Murphy’s Bridle Path with Keryn
It’s been a minute since I’ve done an interview and I have a very special person for you to meet! This is my mom, Keryn! For her hidden gem, she took me to Murphy’s Bridle Path in Central Phoenix. Obviously one of the most important people in my life, it was such a treat to spend this time together and learn more about this quintessential Phoenix stop.
For our walk down the Bridle Path, we parked at a church on Northern and Central, right by where the path begins. Hoping out of the car, I was excited to get some fresh air and explore this spot that I hadn’t been to in a LONG time. I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, so the weather has continued to cool off. Regardless, it’s probably an even more enjoyable experience now! One of my favorite things about walking (or driving) along Central is getting to look at the HUGE houses along the street. We went out just after Halloween, so it was extra special getting to see the houses dressed up in their spooky decorations. The community was originally developed with horse owners in mind, dedicating the path as an equestrian trail for residents. The neighborhood has long since been annexed by the City of Phoenix, with the Parks, Recreation, and Library Dept. maintaining the trail. The Bridle Path is also special for its shady trees that line the route; definitely a welcome break from the sun for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the year. We planned our walk so we would finish at the Uptown Farmers Market (review out in the Shopping section), treating ourselves to some coffee and pastries. As it started to warm up, our return journey seemed less enticing; so we took a Waymo to our car a couple miles back. For the full experience, I would definitely recommend going out and back; for our leisurely intentions, we left it at two miles.
Keryn is not technically a Phoenix native, a first for the Griff’s Guide interviews! She was born in Rapid City, South Dakota and spent most of her childhood growing up in Fort Collins, Colorado. Fun fact, she went to Rocky Mountain High School, an eerily similar name to the Shadow Mountain High School I attend now! Keryn moved to Phoenix, first in 1989 to attend Arizona State, returning full-time in 1996 after moving to Texas for a few years. Keryn’s favorite Phoenix memory is when the Diamondbacks went to the 2001 World Series. “At such a weird time, it gave people a way to come together, and it gave Arizonans something to be proud of. It was exciting to be a part of that.” She thinks Phoenix is special because it’s a really big small town. “For how big and spread out [Phoenix] is, it has that smaller city feeling. I always see people I know.” A lot of Phoenicians tend to share common experiences, making us feel more connected. My mom took me to the Bridle Path because it’s not something you would expect to see in Phoenix; the whole Central corridor with historic houses and trees would be unexpected to someone who’s not familiar with Arizona. “There’s more to Phoenix than stucco houses and strip malls.” It’s a really unique spot right in the middle of Phoenix, and it doesn’t fit our stereotype.
Keryn currently lives in North Phoenix with her family, including me, and Dexter, her favorite dog in the whole world. Some of my favorite Phoenix memories have been shared with my mom, and she has introduced me to many of the places you’ve seen on this website. Many times when I’m about to go explore, she’s happy to accompany me, making the journeys out and about much more enjoyable. My mom is such an amazing person, she’s beautiful, smart, and caring, and I wouldn’t trade her for the world! She’s heard me drone on and on about this project, helping me talk through a lot of my ideas and getting us to the Griff’s Guide you know and love!
It was so much fun getting to hear more about what my mom loves about Phoenix! Her insight as a local has been very valuable when building this project! If Keryn were on a deserted island, she would bring Oasis’ discography with her.
