Arizona Official State Travel Guide - Arizona 2024-25
Phoenix & Central Arizona
2024-09-05 08:19:14
With big-city excitement, outdoor adventures and the state’s largest concentration of luxury resorts, the Greater Phoenix area offers the best of many worlds. Explore the lively downtown and quiet neighborhoods, high-end shopping down the road from quirky boutiques, James Beard Award-winning restaurants alongside local eateries and dive bars, and world-renowned museums that share the same zip code as independent art galleries and artisan studios.
IN THIS REGION
Fort McDowell, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Superior, Tempe
Area Highlights
ARIZONA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, MESA
Spanning continents and millennia, this comprehensive museum delves into the ancient histories of people, land and creatures large and small. See colossal dinosaurs, glittering gems and minerals, archeological excavations and insights into some of the Southwest’s first civilizations. Free tours in American Sign Language are available.
WESTGATE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, GLENDALE
Anchored by Desert Diamond Arena and State Farm Stadium, this sprawling complex is a hot spot for entertainment of all kinds. Watch a movie at AMC Theatres, play games at Carousel Arcade Bar or Dave & Buster’s, test your sleuthing skills at Escape Westgate and have a laugh at Stir Crazy Comedy Club — then take your pick from dozens of eateries.
WESTERN SPIRIT: SCOTTSDALE’S MUSEUM OF THE WEST, SCOTTSDALE
Explore a variety of perspectives on Western culture, history and beauty at this Smithsonian-affiliated art museum that features ongoing and special exhibits in media ranging from paintings and drawings to pottery and jewelry.
AGRITOPIA FARM, GILBERT
Local flavors intertwine with local makers at this farm-community hybrid. See the orchards at Agritopia Farm and pick up gourmet food items, from artisanal flour to small-batch honey, at the farm store. Then, stroll through maker studios and shops inside Barnone before lingering on a patio with a glass of wine from Garage-East or a craft beer from 12 West Brewing Co.
TEMPE BEACH PARK, TEMPE
Perched on the southern shore of Tempe Town Lake, this 25-acre urban park offers recreation on land and water. Stroll more than five miles of trails, drop in a fishing line (buy a fishing license at azgfd.com/fishing-2), or rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for water fun at Boat Rentals of America.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM, PHOENIX
With a vast collection of more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 countries, this museum celebrates the rich diversity of cultures and craftsmanship through the shared language of music. Peruse the galleries, engage with interactive media and watch live concerts to hear sounds of all kinds.
CITY LIMITLESS BEERS & BREWS PASSPORT, MESA AREA
This free digital passport combines the best of both worlds — craft beer and gourmet coffee — inviting folks to discover nearly 20 places to enjoy these two libations in Mesa and the surrounding vicinity. The program serves as a tour of the breweries, tap rooms, sports bars and coffee shops, and when you check in at each location, you could win prizes.
WE-KO-PA GOLF CLUB, FORT MCDOWELL
Play on two award-winning golf courses set in the scenic Sonoran Desert on Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. Enjoy the awe-inspiring views of the McDowell Mountains, Red Mountain, Four Peaks and the Superstition Mountains as you sink your putt. A world-class practice facility is also on-site.
HEARD MUSEUM, PHOENIX
With an impressive collection of more than 40,000 objects, this comprehensive museum includes intricate Navajo textiles, Zuni jewelry, Hopi Katsina dolls, prehistoric ceramics and contemporary art. See the new permanent video installation Substance of Stars to learn about the connection between celestial bodies and fundamental origin stories.
RECENT ROOM REVEALS
At The Global Ambassador, Phoenix’s new European-style hotel, stay in chic guest rooms with thoughtful touches like Dyson hair dryers and luxury bath products. Sip margaritas poolside at Pink Dolphin, savor Mediterranean dishes on the rooftop at Théa and indulge in French fare at Le Âme.
Colorful, quirky and casual, the Moxy Phoenix Downtown is walking distance from Footprint Center, Chase Field and Phoenix Convention Center and Exhibit Hall, making it an easy choice for event goers seeking a modern, no-frills lodging option close to the action.
Enjoy sleek style and high-end pools at the non-gaming Caesars Republic Scottsdale, just steps from Scottsdale Fashion Square. Sip cocktails to a DJ-crafted soundtrack at Seven cocktail bar and take your pick from two restaurants by celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis.
At the AAA Four Diamond-rated Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, enjoy being walking distance from campus. Choose from four restaurants, such as Lucero Rooftop Restaurant + Bar, for globally inspired steakhouse fare with mountain views.
Escape to the past at Phoenix’s Egyptian Motor Hotel, a midcentury-modern motor lodge with an outdoor cocktail bar, live shows and Chilte, a food truck turned experimental Mexican restaurant dubbed one of the “Best New Restaurants in 2023” by Esquire and Bon Appetit.
Slated to open by 2025, VAI Resort in Glendale will feature a party-like-a-rockstar vibe with a showstopping pool complex complete with a party island, five acres of clear-blue waters and a mile of white-sand beaches.
BOLD, NEW FLAVORS
Phoenix’s diverse food scene continues to impress, as local chefs test the limits of their culinary creativity and integrate a broad spectrum of international flavors to boot.
Go on an ancestral journey of the foodways and culture of Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the U.S. South at Latha Restaurant & Bar in Phoenix. Here, you’ll find Pan- African dishes crafted from responsibly sourced seasonal ingredients, such as wild shrimp escabeche, chicken tagine, blackeye pea hummus and piri piri wings.
Showcasing modern Chihuahuan specialties influenced by the Northern region of Mexico, Cocina Chiwas in Tempe features a flavor-packed menu with fresh seafood and wood-fired meats. Savor dazzling flavors with heirloom blue corn empanadas, wood-fired beef birria quesadillas, tostada de tuna and sweet corn panna cotta.
Contemporary takes on classic Indian fare surprise and delight diners at Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine in Chandler, where vegetarian and gluten-free options are abundant. Order street food-style dishes to start — like the Kerali fried chicken or green pea and goat cheese samosas — before digging into larger dishes like jackfruit tacos or shrimp curry in coconut and mangosteen sauce.
In Scottsdale, East mixes with Southwest at Hai Noon, a retro Japanese-fusion eatery in a hip motor hotel. James Beard Award-winner Nobuo Fukuda brings surprising flavor combinations to his menu, such as shishito peppers with queso fresco, grapefruit avocado Hamachi, and panko-encrusted tofu with green papaya curry dressing.
Resort Waterparks
Slide into summer at Phoenix-area resort waterparks and pool attractions.
As the temperature rises in the Valley of the Sun, there’s no better way to cool off and create super-soaked memories than by submerging yourself in the thrill of a waterpark. Grab a day pass to the Oasis Water Park at Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix for a tropical oasis amidst the desert, complete with winding slides, a giant wave pool, Wild Cat Springs for the kids and the area’s only side-by-side active river. For those craving a bit of poolside luxury, the AquaRidge WaterPark at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa provides a shaded retreat with cabana and daybed options amid its pristine pools and adult-only island. And on Friday nights during the summer, don’t miss AquaNights, when water slides will be open late and the lazy river will be activated with after-dark lighting. For some indoor family fun, head to the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Scottsdale, where the whole family can take part in an array of aquatic adventures under one roof. In 2025, make a splash at the upcoming Mattel Adventure Park by VAI Resort in Glendale, where thrilling water attractions will soon captivate adventurers of all ages year-round.
POWER SHOPPING
RETAIL DISTRICTS AND MEGA MALLS
From renowned retailers to affordable outlets, Greater Phoenix has some of the best shopping you’ll find anywhere in the Southwest.
SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE
This luxurious indoor mall caters to discerning shoppers and diners with restaurants such as NOBU and Ocean 44; brands such as Jimmy Choo, Gucci and Cartier; and concierge amenities such as luggage storage and valet parking.
BILTMORE FASHION PARK
High-end retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue and Tumi line the walkways of this open-air mall in Phoenix, where you’ll also find restaurants including Zinburger, True Food Kitchen and The Capital Grille.
PHOENIX PREMIUM OUTLETS
Stroll more than 90 outlets — we’re talking Cole Haan, Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs — and enjoy discounts of up to 65% off at this retail center in Chandler.
DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE
Twinkling lights and palm trees set the scene at this outdoor retail center in Phoenix with 50 shops, from H&M to Target, as well as dozens of eateries.
TANGER OUTLETS
Save on brand-name clothing and home goods (everything from Le Creuset to Saks Off 5th) at this outdoor complex in Glendale. Just hop on the free shuttle to and from area hotels and the Westgate Entertainment District.
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