"1"^^ . "Papago Park is another childhood memory place that I still get to enjoy today. \n\nGrowing up in Tempe, these strangely shaped mountains always set in the foreground of Camelback Mountain. They are part of the namesake of the Loop 202 - Red Mountain Freeway. Some of the best views in the valley can be had without even leaving your car by driving through McDowell Rd or Priest (from the South) or 64th Street (from the North). \n\nThis place is so iconic that you will be hard pressed to not see a scene from a movie or a clip of this place show up when a film is shot here, or NBA All Star Game, Super Bowl, MLB Playoffs, etc. \n\nDiving deeper into the park and you'll find tons of well known and hidden gems. Phoenix Zoo. Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix Muni Stadium (Oakland A's spring training). Hiking. Mountain Climbing. Bike Riding. Golf Courses. Disc Frisbee. It connects to Tempe Town Lake. Even the elderly can make the simple walk to view Central Phoenix from the 'hole in the rock'. Bike trails cut through here that connect you from Old Town Scottsdale to Downtown Tempe. Bet you didn't know that! \n\nIt's the desert's version of Balboa Park or NY's Central Park. Sure it may not have wide lakes, huge shade trees everywhere and skyscrapers surrounding it, but it's our park and one we should be dang proud of. \n\nSo if you are feeling like visiting/living in Arizona is a mistake, go give this place a visit for a day (on a nice weather day!) and explore. It just might start changing your mind."^^ . "2012-05-15T00:00:00"^^ . "3"^^ . . . "8"^^ . "5"^^ . .