Phoenix, Arizona, is the sixth most populous city in the USA. There are so many places to visit in Phoenix and I always try to squeeze it into my schedule whenever I plan my annual trip to Vegas with my friends.
In the Phoenix metropolitan area (Valley of the Sun), you can find great local businesses and a capacity of restaurants, cafes, museums and other entertainment units there. Although Phoenix has a subtropical climate, it is recognised as a convenient place to live and visit. Phoenix has extremely hot summer days and warm winters. Even though the landscape in Phoenix is mostly flat, you can still find mountains to explore. There are several mountains around the city, which makes Phoenix even more interesting for tourists. In addition, it’s a truly artistic city. Phoenix holds tens of performances and concerts each weekend with hundreds of artistic communities, theatres, and art centres.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Heard Museum of Native Cultures & Art
If you think historical museums are boring, try to visit Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art in Phoenix. It’s more than a museum; it’s the live reality of the city. The museum includes both: contemporary art exhibitions and authentic artifacts. If you plan to visit Phoenix in November, try to get in the annual festival Spanish Market held by the Heard Museum. Also, you can become a part of the dancing culture by participating in the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, which takes place in February.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain offers a breathtaking view from its top. Tourists are encouraged to participate in hitchhiking, rock climbing and walking on the trails, which can be an exciting opportunity for a workout. Currently, there are two hiking trails, which lead you to the top. With each step you make, the way gets more difficult, but a fantastic view in front of you is worth it. Round trip usually takes up to 3 hours. So, dress up in comfortable clothes, take a lot of water with you, friends and go ahead towards one of the most exciting things to do in Arizona.
Places to visit in Phoenix: The Zoo
Don’t miss the local Phoenix Zoo while your trip to Arizona. Zoo offers 4 km of land to explore and more than 1400 animals to see. The zoo is divided into 4 different sections. You can find flora and fauna representatives due to your interest: The Arizona Trail (American Southwest flora and fauna), the Africa Trail, the Tropics Trail (flora and fauna from rain forests), and the Children’s Trail. For children, Phoenix Zoo offers a special program Camp Zoo, which aims to teach kids about the importance of the natural world. Zoo also holds a unique possibility to observe animals at night time.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Art Museum
The whole cultural life of Phoenix is concentrated in the Phoenix Art Museum, where festivals, performances, concerts are taken place. This place inspires and amazes. Exhibitions mainly include presentations of visual art: modern, international, American, European, contemporary and all possible genres. Moreover, your children won’t get bored there as the museum has a special interactive zone named PhxArtKids.
Places to visit in Phoenix: South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park is recognised as one of the largest urban parks in the world. Across the park, you can find 80 km of trails for hiking, horse-riding, cycling. During your ride, you can observe different representatives of flora and fauna. For example, you can find a rare population of Elephant trees and a vast chuckwalla population. South Mountain Park is a perfect opportunity to spend a family weekend in the fresh air.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Historic Heritage Square
Nothing will explain to you the history of Phoenix better than the Historic Heritage Square. Basically, this is a vast area, where you can feel the spirit of the past, taste excellent local food, take a tour around one of the most popular museums in the city – the Rosson House Museum. On its territory, curious tourists will find an exhibition of authentic historical buildings and crafts. Tours usually take up to 60 minutes. In addition, the heritage Gallery often holds impressive collections of ancient artifacts. Moreover, by joining craft activities in the gallery, you can get acknowledged with history and create something to become a part of it.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Centre is the place where you discover and explore the unknown before facts. More than 350 exhibitions and over 400,000 visitors each year make the Center the heart of Phoenix. With the help of modern nano-devices, an amazing Dorrance Planetarium can explain to you the secrets of the galaxy, discover breathtaking Arizona’s skies and take you on tour to the world of ice. In addition, 5 themed galleries, in an easy and fun way, can answer many questions about modern science and its development. For the visual study, Arizona Science Center offers informative documentary films, which can be watched in the IMAX cinema.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Papago Park
1200 acres of outstanding beauty offers Papago Park, Phoenix. This municipal park extends for many kilometres, where you can see rich and rare flora and fauna. Part of the park is dedicated to Desert Botanical Garden, famous for its tropical plants and research institute. Don’t miss the Hunt’s Tomb, the tomb of Arizona’s first governor, which is also an exciting place to visit. Suppose you are interested in an active lifestyle. In that case, the park offers Rolling Hills Golf Course, bicycle trails and volleyball and basketball courts. It is always possible to rest on green loans near the small lakes all around Papago Park.
Places to visit in Phoenix: Castles N’ Coasters
Time for fun! Amusement park Castles N’ Coasters guarantees pleasant emotions and long-term memories. Among the most popular attractions, there are the Sky Diver (free-fall tower), Desert Storm (Roller Coaster), Splashdown (Log flume) and a golf field, where you can enjoy the game in the middle of fantastic decorations.
