Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun have outdoor activities, great museums, historical sights and much more. We have chosen the top things to do for your visit to Phoenix.
A dozen Major League Baseball teams participate in the Cactus League, and nine of them call the Phoenix area home. Cheer on your favorite team up close and personal.
The meandering paths of the Desert Botanical Garden wind through red buttes of Papago Park. The Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants of the Southwest. The Garden is a fun place to explore no matter what the season. In early spring there are often special delights with butterfly exhibits, wildflowers and blooming cacti.
Phoenix' West Valley residents all love the White Tank Mountains with the glow of early morning sun dancing off the peaks. They hike and explore the dusty trails and hunt for wild flowers in the spring. It's a great place to see the stately Saguaro cacti and Indian petroglyphs.
The Arizona Diamondbacks is one of the newer professional sports leagues in Arizona, but they are certainly just as beloved as other pro teams in town. Winning the World Series against the Yankees in 2001 certainly didn't hurt! Here's a guide to the Diamond Backs and to Chase Field.
A drive on the Apache Trail is one of the most scenic drives near the Phoenix area. This well-travelled road affords visitors an incredible view of canyons, geologic formations, desert plants and trees, desert and lake views, and wildflowers in season.
Learn about Frank Lloyd Wright's style of desert architecture on the beautiful site of Taliesin West. I highly recommend that you include Taliesin West in your list of things to do while in Scottsdale or the Phoenix valley. Once you visit Taliesin West, you will then be motivated to visit Taliesin East in Wisconsin.
The Phoenix Zoo has been touted as "One of the Nation's Top 5 Zoo's for Kids." The Zoo houses approximately 1,200 animals including collections of mammals, fish, invertebrates, birds, and reptiles.
The Heard museum is one of the nation's top places to see Native American artifacts. The museum displays some of the more than 35,000 artifacts in a permanent collection. Three additional gallery spaces, a 400-seat multipurpose auditorium, an Education Center, expanded Museum Shop and Bookstore, and the indoor/outdoor Arcadia Farms at the Heard are all features of the expanded Heard Museum. If you are in town during a special event at the Heard, be sure and try to fit it in.
The University of Phoenix Stadium Stadium has a retractable roof and field. University of Phoenix Stadium hosts Arizona Cardinals football games, as well as the Fiesta Bowl, concerts, and trade/consumer shows.
