Camelback Mountain
Echo Canyon Trailhead: 4925 E. McDonald Drive, PhoenixCholla Trailhead: 5150 N. Invergordon Road, Paradise ValleyPhoenix's most famous mountain is a popular hiking destination most of the year for locals and tourists alike. There are two trails up Camelback Mountain: Echo Canyon is about two and a half miles total up and down the mountain, and is considered a difficult hike. Cholla is slightly longer (about three miles total), but is a little less strenuous. Whichever trail you choose, you'll probably find parking a challenge; in the winter months, Camelback is nearly always busy, so consider taking a rideshare. And even though the weather is beautiful, treat Camelback like a serious hike: Wear good shoes for hiking and take plenty of water.
Cosanti
6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Paradise Valley480-948-6145For a unique Arizona experience, head to Cosanti, an entry on the Arizona Registry of Historic Places designed by experimental architect Paolo Soleri. The otherworldly structures are the result of Soleri's earth-casting technique, and many of these buildings were created by first forming a concrete shell over mounded dirt. Cosanti is still a working studio, and the bells that are created by its artisans are world-famous and highly sought-after. Cosanti is open daily, and there is no cost to visit. Guided tours are held twice daily, and donations, which benefit the nonprofit Cosanti Foundation, are encouraged.
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Parkway480-941-1225Experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert at the Desert Botanical Garden in east Phoenix. The garden boasts 140 acres of native plants along its pathways. Keep an eye out for the giant Mexican cardon cactuses that are more than 75 years old. Currently on display is "Fernando Botero: El Maestro," an exhibition of paintings, drawings and monumental sculpture celebrating the visionary Colombian artist who died earlier this year. The garden is open daily, and cost is $29.95 for adults and $16.95 for youth (children under 3 are free).
The Heard Museum holds a world-class collection of Indigenous art.
Craig Smith/Heard Museum
Heard Museum
2301 N. Central Ave.602-252-8840The Heard Museum is Phoenix's world-class collection of Native American art. Nearly 100 years old, the Heard has an enormous number of works in the permanent collection, plus hosts special exhibitions on a variety of topics. The museum's "Substance of Stars," is a new permanent exhibition that examines the collection of the Heard Museum from Indigenous perspectives and includes immersive Indigenous storytelling featuring a 360-degree Sky Dome. Also on display is the museum's signature exhibition "HOME: Native People in the Southwest," featuring highlights from the collection. The Heard Museum is open daily. Admission is $22.50 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, and children.
Japanese Friendship Garden
1125 N. Third Ave.602-274-8700You wouldn't think that such a tiny, green oasis would thrive in the middle of a desert metropolis, but for more than 20 years, the Japanese Friendship Garden has been delighting visitors to its spot near Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. Created in partnership with Himeji, Japan, one of Phoenix's sister cities, the Japanese Friendship Garden features a lake with a waterfall, traditional Japanese structures, secluded walking paths, plenty of koi, and a gift shop stocked with Asian goods. Cost is $10 adults, $8 seniors, and $7 students, military, and children ages 6 to 17.
Mill Avenue, Tempe
There's always something happening on the stretch of Mill Avenue in Tempe that runs from Rio Salado Parkway to the north to University Drive to the south, right next to Arizona State University. By day, people of all ages stroll along the street past tightly packed shops, restaurants, and bars. At night, the vibe gets rowdier as a 20-something crowd comes out to party. You can see a movie at the AMC Centerpoint 11, or snap a photo of Harkins Valley Art, the oldest movie theater in Arizona. Snacks, drinks, and hundreds of games are available at game cafe Snakes & Lattes, and you can sing your heart out every night of the week at 414 Pub Pizza & Karaoke.
The exterior of the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix.
Musical Instrument Museum
Musical Instrument Museum
4725 E. Mayo Blvd.480-478-6000See thousands of musical instruments from all over the world, spanning thousands of years of history, at the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix. Much of the museum is organized geographically, allowing guests to experience the music of various cultures as they move through the galleries. But there's also a space for mechanical musical instruments, and the Experience Gallery on the first floor gives visitors a chance to play instruments from around the world — it's just as much for adults as it is for kids. Currently on display is "Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins, and Banjos," a temporary exhibition that features 90 historic stringed instruments. The museum is open daily. Tickets for the museum plus the "Acoustic America" exhibition are $27 for adults, just the museum is $20, and just "Acoustic America" is $10 (tickets for children are discounted).
Odysea Aquarium
9500 E. Vía de Ventura Suite A-100, Scottsdale480-291-8000Yes, there's an aquarium in the desert. And it's pretty great. Odysea, the largest aquarium in the Southwest, is the home of 6,000 animals from sharks and penguins to otters and seahorses. The Odysea Voyager is a rotating aquarium experience that takes guests past enormous tanks full of sea life, while the touch pools let them get up close and personal with some of the residents. Odysea is part of the sprawling Arizona Boardwalk, an entertainment complex that includes Butterfly Wonderland, Pangea: Land of the Dinosaurs, a laser and mirror maze, the UFO Experience, the new Museum of Illusions, and more.
Old Town Scottsdale
Technically bounded by Chaparral Road to the north, Earll Drive to the south, 68th Street to the west, and Miller Road to the east, Old Town Scottsdale is one of the livelier parts of metro Phoenix. There's world-class shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, or if you're just looking to pick up some souvenirs, streets like Fifth Avenue and Brown Avenue are lined with shops full of Arizona-themed goods. Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West has permanent and temporary exhibitions on view, as does the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Bars, restaurants, and nightclubs are in heavy supply, and you can hear live music any night of the week at places like Belle's Nashville Kitchen, the Rusty Spur Saloon and Old Town Tavern.
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Ave.602-257-1880Phoenix's premier art museum has several cool exhibitions on display at the moment, including "Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory," a look at the significant work and career of the pioneering Chicana artist . And the museum's permanent collection is no slouch either. Highlights include "You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies," a Yayoi Kusama infinity room; and the Thorne Rooms, a charming set of painstakingly created tiny replicas of historic rooms. Phoenix Art Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday; admission is $24 online or $26 in person, with discounts for seniors, students, and children. Children under 5 and military members with ID get in free.
Phoenix Zoo
455 N. Galvin Parkway602-286-3800
Zoos are fun for all ages, and the Phoenix Zoo is no different. The nonprofit zoological park holds about 3,000 animals, including lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, and many more. The Arizona Trail is home to creatures you would find in the desert, and the Children's Trail contains a petting zoo. The zoo's wildly popular ZooLights nighttime event continues through Jan. 14. Oh, and if you're wandering around the zoo and you see a strange white pyramid on the top of a hill, that's Hunt's Tomb, the resting place of George W. P. Hunt, the first governor of Arizona.
Roosevelt Row Arts District
Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix is one of the most vibrant areas of the city. The official boundaries are Seventh Avenue to 16th Street between McDowell Road and Fillmore Street, and in that area you'll find art galleries and museums, performance spaces, bars and restaurants, local shops, colorful murals, and more. Catch a concert with local bands at The Trunk Space; have a beer and listen to a local DJ at Jobot; shop at RoRo's newest store, sports card shop Rip Valley; see work by local creatives at galleries like Eye Lounge and Modified Arts; experience Indigenous art and goods at Cahokia PHX; bowl at Cham Pang Lanes; shop for vintage clothes at Antique Sugar; drink and play arcade games at Cobra Arcade Lounge — you'll never get bored in Roosevelt Row.
South Mountain Park/Preserve
This is the perfect time of year to explore South Mountain Park/Preserve, which at 16,000 acres is one of the largest municipally managed parks in the nation. There are hiking trails for all ability levels, from the family-friendly Kiwanis Trail to the moderate Hidden Valley Trail to the challenging Hau'pal Trail. If hiking isn't your thing, you can bring your bicycle; take a horseback ride with Arizona-Horses, a stable located next to the park; or drive up to Dobbins Lookout for a spectacular view of the whole city.
Taliesin West
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale480-860-2700Architect Frank Lloyd Wright is world-famous for his iconic designs. See where he lived, worked, and taught by visiting Taliesin West in north Scottsdale, a National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taliesin offers two tours: a 60-minute self-guided audio highlights tour that takes guests to some of the most popular parts of the property ($39 adults, $27 students with ID, $19 youth ages 6 to 12), and a 90-minute guided tour that dives deeper into the history of Taliesin and takes visitors into some of the private living spaces ($49 adults, $35 students with ID, $24 youth ages 6 to 12). Taliesin West is open daily.
