1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Phoenix

Things to Do in Phoenix, Arizona

Lots of Attractions in Phoenix

By , About.com Guide

Here are some of my favorite attractions in the City of Phoenix, continued from the previous page.

  • Mystery Castle
    It isn't really a mystery, and it isn't really a castle. No ghosts here. Take this tour of a highly unusual home in South Phoenix built in the 1940s and 1950s.

  • Orpheum Theatre
    There are several worthy theatres in Phoenix, but the Orpheum might be my favorite simply because of the ambiance of the venue. It was originally built in 1929. The City of Phoenix bought the theatre in 1984 and it is the city's last remaining example of theatre palace architecture. The theatre was restored and re-opened in 1997. This Phoenix Point of Pride is the only theatre designated as historic in the Valley.

  • Papago Park
    Located near downtown Phoenix, there are many wonderful activities at Papago Park. Besides being a great urban retreat, there are fishing lagoons, a very popular municipal golf course, hiking trails, unique museums like the Hall of Flame fire fighting museum, and an archeological site. You probably will need a couple of days to enjoy all that this Phoenix Point of Pride has to offer.

  • Phoenix Art Museum
    The Phoenix Art Museum has been open since 1959 and is is one of the largest general visual arts institutions in the Southwest. The collection includes over 17,000 works and spans the centuries. The Phoenix Art Museum emphasizes American Art, Asian Art, European Art of the 14th-19th Centuries, Western American Art, Modern and Contemporary Art, Spanish Colonial and Latin American Art, 18th-20th Century Fashion Design, and the Thorne Miniature Rooms. There are also exhibits and special programs for the younger art lovers.

  • Phoenix Theatre
    Phoenix Theatre is Arizona’s longest running arts organization, having produced over 1,000 productions since its start in 1920. It was previously known as Phoenix Little Theatre. It is located right next to Phoenix Art Museum.

  • Phoenix Zoo
    This Phoenix Point of Pride is the nation's largest privately-owned nonprofit zoo. It has more than 1,300 animals, including 150 endangered or threatened birds, mammals and reptiles from around the world. The Arizona Trail at the Phoenix Zoo focuses on plants and animals of the American Southwest.

  • PING Golf
    Phoenix is the home of PING golf clubs, and the company offers a free factory tour of the manufacturing facility. A limited number of spots are available for this tour, and reservations in advance are required. Call well in advance to reserve your place on this interesting tour for the avid golfer.

  • South Mountain Park
    South Mountain Park is the world's largest municipal park covering 16,500 acres. Petroglyphs, hiking trails for all levels, biking, horseback riding and scenic drives and, of course, picnicking, are the most popular activities at this spot in southern Phoenix.

  • Piestewa Peak Recreational Area
    Formerly known as Squaw Peak. Right in the middle of Phoenix you'll find one of the most popular places for climbing a mountain. There are two main attractions at this Phoenix Point of Pride: the Summit Trail and the Circumference Trail. It's 1.2 miles to the peak's summit and offers a spectacular view. It can be crowded at times.

  • Symphony Hall
    I choose Symphony Hall as an important attraction not so much for the building, or the festivals and events that occur at the plaza outside, but for its major tenant, the Phoenix Symphony. In these days of more sports, more movies, and more shopping malls, wouldn't it be nice to enjoy some world class music performed by Arizona's only full-time, professional symphony orchestra? You bet it would.

  • Turf Paradise
    Live horse racing, simulcast races, dining, and family fun at the only race track for horses in the Greater Phoenix area.

  • Waterworld Safari
    During the summer take a break from the Phoenix heat at Waterworld Safari, a water park in northwest Phoenix. Cool and wet entertainment for people of all ages.

Enjoy your visit to Phoenix, Arizona!

Explore Phoenix

About.com Special Features

New Year's Eve in NYC

Not up to watching the ball drop in Times Square? Choose from this list of party picks instead. More >

Ring in 2010 in LA

Check out a sampling of many New Year's Eve events around town. More >

  1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Phoenix
  4. Attractions and Events
  5. Attractions by City
  6. Phoenix Attractions - Places To Go in Phoenix Arizona>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.