California families looking for a memorable spring adventure definitely need to head to Arizona for Cactus League Spring Training! Whether you’re die-hard baseball fans or just in it for the family fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The atmosphere is laid-back, the games are filled with excitement, and Arizona’s spring weather is perfect for a getaway (except for the day it rained, but we pivoted and actually made it a highlight, more on that to come). Taking a page out of our family’s playbook, we share how to plan the ultimate baseball trip.
Why Choose Cactus League Spring Training?
Starting with the basics… for those unfamiliar, the Cactus League is a collection of Major League Baseball teams who head to Arizona for their spring training. Arizona is home to 15 MLB teams, including the Padres, Giants, Angels and Dodgers so it makes it a hotspot for California baseball fans during March. With all the teams concentrated in the Phoenix-metro area, it’s easy to see multiple games in just a few days. We caught three games and were able to see: Padres, Giants, Angels, Rangers and Royals!
The Cactus League is also super easy to get to from Southern California… you have both options to either drive or take a quick flight into Phoenix. We chose to fly and rent a car once we were in town to maximize the amount of games we could get into our five-day trip. I suggest flying, especially if you are only going for a weekend, but driving is more economical if you have a big family and can afford the time.
Packing in Spring Training Teams, Meeting Players & Experiences Ballparks
Spring Training ballparks in Arizona tend to be more compact and the smaller size means you’ll be closer to the action and have better views of the game. Plus the scenery around Arizona is so beautiful, with desert landscapes and mountain views, giving a unique backdrop for the games. But each stadium has it’s own style and reflects the personality of the teams.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres make Peoria Sports Complex their Spring Training home. One of the great aspects to watching the team play in Arizona that instead of the 40,000+ seats at Petco Park, the capacity at Peoria is about 12,000 meaning you’re never too far from the field. The Padres’ dugout is on the first base side, and we showed up early in hopes to snag a signature from the players as they took the field to warm up.
The outfielders showed up big with the fans as Brandon Lockridge autographed baseballs for us before the game and Tirso Ornelas signed and posed for a photo in thanks for sticking it out the entire game — in the rain! Yes, during the last few innings the rain started coming down and there was a mass exodus in the park with thousands leaving, but that is also the time the Padres began their comeback rally.
We did what any good Padres fan would do and went straight to the team store and purchased hats for everyone! As the water made the seats wet, all the fans congregated to the walkways and the team threw balls every inning change into the stands directly to the group of young boys vying for a ball. My son was even able to score one by the end of the night! The whole evening was so memorable and the Padres even pulled of the win.
San Francisco Giants
The tradition of attending San Francisco Giants games at Scottsdale Stadium has deep roots with me. Having grown up in Los Gatos, my whole family loved cheering on the greats from Willie McCovey to Will Clark, Barry Bonds to Buster Posey, and this was the first time my husband and kids got to experience Spring Training with the Orange and Black!
This of course meant we suited up for the day game in full head-to-toe Giants gear and arrived a couple hours early to watch warm ups and batting practice. We packed plenty of MLB balls knowing the culture of the team and how kind they are to their fans through both engagement and autographs.
The highlight for us was outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (the grandson of Red Sox legend Carl Yastrzemski) who came over to sign our baseballs and even commenting on cool my daughter’s shades were! Made her day so much she pulled out her ballpoint pen and added a heart next to his name on her ball because she wanted to note he is the absolute best — as naturally any six-year old would do!
One of the stadium’s highlights is its location in the heart of Scottsdale, providing easy access to restaurants, shops, and attractions before or after the game and set against the McDowell mountains. But eating at the stadium is part of the experience for us so we enjoyed hot dogs and pretzels while the Bay Bombers showed off their skills. We snagged some Spring Training specific apparel in the shop on our way out with hearts full from a fantastic family day of baseball.
Los Angeles Angels
The boys were up for more baseball and headed to Tempe Diablo Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Angels. They were super excited to catch up with local favorites like La Costa Canyon alum and Encinitas resident Mickey Moniak and watch All Star Mike Trout play.
One of the benefits of Spring Training is that both teams, home and opponents, usually great about connecting with fans and in this case the Kansas City Royals, Nick Pratto, stopped to sign as he’s a California guy from Huntington Beach and having played college ball at USC, as well as Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer Craig Biggio.
With the excitement on and off the field… and the signature Hoffy hot dogs to dine on, the Angels afternoon left a lasting impression!
Best Spot to Stay: Baseball Diamond to AAA Five Diamond Resort
While we spend the majority of days and nights are spent at the baseball diamond, we wanted to make sure we stayed and played at another type of diamond — a AAA Five Diamond Resort to be exact! Your dream desert getaway must include a stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.
This luxurious family-friendly resort is located in Scottsdale and offers a wide range of amenities and unique features that make it an ideal destination for families. We wanted to have a resort that offered all the personalization and attentiveness of home, but with sweeping views of the Sonoran desert, TPC Scottsdale greens, Sunset Beach or the Princess Pool. The warm desert accents and Southwestern-inspired architecture are incredible to take in, around every corner is beauty.
We loved turning in for the night in our robes and enjoying salty snacks while we shared our highlights of the day. And you can’t be breakfast on the patio taking in the views. Our room overlooked a gorgeous body of water that was designed in one of the most famous Scottsdale golf courses that hosts the legendary PGA Tour WM Phoenix Open.
On days where we choose night games you could find our family at one of the SIX stunning pools. Whether you want 9,000 square feet of soft white sand and a splash pad, to serene adult-only pool, there is a place to lounge for all. We choose Sonoran Splash fully enticed by the two 200-foot twisting water slides! We have friends that are local and opted to unwind in a luxurious private cabana for the day. It provided the perfect backdrop to soak in the sun, cheers our Pina Coladas, and indulge on lunch favorites. This family-friendly area also features zero-entry waters for our youngest guests. Truly the best way to spend a desert day!
MLB Team Gear and Spring Training Apparel
We love shopping for Spring Training gear because you can only find it at the team stores at each stadium. This adds a special collector feel and also a keepsake to represent each year you attend games. But in addition to Cactus League specific apparel we’ve compiled a checklist of must-haves and purely fun items that will enhance any game day experience:
- Official 2025 MLB Leather Baseball & Case
- Retractable Ball Point Pens // Blue Ink
- MLB Trading Cards & Hard Plastic Card Sleeves
- Clear Stadium Crossbody Purse
- Kids Aviator Sunglasses
- Hanna Andersson Swim & Resort Wear & Baseball Pajamas
- MLB X Bauble Bar Jewelry
Wrapping Up Your Arizona Adventure
Whether you’re bonding over your favorite team or just soaking in the sunshine, Arizona’s spring training season is a fantastic way for families to enjoy baseball and the beauty of the desert. You’ll leave with great memories, a tan, and maybe even a new favorite ballpark snack (hello, Hoffy hot dogs!). On the flight home our kids were already talking about how this needs to be a new family tradition so I’m confident the baseball memories, player interactions and pool time made it an unforgettable family trip. So secure your tickets, pack your bags and get ready to make some springtime memories with your family in Arizona!
