Ultimate Guide to Arizona Spring Training: Top Activities Beyond the Ballpark
Planning your Cactus League Spring Training trip in Arizona is an adventure in itself. With 15 MLB teams—half of Major League Baseball—competing within an hour's drive of Phoenix and up to 10 games daily, choices abound. While we can't optimize your game schedule, our expert guidance covers the best activities to enjoy between ballpark visits, ensuring a memorable getaway.
Even dedicated fans need breaks. Inspired by baseball pitches, we've curated diverse, trustworthy recommendations—from hiking and dining to spas and history—to enhance your experience. Explore on.
The Curveball
After gaining fame on Instagram, Horseshoe Bend—where the Colorado River curves 270 degrees within a 1,000-foot-deep sandstone canyon in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area—is a must-see. Just four hours from Phoenix near Page, it features recent upgrades like a viewing platform and expanded parking. Marvel at the vista, then hike, float, or take an aerial tour.
Nearby, book a tour in advance for the stunning Antelope Canyon, eight miles away, known for its wavy sienna walls and ethereal light beams.
For another thrilling curve, visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk: a glass-bottomed, horseshoe-shaped bridge extending 70 feet over the rim and 4,000 feet above the floor. Afterward, hike or raft nearby.
Closer to Phoenix (half the distance), the Prescott Circle Trail offers a 54-mile loop through Prescott National Forest, ideal for hiking, biking, or horseback riding past scenic lakes like Watson, Willow, and Goldwater.
The Palmball
Southern Arizona boasts many palms, but Arizona's only native ones thrive in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge near Yuma, the state's most visited site.
This vast refuge surprises with Palm Canyon's 100 fan palms hidden in a ravine, accessed via a seven-mile gravel road. Spot bighorn sheep herds or desert kangaroo rats.
Nearby, explore Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, built by inmates in 1876. Refuel at Taco Monster or Monster Hot Dogs, and grab Yuma's famous Medjool dates for the drive back.
The Slider
Phoenix-area resorts excel in family waterslides, perfect for Spring Training with kids.
Try Great Wolf Lodge's Diamond Back Drop: a first-of-its-kind four-person raft slide with 360-degree coils, named after the local snake (and MLB team).
Other standouts: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch with 10 pools, fountains, waterfalls, and a three-story slide; and Westin Kierland Resort & Spa's Adventure Water Park featuring a FlowRider, lazy river, and 110-foot slide.
The Forkball
Fuel up beyond ballpark fare with a 90-minute drive south to Tucson, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
Restaurants now certify under UNESCO standards, emphasizing local sourcing and indigenous flavors. Highlights: Barrio Bread's heritage grains; Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails' Sonoran Chile & Squash Soup; Welcome Diner's mesquite-roasted Pima grits.
Tucson's “Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food” includes Tacos Apson, Boca Tacos y Tequila, and James Beard-winning El Guero Canelo for Sonoran hot dogs.
Linger for drinks at Pueblo Vida Brewing, Arizona Wine Collective, or Whiskey del Bac (with distillery tours and cats).
The Ghostball
Arizona's mining ghost towns beckon. Two hours north, Jerome—once the 'wickedest town in the West'—revived into an arts hub. Visit Caduceus Cellars by Tool's Maynard James Keenan.
Enjoy ghost tours or burgers at Haunted Hamburger.
Three hours southeast, Tombstone offers O.K. Corral, Epitaph Museum, daily shootouts, and Tombstone Brewing Company.
The Fastball
Two hours north, Flagstaff delivers adrenaline: mountain biking on Inner Basin or 'Round the Peaks Trails; zip lines at Flagstaff Extreme; skiing at Arizona Snowbowl through mid-April.
At Wupatki National Monument, view ancient pueblos and seek pronghorn antelope.
Relax at FLG Terroir Wine Bar & Bistro with wines, Trappist ales, and prickly pear soda.
The Changeup
Two hours north, Sedona's red rocks and energy vortices offer a serene escape. Part of the #SedonaSecret7: spiritual sites like Amitabha Stupa and West Fork.
Stargaze on trails like Baldwin Trail in this Dark Sky Community.
Indulge at L’Apothecary Nature Spa at L’Auberge de Sedona.
