33 Things To Do - Phoenix Valley Guide Magazine

JILL RICHARDS
33
THINGS
TO DO
® Editor’s note: Valley Guide’s “33 Things to
Do” are listed in no particular order. To learn
more about things to do in the area, visit
phxvalleyguide.com for links to our advertisers’
websites. All information given here was
accurate at press time. You may want to call for
Superstition Mountains
confirmation prior to visiting these attractions.
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TOUR DE TAVERN It’s fun to
hop from bar to bar in Old Town
Scottsdale, but walking for blocks gets
tiring. Enter the Tour De Tavern: part
bar, part 8-person bicycle, all fun. Hop
on your seat and pedal to your next
destination (don’t worry, pedalers
receive help from a motor). Speakers
pump your favorite jams, and Tour de
Tavern’s BYOB policy means the party
never has to stop. Make a reservation at
480-299-4182.
ALL IN Grab that change jar for
a rendezvous with Lady Luck at
a number of casinos statewide. Take a
chance at Casino Arizona or Talking
Stick Resort, both on Scottsdale’s
eastern border (480-850-7777); Gila
River Casinos, with 3 locations
throughout Greater Phoenix (800-9464452); Apache Gold Casino Resort, 60
miles east of Mesa (928-475-7800); and
Fort McDowell Casino near Fountain
Hills (800-843-3678).
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Fool’s Gold
You’d have to be very lucky to find the Lost Dutchman Mine—the legendary hiding
place of Jacob Waltz’s gold. Waltz was a German prospector who, according to legend,
hid a treasure in the Superstition Mountains just southeast of Phoenix but fell ill and
died, taking his secret to the grave. However, clues to the hidden mine’s location were
left behind, and generations of gold seekers have followed. Learn more about Waltz
and the area at the Superstition Mountain Museum (480-983-4888), northeast of
Apache Junction on the scenic Apache Trail. Or hike one of the dozens of trails that
crisscross the Superstition Wilderness—you might stumble upon a fortune. Be sure to
wear appropriate attire, hike with a friend, and bring a map and plenty of water.
HAVE BIKE, WILL TRAVEL Ditch the car and explore Greater Phoenix on 2
wheels. Grid Bike Share (gridbikes.com) offers rent-by-the-hour bikes. Rent a
bicycle from a kiosk at one of the dozens of stations located throughout the metro area
(or use the Grid Bike Share mobile app), unlock the bike, and pedal off. Each bike comes
with a basket, lock, and lights. Tempe’s Portapedal Bike (portapedalbike.com) sells
stylish folding bikes from well-known brands, such as Brompton, Tern, and Moulton.
The shop’s owners will show you the ropes—from how to use the bikes to ideas for where
to cycle around town. The best part: the bikes fold into portable sizes that fit perfectly
in an airplane’s overhead compartment. Local hotels also offer cruiser bike rentals to
guests; check out Bespoke Inn (bespokeinn.com) in Scottsdale and Hotel Palomar
(hotelpalomar-phoenix.com) in downtown Phoenix.
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33 things to do
KIDS AT PLAY A day at the
museum doesn’t have to be just
for adults. Let the little ones join in
the fun at one of Greater Phoenix’s
tyke-friendly museums. Engage your
child with hands-on activities at the
nationally acclaimed Children’s
Museum of Phoenix in downtown
Phoenix (childrensmuseumofphoenix.
org). Have a budding Picasso in your
family? Visit the Phoenix Art Museum
(phxart.org/events/family), where kids
can participate in an art-making session,
or stop by Mesa’s I.D.E.A. Museum
(ideamuseum.org), which offers art
classes for children of all ages.
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DOGGY DELIGHTS Fido will love
the goodies at Spike’s Treats in
Fountain Hills (480-634-4449). Or take
your pup to Partners Aquatic Center
for Dogs (480-595-6700), a training
center with a huge swimming pool and
a dock for dogs to run and jump. Milo’s
Kitchen Treat Truck (mktreattruck.
com) offers your “gour-mutt” burger
bites and chicken meatballs, a dogfriendly photo booth, and an outdoor
“lapdog lounge.” Several parks have
enclosed areas for licensed dogs to frolic
off-leash, including Mitchell Park (900
S. Mitchell Dr., Tempe) and Horizon
Park (15444 N. 100th St., Scottsdale).
TEA TIME While away the
afternoon with a friend over a
steaming pot of tea that whisks you on
a journey back to a more relaxed era.
Enjoy scones, sandwiches, and pastries
at English Rose Tea Room (480-4884812), The Phoenician (480-423-2530),
or The Arizona Biltmore (602-9556600). Call ahead for reservations.
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WILDFLOWERS Welcome
to Arizona’s not-to-be-missed
wildflower season. Lupine, desert
marigold, filaree, purple three-awn,
and penstemon dot the desert with
brilliant colors. Some good places to
see the blooms are South Mountain
Park, Phoenix Mountains Preserve,
Estrella Mountain Regional Park, and
Pinnacle Peak. For something extra
special, Cave Creek Trail Rides (623742-6700) offers horseback “wildflower
rides” that take you through the desert
and among the blooms. The Desert
Botanical Garden has a wildflower
Make Talking Stick
your final destination
SHOP
DINE
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information website that is updated
weekly. Visit dbg.org/wildflowers.
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IRISH CULTURAL CENTER
Do you find yourself captivated
by Celtic traditions? A stop at the Irish
Cultural Center and McClelland Library
is sure to have your Irish eyes smiling.
The center offers exhibits, events,
concerts, family genealogy, and a St.
Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire. Fans of
the Emerald Isle with a little more time
can also enjoy taking a class at the Irish
Cultural Center’s Academy of Irish &
Celtic Studies. The center, located at
1106 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix, is open
Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. For more
information, call 602-258-0109 or
visit azirish.org.
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ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT
MUSEUM Wandering through the
internationally famous Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum, just west of Tucson, is
like taking an enchanted walk through
the desert—with no fear of snakes or
critters. Soak up lots of interesting
information, plenty of shade and
water, and close-up views of bobcats,
prairie dogs, coyotes, hawks, Mexican
Located conveniently off the 101 and Talking
Stick Way is Arizona’s most exhilarating
destination! Spring training baseball, casino
gaming, golf, electric kart racing, butterflies
and so much more await! We’re a quick
15 minutes from Sky Harbor Airport.
Come see what everyone is talking about.
STAY
EXIT TALKING STICK WAY!
TalkingStickArizona.com
888.979.5010
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LIONS & TIGERS & SHARKS,
OH MY! Those are just some of
the animals you’ll find at the Phoenix
Zoo. This 125-acre zoological park is
home to more than 1,400 animals. Call
602-286-3800 or visit phoenixzoo.
org. Encounter animals from all over
the globe at Wildlife World Zoo &
Aquarium and Safari Park in
Litchfield Park. Call 623-935-9453 or
visit wildlifeworld.com. See zebras,
giraffes, wolves, and more at Out
of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp
Verde. Call 928-567-2840 or visit
outofafricapark.com. To see more than
5,000 sea creatures and an ocean tunnel
with a 360-degree underwater view,
check out Sea Life Arizona in Tempe.
Visit visitsealife.com/arizona or call
877-526-3960.
COURTESY OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM
gray wolves, scorpions, rattlesnakes,
roadrunners, and more. Trees and cacti
are identified for you as well. Docents
give live-animal demonstrations and
seasonal guided tours. Hours are
seasonal, so call ahead before you plan
your visit. Call 520-883-2702 or visit
desertmuseum.org.
Musical Instrument
Museum
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Experience the world’s first global collection
of musical instruments at Phoenix’s Musical
Instrument Museum (4725 E. Mayo Blvd.).
See more than 6,500 instruments from
nearly 200 countries—from flutes once
played in the courts of kings to handcrafted
village drums. Many of the instruments are
displayed individually, while others are presented as entire ensembles to show the
complete orchestra of a Chinese opera or a big band jazz group. Touch, play, and hear
instruments in the Experience Gallery, then stop by the museum’s restaurant for lunch.
Phone 480-478-6000 or visit mim.org.
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ARCHERY If watching Robin Hood
or William Tell on the late-night
movie channel has kindled your desire
to try archery, why not take a shot at
it? Indoor ranges offer a chance to
escape the heat while you’re shooting.
For lessons, phone Bear Mountain
in Mesa (480-926-7161) or Archery
Headquarters at 6401 W. Chandler
Blvd. in Chandler (480-961-3100).
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SWEET HEAVEN Have you ever
wondered, as you bit into a delectable
confection, “What exactly is caramel?”
or “How do they get the filling inside the
chocolate?” Tours of the Cerreta Candy
Company (5345 W. Glendale Ave.,
623-930-9000, cerreta.com) provide the
answers. Guided tours begin at 10 a.m. and
1 p.m. Mon.–Fri. Self-guided video tours
run throughout the day Mon.–Sat. Free.
Insta
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HIEN TRUONG
Queen Creek
Olive Mill
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As the only working olive mill in Arizona,
this Queen Creek attraction at the
base of the San Tan Mountains offers a
one-of-a-kind experience. Take a tour
to learn about growing, processing, and
bottling olive oil, or stroll through the
peaceful olive groves to select the perfect
shaded spot for lunch. The mill’s on-site
restaurant offers paninis, bruschetta,
soups, salads, and gelato. Stop at the
marketplace on your way out to pick up
a bottle of Arizona wine or a basket of
bath products made from olive oil.
25062 S. Meridian Rd., Queen Creek,
480-888-9290, queencreekolivemill.com.
ASIAN INFLUENCE The COFCO Chinese Cultural Center, complete with
ornate Asian architecture and an elaborate 2-acre Chinese garden, adds a burst of
color to Phoenix. The center features extraordinary restaurants, including Szechwan
Palace and the Super L Ranch Market (where you can find a variety of Asian cooking
ingredients), Oriental Factory Direct, and many other specialty retail shops. At 668 N.
44th St. Call 602-273-7268 or visit phxchinatown.com.
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TO MARKET, TO MARKET All
over Greater Phoenix, you can
buy locally grown vegetables, fruits,
herbs, and flowers, as well as jams and
jellies, salsas, honey, and more. Visit
Artisan Markets (602-314-0323) in
Scottsdale Sun. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Try the
Mesa Community Farmers’ Market
(602-290-5067) Fri. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Oct.–
May and Fri. 9 a.m.–12 p.m. June–Sept.
Uptown Farmers Market (602-8595648) is open Sat. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Oct.–Apr.
and 9 a.m.–12 p.m. May–Sept. Or stop
in at the Phoenix Public Market Sat.
8 a.m.–12 p.m. May–Sept. (8 a.m.–1
p.m. Oct.–Apr.) Contact the Arizona
Community Farmers Markets (623848-1234) for locations of more area
farmers markets.
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NIGHT LIGHTS IN THE DESERT
If you’ve seen Frank Lloyd Wright’s
Taliesin West, perhaps it’s time to see it
again in a whole new light—during the
night tours of the renowned architect’s
Arizona school and former winter home.
During the 2-hour night lights tours, the
buildings are illuminated from within,
giving the already dramatic structures
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a lantern-like glow. Tours run every
Fri. night starting at sunset. The cost
is $35 per person, and reservations are
required. Call 480-627-5340 or visit
franklloydwright.org.
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SHOOT-OUTS, SALOONS &
STEAK Have some fun in the Old
West at Rawhide Western Town &
Steakhouse, a re-created 1880s town
with a steakhouse, saloon, shops, and
rodeo arena. Enjoy staged shoot-outs,
country music, stagecoach rides, burro
rides, rock climbing, and Sundown
Cookouts. Located at Wild Horse Pass,
5700 W. North Loop Rd. in Chandler.
Phone 480-502-5600 for hours or
visit rawhide.com. Cowboy up at Don
Donnelly’s D-Spur Riding Stables,
where city slickers can enjoy cookouts,
wagon rides, and horseback rides.
At 15371 E. Ojo Rd., Gold Canyon.
Phone 602-810-7029 for hours or visit
dondonnellyd-spur.com.
PAPAGO SALADO This is
the attraction of attractions. The
Phoenix Zoo, Pueblo Grande Museum
and Archaeological Park, Hall of
Flame Museum of Firefighting,
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Arizona Historical Society Museum
at Papago Park, and Desert Botanical
Garden are among the points of interest
in and around Papago Park and Rio
Salado. The area spans parts of Phoenix,
Scottsdale, and Tempe, generally
including the area between the Arizona
Canal from 44th St. to University Dr.,
and it is a hub of cultural, historical, and
recreational opportunities connected by
the multiuse Papago Trail.
TREASURE HUNT Geocaching—
think of it as Capture the Flag for the
digital generation. Start at geocaching.
com. Decide where in Greater Phoenix
you want to “hunt.” Map coordinates
mark the locations of locally stashed
treasure or “caches.” Once you plug in
your coordinates, using your smartphone
or GPS device, you can navigate to the
booty, sign the logbook that accompanies
each cache (in order to leave your mark),
and then it’s on to the next one. Popular
geocaching locations around Greater
Phoenix include Tonto National Forest
(602-225-5200) and Mesa’s Park of the
Canals (parkofthecanals.org), while urban
explorers flock to downtown Phoenix.
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MILITARY MEMORABILIA
Attention fans of machinery, power,
and the red, white, and blue: Exhibits at
the Arizona Military Museum (5636
E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix) showcase
weapons, uniforms, and other remnants
of past military operations. Other notable
items include a Huey helicopter from the
Vietnam Conflict. Call 602-267-2676 for
museum hours. The Commemorative
Air Force Airbase Arizona (2017 N.
Greenfield Rd., Mesa) restores and
displays war birds from World War I
through the Vietnam Conflict. Highlights
include the B-17 Flying Fortress
Sentimental Journey, an F-4 Phantom,
and the B-25 Mitchell Maid in the Shade.
Experience the exhilarating thrill of flight
with a ride in the B-17, an SNJ, a C-47, and
others. Call 480-924-1940 or visit azcaf.
org for hours and admission fees.
UP, UP & AWAY If you don’t have
80 days to go around the world,
how about a couple of hours to fly over
Greater Phoenix? Hot air balloons
are a fun way to view the terrain. To
drift away on a desert breeze, contact
Rainbow Ryders (800-725-2477) or Hot
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LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and Knob configurations, the Minifigure and LEGOLAND are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2016 The LEGO Group.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona • 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle
Suite 135 • Tempe, AZ 85282 • 877 526 3960
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SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium • 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle
Suite 145 • Tempe, AZ 85282 • 877 526 3960
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33 things to do
Air Expeditions (800-831-7610). Or fly
and feast on a Float Balloon Tour (480256-8695), which pairs a balloon flight
with regional Arizona cuisine.
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MINIATURE GOLF In 1916, a
North Carolina man reportedly built
a backyard golf course for friends and
neighbors. Little did he know that it would
one day lead to something like Castles
~N~ Coasters (602-997-7575), with 18
holes of miniature golf, rides, an arcade,
and food. CrackerJax (480-998-2800), a
local favorite for more than 15 years, and
Phoenix’s Jambo! Park (602-274-4653)
are also great miniature golf destinations.
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LAUGHS GALORE The Greater
Phoenix area has its share of brick
walls and more than enough jokesters to
stand in front of them. Included in the
area’s comedy roster is Jester’Z Improv
Comedy, performing every Fri. and Sat.
night at Mesa Riverview (1061 N. Dobson
Rd. #114, Mesa, 480-423-0120). In
Scottsdale, check out The Comedy Spot
Comedy Club (7117 E. 3rd Ave., 480945-4422). Head to downtown Phoenix
to see local and national acts at Stand
Up Live (50 W. Jefferson St. #200,
480-719-6100). Tempe Improv Comedy
Theatre (930 E. University Dr., 480921-9877) has been attracting national
headliners and emerging talent since
1988, and was Comedy Central-certified
in 2014. In Phoenix, Rick Bronson’s
House of Comedy (5350 E. High St., Ste.
105, 480-420-3553) features comedians
who’ve appeared on national and
international television.
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ARIZONA LATINO ARTS &
CULTURAL CENTER Explore the
art, culture, and history of Arizona’s Latino
community at the Arizona Latino Arts &
Cultural Center. The art gallery, Galeria
147, features works by veteran and up-andcoming Latino, Chicano, and indigenous
artists. The center’s eclectic and vibrant
gift shop, La Tiendita—offering local
artwork, crafts, and gifts—shouldn’t be
missed. The center is located at 147 E.
Adams St. in Phoenix. Admission is free.
Phone 602-254-9817 or visit alacaz.org.
DESERT SKY AT NIGHT Greater
Phoenix is famous for its beautiful
sunsets, but that’s only the beginning
of the sky show. Three local parks play
host to nighttime lessons under (and
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about) the stars. These events are one
part astronomy lesson and one part
telescope stargazing, with on-hand
constellation experts to make the
concepts as clear as the night sky. The
gazing begins at 7:30 p.m. at White
Tank Mountain Regional Park
(623-935-2505), Cave Creek Regional
Park (623-465-0431), and San Tan
Mountain Regional Park (480-6555554). Feel free to bring chairs and
blankets. There is a $6 vehicle entry fee
at each park. For stargazing dates, visit
maricopa.gov/parks/stars.aspx.
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URBAN CANVAS The creative
spirit roams free through the
streets of Greater Phoenix as murals
and commissioned outdoor works
move beyond museum walls to find life
on the exteriors of buildings. Outside
Barrio Café in Phoenix, the walls serve
as a concrete canvas for local muralists,
whose paintings tell the stories of
Latino culture in Arizona. In Scottsdale,
artists Ernest Roberts and Tim Medina
celebrate the state’s Wild West roots
with a mural of American cowgirls on
the wall of Fashion by Robert Black. In
Slow down, look around.
Discover the mythical West.
Rodeos and horseback rides.
Great eats, and the great
outdoors. Whether you’re
a hiker or golfer, culture
lover or history buff,
Wickenburg has the goods.
Take the long way home.
LET’S SWITCH GEARS.
visitwickenburg.com
www.facebook.com/WickenburgAZ
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downtown Phoenix, tour Roosevelt Row
to view the emerging street talent.
TURN A PAGE Phoenix’s Burton
Barr Central Library has one of the
largest reading rooms in North America and
skillfully uses light and illusion to create
a sense of beauty and grace not always
found in public architecture. The design
was inspired by the majesty of Northern
Arizona’s Monument Valley. All this and
thousands of books make the library the
perfect place to catch up on a little reading.
The Arizona Room is replete with Arizona
and Southwestern history reference
materials, and the Rare Book Room has
a 4,000-year-old Babylonian tablet, a
page from a Gutenberg Bible, and some
Shakespearean folios. Phone 602-262-6157.
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Heard Museum
The Heard Museum displays
an internationally famous
collection of artifacts and
art—basketry, pottery, textiles,
katsinas, and jewelry—
from Southwestern American
Indian tribes. It also
offers numerous festivals,
performances, and workshops.
Located at 2301 N. Central
Ave. Call 602-252-8848 or
visit heard.org for more info.
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HIEN TRUONG
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GET THE BLUES In the mood
for a little soulful lamenting? The
Greater Phoenix area offers a couple of
musical outlets for just such a purpose:
Char’s Has the Blues (602-230-0205),
voted best blues club in Phoenix for
more than 20 years, or The Rhythm
Room in Phoenix (602-265-4842),
where you can see the likes of Leon
Russell and other greats perform.
CHILDREN’S THEATER Get the
kids involved in some of the nation’s
best children’s theater. The Phoenix
area has many professional theater
companies that produce plays and offer
workshops for children. Try Childsplay
(480-921-5700), East Valley Children’s
Theatre (480-756-3828), Great Arizona
Puppet Theater (602-262-2050), Valley
Youth Theatre (602-253-8188), or
Phoenix Theatre (602-254-2151).
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WRIGLEY MANSION If you
think this house has something to
do with either chewing gum or baseball
(Wrigley Field in Chicago), you’re right
on both counts. Chewing gum magnate
William Wrigley Jr. built this opulent
mansion in 1929 and gave it to his wife as
an anniversary gift. Today, tours offer a
look at the grand place. Off 24th St. and
Arizona Biltmore Cir. Admission charge.
Phone 602-955-4079 for reservations. v
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West
Scottsdale, Arizona
Experience the architectural artistry of America’s greatest architect. Frank Lloyd Wright built
Taliesin West as his winter home, studio and place to entertain his famous guests. Learn the colorful
history of its host on a guided tour.
book your tour today
888.516.0811
zerve.com/taliesinwest
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visit us
12345 N. Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
Intersection of Cactus Road & Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
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