Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden offers visitors over 50,000 plant displays, spread out over 145 acres. The garden, which is open daily, focuses on plants found in arid areas of the world, especially those from the Southwestern United States.
Desert Botanical Garden: www.dbg.org
For an exclusive look at Native American art and culture, visit Phoenix's Heard Museum. The museum houses 10 exhibition galleries and courtyards for the display of Native American art. Visit the Heard gift shop to purchase a piece of American Indian art as a souvenir from your visit.
Heard Museum: www.heard.org
The world's only museum dedicated to musical instruments opened in Phoenix in the spring of 2010. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) -- which encompasses two levels -- educates and orientates visitors on music and the development of instruments on the first level of the museum. On the second level, you can view musical instruments from over 200 nations around the world, which are organized by geographical location.
MIM: www.themim.org
Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to the Phoenix Zoo, where they can see over 1,200 animals on exhibit. The zoo has 2.5 miles of walking trails that are divided into four sections. Observe large game animals in Africa, exotic birds in the tropics and animals native to the Southwestern U.S. Don't miss the children's section, if you are visiting the zoo with kids.
Phoenix Zoo: www.phoenixzoo.com
If you are a golf enthusiast, you know that the Phoenix area is home to some of the best golf courses in the United States. Try the Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale or the Dinosaur Mountain course and Gold Canyon Golf Resort near Apache Junction on the outskirts of Phoenix. The wide range of golfing options in the greater Phoenix area will suit golfers of with any budget and those with any level of gold experience.
Troon North Golf Club: www.troonnorthgolf.com
Gold Canyon Golf Resort: www.gcgr.com
Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking should head to Camelback Mountain. Once reserved for an Indian reservation, Camelback offers easier trails at the base and two summit trails for skilled hikers. The trails are open until sunset.
The Challenger Space Center offers astronomy enthusiasts the opportunity to view space-related exhibits and memorabilia. Visitors are able to touch real meteorites, simulate a shuttle launch and touch a vapor cyclone on one of the center's guided tours.
Challenger Space Center: www.azchallenger.org
If you love to shop, especially in high-end designer stores, Scottsdale Fashion Square will deliver. Designers that are often only found in New York or Los Angeles can be found at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Your favorite brands, such as Jimmy Choo Shoes, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade have locations at the shopping center.
Scottsdale Fashion Square: www.fashionsquare.com
If you are looking to escape the hot Arizona sun, consider tubing down the Lower Salt River, which is located in the Tonto National Forest near Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix. You can take two, three or five hour trips, and relax while floating down the river.
Art lovers visiting the Phoenix area must head to Scottsdale on a Thursday evening. The Scottsdale Gallery Association sponsors the ArtWalk as an open house for the Scottsdale Arts District, located on and near Main Street. If viewing or buying art is not your cup of tea, the ArtWalk offers a great opportunity for people watching.