IN THIS REGION Fort McDowell, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Superior, Tempe PHOENIX & CENTRAL ARIZONA HEARD MUSEUM, PHOENIX With an impressive collection of more than 40,000 objects, this comprehensive museum includes intricate Navajo textiles, Zuni jew-elry, 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. Agritopia Farm, Gilbert 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. 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. 45 Taliesin West, Scottsdale THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: DISCOVER GILBERT; AOT; JILL RICHARDS; LONNA TUCKER; FACING PAGE:VISIT PHOENIX/PHOTO BY DSPAZ.COM Heard Museum, Phoenix We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2021-22: Page 45
