87 FUN & GAMES BEST TRIBUTE TO THE NATIONAL PASTIME ARIZONA BASEBALL MUSEUM 2345 N. HORNE, MESA 480-835-2286 ARIZONABASEBALLMUSEUM.ORG Baseball has loomed large over Arizona for more than a century. Like, Randy Johnson large. The game was played here long before Arizona became a state and has shaped its politics, business and cultural landscape in the decades since. Yet, until this year, there were zero permanent institutions here cele- brating and preserving the sport’s legacy. That changed in February, when the Arizona Baseball Museum debuted in Mesa. It squeezes 150 years of local baseball lore into the 4,000-square-foot Lehi Auditorium, itself a historic treasure. Memorabilia, stories and vintage photographs cover the bases of the sport’s past in Arizona. Games played in mining camps and frontier towns during Arizona’s territory days. Teams formed by Japanese Americans held in World War II-era internment camps. The birth of Cactus League spring training in Mesa during the 1950s. And, of course, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ epic 2001 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, baseball’s final boss. i i i BEST PLACE TO WATCH BASEBALL FOR FREE (KIND OF) COLD BEERS & CHEESEBURGERS AT CHASE FIELD 401 E. JEFFERSON ST. 602-354-8607 COLDBEERS.COM/CHEESEBURGERS/ BALLPARK-DOWNTOWN-PHOENIX Paying for a $15 beer or a $20 burger sure sucks some of the joy out of a trip to the ballpark. So here’s a bit of a cheat code at Chase Field. The Valley chain restaurant Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers has slyly perched an outpost over left field that gives diners an open-air view of the Diamond- backs without having to shell out for a ticket. Certainly the burgers and beers aren’t free, but cutting Ticketmaster out of the loop for your evening more than makes up for the price of your dinner. If you don’t mind laying out a bit of cash, you can reserve a four-top on the restaurant’s terrace to ensure you have great views for an additional $15 per person, give or take. BEST PLACE TO SEE A SPRING TRAINING GAME TEMPE DIABLO STADIUM 2200 W. ALAMEDA DRIVE, TEMPE 480-350-5205 TEMPE.GOV Sometimes the best spring training experi- ence comes in a small package. Home to the Los Angeles Angels’ spring training, Tempe Diablo Stadium pairs an intimate ballpark with practical perks that make game day a riot. Parking is closer, concession and rest- room lines move faster and the spacious lawn offers room to spread out under more shade than many Cactus League parks offer. Recent renovations to the Major League clubhouse and performance center keep the stadium looking sharp, and more seating, a new scoreboard and even better shade are ahead. In fact, this is probably the best envi- ronment to watch the Angels. Might as well see them in March, since they’ve been a no-show every October since 2014. i i i BEST ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS CAMEO ‘WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY’ In the middle of watching “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” the latest in director Rian Johnson’s series of star- studded murder mystery flicks, we spotted a familiar logo. “Is that a Diamondbacks game?” we exclaimed. It was. No spoilers here: At one point in the film, the characters look up a baseball game one of the characters recorded. As it turns out, the game in ques- tion took place on April 18, 2025 and saw the Chicago Cubs beat the Diamondbacks 13-11 at Wrigley Field. It wasn’t a huge plot point. But, hey. Always fun to catch a D-backs sighting in a tentpole Netflix movie. i i i BEST PARK GRANADA PARK 6505 N. 20TH ST. 602-262-6696 PHOENIX.GOV Phoenix doesn’t offer many months for lying-in-a-field-of-grass kind of fun, so we make the most of good weather wherever possible. Folks looking to squeeze idyllic views, animal-spotting and fun for the kids into one park should look no farther. Granada Park, located right below Phoenix Mountains Preserve, has not one, but two man-made ponds with desert flowers and fish. Bring your dog and enjoy views of Piestewa Peak or a sunset. Families will be pleased to find a shaded playground and plenty of benches for Grandma to join. We mostly like to bring a blanket and lie in the field with a good book as ducks curiously patter nearby.