Things to do in Phoenix
As you may already know, Phoenix is not only the capital of Arizona, but also the largest city of the State. Phoenix is one of the top 5 visited cities in the United States, and mostly famous for its museums, Performing and Fine Arts. So what to do during your visit? Here are some ideas and recommendations to make your visit interesting and enjoyable.
Museums in Phoenix
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum, located north of Downtown Phoenix, exhibits more than 130,000 square feet of galleries representing Native American culture, history and of course art. This is a must-see in Phoenix! This museum will give you a full cultural experience about Native American culture for an affordable admission. Just like any other museum different exhibitions are available and events organized, check out the official Heard Museum page for more information.
Phoenix Art Museum
From fashion to modern art, form Chicano art to photography, the Phoenix Art Museum offers you a variety of exhibitions for every taste and style. You should take a guided tour for a full art experience and interesting insights on the exhibits.
Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center is a great stop if you have kids. The permanent exhibitions are interactive, so your kids can play and interact with “hands-on” exhibitions while learning. After some fun educational entertainment, why not take a break at the planetarium or the I-max theater! The Science Center has a calendar full of interesting activities, check it out before planing your visit!
Nature in Phoenix
Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden is a cactus garden. You will say, okay…. and what is exciting about that?! Well it is the largest collection of desert plants: 50 acres display more than 21,000 plants! But the Desert Botanical Garden is more than just plants; you can enjoy a nice walk, and go see the butterfly exhibit. It is advised to visit the Garden during the Spring, as the blooming plants are all the more colorful, but a visit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is impressive all year long.
Papago Park
If you like outdoor activities you will enjoy Papago Park. You can have a relaxing day with walking, fishing, and enjoying a nice picnic (remember to reserve a picnic shelter!); or you can plan a more sport oriented day and visit Papago Park to do some rock-climbing, hiking or biking.Once a gain, if you travel with kids, this park is a great leisure place for some family fun.
Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo is another great day activity when you visit Phoenix with kids. More than 1300 animals are established residents of the 125 acres representing the Phoenix Zoo. As part of the Papago Park, the Zoo offers you a 2,5 miles walk. It is also one of the top 5 zoos adapted for children. The Safari Train also gives you the possibility to visit each species. And to get a better, closer experience with the animal, take your kids to feed the giraffes!
Deer Valley Rock Art Center
Are you ready for a history/art and nature adventure? Then you should visit the Deer Valley Rock Art Center. This 47 acre nature preserve will give you the opportunity to admire Native American rock art: more than 1500 rock sketches can be found there. But Deer Valley is more like a museum and archeological site, so even your kids may be interested. You can therefore make it a cultural, informative and sporty day!
Night Life in Phoenix
Phoenix is also well known for its performing art venues, especially in Scottsdale. If you enjoy Opera, you should check out the Phoenix Symphony Hall, where the Arizona Opera performs, and the Phoenix Orpheum Theater where the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera performs. The Phoenix Symphony Hall also hosts Ballet performances.
Now you are all set to get the best out of your visit in Phoenix. Whether you are looking for a more cultural or leisure time in the city, you should be able to find the right attraction matching your interest and schedule.
