Choose from 18 Fun Things to Do in Phoenix
Phoenix Art Museum
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Scottsdale Fashion Square
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SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona
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Camelback Mountain
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Sonoran Desert
- Book your tour in advance. You’ll benefit from a knowledgeable guide while enjoying your perfect desert adventure.
- As in any desert environment, be sure to bring enough water with you (drinking water is not available) and dress for the weather.
- Be on the lookout for cacti and snakes.
National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Travelers can gather plenty of free park maps, check out an IMAX movie about the Natural Wonder, get expert advice on planning the perfect Grand Canyon experience, books hotels and pick up park passes at this one-stop shop. Guests can also explore an extensive catalogue of sightseeing, self-guided and private tours and even get help with booking.
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Apache Trail
- The Apache Trail Circle Route takes a full day to complete, although visitors can choose to stay overnight to spend more time hiking, camping, and exploring the desert.
- Take extra caution when driving, as portions of the road are unpaved and the desert’s terrain is rough and includes steep cliffs.
- Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection, and bring plenty of water.
Superstition Mountains
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Salt River
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South Mountain Park
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Old Town Scottsdale
Canyon Lake
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Arizona Science Center
As a non-profit organization, the Arizona Science Center‘s main goal is to entertain and educate people of all ages about science. They opened in 1984 as a small, 10,000 square feet (3,048 square meters) museum featuring select hands-on exhibits. Since its humble beginning, the Arizona Science Center has quickly grown into one of the most popular local attractions in Arizona. Today the Arizona Science Center stretches over 120,000 square feet (36,576 square meters) and is one of the most high-tech museums in the world. With over 40,000 square feet (12,912 square meters) of gallery space, they currently feature over 300 hands-on exhibits in five different themed galleries. There are daily shows in their multi-media Dorrance Planetarium as well as in the giant, five-story IMAX Theater.
The Arizona Science Center is designed around the concept of making learning fun. Exhibits are created to be interactive, encouraging visitors to learn from doing. In addition to the regular exhibitions, you can enjoy a variety of educational programs to help people of all ages have fun with science, such as summer camp programs, adult night outs, and even use of the facilities to host events such as high school proms and birthday parties.
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The Arizona Science Center is located in downtown Phoenix within the Heritage and Science Park and sits towards the south end of the park, notably recognized by its unique futuristic architecture designed by Antoine Predock. In addition to the science center, the Heritage and Science Park features the Phoenix Museum of History and Historic Heritage Square, a historic location featuring a variety of old buildings, museums, shops, and restaurants.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
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Hard Rock Cafe Phoenix
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Saguaro Lake
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Historic Heritage Square
Historic Heritage Square takes you back in time to Arizona’s Victorian past. The square is home to the only remaining residential structures of the original Phoenix town site. Heritage Square features eleven Victorian buildings, each with its own unique design, history, and purpose. Today, the buildings have been refurbished and reopened as museums, restaurants, and shops. Each building is designed to give visitors a taste of life back in the original Phoenix settlement. The Baird Machine Shop, for example, was built in 1929 as a commercial structure. Today it is home to Pizzeria Bianco, a local pizza place featuring a wood-burning brick oven, homemade mozzarella cheese, and locally grown vegetables.
The cornerstone of the square is the Rossen House, a 2,800 square feet (260 square meters), fully restored, Victorian home which is now regularly open for guided tours. Build in 1895, the home features ten rooms and five fireplaces. Exhibits such as “A Victorian Christmas” and “A Victorian Wedding” all help the museum capture and show life as it was in the early twentieth century.
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The square is located within the Heritage and Science Park, which, in addition to Heritage Square, also includes the Arizona Science Center, the Phoenix Museum of History, and a variety of shops and restaurants. The park is located in downtown Phoenix on Northwest corner 6th Street and Monroe. Today, Heritage Square is run by Heritage Square Foundation and Guild, a non-profit organization which aims to preserve the historical value of the buildings while educating visitors through special exhibition, events, and activities.