The San Diego Padres will be training from February 22 to March 27 in Peoria, Arizona. At just a 5.5-hour drive, it’s a doable road trip for couples and families alike. Plus Peoria and neighboring Phoenix offer a lot in addition to baseball. Distilleries, musicals, and spa retreats abound to make your stay a total home run.
The Games
Home to the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners, The Peoria Sports Complex has hundreds of shaded seats as well as indoor space with air conditioning, but it’s not too hot this time of year, so the $5 lawn seats are still a great choice. Chow down on everything from footlong corndogs and craft beer to deep fried cheeseburgers. The Complex boasts kid-friendly features like Peoria Cove, with a splash pad and Wiffle ball field (so there’s no need to leave the ballpark if the small fry can’t sit through nine innings). For games with the 15 other MLB teams in the Cactus League, find their schedules here.
2019 Padres Spring Training Guide
Castle Hot Springs
Where to Stay
If you’re traveling with the kids, Cibola Vista Resort is the place to go. Newly expanded, it boasts activities like a three-story waterslide and horseback riding on premises. There’s also a spa where couples can relax after a nail-biter of a game. The historic and newly-redone Castle Hot Springs is adults only. Their hot springs are the hottest non-volcanic natural springs in the world, allowing the pure waters to release therapeutic elements and leave you feeling renewed. Pop into the hotel’s restaurant Harvest for a fresh meal. The chef works with the resort’s agronomist to pick the day’s best produce; if you want to be involved in the preparations, you can actually forage and select produce at their onsite farm to be used in your meal.
2019 Padres Spring Training Guide
Lake Pleasant
What to Do
Grab drinks after the game at Lucidi Distilling Co., Peoria’s first fire-station-turned-distillery, with 22 batch flavors of vodka. Looking for a bite to eat close to the game? The Social on 83rd has a fun atmosphere and they’re only a 10-minute walk from the ballpark. For a not-so-average night out, head over to Modern Round, part-virtual shooting range, part-upscale lounge. Or if you’re looking for a less adrenalin-pumped night, the Arizona Broadway Theater is your spot. Catch one of the two musicals they have running during Spring Training: An American in Paris or Mamma Mia!. Lake Pleasant—yes there’s a lake in the middle of the desert—is the perfect spot for a fun daytrip. With everything from dinner cruises to jet packing, the lake offers something for everyone (even if that means sunbathing on the shores or from the deck of a boat).
If you’re there for the beginning of Spring Training, take a short drive to Phoenix for Devour Week happening February 17-24. You’ll get to try bites and sips brought to you by culinary magicians from all over the state. If you don’t make it to Devour Week, The Churchill offers the next best thing. Grab a bite, sip on a drink, and shop in this community-driven gathering place crafted from upgraded shipping containers. Afterwards, take the kids out for a memorable night at the Desert Botanical Garden’s Electric Desert nights.
2019 Padres Spring Training Guide
