2021-08-21 02:31:09
From bustling cities to rural farmlands to remote desert locales, Arizona is as diverse as it is spectacular. Explore each of its distinct regions to discover an experience all its own, uncovering historic treasures, foodie favorites, family fun and outdoor adventures all along the way. With big-city excitement and outdoor adventures just minutes away, the greater Phoenix area area offers the best of both worlds. Explore the lively downtown and quiet neighborhoods, luxury shopping down the road from quirky boutiques, James Beard award-winning restaurants alongside local 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, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Superior, Tempe Area Highlights PAPAGO PARK, PHOENIX With dramatic sandstone buttes, miles of easy hiking trails, public golf courses and numerous attractions such as Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo and AZ Heritage Center, this 1,500-acre park is loaded with activities for the whole family. AGRITOPIA, GILBERT Local flavors intertwine with local makers at this farm-community hybrid. Tour 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 glass of wine from Garage-East or a craft beer from 12 West Brewing Co. TEMPE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, TEMPE This cultural center on Tempe Town Lake is home to Tempe Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Wind Symphony, Desert Dance Theater, Stray Cat Theatre and other resident artist groups, and is comprised of numerous performing arts spaces and an art gallery with rotating exhibits. THE CHURCHILL, PHOENIX Ten small businesses housed in repurposed shipping containers come together under one roof at this food hall-meets-shopping mall in the Roosevelt Row Arts District. Sit in the open-air courtyard and nosh on everything from street tacos to fried chicken sandwiches, and then browse the boutiques for one-of-a-kind gifts. 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 fine art to interweave a diverse perspective on Native arts and cultures from the Southwest and around the world. BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM, SUPERIOR Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden is home to nearly 4,000 different plant species from around the world. Take a guided tour with a volunteer through the new 13-acre Wallace Garden, and see plants and birds on the nature walk along Sonoran Desert trails. MCDOWELL SONORAN PRESERVE, SCOTTSDALE Explore this 30,580-acre nature preserve sprawled across the McDowell Mountains, home to lush cactus forests, colorful flowers and all kinds of wildlife. Take off from one of the 11 major trailheads that connect with more than 225 miles of hiking, biking, running and horseback riding trails. TALIESIN WEST, SCOTTSDALE Tour the former winter home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. Considered to be the architect’s desert laboratory for design, today Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bring a pair of headphones and download the Smartify mobile app to listen to the new self-guided audio tour. Recent upgrades have also increased accessibility, with the addition of ramps, handrails, resurfaced paths and accessible restrooms. 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. OPEN-AIR DINING Enjoy the sunshine and dine al fresco at one of these popular Phoenix restaurants. BY TERESA BITLER THE FARM AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN Originally a pecan farm with more than 100 trees, the property today features three restaurants, one for each meal. In the morning, dine outdoors on Morning Glory Café’s fresh baked goods and Southwestern breakfasts. Or, come for lunch when The Farm Kitchen serves seasonal salads and sandwiches you can enjoy at picnic tables under pecan trees. For dinner, reserve a patio table at Quiessence, a favorite with locals for true farm-totable cuisine. UPSTAIRS AT FLINT This open-air rooftop cocktail lounge with plush chairs and chandeliers overlooks Biltmore Fashion Park. Arrive early for a table on the perimeter and start with a creative cocktail or glass of premium wine. You can order small plates like the woodfire-grilled octopus to complement your drinks or a Mediterranean-influenced entrée from Flint by Baltaire downstairs. A section of the main restaurant also has a retractable roof for additional outdoor dining. MATCH MARKET AND BAR Located on the first floor of boutique art hotel FOUND:RE, this café is open for gourmet breakfasts and coffee in the morning, and pizza, burgers, bowls and salads the rest of the day. You also can pick up locally made gifts and essentials like eggs from the market or order a cocktail, wine or beer from the bar. Score a table on the patio to watch the daily bustle of the Downtown Phoenix Arts District. OUTRIDER ROOFTOP LOUNGE AT CANOPY BY HILTON This popular rooftop dining space in Old Town Scottsdale delivers 180-degree views of Camelback Mountain and the city’s arts district along with a sophisticated menu of shareable plates, sandwiches, salads and craft cocktails. Munch on chili-rubbed chicken wings or pulled pork tacos while sipping libations like the Peach Patio Punch, featuring house-made peach lemonade and pineapple rum. THE COFFEE SHOP Coffee drinks and baked goods aren’t the only items on the menu at this neighborhood Gilbert spot. The Coffee Shop makes fresh burritos, egg dishes and waffles in the morning and unhinge-your-mouth sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Indulge in the tasty dishes on the large, brick patio out back or at a picnic table nearby, but be sure to save room for dessert. The cupcakes here garnered national attention when part owner Jessica Cuff won Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. BOARD & BATTEN Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, this Mesa restaurant has an expansive patio with charming string lights, lush trees and a firepit surrounded by lounge seating. Kick off your meal with shareable plates like charcuterie, then savor seasonal entrées featuring New York strip steak, chicken, Duroc pork, scallops, duck breast and lamb. Barrel-aged cocktails, premium wines, local beers and craft cider complement your meal. POWER SHOPPING RETAIL DISTRICTS & MEGA-MALLS From renowned retailers to affordable outlets, 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. DESERT RIDGE MARKETPLACE Twinkling lights and palm trees set the scene at this outdoor retail center in Phoenix with nearly 50 shops, from H&M to Target, as well as dozens of eateries. ARIZONA MILLS This sprawling complex in Tempe is Arizona’s only indoor outlet mall and features more than 185 stores with plenty of deals and discounts. Kids and teens will find plenty to keep themselves busy at attractions like SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium and LEGOLAND Discovery Center. WESTGATE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT Anchored by Gila River Arena and State Farm Stadium, this entertainment district in Glendale features great restaurants, specialty shops and a free shuttle to the next-door Tanger Outlets. Virtual Exhibits & Online Experiences BY KERIDWEN CORNELIUS Experience Arizona’s cultural institutions from home with animal encounters, art exhibits and more. The Phoenix Art Museum brings the contemplative qualities of art into people’s homes through talks on subjects like Ansel Adams’ photography and enhancing creativity through meditation, plus free Zoom mindfulness sessions. The Musical Instrument Museum entertains munchkins up to age 5 with Online MIMkids Mini Music Makers sessions, which mix singing, dancing and instrument-playing. The Online Musical Adventures introduce older kids to instrument-building and music from around the world. Bring a menagerie of critters home with the Phoenix Zoo’s virtual experiences, including live animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, Q&A sessions with a zoo educator, scientific investigations, crafts and fun quizzes. During OdySea Aquarium’s virtual critter meet-and-greets, you can watch caretakers feed and cuddle playful South African penguins or super-chill sloths and learn about the animals’ habits. Arizona Science Center inspires budding biologists, neuroscientists and engineers with online lesson plans and videos investigating everything from snake brains to electric cars to the chemistry of cleaning up oil spills. Featuring the work of dozens of Arizona artists, Herberger Theater Art Gallery’s virtual curated exhibits give art lovers the opportunity to peruse and purchase watercolors, photographs, oil paintings and mixed media works. QUICK ESCAPES FROM PHOENIX TO THE GREAT OUTDOORS BY ROGER NAYLOR When you’re visiting Phoenix, you don’t have to go far to revel in the serenity and beauty of nature. Experience the great outdoors with these quick escapes. The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is where you go to exhale, to relax. Experience a sense of quiet serenity away from traffic and stress in this soothing sanctuary surrounded by city. Curving paths cross the grounds that are adorned with plants and boulders, stone bridges and lanterns. A 12-foot waterfall adds a splashy musical note to the garden as it feeds a koi pond and gently flowing streams. Stroll amid the lush greenery, sit by the water, feed the brightly-colored koi—then remind yourself that you’re just minutes from downtown Phoenix. Anchoring the far western edge of the Phoenix Valley is White Tank Mountain Regional Park. The 30,000-acre park spreads across desert lowlands and sharp-rising peaks. Beautiful during the day, White Tank proves equally spectacular once the sun goes down. This is where stargazers come for celestial exploration. Dark skies far from city lights offer a portal into the cosmos. This dreamy desert nightscape gives everyone a chance to admire the glittering canopy above. Here the heavens drop into your lap. No one appreciates a day spent on the water like a desert dweller. Go Paddle AZ provides the tools for quick and memorable escapes. They rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards at Pleasant Harbor Marina on Lake Pleasant. Tucked away amid rolling hills north of Peoria, Lake Pleasant is a 10,000- acre reservoir with miles of coastline and a vast expanse of open water to explore. Go Paddle AZ also offers sunset and full moon kayak tours. Water in the desert attracts wildlife as well as people. The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch creates a lush oasis in the heart of Gilbert, providing a welcome habitat for mammals, reptiles and nearly 300 species of birds. The appearance of so many winged visitors prompted the National Audubon Society to designate the seven aquifer recharge basins as an Important Bird Area. Birders, hikers and bikers will enjoy miles of meandering trails. Or stop for a picnic and bask in the serenade of birdsong echoing among the branches. Lost Dutchman State Park laps at the base of the Superstition Mountains, a sudden wall of dark stone rising from the desert floor. Here civilization ends and wilderness begins. Named for a fabled gold mine said to lay hidden deep in the volcanic fortress of the mountains, the park is crisscrossed with hiking trails. Yet despite fierce terrain, springtime brings out a softer side to Lost Dutchman. Following wet winters, the sloping foothills blaze with wildflowers, most prominently poppies and brittlebush. Witness those rugged cliffs floating above a sea of yellow blossoms and you begin to understand the witchery of the desert, a land of drama and poetry. Spend the Day: Talking Stick Entertainment District BY TERESA BITLER You’ll find a full day of fun when you visit the Talking Stick Entertainment District in Scottsdale. Morning: Start the morning at Arizona Boardwalk, where you’ll find numerous attractions such as 1 Butterfly Wonderland, the nation’s largest indoor rainforest conservatory, home to more than 3,000 butterflies. Then, head next door to 2 OdySea Aquarium. Its 2 million-gallon tanks showcase sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and other marine animals—as well as the world’s only rotating aquarium exhibit. Or, spend a couple hours exploring 3 Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, featuring more than 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. Afternoon: That afternoon, make a splash at 4 Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark. Admission to the 85,000-square-foot indoor waterpark is free for hotel guests, but you can purchase day passes for the slides, water fort tree house, lazy river, wave pool and activity pool in the waterpark if you’re staying elsewhere. Great Wolf Lodge also has plenty of dry activities, including a multi-level ropes course, indoor mini-golf and an arcade. Evening: Step back to the 11th century at 5 Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. You’ll eat like royalty—with your fingers—while feasting on roast chicken, buttered corn and potatoes. (Vegetarian options are available.) As you eat, cheer for one of six knights competing for the Queen’s favor in a two-hour tournament featuring jousting and hand-to-hand combat with real swords, lances, alabarda and mace.
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