82 FUN & GAMES SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 mare on game days. The city of Tempe, Boat Rentals of America and local watering hole Hundred Mile Brewing have come up with an awesome solution: This season, you can arrive to the game in style via water taxi. Park for $5 at the Watermark garage on the north side of lake, then take a short walk to where the boats launch. The ride costs $10 one way or $15 for a round trip. So put on your best maroon-and- gold ensemble and head to the lake on any given Saturday. e e e B E S T S P O R T S S P L U R G E CHASE FIELD POOL SUITE 401 E. JEFFERSON ST. 602-462-4600 MLB.COM/DBACKS The only outfield swimming pool in Major League Baseball is low-key a national celeb- rity. Whenever a slugger swats a homer into the pool (or adjacent hot tub), highlight shows are obliged to air the splash. Across America, fans everywhere ooooooh. But even on the slowest of offensive nights, you cannot go wrong watching the game neck-deep in chlorinated water. For a mere, uh, $7,000 to $9,000 or so, depending on the visiting team’s appeal, you and up to 34 friends can lock down the pool patio, complete with your own usher and lifeguard, and all the food and drinks you can inhale. If a homer nails you in the trunks, you’ll become a national celebrity. Until then, you’re still a local celebrity, which totally counts. Peel off your shirt to hop into the pool, and fans in the outfield ooooooh. Knock back a cold one and squint toward home plate. The dream was, in fact, not so far out of reach. Just ask Roger Kieschnick, the former Diamond- backs outfielder who in 2013 belted his lone career homer straight into this very pool. Splash down even once, and you’ll not forget it. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O S E E A S P R I N G T R A I N I N G G A M E SLOAN PARK 2330 W. RIO SALADO PARKWAY, MESA 480-668-0500 MLB.COM/CUBS/SLOAN-PARK It may be “just” a spring training field, but Sloan Park gives professional MLB stadium energy. Nestled west of Tempe and south of the Salt River in Mesa, the vibe in the park will make you think the teams in action are playing for regular-season glory. Reminis- cent of the Cubs’ Wrigley Field in Chicago, the park has great outfield seating, plus plenty of places to watch from behind home plate and along the first and third baselines. For us, though, the best part of the park is its Chicago dogs. With their frankfurter on a poppy-seed bun in hand, fans can load up with Chicago-style toppings of their choice at the many buffet-style stands around the park. After topping the dog with white onions, tomato slices, dill pickle spears, peppers, celery salt and more — but not ketchup — fans can head back to their seat to enjoy the ballgame. But they may be getting up soon to grab another. e e e B E S T P U B L I C B A S K E T B A L L C O U R T S ENCANTO SPORTS COMPLEX 2121 N. 15TH AVE. 602-261-8991 If you’re looking to shoot some hoops, get a workout in or just relive your high school basketball glory days, Encanto Sports Complex’s basketball hoops are the place for you. This 222-acre park just north of down- town Phoenix is a bit of a desert oasis. From a nine-hole golf course to great bike paths along several ponds, a large public pool and even an amusement park, this park has the goods. But among all its amenities, the three outside basketball courts are top-tier. The clean, free courts are rarely overcrowded, leaving players the choice to run drills on their own or join a pickup game. The courts, from their backboards to nets to paint, remain well-maintained, allowing for optimal gameplay that is often hard to find in free, public courts. e e e B E S T T E N N I S C O U R T S SCOTTSDALE RANCH PARK & TENNIS CENTER 10400 E. VIA LINDA, SCOTTSDALE 480-312-7774 SCOTTSDALEAZ.GOV/PARKS Recreational and competitive tennis players will find exactly what they need at the Scott- sdale Ranch Park & Tennis Center. Whether you want to hit with a ball machine or play a competitive match with a friend, you can reserve the court with a phone call. You’ll enjoy playing on these courts since they were recently resurfaced, and those who just want to watch can sit on the benches to enjoy the back-and-forth of the game. Private tennis lessons, access to tennis leagues and adult tennis doubles drop-ins are available at the tennis center. The rates are reasonable — $3 for Scottsdale residents and $5 for non- Scottsdale residents — and the hours are from sunrise to 10:30 p.m. What are you waiting for? e e e B E S T A R C A D E B A S K E T B A L L TILT STUDIO 5000 S. ARIZONA MILLS CIRCLE, #669, TEMPE 480-648-1222 TILTSTUDIO.COM This local arcade is known for its pinball machines and pinball league, but arcade basketball ballers know it’s a great spot to pop a shot as well. Tilt Studio’s row of Street Basketball games are colorful, fun and fully functional (unlike the games at some other spots, where you’ll often need to flag someone down because the machine ate your credits or a ball is stuck in the hoop), and they’re accessible to everyone, including kids. For those who want a challenge, the games feature a mechanical moving basket that moves side-to-side through four stages of play. If you get tired of shooting hoops, Tilt Studio has plenty of other things to do, including laser tag and a snack bar. e e e B E S T M I N I AT U R E G O L F CASTLES N’ COASTERS 9445 N. METRO PARKWAY EAST 602-997-7575 CASTLESNCOASTERS.COM People who grew up in Phoenix in the 1970s and ’80s have a nostalgic affection for Castles N’ Coasters, which opened in 1976 as Golf N’ Stuff near Metrocenter mall (RIP). The enter- tainment park has managed to draw in new generations over the years with the addition of thrill rides like the double-looping Desert Storm rollercoaster, water rides, ziplines and the latest arcade games, while also main- taining its appeal for the older generations by keeping its miniature golf courses mostly true to their original states. The four 18-hole courses boast plenty of fun structures and themes — windmills, an Old West town, pagodas, elaborate water fountains, castles and more. The turf is kept fresh and the cost is reasonable — just $15 per round. Golf, gaming and ride packages are also available. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O G I V E I N T O G R AV I T Y SLICK CITY ACTION PARK 9189 E. TALKING STICK WAY, SCOTTSDALE 602-691-7755 1812 W. RIO SALADO PARKWAY, MESA 602-362-9296 AND OTHER VALLEY LOCATIONS SLICKCITY.COM “Fun for all ages” is a popular cliche when it comes to recreational activities, but in the case of Slick City Action Park, it’s actually true. The national chain of indoor slide parks now boasts five Valley locations. Each outpost has about a dozen colorful slides that get the adrenaline pumping in different ways. There are simple slides with steep inclines, high-speed twisty-turning ones, half-pipe-style slides and ski-jump ones that end with you rocketing off the end onto an enormous, puffy crash mat. There’s also a snack bar that serves things such as chicken fingers and Icees, a small assortment of arcade games and at some locations, non- slide activities like basketball hoops and climbing structures. If you’d feel more comfortable getting your slide on in a child- free environment, keep an eye out for the occasional adults-only events Slick City offers to the public. e e e B E S T T R E N DY P I C K L E B A L L S P O T ELECTRIC PICKLE 8688 S. EMERALD DRIVE, TEMPE 480-520-4000 ELECTRICPICKLE.COM Pickleball’s popularity has soared 311 percent in the past three years, according to pickle- heads.com, and Arizona is consistently ranked among the top states for the sport. And it’s shed its retiree image, with the most players (28.8%) falling into the 25 to 34 age group. Electric Pickle provides a fun and chic spot to grab a game, with nine outdoor courts nestled within a stylish, modern indoor- outdoor restaurant and bar complex with greenery, warm woods and pops of color. Memberships are available, or you can rent hourly. Comfy courtside cabanas are ideal if some in the party want to play while others prefer to chill with a well-made cocktail (or mocktail; the menu thoughtfully nods to non-drinkers) and a nosh. A globally inspired menu runs the gamut from breakfast when they open to sushi, salads, pizza, burgers, tacos and other crowd-pleasers. Not into pickleball? Try lawn games like bocce ball, table tennis or cornhole, or grab a seat at a firepit and groove to the DJ. Feeling fancy?
