98 FUN & GAMES BEST DAY TRIP DESTINATION COTTONWOOD The iconic red rocks of Sedona are like Margot Robbie: undeniably, breathtakingly gorgeous and always a joy to see. Cotton- wood is more like Aubrey Plaza: still beau- tiful, slightly quirky, apt to surprise and often more fun. Musician Maynard James Keenan (Tool, Puscifer) and his wife, Jennifer, have helped make this a hipster hub and dining destination perfect for a day trip. Merkin Hilltop Vineyards & Trattoria, perched overlooking the town with views for miles, serves farm-to-table cuisine (at one meal, we were told Maynard’s dad grew the peaches on our burrata) and his own brands of vino. Jennifer’s Queen B Vinyl Cafe is a beacon for music fans thanks to nearly 5,000 LPs that she hand-chose — mostly by obscure artists — and regular live shows. Beyond that, Cottonwood’s down- town drag is packed with a combination of thrift stores, wine tasting rooms and other restaurants that punch above their weight. (The new Southwest fusion spot Aqui, from chef Eden Archer, is the latest standout.) Don’t just stay in town, though: With a designated driver, explore the area’s many wineries and tasting rooms beyond Main Street, including Alcantara Vineyards and Winery, which is home to over a dozen rescue cats and hosts horseback, e-bike and Jeep tours, hay rides, kayaking and tubing. i i i BEST SCENIC DRIVE NEAR THE VALLEY BUSH HIGHWAY This stunning roadway is well-worn by those who enjoy tubing, paddleboarding, boating and fishing — it is, after all, the route to Saguaro Lake. Even with no particular reason to go, though, Bush Highway’s twists and turns and drop-dead gorgeous views make it a lark to drive. The full 12-mile stretch starts just north of the Loop 202 in east Mesa at the northern tip of Power Road. It meanders northeast and connects with SR 87, the Beeline Highway. Along the way, saguaros stretch to the sky, and majestic granite walls loom. The drive is particularly photogenic at sunrise, in late afternoon as dramatic hues envelop the desert and after intense winter rains, when it can be carpeted in green — or even better, a superbloom of wildflowers. Along the way, you may spot the famous (or infamous, depending on your perspective) wild horses along the Salt River. The final spectacle of Saguaro Lake, opening up like a giant oasis hugged by jagged cliffs and views of Four Peaks, never gets old. BEST CLAW ARCADE CLAW HAUS 2015 N. DOBSON ROAD, #4, CHANDLER CLAWHAUSARCADE.COM How does this grab you: The Valley’s best claw machine action and prizes aren’t found at any of the vibrantly anarchic arcades that have descended on metro Phoenix in recent years. Instead, they’re at the cutesy Chandler boutique run by Jmarr and Chelsea Ramelb. Their two dozen crane games focus on quality import toys and collectibles. Machines contain Pop Mart blind boxes with sought-after items like Labubus and NeeDoh Fuzz Ball Flower Power squishies. (A recent arrival: Ja-Ru Takumo Kawaii Bao Buns, which became TikTok-famous over the summer.) Some prizes are valued at $100 or more. Even better: The Ramelbs emphasize “fairness and authenticity” at their spot. Games are set up to give players a genuine shot, and the staff may even offer tips and tricks for nabbing an elusive prize. Trading is also allowed for anyone hoping to sweeten their haul. In other words, you won’t leave Claw Haus with a case of grabber’s remorse. i i i BEST PINBALL ARCADE ELECTRIC BAT ARCADE 25 W. SOUTHERN AVE., TEMPE 480-967-4777 ELECTRICBATARCADE.COM Time was, people in a moral panic condemned pinball as the devil’s handiwork. Now we know better, and celebrate pinball as such. If the Dark Lord were to actually scrape together a few bucks for some tokens, Electric Bat would be the kind of joint he’d dig. The popular Tempe pinball haunt adja- cent to Yucca Tap Room certainly looks the part. Co-owner Rachel Bess gives her spot a mix of vintage monster movie vibes and rock ’n’ roll cool. Cutouts of the Creature From the Black Lagoon adorn the blood-red walls along with photos of punk legends playing pinball. Pinheads flock to Electric Bat for more than the atmosphere: The arcade boasts one of the Valley’s largest lineups with 65 titles at last count. (It’s also home to what’s believed to be the world’s largest single-location weekly pinball league. You should go.) The rotating selection mixes requisite classics with new releases like this year’s “Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye.” And every machine gets loads of TLC and maintenance from Bess and her husband, Cale Hernandez, both longtime pinball obsessives. Turns out the devil really is in the details — another reason Electric Bat rules the silver ball. BEST PLACE TO FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES AVIASIM PHOENIX 9455 N. BLACK CANYON HIGHWAY AVIASIM.COM/ PHOENIX-FLIGHT-SIMULATOR Think your gaming obsession is spinning out of control? It’s child’s play compared with the heights flight simulator geeks reach while trying to mimic the cockpit experience at home. Some are known to blow the cost of a Piper Cub on the hardware to, um, re-create a commercial jet cockpit. (Why not buy an actual plane at that point?) Here’s a cheaper route: spending $179 for 60 minutes of flight time at AviaSim Phoenix. The immersive experience inside the Best Western North Phoenix Hotel features an authentic 1:1 scale mockup of an Airbus A320 flight deck, down to the last switch. It even rumbles. The only attraction of its kind in Arizona, AviaSim lands in the sweet spot between home sims and pro-level pilot training. Wannabe sky jocks can get behind the controls for an hour or two of cruising the virtual skies. You’ll take off and touch down at any of 24,000 different airports worldwide. You can even deal with bad weather or in-flight emergencies. A qualified flight instructor rides shotgun, offering guid- ance and keeping you from becoming a statistic. Speaking of which: Intentionally crashing the plane isn’t allowed. i i i BEST PLAYGROUND WRIT LARGE BAM KAZAM 8999 E. TALKING STICK WAY, SCOTTSDALE 480-378-3640 BAMKAZAM.COM/SCOTTSDALE Bam Kazam is ADHD personified. An obstacle course and a life-sized arcade game rolled into a 20,000-square-foot space, the Scottsdale attraction adds a dollop of pure chaos to the escape-room concept. As you puzzle, you’ll likely work up more of a sweat than at an ordinary escape room — think climbing through giant ball pits or shim- mying across a tightrope. Along the way, you’ll encounter game show-style challenges and fun experiences to test your speed and agility. (Did we mention the laser maze?) Since opening in 2021, Bam Kazam has stood apart from other immersive experiences and nearby tourist attractions. It’s exhausting, exhilarating and entertaining as all get out. BEST WRESTLING PROMOTION WRESTLEDRAG INSTAGRAM.COM/WRESTLEDRAG Pro wrestling for decades has grappled with its dodgy history of queer representation. Bad taste and even worse stereotypes have almost always won out. Flamboyant, effemi- nate or androgynous characters have been cast as villains or deviants since Gorgeous George pranced around rings in sequins and robes in the 1940s and ’50s. Things have gotten significantly better in recent years, but the dreaded “gay panic” trope persists. (We see you, Odinson.) That’s never been an issue at WrestleDrag, though, as the Phoenix-based inclusive, queer-positive wrestling promotion puts the smack down on problematic stereotypes. Launched in 2022 by veteran Arizona wrestler Charles Pelayo and his business partner, Abelicio Padilla, the roster includes grapplers of every orientation and gender identity, as well as community allies. They’re not the only color- fully costumed characters strutting their stuff in the squared circle. Local drag artists like Beatrix Bella Rouge and Moxxi Strokes perform between matches. In a local scene where indie promotions feel almost inter- changeable at times, WrestleDrag stands out from the rest. And we ain’t kayfabing you. i i i BEST MAKERSPACE PHOENIX FORGE 535 W. VAN BUREN ST. 602-286-8599 PHXFORGE.COM Sometimes the sticker shock of a new piece of furniture or handbag takes you down a rabbit hole that starts with a simple thought: Couldn’t I just make that myself? For the tinkerer, the putterer, the creative with endless ideas but limited space, Phoenix Forge is here. The 22,500-square- foot facility encompasses metal and wood shops, a ceramics and glass studio, 3D printers, laser cutters, sewing machines and virtually anything else you need to craft your way into DIY nirvana. Phoenix Forge won’t let you walk in off the street and hop into the wood shop, but after a tour or class, you’ll be on your way to making something truly one of a kind.