The Best Things to Do and See in Phoenix, Arizona

Opened in 1962, the Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately owned, non-profit zoo in the United States and is home to over 1,400 animals, including more than 30 different endangered species from around the world. The zoo contains 125 acres (51ha) of animal exhibits, a children’s area, a petting zoo, as well as a narrated tram ride, and visitors of all ages can ride the camels. In the winter months, you can also attend “ZooLights”, featuring 3.8 million lights and 700 sparkling displays. All of the zookeepers and staff are friendly, and the exhibits are well-kept, making this spot one of the best tourist attractions in town.

The largest museum for visual art in the southwestern United States, the Phoenix Art Museum is truly one of a kind. Founded in 1959, the museum features works of art with an emphasis on American, Asian, European, Latin American, and modern art, as well as fashion design, and possesses an expansive collection of renowned pieces from the Renaissance to the present. In addition to the extensive permanent collection, the museum also hosts many traveling exhibitions. Check their website for details on what’s on and when.

The overall mission of The Heard Museum is to educate the public about the heritage and living cultures of Native American peoples, particularly those of the southwest. Since its founding in 1929, the museum has grown in both size and reputation and is now internationally recognized for the high quality of its collections, festivals, and educational programs. The Heard Museum perfectly combines both new and old and gives a fascinating history lesson about Native American culture through art, photographs, jewelry and more.

The increasingly popular Desert Botanical Garden spans 140 acres (57ha) of land and showcases the natural beauty found in desert plant life through its various exhibits. Many visitors are surprised and delighted by how much wildlife is living within the flowers, trees and cacti on display, and the Botanical Garden is home to even non-garden related events such as performances of Shakespearean plays on outdoor stages and “Music in the Garden”. Join the garden’s email list to save on some more-highly priced events.

For those who happen to be in Phoenix on the first Friday of any given month (summer months excluded), First Friday is a must. These nights allow visitors to enjoy the spirit and culture of central Phoenix through touring art galleries, venues, record stores, food trucks and much more. The Phoenix Art Museum offers free admission to its exhibits and stays open until 10 pm, and countless food trucks and independent vendors make First Fridays, which are now among the nation’s largest art walks, truly unforgettable. Third Fridays are a more recent addition to #PHXFridays and showcase exhibitions in dozens of galleries in the area.

Located about thirteen miles northeast of the city center, Camelback Mountain is one of Phoenix’s most iconic sights (no prizes for guessing why it’s so-named). In non-summer months, when the heat isn’t prohibitive, visitors can hike one of two routes to the 823-meter (2700ft) summit – either the 1-mile (1.6km) Echo Canyon Trail or the slightly shorter Cholla Trail. Although short in distance, both tracks are extremely steep, so be sure to take a bottle of water with you. And if you hike up in winter, a sparkling, albeit disheveled, Christmas tree will await you on the summit.