Phoenix has a wide variety
of activities and attractions for you to choose from while visiting.
Family fun activities ranging from the Phoenix Zoo for relaxing family
entertainment to Castles and Coasters for fast moving exciting rides.
Whatever your pleasure you will surely find something to satisfy. Below
we have highlighted some of the more popular activities in the Greater
Phoenix area.
Arcosanti
Paolo Soleri - a student of Wright - developed his own form of organic
architecture, which he termed 'arcology,' the combination of architecture
and ecology. Soleri's headquarters are 5 miles (8km) north of central
Scottsdale at the Cosanti Foundation, where you can see a scale model
of his magnum opus, the futuristic Arcosanti. An architectural experiment
in urban living, Arcosanti is an ultracompact city of precast concrete
that hopes one day to house 5000 people intent on living an aesthetically
rewarding, environmentally aware existence - no desert hermits here.
The project is still under construction, 40 miles (65km) north of Phoenix
off I-17.
Arizona State University
The sprawling 750-acre Tempe campus of ASU is notable for its public
art and innovative architecture, much of it designed by Frank Lloyd
Wright.
Arizona Science Center
This complex contains a museum with 350 hands-on exhibits that encourage
visitors to explore and experiment with computers, bubbles, weather,
physics and biology. There's also a five-story giant screen theater
with shows about the American West, NASA and other subjects. A planetarium
has star shows every hour; in the evenings, you can relive junior high
school at one of the planetarium's laser light shows that accompany
the music of such AOR stalwarts as Pink Floyd and the Doors.
Breck Girl Hall of Fame - Pop-culture enthusiasts are sure to enjoy
this one-room museum containing more than 150 of the signature pastel
portraits from the "Breck Girl" shampoo ads, including pictures
of Brooke Shields, Kim Basinger, Cybill Shepherd, and other now-famous
former Breck Girls. A guide can detail the life and times of Mr. Edward
J. Breck, whose lasting contributions to society include being the first
person to differentiate between dry and oily. (602) 207-4000
Desert Botanical Garden
Aficionados of desert flora can stroll among the succulents in this
145 acre (59ha) garden, which contains thousands of species of plants
particularly adapted to the arid landscape. The best time to come is
during the brilliantly colorful flowering season of March to May. Surrounding
Papago Park has picnic areas, jogging, biking and equestrian trails,
a city golf course and a children's fishing pond. It also houses the
Phoenix Zoo. The garden, park and zoo are 8 miles (13km) east of the
capitol on N Galvin Pkwy.
Heard Museum
A one-stop shop for learning about Southwest Indian tribes' history,
arts and culture, the Heard Museum is touted for quality rather than
quantity. Sure, there are thousands of exhibits, but these are so well
laid out (in so relatively small a space) that a visit is much more
relaxing than the torturous schleps of most major museums. The Heard's
kachina doll collection is outstanding, as are the audiovisual displays,
live demonstrations and bookshop, which has the area's best - albeit
priciest - selection of Native American arts and crafts. The Heard is
on the northern outskirts of downtown, about 4 miles (7km) from the
capitol.
Mystery Castle
This curious dwelling was hand-built from desert rocks, railroad refuse,
and anything else its builder could get his hands on. Chock-full of
oddities that will fascinate everyone in the family, the castle has
18 rooms with 13 fireplaces, 90 bottle-glass portholes, a downstairs
grotto, a floating cantilever stairway, and a roll-away bed with a mining
railcar as its frame.
Old Town Scottsdale
Half a dozen blocks near Scottsdale's chamber of commerce constitute
'Old Town,' a cluster of early 20th century buildings and some more
recently styled to look like those of the Old West. Not quite the dusty
streets of Sam Peckinpah; though you can still mosey past saloons and
dodge imaginary bullets, the real killers these days are Scottsdale's
prices.One of the area's true fossils is the 'Little Red School House,'
built in 1909 and now housing the Scottsdale Historical Museum. It hosts
exhibits on the area's early days. Nearby, the Scottsdale Center for
the Arts is home to some decent contemporary art galleries and a sculpture
garden, and plays host to various performing artists. Old Town is in
central Scottsdale, 9 miles (14km) northeast of downtown Phoenix.
Phoenix Zoo
Five designated trails wind through this 125-acre zoo, which has replicas
of such habitats as an African savanna and a tropical rain forest. Meerkats,
warthogs, desert bighorn sheep, and endangered Arabian oryx are among
the unusual sights.
Superstition Mountains
Traveling up the Superstition Highway through Tempe, Mesa
and eventually Apache Junction you will come upon the massive Superstition
Mountain heaves. Supposedly the mountains are home to the Lost Dutchman
Mine which the location of, has been debate for many many years. - Apache
Junction
Taliesin West
Frank Lloyd Wright - America's most famous 20th century architect -
lived, designed and taught in Scottsdale at Taliesin West. Set on 600
acres (240ha) of desert, Taliesin West is a working example of Wright's
organic architecture, which uses natural forms to shape most structures.
Wright moved here in 1927 and didn't finish building for 30 years. Today,
the natural rock, wood and canvas structures continue to be both living
quarters and a teaching establishment. Hourlong guided tours are given
daily. Taliesin West is about 10 miles (16km) northeast of Phoenix.
Activities
Hot-Air Ballooning over the Desert - The peaceful silence of
life hundreds of feet up is unforgettable; since the balloon is carried
on the wind, you'll experience no wind yourself. In addition to this
awesome tranquility, many elusive desert creatures can be viewed in
their natural habitat only from balloon.
Castles 'N Coasters - surround yourself with fun and experience
miniature golf or one of the many other attractions in magical settings.
(602) 997-7575
Island of Big Surf - a 2.5-acre ocean in the middle of the desert
open for swimming, surfing and other water and sun sports. (602) 947-SURF
or 947-7873
Fiddlesticks - fun for the entire family, including miniature
golf, driving range, go-carts and bumper boats, batting cages and a
video arcade. (602) 961-0800
CrackerJax Family Fun Park - features miniature golf, go-karts,
bumper boats, arcade, volleyball, baseball and golf ranges, and a restaurant.
(602) 998-2800 |
