 |
Glendale Arizona Travel GuideGlendale AZ, host to 2008 Super Bowl, is the Phoenix Area's Newest
|
However, this sprawling Phoenix, Arizona suburb is fast becoming a major Arizona sports destination.
Glendale cemented its new sports status by hosting the 2008 Arizona Super Bowl XLII (42), which was held on February 3.
It's a long way from the town's 19th century roots when Glendale Arizona was a farming community with orchards of citrus and other fruits and fields of alfalfa.
Although most of the farms have been replaced with homes, shopping centers and corporations attracted by Glendale’s business-friendly climate, you can still see examples of its past in its very small but historic downtown.
 |
| Cardinals Stadium is one of the major Glendale Arizona travel destinations |
While downtown Glendale has long been known for its antique shops and restaurants, sports is the big draw for Glendale Arizona travel these days.
The Phoenix Coyotes hockey team moved into the spacious, new Jobing.com Arena in 2003, which is also a major entertainment venue.
In 2006, Glendale Arizona saw the opening of the University of Phoenix Stadium, home to the Glendale Arizona Cardinals football team and host to the 2008 Superbowl.
The Cardinals Stadium, Glendale, Arizona is the showpiece of the 1-square mile Westgate City Center, a sports, shopping and retail megacomplex.
Set in newly developed western Glendale, this area is the centerpiece of the city’s revitalization and a new reason to visit Glendale.
From the historic to the brand new, Glendale Arizona travel offers a little something for everyone.
Interested in Glendale Arizona travel but need to stay somewhere else?
Read our Phoenix Arizona and Scottsdale Arizona destination guides for suggestions on other places to stay, eat and see in the Greater Phoenix area.
Where is Glendale Arizona?
The city is located just west of Phoenix, between Interstate 17 and State Highway 101.Glendale is the largest city in the fast-growing West Valley, which includes the towns of Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise and Litchfield Park, among others.
How to Get to Glendale Arizona
 |
| Westgate Center is one of the newest Glendale Arizona travel attractions along the Loop 101 |
To get to the west side of Glendale Arizona, take State Highway 101 – also known as the Loop 101 or the Agua Fria Freeway – to reach the Westgate Glendale AZ area. Exit at Glendale Avenue.
Head east on Glendale Avenue to reach downtown Glendale. It's about a 10- to 15-minute drive, depending on traffic.
While Glendale does have a small airport, there are no direct commercial airline flights for your Glendale Arizona travel needs.
Glendale Arizona travelers must fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and take a shuttle or rent a car to drive to Glendale.
The drive to Glendale from the airport will take about 25 minutes, depending on the amount of traffic.
Glendale Arizona Hotels
Hotels in Glendale Arizona range from basics, like Quality Inn, to new hotels such as the Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa.Many of the newest Glendale Arizona hotels are near the Cardinals Stadium including the Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Suites and the soon-to-be open aloft Hotel.
 |
| The Renaissance Hotel And Spa is one of the newest Glendale Arizona travel hotels |
Renaissance Glendale Hotel and Spa
This new Glendale Arizona hotel has 320 guest rooms, including 33 suites, all equipped with state-of-the-art connectivity and high definition-TV.
Amenities include swimming pool, full service spa, fitness center with indoor lap pool, restaurant, and café. Hotel is non-smoking. Managed by Marriott and John Q. Hammons Hotels.
Details: Cost: from $209; 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd.; (623) 937-3700.
Residence Inn Marriott
Residence Inn is an all-suites property. Rooms have full kitchens and separate working and sleeping areas. Complimentary wired and wireless high speed internet access in all rooms. Amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, complimentary breakfast buffet, pets allowed.
Details: Cost from $170; 7350 N. Zanjero Blvd.; (632) 772-8900.
Note: Glendale Arizona hotel occupancy tax is 12.0007%.
The closest Arizona resort to Glendale is:
The Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa
 |
| The Wigwam Resort is the closest resort for Glendale Arizona travelers |
Located in Litchfield Park, about 7 miles southwest of Glendale, the historic Wigwam is managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Although over 70 years old, the Wigwam has all the modern amenities including a swimming pool, four restaurants, three championship golf courses and a Red Door Spa. The 331 adobe-style casitas with garden patios have an old Southwestern atmosphere arranged is a quiet village setting with nicely landscaped grounds.
Details: From $237; 300 Wigwam Blvd, Litchfield Park; (623) 935-3811.
For more Phoenix area resorts, click here to check out our Arizona resort reviews.
Glendale Arizona Restaurants
There are several independently owned restaurants in downtown Glendale including sushi, Mexican food, pizza and a tea shop.New restaurants in Glendale AZ near Cardinals Stadium include the Native New Yorker Sports Bar and Grill and Garduño’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina in the 95th and Glendale Avenues area.
Restaurants at Westgate City Center Glendale AZ include...
- Kabuki sushi bar
- Bar Louie Tavern and Grill
- Shane’s Rib Shack
- Which Which? Sandwiches
- Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville
- Fox Sports Grill
- Moe’s Southwest Grill
- Johnny Rocket’s
- The Shout! House dueling piano bar
…and Gordon Biersch.
 |
| Gordon Biersch Brewery and Restaurant is a good Glendale Arizona travel choice for a tasty meal |
Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery
Gordon Biersch began as a small brew pub started by two guys named Gordon and Biersch in Palo Alto, Ca. Today, they’ve expanded to 17 locations across the U.S.
They make hand-crafted beers and serve great food that ranges from burgers, pizzas and sandwiches to salads, pastas and stir frys. Although we don’t usually recommend chains, we thought the food was very good and the service very fast and friendly.
Details: Entrées start at $8.95; 6915 N. 95th Avenue; (623) 877-4300.
What to Do in Glendale Arizona
Westgate City Center Glendale AZ |
| Westgate City Center |
This is the brand new shopping and entertainment complex next door to Cardinals Stadium. Flashy and colorful, it is sure to become a top Glendale Arizona travel destination.
Westgate includes a 20-screen AMC movie theater, restaurants and sports bars and retail shops like Fossil, Just Sports and The Body Shop.
Details: Located just off the Loop 101 at Glendale Avenue exit.
Cabela’s, Glendale AZ
 |
| Cabela’s has an impressive selection of outdoor equipment |
This 160,000-square foot store not only has outdoor clothing, camping gear and fishing supplies, it also has museum-like animal displays and huge aquariums.
The store even has its own deli-style cafe, which serves pizza, hot dogs and traditional sandwiches as well as sandwiches made from game meats like elk, bison and wild boar.
Details: 9380 W. Glendale Avenue; (623) 872-6700. Cabela’s is just north of Westgate City Center.
Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area
This Glendale AZ park is a remnant of the agricultural legacy of Phoenix Arizona’s Salt River Valley. The park preserves 13 original buildings of an 1886 farming and ranching homestead. You can tour the main ranch house, visit chickens in the barnyard, walk through the citrus orchard or have a picnic in the pecan grove. The park also has a playground, ball fields and a lovely rose garden.
Details: Admission is free; 9802 N. 59th Avenue; (623) 930-4200.
Cardinals Stadium Glendale Arizona
Officially known as University of Phoenix Stadium, this huge sports facility is the permanent home of the NFL Arizona Cardinals football team.
 |
| The barrel cactus-shaped Cardinals Stadium |
More famously, the stadium was host to the 2008 Super Bowl XLII. From a distance, the stadium looks like a giant silver UFO. Designed by architect Peter Eisenman, it’s meant to resemble a barrel cactus.
This is the first stadium in the U.S. to have both a retractable roof and a roll-out natural grass field. Cardinals Stadium occupies over 25 acres and has 63,400 permanent seats. If you can’t make it to a game, sign up for one of the stadium tours (stadium tour tickets: $7).
Details: 1 Cardinals Drive (exit Glendale avenue from Loop 101); (623) 433-7100.
Jobing.com Arena
Arizona’s National Hockey League Phoenix Coyotes hits the ice at Glendale’s premier arena. The arena is also a major entertainment venue hosting events such as Bon Jovi, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and the Dancing With The Stars tour.
Details: 9400 W. Maryland Avenue; (623) 772-3200.
Return to Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com Home Page from Glendale Arizona Travel Guide
Legal Disclaimer: Arizona-Vacation-Planner.com accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information.
