Phoenix keeps growing—new stadiums, fresh food halls, and ever‑expanding desert trails mean there’s always something to see beyond the cacti. Use this 50‑stop list (updated for 2025) to craft your own Sonoran‑sun adventure, whether you’re chasing art, outdoor thrills, or air‑conditioned retail bliss.
1. Scottsdale Fashion Square
Three levels, 225 stores, and luxury labels from Gucci to Tiffany & Co. make this the Southwest’s signature mall. Refuel at Shake Shack or wander over to the in‑house Harkins Theatres for recliner‑seat blockbusters. (Tip: validated garage parking is free if you spend $10 inside.)
Official site | Nearby nightlife
2. State Farm Stadium
Home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the 2024 NCAA Final Four, this $500 million engineering marvel features a retractable roof and a roll‑out natural‑grass field. Non‑game‑day Behind‑the‑Scenes Tours (Wed–Sat) walk you through the press box, visitor locker room, and the 50‑yard line photo op.
Tour tickets
3. SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
More than 2,000 creatures—from rescued green sea turtles to bar‑cheeked reef sharks—fill this kid‑friendly Tempe aquarium. Don’t skip the Temple of the Seahorse breeding exhibit or the touch‑friendly Interactive Tide Pool. Arrive for the mid‑afternoon shark feeding to see the tunnel erupt with motion.
Discount tickets | Things to do in Tempe
4. Heritage Square & The Rosson House
Downtown’s last remaining block of 19th‑century buildings hosts cozy gastropubs, the STEM‑focused Arizona Science Center annex, and the lovingly restored 1895 Rosson House Museum. Pop into the Visitor Center for a quick visual history, then grab empanadas at Chico Malo just across the plaza for lunch.
5. McCormick‑Stillman Railroad Park
Forty acres of locomotive nostalgia: ride the 5‑gauge Paradise & Pacific Railroad, climb a 1950s Pullman car, or browse the model‑railroad barns run by local hobby clubs. Weekend evenings feature free concerts under the water‑tower lights—BYO picnic blanket.
Park info
6. Desert Belle Cruise on Saguaro Lake
See red‑rock canyon walls, bald‑eagle nests, and towering saguaros from the comfort of an air‑conditioned paddle‑wheeler. Captains narrate the 90‑minute trip with geology tidbits and wild‑horse spotting tips. Book sunrise departures for cooler temps and glass‑smooth water.
Reserve seats
7. Arizona Science Center
Four floors of hands‑on experiments—feel hurricane‑force winds, lie on a bed of nails, or design a Mars habitat in the new Space Exploration Hub. The Dorrance Planetarium hosts 8K laser shows nightly, while traveling megablockbusters (think Victoria the T. rex) rotate every six months.
Exhibits & tickets
Tours & Things to do hand-picked by our insiders
8. Mystery Castle
This quirky 18‑room hillside hideout—fashioned from car parts, adobe, and desert rock—was built in the 1930s by Boyce Gulley for his daughter. Docent‑led tours (Thu–Sun, Oct–May) wind through secret passageways and a wedding chapel. Bring sturdy shoes; the floors are as uneven as the back‑story.
9. Great Wolf Lodge Arizona (Replaces closed Big Surf Waterpark)
An 80,000‑sq‑ft indoor water park kept at a balmy 84 °F means splash time year‑round—think six‑story funnel slides, kid‑friendly lily‑pad walks, and adults‑only hot springs. Day passes are available if you’re not overnighting in the themed suites.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Book a day pass
10. Salt River Fields at Talking Stick
Spring‑training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, this complex sits on tribal land with panoramic views of Four Peaks. Off‑season, it transforms into balloon festivals, taco crawls, and the state’s biggest holiday light drive‑through.
Event calendar
11. Phoenix Zoo
Roam four themed trails—Africa, Tropics, Children’s, and the native Arizona Trail—then cool off in the Yakulla Caverns splash pad. Insider trick: arrive at 8 a.m. when keepers scatter breakfast for the giraffes, and you’ll have the boardwalk to yourself.
12. Lake Pleasant Regional Park
Boating, cliff‑side scuba, and moonlit scorpion hunts make this 23,000‑acre oasis a desert anomaly. Rent a patio‑pontoon from Pleasant Harbor Marina or join a ranger‑led star party for telescope views of the Milky Way. Campsites book months ahead—plan early.
13. Luhrs Tower
Once Phoenix’s tallest building, this 1929 Art‑Deco gem cameoed in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Today it houses trendy lofts and the speakeasy‑style Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour—try the barrel‑aged Old Fashioned amid marble columns and brass elevators.
14. Arizona Museum of Natural History
Mesa’s family‑favorite museum mixes animatronic dinosaurs on thundering “Dinosaur Mountain” with hands‑on archaeological digs. New in 2025: an immersive Ice Age gallery where kids can crawl through a simulated lava‑tube cave.
Plan your visit | More things to do in Mesa
15. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Just an hour south of downtown, the Great House—built by the ancestral Sonoran Desert people around 1350 CE—still stands beneath a protective steel canopy. Ranger talks explain the ancient irrigation network that once criss‑crossed the valley. Arrive at dusk for golden‑hour photos of the adobe walls.
NPS site
16. Phoenix Art Museum
The Southwest’s largest fine‑arts collection spans Monet gardens, Frida Kahlo sketches, and the selfie‑magnet Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room. Friday evenings are “Pay‑What‑You‑Wish,” and the on‑site Palette Café sources produce from local farms for its seasonal salads.
Current exhibitions
17. Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Three floors, 300+ play experiences. Highlights: a pool‑noodle forest, a climbable tree‑house maze, and the brand‑new STEM Lab where 5‑ to 10‑year‑olds build solar‑powered cars. Reserve timed tickets on weekends; sessions often sell out.
Visitor info
18. Roosevelt Row Arts District
Mile‑long corridors of ever‑changing street art link indie galleries, micro‑breweries, and vegan cafés. First Friday Art Walks close the streets to cars—expect food trucks, live bands, and pop‑up vintage markets. For espresso with a view, grab a rooftop seat at Modified Arts Café.
Art‑walk schedule
19. Dobbins Lookout (South Mountain Park)
Drive or hike to 2,330 ft for 360‑degree valley views. Sunrise reveals Camelback’s silhouette; sunset ignites downtown’s glass towers. There’s a CCC‑built stone ramada at the summit—BYO thermos of coffee and you’ve got a front‑row seat.
20. Tempe Town Lake
Kayak beneath the Mill Avenue bridges, cycle the 5‑mile shoreline loop, or catch a lakeside concert at Tempe Beach Park (hello, 2025 Innings Festival). Rental outfitters stock SUPs, pedal‑boats, and e‑scooters year‑round.
Lake activities
21. Camelback Mountain
The Echo Canyon and Cholla trails rise 1,420 ft in just 1.2 miles—rewarding those quad‑burns with epic city panoramas. Trailheads now feature bottle‑fill stations and shade ramadas, but temps still soar. Aim to summit by 10 a.m. in summer.
Trail map
22. Rosson House Museum
Step inside an 1895 Queen Anne Victorian complete with gas‑lamp replicas, Eastlake furniture, and hidden servant bells. Guided tours (hourly) reveal Phoenix’s boom‑town days and the surprising role ice delivered by rail played in local cuisine.
Tour tickets
23. Goldfield Ghost Town
Pan for gold, ride a narrow‑gauge train, and watch standoff gunfights every weekend at this revived 1890s mining camp near the Superstition Mountains. Zip‑line over the dusty storefronts or descend 100 ft into the historic Mammoth Mine.
Visitor details
24. Desert Ridge Marketplace
An open‑air “shop‑and‑stroll” district where kids dart through pop‑jet fountains while parents browse Nordstrom Rack or sip craft cocktails at The Whining Pig. Free live music every Friday night on the fireplace stage.
Event calendar
25. Orpheum Theatre
Gilded columns, starry‑sky ceiling, and acoustics restored to 1929 perfection. Catch a touring Broadway show or join the free Saturday morning architecture tour for backstage ghost stories.
Show tickets
26. Tee Off at Papago Golf Course
Bordering the other‑worldly Papago Buttes, this Billy Bell–designed muni offers Torrey‑Pines pedigree at bargain greens fees. Twilight rates after 3 p.m. start at $49 in shoulder season.
Book a tee time
27. Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum
Nearly an acre of gleaming engines, leather helmets, and interactive extinguisher demos trace fire‑service history from 1725 to modern wildland crews. Kids love the “Junior Firefighter” dress‑up corner; adults linger over the emotional National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
Hours & admission
28. Japanese Friendship Garden (Ro Ho En)
Three‑and‑a‑half calming acres—waterfall, 1,500 koi, and authentic teahouse—co‑designed by Phoenix’s sister city Himeji. Join a monthly tea ceremony or the lantern‑lit November Otsukimi Moon‑Viewing Festival.
Garden events
29. Taliesin West
Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter lab glows at sunset, when the desert masonry catches ember‑orange light. The 90‑minute Insights Tour now includes VR headsets that overlay Wright’s original sketches onto real‑world vistas.
Tour options
30. Grand Canyon Day Tour (via Detours Americas)
Leave the driving (and parking) to the pros: this 13‑hour small‑group trip hits Route 66, Cameron Trading Post, and three South Rim viewpoints, with an optional 25‑minute helicopter add‑on. Hotel pickup from Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tempe.
Reserve your seat
31. Phoenix Fan Fusion (May 23–26, 2025)
Four days of celebrity panels, tabletop tournaments, and thousands of cosplayers filling the Convention Center. 2025 guests include Pedro Pascal, Gwendoline Christie, and manga legend CLAMP.
Badge info
32. South Mountain Park & Preserve
At 16,000 acres, it’s one of America’s largest urban parks. Ride the 14‑mile National Trail by mountain bike, book a guided horseback trek, or cruise the curvy summit road to see saguaros silhouetted against the skyline.
33. Piestawa Peak
A 2.4‑mile round‑trip “stair‑master” topping out at 2,608 ft. Post‑hike, reward yourself with a prickly‑pear paleta from nearby Pop ‘N Tea Bar.
34. Hole‑in‑the‑Rock (Papago Park)
A 200‑ft stroll brings you to a sandstone cave with postcard views—especially vivid at sunset when buttes blush crimson. Combine with a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden next door for a bloom‑filled afternoon.
35. Biltmore Fashion Park
Open‑air luxury: browse Saks Fifth Avenue, Ralph Lauren, and indie jeweler Cornelia Park, then linger over a white‑truffle burger at The Capital Grille patio. Free valet with restaurant validation.
36. Heard Museum
World‑renowned for Native American art—from Navajo silver to contemporary Hopi katsina dolls. The 2025 blockbuster, “Indigenous Futurisms,” spotlights Native creators blending VR, fashion, and myth.
Exhibit info
37. Security Building Rooftop Garden
This restored 1928 landmark hides a ninth‑floor succulent garden and open‑air event deck. Public access is during Phoenix Luminaria Nights (Dec 1–23), when 5,000 candles light the limestone façade.
38. Papago Park
Besides Hole‑in‑the‑Rock, the park hosts the Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden, an archery range, lagoon fishing, and the rolling links of Papago Golf Club. Free ranger‑led geology walks third Saturdays.
39. Luhrs Building
The Tower’s shorter sibling, finished in 1924, now houses startup lofts and Serafina Coffee—grab a cortado and admire the terracotta gargoyles outside the windows.
40. Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights
Lottery‑only tours explore this 1920s four‑tiered “cake” surrounded by 5,000 desert plants. Submit your name every July for the following year’s coveted spots.
Tour lottery
41. Pueblo Grande Museum & Cultural Park
Walk interpretive trails through a 1,500‑year‑old Hohokam village site, then head inside to examine shell jewelry traded from the Gulf of California. Kids can “excavate” replica artifacts in the Dig It! gallery.
Museum details
42. Sahuaro Ranch Park
Historic farmhouses, rose gardens (best bloom: April), and resident peacocks make this 1886 ranch a favorite picnic spot. Seasonal u‑pick orchards offer white‑sapote fruit in late summer.
43. Wrigley Mansion
Tour chewing‑gum tycoon William Wrigley Jr.’s 1931 hilltop estate, then book dinner at Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion, a Michelin‑recommended tasting‑menu spot with terrace views of Camelback flaming pink at sunset.
Dining reservations
44. Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
Follow wireless headsets through 6,800 instruments from 200 countries, then bang gongs in the hands‑on Experience Gallery. The intimate 300‑seat theater hosts world‑music legends—2025’s lineup features Malian bluesman Vieux Farka Touré.
Tickets & concerts
45. Tempe Beach Park
Five miles of riverside paths ideal for jogs, kite festivals, and the mega‑popular Arizona Fall Oktoberfest (Oct 10–12, 2025). Evening temps hover in the 80s—perfect for open‑air movie nights on the lawn.
46. Arizona Capitol Museum
Four floors chronicle statehood, from territorial days to the USS Arizona’s salvaged silver service. Don’t miss the Merci Train boxcar gifts or the newly opened exhibit on 1990s tech boom startups born in Phoenix. Free admission.
Visitor info
47. Talking Stick Resort
Casino action, a championship golf club, and summer Release Pool Parties featuring EDM headliners. The 14th‑floor Orange Sky restaurant pairs tomahawk steak with sunset views over McDowell Mountains.
Room deals
48. Castles N’ Coasters
Phoenix’s classic amusement park packs looping coasters, a four‑story ropes course, 18 holes of glow‑mini‑golf, and Arizona’s tallest drop tower (Skydiver, 120 ft). All‑day “Ride & Play” passes start at $49.
Park hours
49. Chase Field
Watch the Arizona Diamondbacks under a retractable roof (thank you, A/C) or sign up for a weekday ballpark tour that walks you onto the warning track. New in 2025: the left‑field Sizzle & Slug BBQ smokehouse by celebrity chef Stephen Kalt.
Game schedule
50. Cosanti Originals
Architect Paolo Soleri’s experimental earth‑cast structures shelter bronze foundries where artisans pour and tune iconic Cosanti windbells. Free self‑guided tours daily; bell‑casting demos at 10:30 a.m. echo with hypnotic chimes.
Shop online | Visit Arcosanti for his desert‑arcology follow‑up.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Phoenix?
| Season | Avg. High / Low (°F) | Why Go |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar–May) | 78 / 55 | Wildflower blooms, Cactus League baseball, and comfortable hiking. |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | 106 / 83 | Hotel steals, night‑blooming cacti, tubing the Salt River—just plan early starts. |
| Fall (Sep–Nov) | 88 / 64 | Cheaper airfare, harvest festivals, perfect patio weather. |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | 69 / 47 | Holiday light shows, golf prime time, crisp desert mornings. |
10 Fascinating Phoenix Facts
- Canal Capital – Greater Phoenix still uses 130 miles of modern canals first mapped by the Hohokam 1,000 years ago.
- Sunniest Big City – With 3,870 sunshine hours per year, Phoenix outshines every major metro on Earth.
- Largest Municipal Park – South Mountain Park’s 16,000 acres beat NYC’s Central Park 16 to 1.
- Sky Harbor’s Art – PHX airport hosts the nation’s biggest public‑art program in an airport—over 900 works.
- Birdie Central – The Waste Management Phoenix Open draws the PGA Tour’s largest gallery: 700,000 fans in 2024.
- Film Cameo – Hitchcock’s Psycho opens with a 1959 helicopter shot over downtown Phoenix.
- No DST – Arizona skips daylight saving, so time stays constant relative to the sun (and confuses Apple Calendar newbies).
- Saguaro City – Giant saguaro cacti only grow naturally here in the Sonoran Desert; they live up to 200 years.
- Startup Magnet – Phoenix added 56,000 tech jobs between 2020‑24, fastest growth of any U.S. metro over one million.
- Astronaut Tested – Apollo crews practiced lunar rover drives on Flagstaff volcanic craters just 2 hours north.
Updated January 2025 • Want more tips?
Check our evergreen guides to the Best Hikes Near Phoenix and the Ultimate Arizona Road Trip—then let us know which adventure you pick first!
A great list of places to visit.