From gorgeous hikes to golfing, you can turn the 2025 SFJ conference into a cool November getaway
Phoenix sunrise from Piestewa Peak. Copyright Visit Phoenix / Photo by dspaz.com
Why go to Phoenix with the Society for Features Journalism this fall?
When I found out that SFJ’s first conference since the pandemic was going to happen in November in Phoenix, Arizona, I was intrigued.
I’ve missed the camaraderie and inspiration at these gatherings. And I still have vivid memories of horseback riding through the Tucson desert with fellow SFJ members at the 2011 conference. I’d never been to the Southwest before and hopping on a horse is not my thing, but it was breathtaking to ride through the saguaro.
When SFJ president Laura Coffey emailed us about the SFJ room rate ($189) and I checked out the flights, I started thinking seriously about heading back to that gorgeous desert.
I decided to register…
… because I’m eager to be with SFJ colleagues in person! There is nothing like the experience of being in the same room to exchange ideas, commiserate and support one another.
…for the cutting-edge training and support that has always made our organization a vital resource. For example, what if we embrace — rather than fear — the real-world applications of artificial intelligence? Our hosts at the prestigious Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication promise to help us do just that via its new Knight Center for the Future of News. Find out more about the impressive conference lineup here, and check back at featuresjournalism.org for updates.
… for the opportunity to create more memories in stunning Arizona, where in November, folks tell us we can expect the temperatures to range from the high 70s to the low 50s.
The conference runs Nov. 6- 8, but SFJ’s $189-a-night room block stretches from Nov. 3-11, allowing us to add vacation days to the start or end of the conference. (To extend that $189 room rate beyond the two conference nights, contact Hyatt Place executive meeting manager Kelly Durrett by email at Kelly.Durrett@hpphx.com or by phone at 602-601-4554.)
Another key detail: Veterans Day falls on Tuesday, Nov. 11, this year. If that will be a day off for you, it might be even easier to turn the conference into an extended getaway.
So, why not catch a Waymo with me from the airport to the Hyatt and join other talented features journalists as we reinvigorate our craft and spend a few days exploring Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States?
Need more convincing? Check out my growing Phoenix to-do list.
Are you outdoorsy?
I’m not a hiker, but I am up for an easy stroll through the Judith Tunnell Accessible Trail in South Mountain Park and Preserve, which offers a mile-long paved path.
Stunning Upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. Photo courtesy of DetoursAmericanWest.com
Also, I want to visit Papago Park, known for its massive red rock buttes. It has some fairly easy trails as well as major attractions, such as the Desert Botanical Garden, which features more than 50,000 plants.
One of our SFJ colleagues recommends taking a day-trip to the stunning, but more challenging, Antelope Canyon. He recommends making the trip with the help of Detours American West. After checking out the incredible photos on the company’s website, I think I have to go.
Want even more of a challenge? Camelback Mountain, the tallest peak in the Phoenix area, draws hikers unfazed by the “extremely difficult” rating as they climb to reach the 360-degree view. Piestewa Peak, Phoenix’s second-tallest mountain, also offers breathtaking vistas.
For amazing views with less stress on the knees, step into the basket of a hot air balloon tour. One of our SFJ colleagues highly recommends Hot Air Expeditions. This is definitely on my list.
Prefer to do your strolling in a museum?
Hot air balloon at sunrise. Photo credit: Instagram user @emitoms
Phoenix Art Museum is a must for me. It offers everything from Monet to haute couture to photography to — well, it’s the largest visual art museum in the Southwest. I can’t wait to check out Yayoi Kusama’s mind-bending infinity mirror room.
The Heard Museum lets us “experience indigenous creativity” through its collection of Native American art from many cultures spanning hundreds of years.
The Musical Instrument Museum features more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries. Bring the kids and let them visit the interactive gallery where they can play! I want to check out the evening concerts, too.
I hope to travel to nearby Scottsdale for a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, Taliesin West, and perhaps a desert hike.
Or are you more of a golf, spa and shopping fan?
The area boasts dozens of golf courses.
Visit Phoenix dishes up some tempting spa options.
Roosevelt Row downtown intrigues me, with its boutiques, galleries, cafes and bars.
This is just my first pass at some of the things I want to check out. We’re going to tap the folks at The Arizona Republic for advice on the city’s nightlife and dining.
Stay tuned for more travel tips, and/or share your own favorite hot spots in the area.
Hope to see you in Phoenix!
Ann Maloney retired as recipes editor from The Washington Post. She is a past SFJ president (2003) and an SFJ member since 1995. She writes about food, teaches cooking classes and lives in Cocoa Beach, Florida, with her husband and two cats.