The Open Road Travel

Phoenix is well-known as one of the happiest, friendliest places in America, and somewhere that is great to live or visit. However, people are often a little less clear on what exactly there is to do in the city that you can’t experience anywhere else.

With that in mind, I want to take you on a virtual tour of the 10 best things to do in Phoenix. This will cover everything from natural beauty spots to historic landmarks, to help fill out a Phoenix itinerary for visitors of all different tastes and interests.

So, if you plan to visit Phoenix and want to make sure you don’t miss anything out, I highly recommend reading on.

Phoenix is the capital and most populous city in the state of Arizona, as well as the 5th most populous in the entire United States. It is also the only capital city in America to have a population greater than one million people.

Phoenix was originally settled as a farming community in 1867, before being incorporated as a city in 1881 and declared the capital of the historic Arizona Territory in 1889.

In 1979, the city was divided into 15 separate urban villages, each of which are located and named based on historically significant neighbourhoods.

The greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area is the most populous in the southwestern United States, and 11th most populous in the country. It includes a number of other large cities, such as Glendale, Mesa, and Scottsdale.

Despite its desert location, the Phoenix economy relies heavily on farming to support it, with the biggest chunks of its income generated by the “Five C’s”: cattle, citrus, copper, cotton, and climate.

On average, Phoenix receives around 300 sunny says each year, making it one of the sunniest cities on the planet. It has also earned the entire Phoenix Metropolitan Area the nickname “The Valley Of The Sun”.

With its year round warm, dry weather, there isn’t really a bad time to visit Phoenix. However, the best time to visit Phoenix is from mid-March to late May, or from late September to mid-November.

During the height of summer, the temperatures can reach dizzying highs in Phoenix, to a point that some may find them hard to bear.

The periods I have suggested will offer you beautiful, warm weather, which will be perfect to help you enjoy your trip, without constantly seeking out shade or air conditioning the entire time.

As we move on to our list of the 10 best things to do in Phoenix, I am going to suggest a broad range of options. These will include things to appeal to travellers of all different interests, while ensuring you have something to cover everything that Phoenix is known for.

The Desert Botanical Garden was established in 1939 and gives visitors to Phoenix the opportunity to see and learn about the unique plant life found throughout the deserts that surround the city.

Its collection has grown to an incredible 50,000 plants covering 4,000 different species, almost 10 percent of which are considered rare, threatened, or endangered. Of particular interest to many are its wonderful range of cacti and agave.

Roughly a third of the plants are native to the local region, while the others come from deserts around the world, giving you the opportunity to see the full range of plant life that grows in this type of environment.

Specialised lectures, tours, and workshops provide an insight into issues like horticulture, desert landscaping, nature photography, and even art.

Meanwhile, art exhibitions, concerts, and light displays are held in the spring and the fall, to ensure the Desert Botanical Garden always has something new and exciting to offer.

Native American history and culture are about as prominent in Arizona as you will find anywhere in the United States, and there may be nowhere better for you to learn about it than at the Heard Museum.

Originally opened in 1929, the Heard Museum is dedicated to the advancement and promotion of Native American art and culture.

It collaborates with Native American artists and tribes, particularly those from the local region, to provide pieces that present Native American culture from a first-person perspective.

Its collection of more than 40,000 pieces contains paintings, photos, sculptures, dolls, historic artefacts and more.

You then have a range of festivals that display art, dancing, jewellery, textiles, and woodwork, plus traditional fairs, which are regularly held throughout the year.

This provides a complete experience for the 250,000 visitors the Heard Museum receives each year.

Officially known as the William Wrigley Jr. Winter Cottage, the Wrigley Mansion is a landmark building constructed for William Wrigley Jr, the founder of the Wrigley chewing gum company, between 1929 and 1931.

At a cost of around 1.2 million dollars, the Wrigley Mansion was designed in the Spanish Colonial style and features 24 rooms and 12 bathrooms, covering more than 16,000 square feet (1,500 square metres).

It was listed on the National Register Of Historic Places in 1989, before being purchased by musician “Geordie” Hormel in 1992. The mansion was then converted into a site available to rent for conventions, meetings, private events, and other similar functions.

While local zoning regulations require the Wrigley Mansion to operate as a private club, it does feature a wonderful fine dining restaurant.

Whether you choose to eat in the main dining room or one of the private rooms available to rent, you will have the opportunity to sample some of the finest cuisine in Phoenix, while looking out at stunning views of the city skyline and the surrounding landscape.

The Hall Of Flame Fire Museum is dedicated to the firefighters of the city from throughout history, as well as those across the rest of the country. Operated by the National Historic Fire Foundation, the Hall Of Flame Fire Museum was opened in its current location in 1974.

It contains exhibitions of historic firefighting equipment dating from the early 18th century right up until 2004, offering a definitive history on the United States firefighting industry.

The collection of more than 100 artefacts includes fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers, fire marks, fire helmets, and hand, horse drawn and motorised fire engines from around the United States, as well as pieces from Austria, England, France, Germany, and Japan.

It is also the location of the National Firefighting Hall Of Heroes, a memorial hall in memory of firefighters who have been killed in action across the country.

Whether you want to learn more about the evolution of firefighting or simply pay your respects to those who have died in the line of duty, the Hall Of Flame Firefighting Museum is the perfect place to accomplish your goal.

The Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park centres around the Pueblo Grande Ruin And Irrigation Sites. It displays the remains of a pre-historic settlement of the Puebloan people who inhabited the region for over a thousand years, from at least 450 AD.

Among the ruins you can see a large platform mound, retaining walls, ball courts, and irrigation canals, all of which are synonymous with Puebloan settlements.

As the canals were part of the first irrigated agriculture in the Southwestern United States, they are a site of great historical significance.

The museum itself contains numerous artefacts that have been recovered from the area over the years, with detailed information on what everything is and where it was found.

You then have recreations of Puebloan buildings, giving you a clear image of how the site would once have looked.

This all makes the Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Site a must visit location for anyone interested in the Puebloan people and culture or the pre-Columbian history of the southwestern United States.

Originally opening in November 1959, the Phoenix Art Museum is home to more than 19,000 works of art.

Among its collection are pieces covering American, Western American, Latin American, Asian, European, contemporary, and modern art styles, as well as photography, fashion, and design.

At 285,000 square feet (26,500 square metres), the Phoenix Art Museum is the largest visual art museum in the southwestern United States. Many of its pieces are by esteemed or emerging artists, and it offers both permanent and temporary exhibits.

Beyond the art exhibits, the Phoenix Art Museum also regularly hosts events such as festivals, educational programs, airings of independent films, and live performances throughout the year.

There is even an interactive children’s area, a landscaped sculpture garden, a research library containing more than 40,000 books, and shopping and dining venues.

This makes the Phoenix Art Museum a great place to visit to experience all sides of the vibrant Phoenix arts scene.

In the 1890s, Goldfield was among the fastest growing gold mining towns in the United States. With three saloons, a general store, blacksmiths, brewery, meat market, and schoolhouse, it was a thriving community with a strong economy.

However, when the main vein faulted and the quality of the ore dropped, the town began to die off as quickly as it had emerged. While multiple attempts were made to revive the town, it died off permanently in 1926.

After lying dormant for decades, the Goldfield Ghost Town was eventually taken over, restored, and reopened as a tourist attraction.

Reconstructions of the old town buildings give visitors the chance to have a drink in a saloon, go panning for gold, and complete various other activities that were a part of daily life during the golden era of Goldfield, to truly experience the history of life in the wild west.

Other attractions in the Goldfield Ghost Town include guided tours of the mine and Lu Lu’s Bordello, a ride on a traditional, narrow gauge railroad, horseback rides from the O.K Corral stables, recreations of wild west gunfights, and even tours of the Apache Trail, on which the town lies.

Combined with modern attractions like a zipline, shooting gallery, reptile exhibit, ghost walking tour, mystery shack, and museum, the Goldfield Ghost Town is a perfect place to see and learn about the old west, in an exciting location that was active during the height of the wild west a century ago.

The Japanese Friendship Garden Of Phoenix gives you the unique opportunity to experience a culture you may not immediately associate with Arizona. In 1976, the city of Himeji, Japan become one of 10 sister cities that Phoenix has around the world.

The original section of The Japanese Friendship Garden Of Phoenix opened in November 1996 in honour of this relationship and continued to grow for the next 6 years, until it reached its current size of 3.5 acres in 2002.

Throughout the garden you will find countless locations and attractions synonymous with traditional Japanese culture, which have been created from and decorated with over 1,500 tons of carefully handpicked rock.

Fifty different species of Asian plants, including two types of bamboo, surround stone footbridges, lanterns, walking paths, a tea house and tea garden, a twelve foot waterfall, a lake, and a 5/8th of an acre fishpond filled with more than 300 koi carp.

Not only is The Japanese Friendship Garden Of Phoenix an opportunity to have a unique and exciting experience during your stay, but it is also the perfect place to take a relaxing stroll and unwind for a while.

While the Phoenix Art Museum is advertised of the heart of the city’s arts scene, those looking for a grass roots experience should take a trip to Roosevelt Row.

A nationally recognised arts district, Roosevelt Row is filled with street art and a small collection of independent galleries and studios.

Beyond the paintings, street performers and live musicians constantly frequent the district, showing off their skills and entertaining visitors. It is a great place to come to experience the real art of the city, produced by some of the most incredible artists the city has to offer.

On the first Friday of each month, Roosevelt Row also hosts an event known as “First Fridays”.

Recognised as the largest monthly art walk held anywhere in the United States, First Fridays sees the studios and galleries open their doors to visitors.

This allows you a behind the scenes view into the Phoenix arts scene and even gives you the chance to quiz the artists about their work.

While the city of Phoenix is a wonderful destination in its own right, a large part of the appeal for most is the stunning landscape in which it is located. The surrounding deserts are filled with beautiful plant life, animals, mountains, rock formations, and more.

Echo Canyon Trail And Recreation Area and Tom's Thumb Trailhead are great places for people to take a hike into the Arizona wilds, while Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and South Mountain Park are some great options for those seeking a more strenuous trek.

You even have sites like the Hole In The Rock and Papago Park for a more unique experience. All in all, you would be missing out if you decide to visit Phoenix and don’t experience the iconic natural landscapes that Arizona is famous for.

Best Hotel To Stay At In Phoenix – JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

The JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is a luxury, 5-star resort, on the northern edge of the city. It is a premium destination, filled with an incredible number of facilities for relaxation, entertainment, and exercise.

Among the attractions, you have 2 golf courses, 5 swimming pools and waterslides, a spa, lap pool, and fitness centre, as well as a choice of 5 restaurants, where you can enjoy both American and international cuisines.

There is even a bar and a branch of Starbucks for you to grab a drink.

Each of its comfortable, spacious rooms is fully air conditioned and features stunning views of your scenic surroundings.

They also contain luxuries like a cable TV, mini bar, coffee maker, and Wi-Fi, while some even come with private balconies, to help you relax and enjoy the view even more.

That concludes our list of the 10 best things to do in Phoenix. By this point, you should have plenty of things with which to fill out your Phoenix travel itinerary, no matter your personal tastes or interests.

From beautiful weather to cultural sites and even pro sports team, Phoenix is a city that has it all.

All that you have left to do is to start getting everything from your hotels and flights to the excursions you want to do while you are in town booked.

That way, you can start looking forward to visiting Phoenix for yourself, in the knowledge that you won’t miss anything during your stay.