Cholla Trailhead:\u00a05150 N. Invergordon Road, Paradise Valley<\/strong>
Phoenix\u2019s most famous mountain is a popular hiking destination most of the year for locals and tourists alike. There are two trails up Camelback Mountain<\/a>: 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\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n
(Note: As of November 2025, Echo Canyon Trail is currently closed due to storm damage. Cholla Trail is open.)<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe\u2019re thankful for you. Are you thankful for us?<\/strong><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe feel thankful for our staff and for the privilege of fulfilling our mission to be an unparalleled source of information and insight in Phoenix. We\u2019re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. The Cosanti studio is the creation of architect Paolo Soleri.<\/p>\n Cosanti<\/p>\n 6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Paradise Valley Sunset views at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Desert Botanical Garden<\/p>\n 1201 N. Galvin Parkway The Heard Museum holds a world-class collection of Indigenous art.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Heard Museum<\/p>\n 2301 N. Central Ave. Hole in the Rock<\/p>\n Papago Park, 625 N. Galvin Parkway<\/strong> Enjoying the serene landscape at the Japanese Friendship Garden.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Japanese Friendship Garden<\/p>\n 1125 N. Third Ave. The Mill Avenue bridges across Tempe Town Lake.<\/p>\n Martin Ely\/CC BY 2.0\/Flickr<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Mill Avenue, Tempe<\/p>\n There\u2019s always something happening on the stretch of Mill Avenue<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Musical Instrument Museum<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Musical Instrument Museum<\/p>\n 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. You can hang out with the fish whenever you want: Odysea Aquarium is open.<\/p>\n Odysea Aquarium<\/p>\n 9500 E. V\u00eda de Ventura Suite A-100, Scottsdale Old Town Scottsdale is one of the most popular areas for visitors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Old Town Scottsdale<\/p>\n Technically bounded by\u00a0Chaparral Road to the north, Earll Drive to the south, 68th Street to the west, and Miller Road to the east, Old Town Scottsdale<\/a> is one of the livelier parts of metro Phoenix. There\u2019s world-class shopping at the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, or if you\u2019re 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\u2019s 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\u2019s Nashville Kitchen, the Rusty Spur Saloon and Old Town Tavern. The entrance to the Phoenix Art Museum.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Phoenix Art Museum<\/p>\n 1625 N. Central Ave. Phoenix Zoo<\/p>\n 455 N. Galvin Parkway Roosevelt Row Arts District<\/p>\n Roosevelt Row<\/a> 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\u2019ll find art galleries and museums, performance spaces, bars and restaurants, local shops, colorful murals, and more. Have a beer and listen to a local DJ at Jobot; shop for cool stuff at Dialog; 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\u00a0\u2014 you\u2019ll never get bored in Roosevelt Row. You can see the whole city from Dobbins Lookout atop South Mountain.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n South Mountain Park\/Preserve<\/p>\n This is the perfect time of year to explore South Mountain Park\/Preserve<\/a>, 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\u2019pal Trail. If hiking isn\u2019t your thing, you can bring your bicycle; take a horseback ride with Arizona-Horses<\/a>, a stable located next to the park; or drive up to Dobbins Lookout for a spectacular view of the whole city. Taliesin West in Scottsdale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Taliesin West<\/p>\n
Help us continue giving back to Phoenix.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/bells3jessica_jameson_photo-42-2661.webp.jpeg\")
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480-948-6145<\/strong>
For a unique Arizona experience, head to Cosanti<\/a>, an entry on the Arizona Registry of Historic Places designed by experimental architect Paolo Soleri. The otherworldly structures are the result of Soleri\u2019s earth-casting technique, and\u00a0many 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.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dbg-garden-sunset_7_adam-rodirguez-scaled.webp.jpeg\")
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480-941-1225<\/strong>
Experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert at the Desert Botanical Garden<\/a> 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\u00a0\u201cFRAMERATE: Desert Pulse,\u201d a set of immersive multimedia installations. The garden is open daily, and cost is $39.95 for adults and $19.95 for youth (children under 3 are free).![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/nandd-heardmuseum_craigsmithheardmuseum.webp.jpeg\")
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602-252-8840<\/strong>
The Heard Museum<\/a> is Phoenix\u2019s world-class collection of Native American art.\u00a0Nearly 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\u2019s \u201cSubstance of Stars\u201d is a 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\u2019s signature exhibition \u201cHOME: Native People in the Southwest,\u201d featuring highlights from the collection.\u00a0The Heard Museum is open daily. Admission is $26 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, and children.<\/p>\n
In an area packed with hills and mountains, Hole in the Rock is one of the most iconic rock formations in town. The unique natural attraction is located in Papago Park on the boundary of Tempe and Phoenix. It\u2019s a short, easy hike from the parking lot to the hole, which offers spectacular views of the Valley. It\u2019s an incredibly popular activity, especially in tourist season, so expect crowds.
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602-274-8700<\/strong>
You wouldn\u2019t 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<\/a> has been delighting visitors to its spot near Hance Park in downtown Phoenix. Created in partnership with Himeji, Japan, one of Phoenix\u2019s 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\u00a0$14 adults, $12 seniors, and $11 students, military, and children ages 6 to 17.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/tempe-town-lake-mill-avenue-bridges.webp.jpeg\")
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480-478-6000<\/strong>
See thousands of musical instruments from all over the world, spanning thousands of years of history, at the Musical Instrument Museum<\/a> 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\u2019s 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\u00a0\u2014 it\u2019s just as much for adults as it is for kids.\u00a0Currently on display is \u201cThe Magical Flute: Beauty, Enchantment, and Power,\u201d a temporary exhibition that features more than 100 instruments from the dawn of music to the present day.\u00a0The museum is open daily. Tickets for the museum plus the \u201cThe Magical Flute\u201d\u00a0exhibition are $27 for adults, just the museum is $20, and just \u201cThe Magical Flute\u201d is $10 (tickets for children are discounted).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/odysea_aquarium.webp.jpeg\")
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480-291-8000<\/strong>
Yes, there\u2019s an aquarium in the desert. And it\u2019s pretty great. Odysea<\/a>, 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 Museum of Illusions and more.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/jr-oldtownsign-trimble.webp.jpeg\")
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602-257-1880<\/strong>
Phoenix\u2019s premier art museum has several cool exhibitions on display at the moment, including \u201cFlorentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection,\u201d featuring gorgeous Italian paintings.\u00a0And the museum\u2019s permanent collection is no slouch either. Highlights include \u201cYou Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies,\u201d a Yayoi Kusama infinity room; and the Thorne Rooms, a charming set of painstakingly created tiny replicas of historic rooms. Phoenix Art Museum<\/a> is open Wednesday through Sunday; admission is $28, with discounts for seniors, students, and children. Children under 5 and military members with ID get in free.<\/p>\n
602-286-3800<\/strong>
Zoos are fun for all ages, and the Phoenix Zoo<\/a> 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\u2019s Trail contains a petting zoo. The zoo\u2019s wildly popular ZooLights nighttime event continues through Jan. 14. Oh, and if you\u2019re wandering around the zoo and you see a strange white pyramid on the top of a hill, that\u2019s Hunt\u2019s Tomb, the resting place of\u00a0George W. P. Hunt, the first governor of Arizona.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dobbins-lookout-jennifer-goldberg.webp.jpeg\")
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