Heading to Arizona this spring? Our family has been making the trip for decades, drawn by grandparents, their heated pool and a spectacular golf course adjacency.
When my in-laws retired in the late 1980s, they eschewed popular Scottsdale, east of Phoenix, known for its tony shopping, luxury hotels and swank spas. Instead, they moved to the slower-paced West Valley. Back then, you could drive around their tiny town, Litchfield Park, or nearby Goodyear and Glendale and see acres planted with cotton or rosebushes, punctuated by horse stables and cattle barns.
In the years since, the area has boomed. Housing developments and strip malls have replaced farmland and empty desert. An expanded NASCAR track, the Gila River Arena and 2008's Super Bowl, when the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots at the University of Phoenix Stadium, drew people and attention to the area.
Despite the growth, the West Valley has maintained its relaxed, family-friendly vibe. Just before Christmas, I returned with my three children, now ages 22, 20 and 15, to visit family and check out a few of our favorite things. Here are five we recommend.
