Phoenix is not just the gateway to the Grand Canyon, but it is teemed with a lot of natural and man-made tourist attractions to make your vacation a thrill of a lifetime. Stop in your tracks as you see landscapes, deserts, flora, and fauna. Here are the top tourist attractions in Phoenix.
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Top Tourist Attractions In Phoenix
Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art
Located at 2301 North Central Avenue, Heard Museum holds itself as an educator of the heritage, arts, and life of the indigenous peoples of the American Indians tribes of La Ciudad ruins, and other cultures of the Southwest. From its humble beginnings, the Heard Museum has gained international stature with its 40,000 art collection of artifacts such as paintings, jewelry, costumes, old photographs, books and more. Dine at the Heard, or have a leisurely time at the gallery for current art exhibits and visit the Museum Shops. They have festivals that feature pottery, colcha embroidery, printmaking and furniture making. Do not forget to time your Phoenix Vacation during the Indian Fair and Market month.
Camelback Mountain
This earned its world famous stature. Its name is derived from the moniker that came from the rock formations that looks like a gigantic camel sculpted by millions by millions of years. This sacred mountain is home to the Hohokam tribe that left a ceremonial cave. Dare to do rock climbing activities or do some real mountain trail hiking. The activities you choose from among the Rock Trail, Ramada Loop Trail, Cholla Trail, or Summit Trail- all of these have varying degree of difficulty to enjoy the spectacular view of the colorful sunsets.
Desert Botanical Garden
When you think of the desert, chances are you think of sand and shades of brown. The Desert Botanical Garden is there to debunk the myth that there is little or no green in the desert. It’s a 140-acre botanical garden with more than 50 thousand plants. You can walk the tranquil paths through the garden, attend fun events, dine at their restaurants, and learn about life in the desert.
Taliesin West
Located in Scottsdale, Taliesin West was the winter home and architecture school of the celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, the facility is now the international headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the home of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.
Even if you have only the smallest interest in architecture, this is a worthwhile addition to your Phoenix itinerary. The tours offer detailed information on the architecture, the school, and Wright’s life.
The buildings here were constructed out of native materials, such as rubblestone and redwood, and built entirely by Wright and his apprentices from 1937 to 1959. Taliesin is still a working school of architecture, and you will see students at work in the main drafting studio.
Old Town Scottsdale
For fun and quirky, one of the best places to visit around Phoenix is Old Town Scottsdale. Unique shops housed in buildings with Western-style covered walkways sell a variety of trinkets and other goods, primarily aimed at tourists.
Just up the street from the kitschy shops are some of the city’s finest galleries featuring spectacular work by famous artists. Downtown Scottsdale is a fun place to see and be seen.
Old Town also has a good selection of restaurants, some with delightful patio seating, perfect for people watching. The area is easily walkable and can be found at the intersection of East Main Street and North Scottsdale Road.
Papago Park
Papago Park is a wonderful natural area in the southeast part of the city. Here you you can enjoy hiking along nature trails, scrambling up the red rocks that dominate the park, cycling the extensive routes, and even golfing.
This is a popular place to come for a walk, particularly in the morning before the heat of the day, and you’ll see the citizens of Phoenix taking full advantage of this urban oasis.
The park has a multitude of trails, but the two most popular are the Elliot Ramada and the Double Butte Loop trail. Both these trails take you up to the weird rock outcroppings that are a key feature of the park. You can sometimes see wildlife, primarily rabbits but occasionally bighorn sheep.
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