Bikes, Balloons and Baseball
Riders are always looking for destinations that have great sunsets, mountain riding, small little towns that you can soak up local color and eat meals with people who live in that small town. This month we have chosen Arizona as a destination for March 2020.
We titled this article Bikes, Balloons and Baseball because Phoenix Arizona is over flowing with things to do when you aren’t riding in March.
Great Day rides
Tombstone and Bisbee – Explore Southern Arizona’s unique charm and the history of the Wild West. Take the back roads through open desert. Best done late fall, winter and early spring to beat the heat of summer. Historic Tombstone and Bisbee, the OK Corral, Museums, Shopping, Restaurants and Mine Tours.
Bartlett Lake – Enjoy this quick 50-mile ride to one of Arizona’s beautiful lakes and the fantastic scenery of the Tonto National Forest. Short local ride through Cave Creek with restaurants and shopping. Beautiful desert scenery and Saguaros. Good, quick way to get out of the city any time of year.
Prescott, Jerome and Sedona – Sedona the scenic way. Open desert, mountain passes and forests. Allow 5 hours for this route to Sedona or more if you take time to explore historic Jerome or Prescott. High country riding best done late spring to early fall. Great summer escape from the desert heat.
Grand Canyon – Direct Route – Enjoy a 230-mile ride to one of the World’s most amazing destinations. Quickest route to Arizona’s most spectacular scenery. High elevation makes the trip best for late spring to early fall. Through Flagstaff and Williams on old Route 66. Make reservations early if you plan to stay at the Grand Canyon or in Tusayan at the entrance of the National Park.
Arizona Bike Week – April 1st thru 5th is the best early spring rally to attend. Great bikes, camping and live entertainment. There are also other rally’s such as Cave Creek Bike week March 27th thru April 5th.
Hot Air Balloon Experience – Start your Valley of the Sun day or evening by watching the sunrise/sunset from a hot air balloon tour in north Phoenix. There are several great hot air balloon companies that have shared or private experiences. The earth from above is a sight you will never tire of, and you can see wildlife from the ultra-quiet balloons. Every flight is unique, and the wind will decide your path, and offer you clear views of Lake Pleasant. The price during March will run you about 179.00 per person for a 45-90-minute ride
Spring Training Baseball Camps – Like motorcycles, baseball will always be one of America’s national past times and spring training in February thru March give us a unique opportunity to see baseball the way baseball used to be. The tickets are reasonably priced ($46 -$166), stadiums are small and intimate, and the smell of fresh popcorn is in the air. You will have a better chance to get an autograph from your favorite player here than at Coor’s Field. Families are everywhere to see their new rookies fight for a chance to get on the team. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale is where the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondback are based, but you can also see other teams that aren’t in our division such as Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Texas Rangers.
If you are looking for a long weekend destination that isn’t too far away and affordable, I can’t think of anywhere that holds this kind of value.