A to Z: Phoenix

After exploring Tucson, we made our way up to Phoenix. It's easy to forget you're in the middle of the desert when you're in Phoenix. We decided to have an early lunch at Los Reyes de la Torta. Yes, it's another Adam pit stop. The torta was more delicious than I had imagined. The steak was tender and flavorful. It had the perfect amount of veggies and avocado.

With our bellies full, we headed to the Heard Museum. It's a beautiful museum that seeks to capture the essence of modern Native American art. I've never seen modern Native American art before. It was really interesting to see the interpretations of pop art. My favorite part of the museum was the exhibit detailing the education of Native Americans. Children were torn from their families and told that their culture was worthless. All in the name of assimilation.

We got a bit more education about Native Americans when we visited the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park. In the archaeological park, we saw a mound that the Hohokam tribe used for special ceremonies. We even got to see an ancient ball park. It was a small site, very flat, few detailed structures, and totally tan. It's hard to compete since we've seen the Forum.

Before we headed home, we stopped by Old Town Scottsdale. It's a bit more kitschy than Old Town San Diego. It's something to stroll through when you're on vacation, but no need to stay more than hour.