Best Places to Visit in Phoenix, AZ
Sometimes you just want to get out and explore. We try to strike a good balance of places that you will really enjoy. Finding ideas for family friendly outings, or interesting places to go in Phoenix, AZ with your friends, both are at your fingertips here with America Top 10. We aim to give you plenty of ideas without you having to do all the research. That way you can easily decide if you want to explore Phoenix, AZ sites or check out the sites in another state.
You have also heard how it is becoming a lot more popular to have staycations (where you stay home instead of going to far off places) and discover new and interesting places in the near vicinity. We try to make that easier for you. Check out the sites in Phoenix, AZ that have become local favorites easily with our site.
We hope that we have provided you plenty of choices in Phoenix, AZ whether this is a new area for you or your own back yard. Something a little different from the typical amusement park. If you really loved somewhere but don’t see them on our list let us know, we are always looking to improve our lists and we can only do that with your help.
Turf Paradise
Phoenix, AZ
In 1954, Phoenix businessman Walter Cluer purchased 1,400 acres of barren desert which is now 19th Avenue and Bell Road with a vision. Turf Paradise offers a place for everyone. From their fine dining, VIP, Directors’ and Turf Club to their Grandstand and Park Pavilion filled with concessions, there is fun for all.
Castles N’ Coasters
Phoenix, AZ
South Mountain Park
Phoenix, AZ
At more than 16,000 acres South Mountain Park/Preserve actually consists of three mountain ranges, the Ma Ha Tauk, Gila and Guadalupe; and is one of the largest municipally operated parks in the country. It boasts 51 miles of primary trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels. From the park’s main entrance, you can drive up the Summit Road 5.5 miles to Dobbins Lookout and spectacular valley-wide views or you can continue to the Gila Lookout for a view of the Gila River Valley.
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Art Museum has grown to an institution with an international reputation for excellence. The Board of Trustees has provided solid leadership and economic stewardship. The staff members from 1959 to 2012 have been a passionate, dedicated force following a vision of making this institution the best it can be. In the last 50 years, Phoenix Art Museum has hosted more than 400 exhibitions, grown the collection to more than 17,000 works of art and been visited by millions. Here are a few of highlights from the Museum’s history.
Meteor Crater
Winslow, AZ
Visit the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site just minutes from Interstate 40 in Northern Arizona near Winslow. Meteor Crater is the breath-taking result of a collision between a piece of an asteroid traveling at 26,000 miles per hour and planet Earth approximately 50,000 years ago.
Heard Museum
Phoenix, AZ
Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature to become recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, world-class exhibitions, educational programming and its unmatched festivals. Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, the Heard successfully presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective, as well as exhibitions that showcase the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art. The Heard Museum sets the standard for collaborating with American Indian artists and tribal communities to provide visitors with a distinctive perspective about the art of Native people, especially those from the Southwest.
Arizona Science Center
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix, AZ
A visit to the Phoenix Zoo opens a wondrous world of curiosity, imagination and discovery. For more than half a century, the Zoo and its animals have amazed guests from across Phoenix and around the globe. Whether you are on the lookout for awe-inspiring Asian elephants, on safari to spot the great Sumatran tiger or seeking towering giraffes roaming the Savanna,a day at the Zoo offers adventures like no other place in the Valley of the Sun. With cafés, shops, lush gardens and exciting experiences like Stingray Bay*, Giraffe Encounter, Monkey Village, Safari Train and many more, your visit to the Zoo will be memorable for the entire family.
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix, AZ
For more than 70 years, the Desert Botanical Garden has been teaching and inspiring visitors from the local community and around the world, providing research, exhibits and more designed to help them understand, protect and preserve the desert’s natural beauty.
Pioneer Living History Museum
Phoenix, AZ
Visit over 90 acres of an old 1800’s town, with no cars or smog. You will find authentic buildings and historically accurate reproductions. See the Opera House where Lilly Langtry sang; look through a rifle port in the actual cabin that survived Arizona’s bloodiest range war; laugh your way through a “melodrama”; or browse through an 1890’s dress shop and much more. All of this, plus a blacksmith shop, sheriff’s office and jail, complete ranch complex, and costumed interpreters including cowboys, lawmen, and lovely Victorian ladies, await you at Pioneer Living History Village, Arizona’s most authentic Old West town.
Not find what your looking for? Try one of these other cities. Lake Havasu City, Peoria, Tucson, Yuma.
