This article appears in the October 2018 issue of WHERE Phoenix + Scottsdale.

Drive

Let someone else do the driving and discover the best of foodie Phoenix. Call up JoyRidesAZ (480.675.7857, www.joyridesaz.com) and climb onboard an open-air golf cart to taste—and sip—the best of downtown Scottsdale. Book a 3-hour lunch or dinner tour to check out the sights in Old Town while sampling great food from some of the area’s top locales and best-kept secrets, tasting local brews, or sipping Arizona wines. Each culinary tour also includes a glass of wine or beer at each location, so you can sit back and enjoy Scottsdale with a local expert as your “concierge on wheels.”

JoyRidesAZ. Photo courtesy JoyRidesAZ

Interested in knowing more about Arizona’s beer scene? Hop on the bus with Arizona Brewery Tours (480.382.4677, www.azbrew.com) to see and taste behind-the-scenes in area breweries, from Scottsdale to Phoenix to Chandler. Choose a full HOP’on Tour for 4-5 hours, where you will sample craft beers, tour behind the scenes, learn about making beer, and savor local foods. You can also book the public tour that visits three craft breweries or arrange a private tour and choose your own time and pickup location. If you are short on time, book the Short HOP’n brewery tour of 2.5 to 3.5 hours, where you’ll visit two select local breweries. You can pair your visit with a meal or light appetizers. Founders Hoppymoto and Johnny Boi are two Phoenix locals with a passion for beer. They love sharing stories and secrets of the beer industry with everyone in their quest for the perfect beer.

Walk

Dig up the history and roots of Phoenix on the Historic Downtown Phoenix Food Tour with Taste It Tours (480.274.3569, www.tasteittours.com). Offered every Saturday from October through May, you’ll experience the hot Phoenix food scene at five different local eateries. The Roosevelt Row Day tour explores the colorful Phoenix art district every Sunday afternoon, featuring bites from fresh market cuisine to gourmet hot dogs. If you prefer an evening tour, book either a Scottsdale Dinner Foodie Feast to visit Downtown Scottsdale’s culinary gems, or the Phoenix Evening Dine Around, where you’ll have a chance to sample paired cocktails. The Downtown Gilbert Food Tour showcases the growing East Valley food scene with stops at six spots, from Mexican street tacos to Asian fusion.

Walk and eat through downtown Phoenix with Taste It Tours. Photo courtesy Taste It Tours

Bike

Get in on the party action when you book the Arizona Party Bike (844.654.5544, www.aarizonapartybike.com). Climb onboard the party pub bike—don’t worry, there’s an electric motor so you don’t have to do all the work—and let the fun begin. Take a 2-hour pub crawl through Old Town Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix or along Mill Avenue in Tempe, where you’ll imbibe at some of the Valley’s favorite watering spots. If you prefer a BYOB experience, book a tour with Tour De Tavern (480.299.4182, tourdetavern.com) in Scottsdale. Take a 2- or 3-hour trip through downtown and enjoy your own wine or beer as you take in local sights and enjoy stops at local pubs/bars. You’ll pedal as you go, gearing up to a top speed of 5-8 mph. Again, a driver is in charge of steering and braking.

If you want ideas for more great Arizona restaurants, our Wander writers have some great suggestions.