As much as we love skydiving, it’s not all Phoenix has to offer. Not by a long shot! Foodies, families, and fashionistas alike flock to hot spots around the city day and night. Phoenix is a city brimming with culture. A little something for everyone, there isn’t a way to see it all in a day. But if you are looking for a way to wind down after a blood pumping jump, there are endless highlights to treat yourself to after a job well done!
Top Phoenix Restaurants
Skydivers tend to eat light before jumps. Add in working up an appetite, it would be no surprise if your stomach isn’t growling by the time you get your feet back on the ground. Not to worry, Phoenix is home to many fine restaurants. No matter what you’re craving or how refined your palette is, a tasty bite is a great way to celebrate a successful skydive.
With so many choices, you’re bound to stumble upon a new favorite. Being in the southwest, you’ve got to check into the many taco offerings around town. For tacos and tequila, we’d be hard pressed to find a better spot than Cocina Madrigal. Oaxaca-born chef Leo Madrigal was armed with over 20 years experience when he opened his south Phoenix restaurant. Homemade tortillas full of tender and expertly handled meats, veggies, and cheeses fill the taco menu, but you will also find options for enchiladas, burgers, and build-your-own burritos. Cocina Madrigal is a must-see Phoenix staple.
If you are looking for more of a dining experience, Wednesday-Saturday, look no further than Binkleys. Skydiving is often a way to celebrate a big anniversary and Binkleys can round out the evening with a multi-course Michelin Star meal. You will need a change of clothes before dinner, as the dress code is business casual and reservations open up a month in advance. When you arrive at the Osborn Road restaurant, you, your special someone, and 20 other guests will enjoy an intimate meal prepared with fresh, local ingredients. The dishes are Instagram-worthy and mouth-watering.
Family Fun in Phoenix, AZ
Early morning skydiving flights are popular for vacationing families. Skydiving in the U.S. has a minimum age limit of 18 years old, so little ones don’t get to join in on the family photo op. With an early morning skydive, the rest of your day is open to make sure all of your favorite people get a piece of Phoenix fun!
Looking to explore the outdoors a little more? The Desert Botanical Gardens aren’t located too far out of the way from our skydiving center. The gardens give you many loops and trails to be explored until 8pm most days of the year. The Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Loop Trail offers a colorful and ever changing backdrop to a leisurely family hike. If you are more interested in fauna than you are the desert’s fauna, we also recommend the Phoenix Zoo. Home to animals like Mexican grey wolves and komodo dragons for you to snap and share photos of, the Phoenix Zoo is a guaranteed hit.
For a break out of the sun, Phoenix also offers many museums that are anything but boring. The highlight of which is the Musical Instrument Museum. Living up to its goal of being a truly global musical instrument exhibit, MIM focuses on the immersive guest experience to bring understanding to instruments outside of the usual western scope. Featuring six galleries and hosting traveling specialties, MIM blends interactive media with traditional exhibits for an unmatched collection. It’s difficult to choose which of the galleries is a favorite, but the Geographic Gallery and the Experience Gallery are real stand-outs. It would be easy to spend the entire day exploring the Artist Gallery, featuring instruments from American legend Johnny Cash to renowned Spanish cellist Pablo Casals. The Musical Instrument Museum is located on East Mayo Blvd and a must-see for casual listeners as much as enthusiasts.
Southwest Shopping
Technically located in the surrounding suburbs of Phoenix, high fashion and local flair meet in Old Town Scottsdale. You will find boutiques that rival California’s Rodeo Drive, but will also find southwestern flair that is impossible to capture outside of the Sonoran. Scottsdale Fashion Square is the Southwest’s largest shopping center, featuring well known brands such as Neiman Marcus. Scottsdale Fashion Square is an upscale shopping experience that allows you to treat yourself to the best. If you’re looking for something that feels a little more ‘Phoenix’? Bischoff’s Shades of the West has you covered. Bischoff’s is a one-stop shop for everything southwestern. Are you looking for a Saguaro cactus ornament for grandma? Maybe some hot Hopi corn salsa for the trip home? Long for prickly pear lotion? Bischoff’s has it all, and more.
Back in the heart of Phoenix you will find our top pick for Native American Arts and Crafts purchases: The Heard Museum shop. While we recommend the Heard Museum on its own, the shop has worked to collect a fine selection of hand-made baskets, textiles, and Navajo folk art. The textiles found in the shop are high quality pieces of functional and ceremonial art made within the community. Hand weaved baskets by members of the Hopi tribe come at a high price, but are beautiful functional pieces that capture the desert’s spirit. You will find many shops offering native and native-looking handicrafts, but your money spent at the Heard Museum will go to continue the advancement of Native American art.
The city of Phoenix is the place to celebrate your first jump. After seeing it from the air, you’ll be ready to tackle everything the city has to offer. From a celebratory meal for 2 to an enriching day out with the family, your day will be full of new thrills waiting for you after you get your head out of the clouds and feet back on the ground. With so many sites, we may have missed some staff favorites. When you give us a call to book, ask our experienced customer service professionals if they have any recommendations. They are happy to help add to your must-see list.
