Heather Wright Schlichting: Hi everyone! I'm Heather, PlanetEye Traveler writer who covers Phoenix and the state of Arizona, formerly The Phoenix Traveler. I'm a PR pro in Scottsdale who has grown to love my adopted state of Arizona. I enjoy food, wine tasting, live music, hiking, biking, theatre, dance, and exploring attractions in and around Phoenix. I look forward to introducing you to all the exciting and wonderful places and events that my town and the amazing state of Arizona have to offer. We're not just a desert, but a variety of awe-inspiring landscapes that include the red rocks of Sedona, the Mogollon Rim in Payson and Pine, and the Aspen trees in Flagstaff. And darn it, we’ve got the Grand Canyon, one of the top ten natural wonders of the world! If you’re a Phoenician, an Arizona resident or planning to visit our lovely state and are looking for museums, festivals, nightlife, outdoor adventures or unique getaways, then let the PlanetEye Traveler be your guide. Refer to us daily as your travel website destination and tell your friends about us. Thanks for visiting. Check me out on Twitter at @azcitychik. Heather Wright Schlichting
Breakfast with the Butterflies at Desert Botanical Garden
Have you ever wondered if caterpillars have teeth? How high butterflies can fly? All your questions can be answered at Breakfast with the Butterflies hosted by the Desert Botanical Garden on March 12 and 13.
A delightful opportunity to introduce the world of rare butterflies to your children, Breakfast with the Butterflies returns for its 10th year in an exhibit at the Marshall Butterfly Pavilion. Recommended for children ages 3-10, they will learn the four separate stages of a butterfly’s...
February 27th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Phoenix Street Food spices up the Scottsdale Arts Festival
Pull out your fork and knife and get ready to dive into the culinary delights that await you at the Scottsdale Arts Festival (map), March 11-13.
For the first time, gourmet food trucks from the Phoenix Street Food Coalition will offer delicious locally sourced cuisine. These mobile eateries have earned rave reviews for their innovative specialty street foods, which will satisfy the taste buds of demanding foodies of all persuasions, from vegans to carnivores and everyone in between. Among the food...
February 27th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Happy Birthday Arizona!
Arizona became the 48th state and last of the contiguous states on February 14, 1912. Today, we celebrate our 99th birthday and kickoff our centennial celebration in preparation of our 100th year!
If you’re a native, a transplant, a snowbird, or just curious here are a few fun facts about the history and culture of Arizona.
Arizona’s disparate climate can yield both the highest temperature across the nation and the lowest temperature across the nation in the same day.
Arizona has the largest...
February 14th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Spring Training Package at Hotel Valley HO
How many places can claim that they’ve hosted Natalie Woods and Robert Wagner’s 1957 wedding reception, had Jimmy Durante play their lobby bar piano or accommodated Zsa Zsa Gabor as she rode horses around their property? Today, Hotel Valley Ho is still a playground for the Hollywood elite but also a funky, trendy spot in Old Town Scottsdale that has something for everyone. And if you’re a baseball fan there’s no other place to enjoy Spring Training.
Hotel Valley Ho is offering a special...
February 13th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Hike or Bike Holbert Trail
As a Phoenician, I’m fortunate to live near the nation’s largest municipal park that offers a large variety of hikes that meets every hikers skill level. South Mountain Park and Preserve covers more than 16,000 acres of Sonoran Desert. Established in 1924 to preserve the area’s natural ecosystem and artifacts, it is regarded as one of the best recreational destinations in the Valley.
South Mountain boasts 51 miles of primary trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking...
January 31st, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Hop On Scottsdale’s Kid-Friendly Railroad
Looking to entertain visiting guests both young and young at heart? Scottsdale’s beloved McCormick Stillman Railroad Park rolls out its new landmark $3.6M Exhibition Building housing interactive railroad-themed exhibits and features a series of model railroads in the heart of Scottsdale.
One of the Valley’s most charming attractions for kids, The McCormick Stillman Railroad Park (map) offers rides on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad a small-scale railroad that chugs passengers throughout...
January 30th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
A Chocolate Lovers Delight in Glendale
For a delicious assault on the senses, visit the Glendale Chocolate Affaire on Feb. 4-6, as downtown Glendale becomes a chocoholic’s paradise!
Not only will there be thirty chocolate purveyors, including local and national chocolatiers, but this award-winning event includes wine-tasting, horse-drawn carriage rides, romance novelists workshops and meet-and-greets with the authors along with live entertainment.
The Beatles tribute band, Marmalade Skies will perform Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Other...
January 29th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Lake Havasu, Not Just for Spring Break
Lake Havasu City, about 200 miles west of Phoenix, sees its share of bikinis and fake IDs during spring break, but when the kids leave town the city returns to normal and is a great getaway for adults.
Winter is a great time of the year to visit with temperatures similar to those in the Valley. Cruising on Lake Havasu and taking in the breathtaking scenery is a peaceful experience.
London Bridge, the main focal point of the town, has been there since 1968, when Lake Havasu City’s founder,...
January 28th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Coffee Served Up on the West Side
Tired of the grab-and-go coffee chains that have riddled Phoenix? Check out my favorite West Valley options that serve a relaxing alternative to the ordinary cup of jo.
Bad Ass Coffee
Let’s be honest … don’t you just love this name? It’s a real departure from any java place I’ve been to. With its laid-back atmosphere, overly friendly staff and Hawaiian motif, Bad Ass Coffee (map) serves amazing Kona coffee, plain and simple. You feel as if you’re on Waikiki Beach right here in...
January 18th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Cure Your FootBowl Fever in Phoenix
If you haven’t seen your significant other since Christmas, it may just be that they have “Bowl Fever.” No real cure is known, but take comfort that the end is in sight.
After a series of college bowl games in recent days that undoubtedly left you on the edge of your seat, the season comes to a triumphant end when the top-ranked Tigers of Auburn and the number 2 Oregon Ducks bring their perfect records to Glendale, Arizona, for their January 10 match up at the Tostitos BCS National Championship...
January 4th, 2011 | Phoenix | Read More
Where Dinosaurs Roamed
It’s hard to imagine that at one time lush forests were found for miles in all directions in Tuba City, located in Northern Arizona outside of Flagstaff. All that remains today is the brilliant red-and-pink sands of the Painted Desert, pieces of petrified wood and wind-carved sandstone boulders that look as if an artist had piled them on top of each other for effect. And, of course, hundreds of fossilized three-toed imprints of the dinosaurs that roamed this area.
Known today as the Tuba City...
December 30th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
The 10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Scottsdale
More than just trendy watering holes, sushi restaurants in Scottsdale are notable for their creative, fresh approach to traditional Japanese cuisine.
So, here we go these are my top picks for the best rolls, sashimi and sake in Scottsdale. Bonzai!
Sushi Roku
Sushi Roku (map), located at the W Scottsdale Hotel, has brought a hip, sophisticated vibe to the center of Scottsdale. For the sushi lover, there is a long list of sushi and rolls, hand and cut. The crab dynamite roll ($12) and the spicy rock...
December 29th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Out Wickenburg Way
Looking for an escape from the ordinary? Only a short drive outside Phoenix city limits will take you to Wickenburg, a quaint, friendly town that still embodies the tough spirit of the American cowboy. One of the oldest towns in Arizona, settled in 1863, Wickenburg oozes old-fashioned western hospitality.
Nestled in the foothills of the Vulture Mountains, Wickenburg with only a little more than 7,000 residents has a charm all its’ own. All you need is to dig out your bola tie (it was invented...
December 28th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Arizona’s Christmas City
Can’t get enough eggnog, candy canes or Christmas Carols? Then a day trip to Prescott is an idyllic way to celebrate the many traditions of the holidays even after you’ve opened your presents.
With parades, live concerts and light shows, it’s easy to see why Prescott was designated “Arizona’s Christmas City” in the late 1980s by then Governor Rose Mofford. The town simply comes alive and prides itself on welcoming visitors of all ages to enjoy fantastic shopping, arts and...
December 27th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Ooh La La Scottsdale
I was once told that what you do on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the entire year. What better way to kick it off than a scrumptious New Year’s Day Brunch at Metro Brasserie in downtown Scottsdale.
A little neighborhood eatery with a lot of style, Metro Brasserie (map) offers the best in French country cooking. Influenced by the flavors of the American South, Executive Chef Christopher Mayo insists on making pate, sausages, mustards and breads all in-house and offering a selection of Southern...
December 26th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Getting Fit for the Holidays
If you’re still eating left-over candy from Halloween and found it hard to turn down goodies from your Thanksgiving meal, it’s time to consider getting in shape before the start of the holiday (over-eating) season. During the month of December consider a fitness program sponsored by the posh W Hotel Scottsdale.
Co-hosted with the Village Health Club & Spa, the W is challenging locals to get fit before the New Year with fitness classes, including Pilates, yoga, boot camp, kickboxing, meditation...
November 28th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
A Barrel of Fun in Verde Valley
First there were the famous cows lining the streets of U.S. cities and now the Painted Barrels of the Verde Valley Wine Trail. Hailed as an event where wine and art come together for a good cause, these painted wine barrels highlight the great wineries and tasting rooms of the red rock country in Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Clarkdale, and Cornville, Arizona.
Four wineries and four tasting rooms on the Verde Valley Wine Trail offer a variety of skillfully crafted wines to satisfy any wine enthusiast. ...
November 24th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Just Another Bump in the Road
Do you ever wonder what it would be like to experience the big city vibe of street musicians, artists, and people watching while walking the streets of Phoenix? I bet you didn’t know that there is a pedestrian underpass on Camelback Road in East Phoenix that not only serves as a safe alternative for pedestrians, but an artists’ mecca as well.
Completed in May 2007, this 86-foot-long, $6 million tunnel connects the Biltmore Fashion Park to the half-dozen or so office and condo towers at the...
November 23rd, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Hike, Bike & Camp at Usery Park
A recent addition to my list of hiking adventures in The Valley, Usery Mountain Regional Park in East Mesa offers breathtaking views of the Superstitions. One of the ten Maricopa County Parks, Usery is an outdoor enthusiasts playground with 20 different hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic ramadas, archery range and nature center.
Almost as far east as Apached Junction, Usery Park takes in 3,648 acres set at the western end of the Goldfield Mountains, adjacent to the Tonto National Forest. Elevation...
November 22nd, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
Beach Fun in Phoenix
A cold beverage, warm sunshine and sand between your toes. The Sandbar Mexican Grill in North Phoenix brings the tropics to the desert.
A new concept by local business owners Les and Diane Corieri, who also own nightclubs Axis/Radius, Myst, Suede and RnR in Scottsdale, this location is their fourth Sandbar with other locations in Scottsdale, Peoria and Chandler. The Phoenix location is located at Desert Ridge Mall near the 101 Freeway and Tatum Boulevard.
What struck me right away were the bold...
November 17th, 2010 | Phoenix | Read More
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