My Valley of the Sun weekend: a sunrise climb up Camelback, a late-night Sonoran dog, a Pizzeria Bianco pie, and green chile at Los Dos Molinos. These are the spots I send every friend visiting Phoenix and Scottsdale.
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I put my name in early at Pizzeria Bianco in Heritage Square for Chris Bianco's wood-fired Wiseguy and Rosa pies.
Pizzeria Bianco
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I order something off the huge cocktail book at Bitter & Twisted, set inside the old Arizona Prohibition headquarters building.
Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
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I catch an indie show at Crescent Ballroom and grab tacos from the front lounge before the doors open.
Crescent Ballroom
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I start the day at Matt's Big Breakfast with a griddled waffle and thick-cut bacon, and I happily wait in line for it.
MATT'S BIG BREAKFAST, Phoenix - 825 N 1st St, Central ...
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I eat Neapolitan pies and crepes on the twinkly patio of Cibo, set in a restored 1913 bungalow.
CIBO
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I grab a burger and mac and cheese at Welcome Diner, a tiny 1940s diner with a shaded patio.
Welcome Diner
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I cross the street to Gallo Blanco for Mexico City-style tacos and a margarita on the patio.
Gallo Blanco
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I book Bacanora for Sonoran dishes cooked over a mesquite fire, from James Beard Award-winning chef Rene Andrade.
Bacanora
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I spend a morning at the Heard Museum for its Native American art and the moving boarding school exhibit.
Heard Museum
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I wander Phoenix Art Museum for the Thorne Miniature Rooms and Yayoi Kusama's infinity mirror room.
Phoenix Art Museum
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I walk in through the kitchen door at Durant's, an old-school red-booth steakhouse that has been a Phoenix power spot since 1950.
Durant's
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I get a chorizo fry bread and a chocolate-butter fry bread for dessert at Fry Bread House, a James Beard America's Classic.
Fry Bread House
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I pick up an iced coffee at Copper Star Coffee, a converted vintage gas station on the Melrose strip.
Copper Star Coffee
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I order the Chihuahua-style gorditas and asada tacos at Tacos Chiwas, one of my favorite taco spots in town.
Tacos Chiwas
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I hit the Nogales Hot Dogs stand after dark for a bacon-wrapped Sonoran dog piled with beans, onions, tomato and mayo.
Nogales Hot Dogs no.2
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I grab a burrito at Carolina's and take home a dozen of their famous fresh flour tortillas.
The Original Carolina's Mexican Food
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I fill up on fried chicken, waffles and red Kool-Aid at the original Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles.
Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles
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I brave the green chile at Los Dos Molinos, a New Mexican spot that proudly warns you it's hot.
Los Dos Molinos
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I line up before 11 at Little Miss BBQ for brisket that easily rivals anything in Texas.
Little Miss BBQ-University
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I order the bruschetta board and a glass of wine at Postino Arcadia, set in a converted 1940s post office.
Postino Arcadia
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I grab coffee and an English muffin sandwich at La Grande Orange, the Arcadia neighborhood hangout.
La Grande Orange Grocery & Pizzeria
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I meet friends for brunch at The Henry right at the foot of Camelback Mountain.
The Henry
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I climb Camelback Mountain from Echo Canyon at sunrise, before the heat and the parking lot fill up.
Echo Canyon Trailhead
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I scramble up to Hole-in-the-Rock in Papago Park for an easy sunset view over the city.
Hole in the Rock
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I walk the trails at the Desert Botanical Garden to see saguaros, agaves and wildflowers up close.
Desert Botanical Garden
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I put on the headphones at the Musical Instrument Museum and hear instruments from nearly every country in the world.
Musical Instrument Museum
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I browse cowboy art and Western history at Scottsdale's Museum of the West in Old Town.
Western Spirit Museum: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
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I grab a beer and live country music at the Rusty Spur Saloon, set in an old bank building where the vault still stands.
Rusty Spur Saloon
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I order tableside guacamole at The Mission, next to the Old Adobe Mission church in Old Town.
The Mission Old Town
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I always order the famous chopped salad at Citizen Public House, mixed tableside.
Citizen Public House
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I tour Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's desert home and studio in the McDowell foothills.
Taliesin West
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I drink a Kilt Lifter at the original Four Peaks brewpub in an old brick creamery building.
Four Peaks Brewing Company
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I grab oysters on the big patio at Casey Moore's, a 1910 house said to be haunted.
Casey Moore's Oyster House
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I walk or bike around Tempe Town Lake starting from Tempe Beach Park.
Tempe Beach Park
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I hike up A Mountain for quick views over ASU and Tempe Town Lake, and I look for the petroglyphs on the way.
