Top things to do while visiting Phoenix

I’ve been going to Phoenix about once a year for the past decade. Some of my family lives out there and so I usually spend my Christmas’ with them. Every time I visit Phoenix I make sure to do something new, and now I want to share with you some of my favorites. I have some previous blog posts about my times in Phoenix, particularly visiting National Parks in Arizona, such as Saguaro NP, Montezuma’s Castle & Painted Desert / Petrified Forest. However, now I’m compiled all my favorites in one post. Keep reading to find out my top things to do while visiting Phoenix. 

Phoenix Museums

Musical Instrument Museum 

One of my very favorite top things to do in Phoenix is visit the musical instrument museum, the largest musical instrument museum in the world. The museum has over 15,000 musical instruments representing around 200 countries from all inhabited continents. The museum is expertly designed to lead visitors from one country to another, showcasing instruments from those areas, and also features videos with musicians playing the native instruments. Visitors can enjoy sounds from the instruments via headsets that are automatically activated while visitors check out exhibits. I was impressed with how the music would fade out as you walked away from the exhibit. I was absolutely astounded by how many different instruments there are in this world.

There’s also a theatre on site which holds concerts occasionally as well as special exhibits for some musical artists such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, or Taylor Swift. There’s another gallery where visitors can touch and try to play some of the instruments.  This incredible museum is open daily from nine till five. Be sure to go online to reserve your timed tickets in advance. Entrance price is $20 for general entry $15 for teens ages 13 through 19 and $10 for children four through 12.

Pioneer Arizona living history museum 

The Pioneer Living History Museum is a 90-acre open-air museum, which explores pioneer life from 1863 through 1912. There are paved pathways taking visitors past 20 historic buildings. You can explore original homes of people who helped tame the wild west, including a log cabin where the first senator of Arizona grew up. In addition, there are antiques, a blacksmith, carpenter, dress shop, bank and church. One of the best parts- there are often volunteers in costume! Another museum on site that’s included with admission is the Museum of Telephone and Telegraph History. Here you can see telephones dating all the way back to when phones were first invented by Alexander Graham Bell! It also had lots of nice outdoor paths for exploring. Pioneer Living History Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday 7 AM to 11 AM from June through October 1, and October 1 through May 31 from 9 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $12 for adult $10 for children five-16 and $8 for veterans, public safety, police and fire workers or seniors.

Phoenix Museum of Art 

I’ve yet to visit the Phoenix Art Museum, but it is the largest art museum in the southwest. Opened in 1959, it features more than 20,000 objects sorted into nine collections including American Western, Asian, European, Latin American art, modern and contemporary art, fashion, design, and photography. It also has dining and shopping options, an interactive space for children, and a sculpture garden. It is open Wednesday through Sunday 10am-5pm. Wednesdays it’s open until 9 PM. AND, from 3 to 9 you can pay what you wish. Entrance cost is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for youth age 6-17.

Heard museum 

I visited the Heard for the first time on a recent trip to Phoenix, and I was really impressed. We were able to join a public tour- of which there are several a day- and leaned so much about the museum. There are several permanent collections and well as special exhibits. In the ‘Home’ I was completely charmed by the large collection of Hope Katsina dolls. These dolls are made from cottonwood root and all have different features and action. They are delightful!

Special exhibits in 2024 included Sole- a pairing of Van shoes designed by Native artists and displayed with other works by the artist. Another exhibit featured photography by Meryl McMaster and another paintings by Harry Fonseca, a gay Native American artist which feature a coyote as his subject.

There’s a lot of history and information at the Heard museum about Native Americans. You can learn about the tradition of basket weaving, or bead work as evidenced by the sculptural figural dolls in the Sandra Day O’Connor Gallery. Learn about the sad history in American when Native American children were separated from their families and sent to Boarding Schools in an exhibit in the AJ Dickey Gallery. Also see examples of clothing and jewelry, or see examples of how Native American culture influenced other artists. I really enjoyed my visit, I would recommend about 3 hours to explore it all, and I will definitely be back.

Papago Park

There is a lot to see and do in the Papago Park area of Arizona. There’s a golf course, hiking trails, fishing lagoons and more. Such as…

Desert Botanical Garden 

The Desert Botanical Garden is a 140 acre garden in central Arizona. It has been on the site since 1939 and has more than 50,000 plants, 1/3 of which are native to the area and many that are also rare. They have an especially large collection of agave and cacti. The Desert Botanical Garden is SO very beautiful to visit and stroll through. It is open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM and the admission cost is around $25. Be sure to check out their website to get advance tickets or to make sure that there isn’t a rare day when it is closed. 

Hole in the Rock 

Phoenix Zoo 

The Phoenix Zoo opened in 1962 and it is the US‘s largest private privately owned nonprofit zoo. The zoo has over 1400 animals and 2 1/2 miles of walking trails. It is divided into four sections: Arizona, Africa, tropics and children, which has a petting zoo. The cost $37.95 for adults age 14 or older or $27.95 for children ages 3-13. it is open during the winter from 9-4, in the spring 9-5, and during the hot summer months of June through August from 7 AM till 1 PM. During the Christmas season you may enjoy visiting the Christmas lights, during which time the zoo is open from 5:30 to 10:30 PM with an admission of $30. Check out their website for more information.

Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale 

Old Town Scottsdale is the historic part of town dating back to the 1880s. Within one square mile there are over 100 restaurants, 2 art museums over 30 art galleries and some historic sites. It is a great way to spend an afternoon shopping, enjoying some food and drinks or just walking around and feeling like you’re in the old west. That is until you realize there’s lot of chic boutiques, funky art installations and bumping nightclubs in the vicinity. 

The Scottsdale museum of contemporary art

While you’re in Old Town Scottsdale, make sure to stop at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Like its name suggests, this museum focuses on contemporary art, architecture and design. The museum has rotating exhibits. One of my favorite things when I visited was a light and color panel called three parallels. It is a relatively small museum, but I found it to be really interesting! It is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 to 5 or until 7 PM on Thursdays. Cost is $10 for nonmembers but I very much enjoy that teachers, students and seniors can get in for only $7 if you purchase in advance online.

Taliesin West

Taliesin West was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright and his fellowship. It’s one of two UNESCO site in Arizona.  Wright first came to Arizona in 1927 to consult on Biltmore Hotel and loved the desert. He was inspired by the mountains and scenery, built Taliesin West and lived here in winter from 1938 until his death in 1959 with his apprentices. Taliesin West is 500 acres total, though 10 acres make up the “historic core”. Visitors can take tours now, either guided or a self-guided audio tour. I loved seeing this amazing architectural wonder and I recommend it for you! I also blogged all about my experience here, check out my blog post here.

Explore the outdoors

Hiking & Camelback mountain 

One of the my favorite things to do in Phoenix when it’s not too hot is go hiking! There are tons of mountains, and lots of paths. In fact, there are 41,000 acres of parks and preserves with over 200 miles of trails. You don’t have to venture far to find a spot to hike.

One of the most well known places to hike in Phoenix is Camelback Mountain. Camelback Mountain has an elevation gain of 2,704 feet. It is a difficult hike, and there are often rescues that are required from the mountain so take care. There are two hiking trails- Echo Canyon (which is steeper) and Choila (which is longer). You can only hike from sunrise to sundown, and there are also guided hikes available.

Salt River tubing

Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve  

The Deer Valley Petroglyphs Preserve is a quarter-mile, self-guided nature trail featuring petroglyphs, native plants and maybe even some animals in their natural habitat. The museum and trail is open from Wednesday through Saturday 8 AM to 2 PM and it’s closed Sunday through Tuesday. Admission is $14 for adults, $13 for seniors or military and $5 for children 7-12. It is a part of Arizona State University and there is a free audio guide available for the tour. There are no animals permitted on this trail and though it is a short trail make sure to bring water. I also recommend bringing some binoculars to really see the petroglyphs from up close.

Further afield:

Some of my favorite things to do when I’m visiting Phoenix is to take a road trip future afield. If you have some time to fit it into a trip may I suggest a few.

Goldfield ghost town 

Located near Apache Junction, AZ, about a 45 minute drive from central Phoenix, Goldfield Ghost Town is a reconstructed historic town. Goldfield once had 3 saloons, a boarding house, general store, butcher, school house and more in the 1890s. It was really booming, until the gold vein ran out, and then the town pretty well disappeared in 1926. However, now there are visitors who come every day to experience the history with a bit of shopping, and to visit the gold mine and museum. Other activities include panning for gold, riding a zipline, and train rides. Note that most of these activities have a fee. Depending on when you visit, you may also come across a western gun fight performance! Merchants, the train and mine tour are open seven days a week from 10am-5pm, and the saloon from 11am-9pm.

Tortilla flat 

Another historical town 50 miles east of Phoenix is Tortilla Flat. This town, with a population of six, is the oldest operating stagecoach town in Arizona. The ride here is a nationally rated top 10 motorcycle ride. The biggest tourist attraction here is probably to stop and have a bite to eat & drink at Superstition Saloon. This restaurant has saddles, barstools, and dollar bills from around the world that wallpaper the walls. Next door is a museum in a little red schoolhouse with history of the Superstition Mountains, and other attractions of the area. There’s also a mercantile gift shop as well as a country store, all connected by cute little boardwalk. All of this is open from Monday through Friday 10-6 and Saturday & Sunday 8-6.

Montezuma’s Castle & Well

Montezuma‘s Castle is a national monument located in Cape Verde Arizona, an hour and a half north of Phoenix. It is open every day from 8-4:45 PM. It was first established in 1906 and is the third national monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. The castle is built into a limestone cliff and has 20 rooms. While visitors cannot go into the castle, there is a walking path to view it. 

11 miles away from Montezuma Castle is Montezuma Well, which is part of the same park system & entrance fee. Again, there is a short 1/3 of a mile trail to see the archaeological remains. The land around Montezuma Well has been home to people since as early as 11,000 BC. The entrance fees are $10 per person, unless you have a National Park Pass, which makes it free! The visitor center at Montezuma Castle is open from 8-5 and has a bathroom, a small museum and a bookstore. 

Tuzigoot National Monument

Tuzigoot National Monument is in Clarkdale Arizona, a two hour drive north of Phoenix and is on my list of top things to do while visiting Phoenix.  Here is located a 1,000 year-old 110 room building. The site of this hilltop Pueblo, in what is now called the Verde valley, was picked because of the water that flowed underneath. Today visitors can enjoy walking around and through the Tuzigoot Pueblo on a self guided 1/3 mile loop trail. The trail is accessible to wheelchairs though there are some steep sections. There’s also a half mile trail into the overlook of the Tavasci Marsh, the largest freshwater marsh in Arizona that is not connected to the Colorado river. Dogs are also welcome on these trails. Additionally, there is a museum which showcases ceramics and tools found during the excavation. The entrance fee for Tuzigoot National Monument is $10 per adult age 16 and up unless you have a National Park pass. Its hours of operation are 8-4:45 PM.  Check out this blog post to read more about it, and see more pictures.

Saguaro NP

105 miles southeast of Phoenix in Tucson AZ is Saguaro NP. This park is home to the nations largest cacti- the Saguaro. These cacti just blanket the area, literally just a forest of tall looming cacti and far as you can see, and it’s just incredible. There are two sections to the park, which aren’t connected. There are hiking trails, including some where you can see petroglyphs, and also lots of great driving loops. The park is open from 5am to sunset, and the visitor center is open from 9-5. Entrance fee is $25 (get that National Park pass though, there is so much to see in Arizona and it’s worth it!). I had a great time visiting in 2022 with my family, read more about it here.

Sedona

Sedona is an incredible area near Flagstaff, AZ, about 2 hours north of Phoenix. The scenery is breathtaking, with unique-shaped red rock buttes and evergreen trees. Many people may choose to spend several days in Sedona because there is so much to do. Hiking, shopping, dining, museums…. When I visited, I was focused on the outdoor attractions. Some highlights include Devil’s Bridge Trail, which has a large sandstone arch, Chapel of the Holy Cross, a monument built right into the mountainside. Picturesque sites include Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Snoopy Rock. Something about Sedona just does feel ethereal, and I can’t wait to explore it again sometime.

Petrified Forest National Park (& Painted Desert)

Another one of the Arizona National Parks is Petrified Forest, located about 200 miles northeast of Phoenix.  The Petrified Forest is known for its Triassic fossils, which are plants and animals that are over 200 million years old. There are several trails there, and it is incredible to walk around seeing these massive petrified logs.

Another incredible thing abut the paths- the park is completely dog friendly! Walking around on the trails visitors can see ancient villages, petroglyphs, large, petrified logs, and the Painted Desert badlands. This is actually like two parks in one because it’s right next to the Painted Desert where visitors can see the most incredible multi-colored buttes. To visit painted Desert I recommend doing the loop drive that has multiple stops to snap photos. Also make sure to stop in the Painted Desert Lodge. The park hours are 8-5pm every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving. Entrance fee is $25 a vehicle, unless you have the National Park pass. inside the park. There are bookstores gift, shops, convenience stores, a gas station, and a diner. Check out a previous blog post I made about my visit to Petrified Forest & Painted Desert to find out more.

Grand Canyon NP

The Grand Canyon doesn’t need much introduction, and it’s definitely one of the tops things to do while visiting Phoenix. It is one of the two UNESCo sites in Arizona, is a national park and is Located about 220 miles north of Phoenix. The second time I visited (the first was as a child, the second as an adult) I literally cried because it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The south rim district is open 24 hours a day. The north rim is closed in winter December 1- may 14, from sunrise to sunset in November and open 24 hours other months. Entrance fees are $35 per vehicle. 

Thanks for reading my blog about visiting Phoenix. Arizona has a special place in my heart (probably because so many people I love live there) and I always look forward to visiting. What do you think, are there any places I haven’t mentioned that you love in Phoenix. Do you have any suggestions for Phoenix or other trips for me? Make sure to leave a comment, and catch you soon!

-Catching Katie