If you’re looking to get out of the house and explore the Greater Phoenix area — from Avondale to Scottsdale and everything in between — then check out this list below for 15 ideas to get you started.

Phoenix Art Museum

With more than 20,000 works from across the world, the Phoenix Art Museum is the largest museum for visual art in the southwest. The museum includes everything from historical pieces to modern artwork, while rotating exhibitions highlight specific artists, art styles, culturals, and more.

If you want to check out the museum for free, visit Wednesdays from 3 to 9 p.m. during voluntary donation time, or the second Sunday of each month from noon to 5 p.m. for Free Family Sundays.

Desert Botanical Garden

Discover the natural beauty of the desert while strolling through the winding trails of the 140-acre Desert Botanical Garden. More than 50,000 plant displays are featured in the garden’s outdoor exhibits, including arid flora such as saguaros and delicate desert flowers as well as more than 500 rare and endangered species.

The Desert Botanical Garden also features rotating art installations and a variety of events and exhibits. These include concerts, dance performances, holiday celebrations, and summer camps, to list but a few.

Camelback Mountain

This iconic Phoenix landmark, named for its resemblance to a kneeling camel, is one of the most popular urban hiking spots in the city. It’s most likely because of the summit’s amazing 360-degree views of the city!

To climb Camelback Mountain, which is part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, hikers must scale one of its difficult trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla. Besides the 1,420-foot ascent to the summit, hikers are challenged with exposed rock and sections of hand-over-hand-climbing. Because it's so strenuous, Camelback Mountain closes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days with excessive heat warnings.

Heard Museum

Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum is dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art — from traditional to contemporary. In fact, it has 12 galleries featuring both permanent and rotating exhibitions, as well as an outdoor sculpture gallery.

The museum also features live events, such as lectures, workshops, and film screenings. It also hosts an annual Indian Fair and Market, featuring works by more than 600 Native artists and immersive live performances. Don’t forget that you can enter for free from 4 to 8 p.m. the first Friday of every month!

Phoenix Zoo

Home to more than 3,000 animals representing nearly 400 species, the Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest nonprofit zoos in the nation. You can see animals from around the world and even get a better look at local fauna along the Arizona Trail, which emulates the wildlife and plant life found across the state.

The zoo is also home to the Arthur L. and Elaine V. Johnson Conservation Center, which works with conservation partners to raise and breed threatened species. The center is included among the many “backstage” tours offered by the zoo.

Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) gives visitors a new way to explore the rich diversity and history of cultures around the world: through the instruments people play every day.

The MIM’s collection includes more than 7,500 instruments from more than 200 countries and territories. Not only can you see these instruments, but a synced headset allows you to hear the various instruments as you make your way through the museum. You can even see these instruments in action at the MIM Music Theater, which hosts more than 200 international acts each year.

The Japanese Friendship Garden

Also known as Rohoen, the Japanese Friendship Garden is a joint project between Phoenix and its sister city, Himeji, Japan. In fact, the City of Himeji donated all of the decorative features of the garden as well as thousands of hours to design and guide the construction.

Rohoen is an authentic Japanese stroll garden, replete with a tea garden and tea house. Across its 3.5 acres, you’ll find a 14-foot waterfall, a pond with more than 300 koi fish, tranquil streams, stone footbridges, and more than 1,500 tons of hand-picked rock. The garden also offers year-round events and workshops, plus you can buy Japanese snacks and beverages at the gift shop!

The Phoenix Theatre Company

Featuring top local talent, as well as exciting guest artists, this is the largest producing regional theatre company in the Valley. The Phoenix Theatre Company has more than 500 performances on multiple stages throughout the year, giving you plenty of opportunities to see plays and musicals from yesterday and today.

In order to nurture young local artists, the theatre also offers year-round learning opportunities and summer camps that teach everything from acting to dancing to production.

Papago Park

Located just minutes from downtown Phoenix, hikers can take in picturesque views of red butte formations in Papago Park. The trails are generally easy, making it a perfect place for mountain biking, jogging, or just taking the family for a light stroll.

The park also encompasses seven acres of stocked fishing lagoons; golf courses; museums; baseball fields; the Phoenix Zoo; and the Desert Botanical Garden. It will definitely require more than one visit to take it all in.

Arizona Science Center

Containing hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, and a theater with a screen that is five stories tall, the Arizona Science Center is an exciting and unique Phoenix attraction for both kids and adults.

In the CREATE Makerspace, you can sign up or drop in for classes and workshops to try everything from woodworking to 3D printing to laser cutting. You can also ride a bike along a 90-foot cable while suspended 15 feet in the air on the Evans Family SkyCycle. There are also rotating exhibits, which in the past have included The Science of Guinness World Records, POP! The Science of Bubbles, and OceanXperience.

Taliesin West

Formerly the winter home of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West is a World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark. Established in 1937, Wright designed and constructed the site as a celebration of the Arizona desert.

Besides guided and audio tours, you can also enjoy special events and programs at this historic property. This includes lectures, films, concerts, exhibitions, and summer camps for the kids. One of the most popular programs is Sunset & Sips, which offers adult visitors a chance to enjoy gorgeous views of the city and visit one or two indoor spaces that vary with each visit.

S'edav Va'aki Museum

Central Arizona is recognized as the ancestral home of the O'Odham people (Salt River, Gila River, Ak-Chin Indian Communities and the Tohono O'odham Nation). The S'edav Va'aki Museum gives visitors a chance to learn about the lives and history of these people through exhibits, tours, and events.

Part of the tour includes a visit to an archaeological site that features centuries-old irrigation canals, a ballcourt, and a platform mound that are ancestral to the Salt River and Gila River O’Odham people. You can also see history come to life at the annual Portal to the Past Festival. The festival includes cultural performances of music, dance, and storytelling as well as talks that explore the engineering prowess of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People.

Wonderspaces Arizona

Get up and close and personal with a variety of immersive, interactive art installations at Wonderspaces Arizona. Located inside Scottsdale Fashion Square, the gallery’s regularly changing artwork often challenges viewers to consider how their perspectives change what they see and hear, and sometimes invites them to be a collaborator on the piece. 

Wonderspaces is fun for the whole family and offers up plenty of amazing photo opportunities. You can also make it a date night and enjoy some of their signature cocktails while taking in the installations.

OdySea Aquarium

Arizona’s largest aquarium, OdySea Aquarium is home to 6,000 animals from 300 different species. From sharks to otters to jellyfish, you can learn about a wide variety of aquatic life in more than 70 different exhibits.

You can also experience the world’s only rotating aquarium experience here. The OdySea Voyager takes you through four of the aquarium’s largest exhibits during a 20-minute educational and entertaining journey. You’ll see sea turtles, sting rays, sea lions, and much more!

South Mountain Park and Preserve

Whether you want to go horseback riding, hiking, or mountain biking, you’ll find a trail that's right for you at South Mountain Park and Preserve. That’s because there are about 100 miles of mixed-use trails that cover its 16,000-plus acres!

This is one of the largest municipally operated parks in the country, consisting of three mountain ranges — the Gila, Guadalupe, and Ma Ha Tauk. Many of the trails, therefore, provide visitors with breathtaking views of the city below. The best view is from Dobbins Lookout, the highest point in the park open to visitors at 2,300 feet. On your way to these views, however, don’t forget to look for ancient artwork on the granite boulders — left behind by the Hohokam peoples who once lived in the area.

Find Your New Home Near Phoenix

Buying a home in Avondale or Apache Junction is one of the best ways to explore all of these things to do in Phoenix. Both towns are growing suburbs that offer quiet, small-town living a short drive from all that the city has to offer.

You can get even more out of living here when you move into a Brookfield Residential community. Alamar is Brookfield’s planned community in Avondale that features a bevy of amenities, such as a school, dog parks, trails, a fitness area, firepits, and much more. In Apache Junction, meanwhile, you’ll find Blossom Rock, which has beautiful views of the Superstition Mountains alongside amenities such as playgrounds, bike trails, a pool, and barbecue areas.

Our sales team is excited to help you find your dream home in your dream location with Brookfield Residential’s Alamar Community or Brookfield Residential’s Blossom Rock Community. Explore the community and connect with our sales team when you’re ready to learn more. We’ll be expecting you!