50 Things to do and see
While in town, be sure to stop by our visitor centers located at 2nd and Adams Street in downtown Phoenix, and at the Biltmore Fashion Center at 24th Street and Camelback Road. From historic buildings and cultural museums to sports arenas and nature parks, these following Greater Phoenix gems are sure to impress you.
America West Arena
201 E. Jefferson St., (602) 379-2000. Sports fans have it made in Phoenix. The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury basketball teams and the Arizona Rattlers arena football team all draw big crowds to this arena. Concerts and other public events also rock AWA.
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
24th Street and Missouri Avenue, (602) 955-6600. It's difficult for one resort to stand out from the multitude of world-class facilities in the area, but this one has a particular claim to fame: Its classic design came from the drafting table of Frank Lloyd Wright in 1929.
Arizona Capitol Museum
1700 W. Washington St., (602) 542-4581. This historic copper-domed building has served as the capitol since Arizona was a territory. Its historic exhibits attract visitors today.
Arizona Mills
Junction of U.S. 60 and 1-10, (480)491-9700. Wear your best walking shoes to this fun mall. Shaped like a racetrack, it may inspire you to shop for more than just one lap. A huge food court, arcade and movie theaters round out the offerings.
Arizona Science Center
600 E. Washington St., (602) 716-2000. The Arizona Science Center offers hands-on, eye-opening fun with more than 300 interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations and traveling exhibitions.
Arizona State University
Tempe, (480) 965-9011. Enjoy a theatrical production, cheer for the Sun Devils sports teams, roam a magnificent art museum, or take a walking tour of the campus and visit Old Maina three-story red brick building dating back to 1898.
Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
525 E. Main St., (480)964-7164. This spectacular structure pays tribute to Mesa's Mormon heritage. Stroll the impeccable grounds and enjoy the annual Easter Pageant and incredible Christmas light display.
Bank One Ballpark
5th and Jefferson Streets, (602) 514-8400. Our 2001 World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks take the field at "BOB." You can arrange to tour the modern retractable-roof stadium by calling (602) 462-6799. To book the park for meetings, contact the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau toll-free at (877) MEET-PHX (633-8749).
Biltmore Fashion Park
24th Street and Camelback Road, (602) 965-1963. Shopping doesn't get much better than this. Situated in a lush setting of gardens and fountains, this outdoor shopping center features 60 upscale stores and numerous gourmet restaurants.
Camelback Mountain
E. McDonald Drive at Tatum Boulevard, (602) 495-5458. Climb the city's most famous landmark, the mountain resembling a crouching dromedary, for superb Valley views. Or visit the Echo Canyon Recreation Area, where sheer red cliffs and hiking paths attract outdoor enthusiasts.
Challenger Learning Center
21170 N. 83rd Ave., (623) 322-2001. Visit the final frontier at this world-class space-science education facility. It features a mission control room modeled after NASA's Johnson Space Center and offers simulated space missions.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center
3711 W. Deer Valley Rd., (623) 582-8007. This research center sends visitors on a short trail that leads to rocks covered with thousands of well-defined petroglyphs. An interpretive center helps explain their meanings and origins.
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., (480) 941-1225. Be careful smelling these flowersmany are blooming prickly cacti! This fascinating garden showcases arid-land plants from around the world.
Desert Ridge Marketplace
Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard, (480) 513-7586. Desert Ridge Marketplace is like nothing you've ever experienced. It's 1.2 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment. Color, energy and fun are the themes of the day here, every day. Your job is to shop, dine and be entertained.
Dodge Theatre
400 W. Washington St., (602) 379-2800. A completely different, state-of-the-art entertainment venue that opened in 2002, the Dodge Theatre hosts concerts, Broadway shows, family stage shows, boxing matches and other events. Check the events calendar.
Dolly Steamboat Excursion
Canyon Lake, (480) 827-9144. A paddle-wheel steamboat takes visitors on a leisurely tour between steep canyon walls and cliffs covered with saguaros. Look closely for bighorn sheepthey inhabit the area and make appearances from time to time.
Glendale Arena
Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue, (480) 563-PUCK (7825). The new Glendale Arena, home to NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, boasts state-of-the-art technology with full-view seating for 17,600 spectators. The arena will host the Phoenix Coyotes home games, as well as ice skating shows, major concerts and family shows.
Goldfield Ghost Town
North of Apache Junction on Hwy. 88, (480) 983-0333. This genuine ghost towna remnant of an 1892 gold strike in the Superstition Mountainsattracts visitors to period buildings, a museum, railroad, steakhouse, saloon and shops.
Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
6101 E. Van Buren St., (602) 275-3473. This unique museum preserves and displays the world's largest collection of firefighting equipment. Some pieces in its collection date back three centuries.
Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave., (602) 252-8848. If you're interested in ancient cultures of the Southwest, visit this world-renowned museum. A staggering collection of Native American art and artifacts awaits.
Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe St., (602) 254-7399. Step out for a taste of our modern culture at this beautifully designed, intimate theater, home to the Arizona Theatre Co., Ballet Arizona and Actors Theatre of Phoenix.
Kierland Commons
15044 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste. 270, (480)348-1577. Kierland Commons is a 38-acre "main street" development that incorporates retail, entertainment, office and restaurant components. A lushly landscaped central plaza with shops, restaurants and a distinctive fountain help create an intimate gathering place at the heart of the grounds. Unique architecture and public spaces evoke a "main-street" ambiance unlike any in the Valley.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
7301 E. Indian Bend Rd., (480) 312-2312. The little ones especially enjoy the half-size steam train and carousel at this one-time ranch, and the big kids and kids at heart enjoy the excursion, too.
Mill Avenue
Tempe, (480) 921-2300. Two words: Be hip! Tempe grew up around this historic street, which has managed to maintain that character while growing into the most happening thoroughfare in the area. Cool shops and restaurants line the college street acclaimed for rowdy block parties and festivals.
Old Town Scottsdale
Brown Avenue, south of Indian School Road, (866) 227-0311. The West's Most Western Town holds on to that claim to fame with this historic oasis in the middle of downtown Scottsdale. Shops, galleries, watering holes and restaurants attract a fun crowd.
Orpheum Theatre
203 W. Adams St., (602) 534-9575. This Spanish Baroque Revival playhouse, built in 1929, once saw the likes of Mae West and W. C. Fields. The standout now hosts a wide range of performing arts.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
9736 N. Fort McDowell Rd., (480) 837-7779. This place is best known for its big cats. Lions, tigers and other wild animals appear in live (and always thrilling) shows.
Papago Park/Hole-in-the-Rock
Galvin Parkway and Van Buren Street, (602) 256-3220. More than 1,200 acres of rolling desert hills and rugged mountains feature a golf course, museums, picnic areas, fishing lagoons (urban fishing license required), hiking trails and the famous peek-through rock landmark.
Patriots Square Park
Washington Street and Central Avenue, (602) 495-5489. Take a break from downtown boutique-hopping at this charming park in the middle of it all. Grab a sandwich and make it a picnic.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave., (602) 257-1222. Brush up on your art savvy at this important venue, considered a major player in the Southwest's art landscape. It houses 17,000 artworks in various collections and hosts more than 20 significant exhibitions annually.
Phoenix Heritage Square
6th and Monroe Streets, (602) 262-5071. Stroll through a city block of museums, gift shops and restaurants in buildings that date to the late 1800s, anchored by the Rosson House.
Phoenix International Raceway
115th Avenue and Baseline Road, (602) 252-2227. Witness high-octane action November through April as NASCAR competitors, Indy cars, midgets and sports cars zip around a one-mile paved oval.
Phoenix Museum of History
105 N. 5th St., Heritage and Science Park, (602) 253-2734. The museum entertains visitors with interactive and educational exhibits showcasing the history of Phoenix's metamorphosis from the law and disorder in the pioneer days to its present status as a modern metropolis. Discover how time and place have influenced modern Phoenix, and the stories of the city's exciting and colorful past.
Phoenix Symphony Hall and Terrace
225 E. Adams St., (602) 262-6225. Up your cultural intake at this world-class performance venuehome of the acclaimed Phoenix Symphony and the Arizona Opera.
Phoenix Zoo
455 N. Galvin Pkwy., (602)273-1341. One of the area's most popular visitor destinations, this zoo displays a collection of exotic animals that ranks among the best in the world.
Piestewa Peak Recreation Area
2701 E. Squaw Peak Dr., (602) 262-7901. One of the area's best-known landmarks features a 1.2-mile trail to the peak's summit. Some hike it for exercise, but most head up for the unbeatable Valley view.
Pioneer Living History Museum
3901 W. Pioneer Rd., (623) 465-1052. On weekends, shoot-outs and costumed performers bring this 93-acre museum to life. Explore the blacksmith shop, Victorian home, dance hall, church and miners' cabins.
Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park
4691 E. Washington St., (602) 495-0901. Experience an interesting juxtaposition of centuries and cultures as cars whoosh by on nearby freeways and jets thunder above this prehistoric Hohokam ruin in the center of the city.
Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse
23023 N. Scottsdale Rd., (480) 502-1880. Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse provides quality 1880s-style family entertainment. Gunfights, stuntmen, Main Street and theater-style entertainment, stagecoach rides, a petting zoo, bull riding (mechanical and the real thing), gold panning, more than a dozen games, rides, attractions and 12 unique shopping experiencesit's all there.
Schnepf Farms
22601 E. Cloud Rd., Queen Creek, (480) 987-3333. Pull on your blue jeans before you head to this working farm, where visitors enjoy picking their own fruits and vegetables. A country store and bakery add to the hometown appeal.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Northwest corner of 2nd Street and Civic Center Boulevard, (480) 994-2787. Hungry for art that pushes the boundaries? The newest major art museum in the area does exactly that, with changing exhibits that challenge, entertain and oftentimes mystify.
Shemer Arts Center and Museum
5005 E. Camelback Rd., (602) 262-4727. Built between 1919 and 1928, this Santa Fe Mission-style home now showcases the works of local and nationally known artists.
South Mountain Park Mystery Castle
10919 S. Central Ave., (602) 495-0222. At 16,500 acres, the largest municipal park in the world offers many pursuits. Among them, visit the quirky Mystery Castle800 E. Mineral Rd., (602) 268-1581for a glimpse into the builder's vivid imagination.
St. Mary's Basilica
3rd and Monroe Streets, (602) 252-7651. Erected in 1881, the oldest standing church in Phoenix adds historic flavor to the downtown area.
Taliesin West
12621 Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., (480) 860-2700. Tour the winter home of the master himself. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed this sprawling wonder, which now serves as a school of architecture.
Tempe Historical Museum
809 E. Southern Ave., (480) 350-5100. A tour of this historic gem filled with artifacts, photos and hands-on exhibits traces Tempe's past back to its beginnings as a flour-milling town.
Tempe Town Lake
Rio Salado, (480) 350-8625. Join the steady stream of joggers, rollerbladers and bikers on the banks, or rent a kayak, paddleboat or canoe and get out on the water.
Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza
1700W. Washington St., (602) 542-4581. Named for Arizona's late governor and longtime secretary of state, the pleasant plaza covers two blocks of the state capital grounds in commemoration of Bolin's achievements.
Wildlife World Zoo
16501 W. Northern Ave., (623) 935-9453. This unique attraction began as a breeding facility for rare and endangered species and evolved into one of the area's most impressive zoos.
Wrigley Mansion
2501 E. Telewa Trail, (602) 955-4079. This hilltop masterpiece, built by chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., shows just how good life could be in the early 1900s.
