Who would have thought this would happen?!? The day we arrived in Phoenix, the MLB announced that spring training was cancelled and that the season was postponed to start two weeks later than planned due to COVID-19 precautions. Although that was really unfortunate news, we were still excited for the Phoenix area! We went to Cubs Spring Training last year and had a blast, and are looking forward to making it a yearly tradition with out great friends from Chicago Addison and Krista—Phoenix is by far one of my favorite places! Since we were meeting up with friends, we rented an Airbnb with them for the week.
Even with our original plans cancelled, we decided to make the best of it. Our first morning there, we decided to do an Airbnb Experience to learn how to make French baguettes. It was an amazing experience together! When we arrived, we were greeted with fresh French crepes and got to know our instructor. Afterward, we got to work making dough for baguettes. Who knew that there were so many steps needed to make dough just right! While the baguettes cooked, we learned how to saber mini champagne bottles. It was surprisingly a lot easier than it seems! After the bread was done, we all sat by the table and enjoyed the fresh baguettes with some sliced meats, cheese and champagne. It was a fantastic experience!
Later that day, we went to check out the Cubs field, even though it was completely empty and closed, but we still wanted to see the park. It was so sad to see the parking the way it was. We walked around and looked through the gate to the field, wishing we were on the other side. We checked out a local brewery in downtown Tempe for some lunch and drinks. Pedal House Brewery was a pretty neat place, and one of the fewer places open at the time. Pretty good beer on tap, and great food!
We decided to make the weekend worth while, and do our yearly tradition of hiking in Sedona, one of the most beautiful places to hike in AZ. The hike was tough but the views were incredible, and there is nothing like hiking in Sedona. Last year, we hiked Devils Bridge, so this year we decided to hike Bear Mountain Trail in the Coconino National Forest. All four of us have traveled across the country and hiked together, and we are so thankful to have friends that have the same passions and enjoy the same things we do..like traveling to new places, drinking good beer and enjoying a good hike with amazing views 😊
Coronavirus news started to sink in as cities around us started to close down. We decided to hang out by the pool and do some good ol’ day drinking, and boy did we get pretty silly. Sitting pool side with good friends, food, and of course, an abundance of alcohol. I mean, what else is there to do when everyone is quarantined? So why not drink, right? I decided to do a Facebook live with my new GoPro while we hung out around the pool, and while I was testing it out, Krista pushed me in the pool!
The last day we were in the area just so happened to be St. Patrick’s Day, so with that being said, we had to make the best of the last day of our week-long, crazy adventure together. We decided hit up few breweries and check out Top Golf since Addison and Krista had never been. Top Golf is always a great time, and when you throw in two Irish boys (Addison and I), along with some Irish car bombs, things can always get interesting. Needless to say, it was a blast and we enjoyed our last night together before everyone departed the next day.
Our friend’s departure flight got cancelled less than 12 hours before they were to fly out, so when we got back from Top Golf, they had to scurry and find a new flight. With the luck of the Irish, they were able to find seats on a connector flight to get home. Come to find out later that night, all flights to Chicago sold out, so they were really fortunate to make it on there! We were sad to say goodbye, but so happy to spend the week with them.
On our way out, we stopped by Superstition Meadery. Unfortunately, it was in downtown Prescott, where parking was tight. Since Superstition in the basement of a building, ot wasn’t dog friendly, so Jess and Charlie waited in the truck while I went to check it out. I had been wanting to visit this place ever since I discovered mead. It’s been almost three years since I discovered mead, and two years in a row I was within miles of this place, so I had to make sure I didn’t miss it this time I was around the area! And I must say, it did not disappoint—I was in mead heaven! Over 60 meads to try out, and I even got 30% off to-go bottles! What an awesome way to end our trip through Arizona.
Now, we’re off to the Grand Canyon!
The Fernweh Foleys 