PHOENIX & CENTRAL ARIZONA Fresh Air & Fun Adventures When you’re visiting Phoenix, you don’t have to go far to revel in the beauty of nature. Experience the great outdoors with these quick escapes. The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is the perfect place to unwind. Curving paths cross the grounds, and a 12-foot waterfall adds a relaxing note to the garden as it feeds a koi pond and gently flowing streams. Go Paddle AZ, Peoria Anchoring the far western edge of the Phoenix Valley is White Tank Mountain Regional Park , a roughly 30,000-acre park with 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 to admire the glittering canopy above. At the base of the Superstition Mountains is Lost Dutchman State Park . Named for a fabled gold mine hidden deep in the volcanic fortress of the mountains, the park is crisscrossed with hiking trails and adorned with wildflowers, most prominently poppies and brittlebush. When the days turn hot, it’s time to hit the water. Go Paddle AZ in Peoria rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards at Pleasant Harbor Marina on Lake Pleasant, a 10,000-acre reservoir with miles of coastline. 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. White Tank Mountain Regional Park, Waddell AbsolutelyScottsdale.com the desert is 48 VISITARIZONA.COM TOP TO BOTTOM: CITY OF PEORIA; MARICOPA COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2022-23: Page 48
