I flew into Phoenix, Arizona for a weekend for a convention. It took place downtown so I decided to spend my free time by making the most of my time there.
The convention booked me into a luxury suite on the 30th floor of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel that overlooked the city. It had 2 bathrooms, a living room, and a bedroom with an extra cushy king-size bed.
The Sheraton in downtown Phoenix is a lovely and convenient hotel near Arizona State University. (ASU)
My VIP suite status allowed me to take advantage of the Club Lounge on the 28th floor where the hotel served a filling continental breakfast and delicious afternoon appetizers.
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Sheraton Grand Phoenix – Downtown Phoenix
340 N. 3rd Street Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-262-2500
Exploring the downtown area
It was September and Phoenix normally has temps over 110 in the shade during the summer. However, a monsoon had cooled off the city before we arrived so it was pleasant enough to walk around.
My first stop was breakfast at the Phoenix Public Market Café (now closed) within walking distance of the hotel for breakfast.
Food truck Fridays
Every Friday night there is a gathering of food trucks not far from my hotel so I walked there with a friend to check it out. Food trucks and craft vendor tents were clustered together while street entertainers performed on the streets nearby. It was a party atmosphere and the crowd was having fun.
Heritage Square
The next day I had some free time so I walked to Heritage Square and took a tour of the Rosson House. It’s a Queen Anne Victorian home, built in 1895 that was carefully restored by the community, to its former splendor.
Downtown Phoenix had some of its older residences demolished to make the area more attractive for visitors. Community members petitioned to save the Rosson House which had fallen into disrepair.
Most of the vintage furniture displayed in the house was brought in from other Victorian-era homes that had been located in either Arizona or California. The museum has collected several stunning pieces including an old organ, a Grandfather clock, and a throne from the “Orient.”
All the vintage wallpaper was copied and reproduced from samples found in the home’s original wall treatments. The house features a spectacular oak spiral staircase, ornate parquet wooden floors, built-in wooden cabinets, and tinted red windows above the doors for ventilation.
I can’t imagine how hot those homes were in Phoenix before air conditioning.
When the structure was first built it had electric lights, running water, an indoor upstairs bathroom, and a telephone, which were all quite modern for that period. The original owner, Dr. Roland Lee Rosson, used one of the rooms for his medical practice.
He was a doctor and surgeon. The room used as his office has an extraordinary collection of Victorian-era medical tools including an instrument with a corkscrew on the end was used to repair bowel obstructions. Can we say “ouch?”
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I worked up an appetite from taking the tour so I walked over to Pizzeria Bianco, one of the several restaurants in Heritage Square, to have lunch. The pizza at Pizzeria Bianco reminded me a little of my trip to Italy.
Pizzeria Bianco
Historic Heritage Square
623 E. Adams Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-258-8300
www.pizzeriabianco.com
The time I had to explore Phoenix was way too short but it was a lovely weekend to be there.
Read about my virtual tour of Tempe, Arizona here.
Find things to do in Phoenix, Arizona, here.
Do you have any favorite places to visit in and around Phoenix? Please leave a comment below.
What a fun weekend. Don’t you want to know more about Dr. Rosson’s procedures? I’m guessing he’s lucky there weren’t any malpractice attorneys on the scene then. Ouch is right. xoxo, Brenda
I can imagine it wasn’t fun to be sick during those days. There’s a wonderful show on TV called The Knick that is all about doctors in a hospital at the turn of the century. I watched one episode that was about the doctors attempting to do a C-section. Kind of graphic but great acting and production values.
Thank you so much for your excellent review of our hotel! We are thrilled to hear that you loved your room and your stay with us. We hope to see you again the next time you find yourself in Phoenix!
Thanks so much. I would love to come back and explore the city some more. I thought your hotel was flawless. It’s a wonderful and convenient place to stay.
Thank you, Rebecca, for visiting our place! I am from Phoenix, Arizona, and this is a lovely place with so many things to do and see, and the people are very welcoming. I’m glad that you stayed at Sheraton Grand Phoenix; this is one of the best hotels in the area, with remarkable and state-of-the-art amenities. I am also happy that you visit the Phoenix Public Market Café. You can find amazing food here without spending a lot. Did you try the tacos with lots of chilies?
Thanks so much for reading my post. I have always enjoyed visiting Phoenix and also wrote a post about Tempe. I didn’t try the tacos on that trip but wish I did because I’m obsessed with fish tacos especially!