous way to see the Arizona landscape!
After our hike, we celebrated accomplishing our goal with a well deserved girls brunch complete with bottomless mimosas at Flower Child in Old Town. Nothing like replenishing calories with pancakes and bacon after a workout. Fueled up perfectly for the night ahead!
Turning Up Downtown Phoenix
That evening we started getting dolled up in our hottest going out looks, ready to hit the best bars and clubs downtown Phoenix had to offer. We pre-gamed at our place guzzling wine and taking shots to get the party started.
Then we shared an Uber to our first stop – Cobra Arcade Bar, which was such a gem! We had a blast playing old school arcade and video games while sipping on arcade-themed cocktails. I dominated at ski ball and the basketball shooting games. Competitiveness runs deep with my girls!
Next we went to Valley Bar and danced the night away under the sparkly disco ball with some seriously awesome DJs playing the perfect mix of old and new bangers. We had to drag ourselves away after closing time to grab a fun photo in the rocking chair art sculpture outside.
To keep the party going, we rolled up to the lively Monarch Theatre and raged on the outdoor patio ‘til they kicked everyone out. Then we grabbed late night pizza slices nearby before passing out, exhausted but so happy! Phoenix nightlife is crazy lit.
Unleashing Our Inner Kids
For our last hurrah before heading home, we drove out to the legendary OdySea Aquarium to unleash our inner kids. It was the perfect Sunday family-friendly activity after two nights of intense partying. We had so much fun slowly strolling around gawking at all the different exhibits.
My favorite was definitely the shark tunnel where sharks, rays and fish swam directly above and around us. We also laughed at the penguins waddling around and spent way too long staring mesmerized at the sloths. That aquarium really brought out our youthful awe.
On the drive back, we stopped for one last squad pic in front of the super colorful ‘Greetings from Arizona’ mural. Then we headed to our amazing vacation rental in Phoenix to pack up and relax by the pool before our flights home. It was the perfect girls weekend bonding experience!
So there’s all the piping hot tea on my epic Phoenix vacay! Let me know if you ever need more recs for partying and exploring The Valley of the Sun. Till next time!
