

There’s no better way to reconnect as a couple than a charming weekend trip away, whether it’s filled with outdoor activities like hitting Arizona’s swimming holes or Sedona’s best hikes, or just lounging poolside in the Valley. See our editorial policy to learn more.ĭeserts, canyons and mountains make the perfect backdrops to Arizona’s most romantic getaways. We may earn a commission when you book or purchase through our links. And at the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden, more than 50,000 desert plants illustrate the beauty and variety of desert plant life.We research, evaluate and select travel destinations based on a number of factors, including our writers’ experience, user reviews and more. One of Phoenix's first cultural institutions, the Heard Museum has grown into an international destination to learn about Native American art and history, while the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park is a must-see Phoenix attraction that takes visitors on a path to remnants of a ballcourt and platform created by the Hohokam people who lived in this area from A.D. Discover more about desert life-then and now Those who might prefer to leave the playing to the professionals, meanwhile, can reserve tickets for a Phoenix Symphony or Arizona Opera performance at Symphony Hall, one of many performance venues that make downtown a cultural center with a vibrant arts scene all around. The galleries and exhibits at the Musical Instrument Museum draw from a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from around the globe, including opportunities to see and hear the instruments played … and sometimes play them yourself. While beer and cider drinkers sample flights and drafts at a local microbrewery or meadery, those in search of higher spirits can content themselves with a well-composed tipple in one of the city's many other popular gathering spots. The city's cocktail and craft brew culture are as strong as some of the pours you'll find therein. In 2022, local chefs and restaurants were named semifinalists in eight different categories. The best-known restaurants in Phoenix have racked up regular plaudits from national newspapers and magazines and nominations from the James Beard Foundation. Some of the country's most innovative restaurateurs hone their culinary creations and prowess in Phoenix. And for those who find their bliss on a golf course, many of the area's top resorts boast some of the best year-round courses in the country. Wellness travelers find spa treatments and fitness programs that add euphoria to vacation days. Families enjoy epic-sized pools with monumental play features. The luxury resort scene in Phoenix includes a long list of historic and modern properties that go big. On "Silent Sundays," the park even closes its main road to motor vehicles, allowing cyclists and hikers to enjoy the roadways without the buzz of automotive traffic. Hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders have more than 50 miles of trails, while bicyclists can test their endurance on the roadways that climb across three mountain ranges. South Mountain Park Preserve, the nation's largest municipally managed park, is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts to experience Phoenix activities. On any game day, you'll find flocks of fans pre- and post-gaming at nearby sports bars, upscale eateries and neighborhood taquerias. Footprint Center, the arena that's home to the NBA's Phoenix Suns, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the IFL's Phoenix Rattlers, is just a few blocks west. The Valley Metro public light rail system pulls up right outside Chase Field, the downtown Phoenix ballpark that's home to MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.

And that just scratches the surface of things to do in Phoenix. Phoenix (the "Valley of the Sun" to locals) invites you to enjoy major destinations for recreation and relaxation, must-visit venues in the culinary and cocktail kingdoms, and long-standing arts, civic and cultural institutions.
