Top 14 Things to Do in Phoenix, Arizona

Is there anywhere more sunny than Phoenix, Arizona, in the USA? This city is known for its year-round sun and desert beauty. It averages approximately 300 days of sunshine in a year. Here, rainfall only occurs for about 36 days, making it a perfect year-round travel destination. Imagine blue skies, tanning, and many outdoor adventures. Arizona’s capital city is also home to world-class resorts and hotels.

The Valley of the Sun offers visitors a myriad of experiences. Whether you are looking for indoor or outdoor activities, this city has everything. You can spend your day hiking, shopping, touring, and exploring parks, museums, gardens, and family-friendly attractions. Afterward, get ready for a memorable night out. This city’s nightlife is a vibrant mix of buzzing rooftop lounges, trendy bars, lively clubs, and eclectic music venues. Since there are too many options, let us help you find the top things to do in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Explore The Vast Sonoran Desert

• Address: Arizona 85321, USA; Google Map
• Things To Do: Hiking, Off-road Desert Tours, Hot Air Balloon Adventures

What better way to explore Phoenix’s desert beauty than visiting the Sonoran Desert? This vast 260,000-square-kilometer desert is the most biologically diverse of the four US deserts. It offers natural habitat to over 100 reptiles, 60 mammals, 2,000 native plants, and 350 birds. It also features enormous cactuses, including saguaro cactus, which can grow up to 50 feet tall and has a life span of over 200 years. Visitors can go hiking, explore the desert on an off-road vehicle, and even ride a hot air balloon over the landscape.

Retreat To The Tonto National Forest

• Address: Arizona 85263, USA; Google Map
• Things To Do: Hiking, Camping, ATV Tours, Aerial Tours
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official X

The Tonto National Forest features unique landscapes and some of the most rugged and inherently beautiful land in the US. It was created in 1905 to protect the watersheds of the Salt River and Verde River. These Arizona’s scenic rivers offer fantastic kayaking, tubing, rafting, and canyoning opportunities. Furthermore, this forest offers a habitat for rich flora and fauna, mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians. Some common wildlife found in the jungle are mountain lion, elk, Mexican spotted owl, bald eagle, mule deer, black beer, bobcat, and ringtail cat. It is also home to four venomous snake species. Hence, this forest is your destination whether you are an avid birdwatcher or hiker.

Go Kayaking On Saguaro Lake

• Address: Arizona 85264, USA; Google Map
• Things To Do: Swimming, Kayaking, Jet Skiing, Picnicking, Hiking

The Tonto National Forest has many recreation areas, including the beautiful Saguaro Lake. It is twenty minutes from Fountain Hills and offers many outdoor activities. This lake has everything you need, whether you want a refreshing dip or a comfortable boat ride. It also offers swimming, boat ramps, picnic tables, fishing pavilions, and restroom facilities. Visitors can make the most of their trip by booking kayaking, horseback riding, or paddle boarding tours. They will also enjoy stunning views of their surroundings.

Follow The Apache Trail

• Address: Arizona, USA; Google Map
• Length: 40-mile drive
• Things To Do: Day tours, leisure drive

Have you ever heard of the Apache Trail? Also called Arizona State Route 88 is a forty-mile drive starting in Apache Junction and ending at Theodore Roosevelt Dam. This scenic byway was designated in 1998 and winds through rugged desert mountains and deep reservoirs. It leads to popular attractions, including the Superstition Mountain-Lost Dutchman Museum, Goldfield Ghost Town, and Lost Dutchman State Park. The Apache Trail has several twists and rugged ways, making the drive thrilling and adventurous.

Travel To Tempe

• Address: Arizona, USA; Google Map
• Distance From Phoenix: 13 miles
• Top Attractions: Tempe Town Lake, Tempe Butte, Tempe History Museum

Located only 13 miles from Phoenix, Tempe is a famous Arizonian city. It is renowned for its natural attractions, outdoor recreation, college town atmosphere, and cultural diversity. For instance, Tempe Town Lake, an artificial perennial reservoir, offers many exciting events and activities. The ASU Art Museum and Tempe History Museum tell the tales of this city. In addition, Tempe has many public parks, markets, gardens, and dining places worth visiting.

Spot Sharks And Sea Turtles At SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona

• Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir Suite 145, Tempe, AZ 85282, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 11 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Since you are already in Tempe, you might visit the SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona. It is a family-friendly destination with over ten exhibits. Here, you will meet with rescued sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, jellyfish, and sea horses. You can also touch wet sea anemones at the interactive touch pool. The aquarium’s 360-degree ocean tunnel gives visitors a feeling of being underwater. It also offers guided behind-the-scenes tours.

Climb Camelback Mountain

• Address: Phoenix, AZ 85018, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
• Things To Do: Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Hot Air Balloon Rides

It is no exaggeration to say that Camelback Mountain is the best hiking destination in Phoenix, Arizona. It offers two hiking trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail. Echo Canyon is only 2.3 miles long but is steeper. On the other hand, Cholla Trail is longer at 2.9 miles but less steep and easier than the other trail. Both trails are rewarding and offer spectacular views. Furthermore, Camelback Mountain received its name from its shape resembling the camel’s hump. It offers 360-degree views of the city and is worth climbing at least once.

Visit The Heritage Square In Phoenix

• Address: 113 N 6th St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 10 AM – 3 PM
• Social Media: Official Website

Are you ready to explore Phoenix’s Victorian past? Heritage and Science Park, aka Heritage Square Phoenix, takes visitors back to the 19th century or the Victorian era. This is the oldest remaining residential block in the city, with ten fully restored buildings. The historic Rosson House Museum is a fully restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian house, offering a glimpse into the lifestyles of early Phoenix families. Likewise, the Stevens-Haustgen House, built in 1901, has been transformed into The Bungalow. This historic square also houses the city’s best museums and restaurants.

Dwell In The Past At Montezuma Castle National Monument

• Address: Montezuma Castle Rd, Camp Verde, AZ, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 8 AM – 4:45 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

The historic Montezuma Castle National Monument serves as a window into the past. It was established on December 8, 1906, and tells the tales of the Sinagua people. This ethnic group built pueblos and cliff dwellings around 1050 CE. The cliff-dwelling ruins seen at the monument are the remains of the Sinagua people’s homes. Montezuma Castle is dedicated to preserving Native American culture. It also witnesses the native people’s survival and prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape 1,000 years ago.

Catch A Baseball Game At Chase Field

• Address: 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, United States; Google Map
• Contact No: +16025148400
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Imagine being able to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play; there is hardly anything else that could rank among the top things to do in Phoenix, Arizona. Chase Field is the home of the D-backs, which had its first regular season game on March 31, 1998. Since then, it has hosted thousands of baseball matches and offered millions of D-backs fans opportunities to watch their favorite team play. In addition, this ballpark is state of the art with its signature swimming pool, retractable roof, 48,500 seats, and natural grass playing field. It also hosts many concerts and sporting events throughout the year.

Play With Legos At LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

• Address: 5000 S Arizona Mills Cir STE 135, Tempe, AZ 85282, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 11 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram, Official X

Did you play with Legos growing up? They were and are still popular among young children. You can return to your childhood nostalgia at the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona, near Phoenix. It features a two-story indoor LEGO playground with interactive rides like Kingdom Quest and Merlin’s Apprentice, a 4D Cinema, LEGO build and play zones, and The Great LEGO Race Virtual Reality. You will enjoy building buildings, cars, and Arizona’s most loved landmarks. Don’t forget to stop by the Epic Lego Shop to buy LEGO-tastic products.

Meet Your Favorite Animals At Phoenix Zoo

• Address: 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, United States; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 7 AM – 1 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Are you looking for a family-friendly attraction in Phoenix, Arizona? If so, Phoenix Zoo is your destination. It houses over 3,000 animals of over 400 species on 125 acres of land in the Papago Park. Visitors will see the African lion, Amazon Milk Frog, Amur leopard, Andean bear, Asian elephant, bald eagle, black-footed ferret, black-tailed prairie dog, blue death-feigning beetle, and Bornean orangutan. The zoo also offers sanctuary to rare species, such as the Chiricahua leopard frog, cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl, desert pupfish, narrow-headed garter snake, Huachuca water umbel, and spring snail. This zoo is open from early morning at seven until 1 PM.

Walk Around Old Town Scottsdale

• Address: Scottsdale, Arizona 85251; Google Map
• Opening Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
• Social Media: Official Website, Official Facebook, Official Instagram

Downtown Scottsdale, aka Old Town Scottsdale, has an old western town charm. It has 120 restaurants, 400 retail shops, and 70 art galleries and museums. Visitors can leisurely explore each shop and entertainment options, as all are near each other and walkable. The best thing to do here is shopping. You can shop for fashion apparel, accessories, jewelry, antiques, art, gifts, and souvenirs. After all the shopping, you can enjoy a sumptuous meal in any of the 120 restaurants. The downtown also has many bars and nightlife activities.

See What’s So Unique About Superstition Mountains

• Address: Arizona 85119, USA; Google Map
• Things To Do: Hiking, Day Trips

Arizona’s mountain range, Superstition Mountains, was formed by intensive volcanic activity millions of years ago. It offers a challenging hike for even an experienced hiker. However, that is not all about the mountain. It has become the reason for many people’s disappearance. These people were on a hunt for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Locals believe anyone who tries to take the lost Dutchman’s treasure will suffer a curse. Whether you believe in these superstitions or not, exploring the Superstition Mountains is undoubtedly one of the top things to do in Phoenix, Arizona.

Phoenix, Arizona, boasts a beautiful desert landscape and year-round warmth and sunshine. Its attractions are equally impeccable and offer diverse experiences. Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Zoo, and SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona are family-friendly destinations. Solo travelers and couples can also explore all of our recommended activities. While there are no hard and fast rules for planning your trip to the Valley of the Sun, you must be well-prepared for dry heat. Bring enough water, stay hydrated, and avoid hiking in the peak of summer. Also, it’s better to check the weather beforehand.