Unique Things To Do In Phoenix: Enjoying The Sun And Warmth Year Round (Approved By A Local Travel Expert)

Dec 17, 2024

Last Updated on: Jul 4, 2025

Travel Blog

Golf, desert weather, long sunshine hours, and the most luxurious resorts! Every travel enthusiast appreciates these things about Phoenix, Arizona. 

Founded by Jack Swilling, the city of Phoenician is called the Valley of Sun. Further, people exploring the unique things to do in Phoenix also love to visit Glendale and Scottsdale. These two neighboring cities have their unique historical and cultural significance.

For example, Glendale was the home to the famous Baskin Robbins. In addition, it always has been at the epicenter of Arizona’s entertainment landscape. Today, it has the headquarters of  The Walt Disney Company and DreamWorks Animation.

Scottsdale, on the other hand, is famous for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. It is the largest natural preserve in the country. You will also love the museums here.

Liam, the local travel expert I consulted, suggested a combined tour of Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale for a unique experience. He said that the package tour would cost around $100 per person each day.

Further, he mentioned how Phoenix is different from Scottsdale and how the places complement each other.  

“Scottsdale is more upscale. You will love its swanky resorts. Scottsdale also has 200+ golf areas. Still, with outdoor trails and a peaceful environment, it is a more tranquil retreat for people.
Phoenix is about everything urban, and it’s high energy.”
Liam, Local Travel Expert, Phoenix

Liam was so passionate about Scottsdale that I had to stop him. Because my sole focus this time was on the unique things to do in Phoenix, and I wanted to get my insights and research approved by him.

Now, this is what I found out about the best activities in Phoenix.

Unique Things To Do In Phoenix, Arizona | Enjoy The Warmth And Sunshine 

Unique Things To Do In Phoenix, Arizona  Enjoy The Warmth And Sunshine

Thanks to the long hours of sunshine and its geographical location, Phoenix has an average highest temperature of 20-42 degrees Celsius. For the lowest temperature, the reading ranges between 7-22 degrees Celsius.

Further, with golf courses, golf clubs, Mountain Park, and natural abundance, Phoenix has been enjoying a rise in its tourism landscape. 

Data from Tourism Economics says that 46.7 million people visited Phoenix in 2023, and among them, 1.6 million were international tourists. 

Moreover, the total economic impact caused by the people of Phoenix in 2023 was $23 billion. This economic impact consisted the following factors.

  • Direct Impact
  • Indirect Impact
  • Induced Spending

Naturally, the unique things to do in Phoenix Arizona have fueled this growth and economic impact of tourism in the city. So, let’s explore them. But before that, let’s quickly learn the operational hours, entry fee and contact details of these places.

Phoenix HotspotAddressContact NumberHours OpenEntry Fee
Desert Botanical Garden1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix+1 480-941-1225Monday-Wednesday: 8 AM to 8 PM
Thursday: 8 AM to 9 PM
Sunday: 5:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Friday-Saturday: 8AM-4 PM, 5:30-9:30 PM
$12–25
The Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix+1 602-257-1880Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Friday: 10AM to 8 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM
$0-23
Free admission on Wednesday between 3-8 PM
Wildlife World Zoo16501 W Northern Ave, Litchfield Park+1 623-935-94539 AM to 6 PM (Zoo Hours)Below 2 Years: Free
3-12 Years: $28
13+ Years: $49**
Phoenix Zoo455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix+1 602-286-38009 AM to 4 PMAdult (14+): $39.95
Child (3-13): $29.95
Heard Museum 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix+1 602-252-884010 AM to 4 PM$7–18
Chase Field 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix+1 602-514-84001.5 Hours before the Game from Sunday to Thursday
2 Hours before the Game from Saturday to Sunday
$26 Onwards

You must carry cash while visiting the Wildlife World Zoo. You will have to pay extra if you use debit or credit cards. 

1. Visiting The Desert Botanical Garden

Visiting The Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden will be the first activity on the list of unique things to do in Phoenix. It will take you on a trip to the Sonoran Desert and the vegetation there. 

The garden has beautiful landscapes with red rocks of the Sonoran Desert. Further, various cacti and plants add to the allure of the place. You will find as many as 50000 species of plants and cacti here.

Moreover, you can collect the best living souvenirs from the plant shop and Garden’s Gift. 

2. Exploring The Phoenix Art Museum

Exploring The Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum has 20000 brilliant pieces of art by local and internationally acclaimed artists. Further, along with the walled or static artworks, you will find many interactive artworks here. 

Moreover, the museum hosts special exhibitions and events regularly and you must check the museum website before your visit. 

Above all, the Phoenix Art Museum is home to the Firefly Infinity Room. Here, you can enjoy the best visually psychedelic fun. 

3. Meeting Animals At The Wildlife World Zoo

The Wildlife World Zoo is a wonderful hotspot of 215 acres. Meeting the baby animals is the most fulfilling experience at the zoo. During a safari at the zoo, you will also meet rare sea animals and reptiles. 

This zoo is home to 600 species of animals and along with meeting the animals, you can even attend the shows and events.

Moreover, there are scopes for adorable animal encounters. So, you can get up close and personal with capybara, sea lion, and sloth. 

4. Spending Time With Animals At Phoenix Zoo

Spending Time With Animals At Phoenix Zoo

Phoenix Zoo is the largest privately-owned zoo in the USA. From the biggest land mammals to the marine creatures; you will find every variety in the zoo. 

Further, if you are traveling with little ones and want some hands-on fun, you can visit the petting zoo. You will also love the place as an avid birder. 

More than 3000 animals from over 400 species coexist here. Many of these species are also endangered or rare. You will meet African painted dogs, zebras, porcupines, Sumatran Tigers, Asian elephants, komodo dragons, etc. 

5. Explore Native American Art At The Heard Museum 

Heard Museum has the biggest collection of Native American work. So, if you are lover of history and art, you know your go-to destination in the state. 

The displays and presentations at the museum are stunning. Further, the museum curates the indigenous artistic excellence of American Indians and presents them at a global level.

6. Watching A Game At Chase Field 

Home to the Diamondbacks, Chase Field is a beautiful ground. Being air-conditioned, this ground is ideal for watching matches in any season. 

Further, the reasonable ticket prices make it an ideal destination for an outing with family or friends.

Are you looking for more unique things to do in Phoenix? You can try tubing in the Salt River, visit the Arizona Science Center, watch NBA matches at the Footprint Center, or kayak in the Tempe Town Lake. 

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Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

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READ MORE golf holidays in Thailand

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BY  Sibashree Oct 30, 2025

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READ MORE Best Hotels In Vienna

Best Hotels In Vienna: Heading Toward A Sustainable And AI-Driven Future

BY  Sibashree Apr 28, 2025

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READ MORE northwest airlines

Journey To The Skies: Exploring The Legacy Of Northwest Airlines!

BY  sagnika Aug 19, 2023

It was before me, but I have heard stories! Northwest Airlines' legacy was a legend, especially in the 1920s. What do you know about the airline? Let's discuss its features and drawbacks, giving you an idea of what today's airline brands are not! We need to know people's perspectives before we identify what went wrong! The bankruptcy resulted from the airline's inability to adapt to the changing trends of the low-cost carriers that ruled the 21st century. The rising oil prices and the slowing economy impacted the carrier's status! In this article, I will discuss some of the passengers' good experiences with the Northern Airline, considering it operated for a long time. We will also highlight some of the airlines' drawbacks based on the reviews of people from as early as 16 years ago! Journey To The Skies: Exploring The Legacy Of Northwest Airlines! To learn about the legacy of Northwest Airlines, we need to read about the first account-based narration that will show us the extreme competition under which the airline broke! Delta spent almost $2.8 billion acquiring Northwest, which had 309 aircraft in its fleet! The concern is that a flight company with 309 flights should not be shut down, but it shows that the brand needed to be more efficient. In the later few years, the company had serious maintenance issues with the flights, often leading to flight delays. I will be evaluating reviews about the airlines that will inform you about the way the airlines function. It will also make you aware of airline brands and their operations during the 1900s compared to low-cost airlines. About Northwest Airlines The airline has had several changes in its name over the years! So it can be confusing, but please bear with me as I discuss the important timelines of Northwest Airlines. The airline was founded in 1926 with the name "Northwest" and based in Detroit, Michigan. Initially, the airline moved mail across the United States but mostly focused on areas such as Minneapolis and the Midwestern cities of Chicago. It was late 1927 when passengers boarded the plane across the routes. It was in 1928 that the airline became an international one! Following mail scandals, the airline changed its name again to Northwest Orient Airlines. However, the airline's services were expanding, and by 1939, there were regular operations between Minneapolis and Chicago! Further destinations were added, such as Portland and Winnipeg. The airline further expanded its services to Asia and Japan by 1947. Manila, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, and other places were also included in the routes. With the Airline Deregulation Act passed in 1978, the airline expanded its services to the UK, Germany, and Scandinavia. In the 1990s and 2000s, with the rise of low-cost airlines, Northwest Airlines had tough competition leading to a loss of money. The direct services between the US and China could have done better! Further, in 2005 the demand fell along with the oil prices, especially with the 9/11 attacks. The Merger The airline was bankrupted in 2005; hence, they filed for bankruptcy protection! Once they were cleared after 2 years, they merged with Delta once it was approved at the end of the year 2008. The brand Northwest retired after the merging launch with Delta! Review Northern Airlines was doing well, especially when no other airline was in the market. With less competition, people were taking whatever they got! However, the airline faced severe issues with Northwest flight once the low-cost carriers came at the later end of the 2000s. The claims made by travelers who booked on this flight included all kinds of complaints starting from dumb staff to delays in flights. Another significant issue I have heard from people is that there was no announcement of flight delays. It isn't easy, especially when evaluating from the passenger's perspective. They might be coming from far off, and it would help if they were announced of the delay instead of waiting around the airport for hours! There are significant reasons why the airline closed, and if you read the drawbacks, I am sure you will know why! Benefits Certain features enabled the airline to function effectively in the previous days! However, in the long term, they could not maintain the quality of their services. Let me highlight the advantages that travelers experience when booking on NW Airlines flights. You would be charged if you ordered a specific meal or beverage on the airline. However, the snacks and water were free. The airfare was quite affordable, especially with the services Northern Airlines provided. It was quite a satisfactory price to pay for tickets at that time. Shortcomings Some of the shortcomings had the power to impact and influence the closing of the airline. It is because customers, at a certain point, became so dissatisfied with the services that the sales fell significantly. Along with the sales, there was also the issue of increasing oil prices, due to which the company needed help to function properly. Flight maintenance was deteriorating as it often became a significant reason for technical issues to crop up in aviation. It led to flight delays making passengers wait and suffer. One of my aunts once traveled on this airline and told me she had to wait a few hours due to technical glitches. Further, the staff members of Northwest Airlines have been stated as incompetent and lazy by many customers who have boarded flights. According to a review in Customer Service Scoreboard, an anonymous assessment informed that the company is failing its quality customer service. The seating space was quite cramped as the aircraft was smaller in size. It created severe issues with people having long legs. Matters were also faced by senior citizens who consistently suffered due to the seating arrangements and comfort. What Do We Know? So, Northern Airlines might be one of the best airlines at some point in history, but like the mighty dinosaurs, it could not adapt to the changing needs and times. The airline's downfall started in the 2000s when the low-cost carrier made it difficult to survive! Customers were also dissatisfied with the airline. Hence, the sales of tickets also dropped. It led to further economic losses along with the increasing oil prices. Comment below regarding your perspective of Northern Airlines and what they could have done to survive! Read Also: This Is My Experience With Play Airlines! Here’s What I Found Out About Aha Airlines! Condor Airlines: Is Booking Tickets On Condor Worth It? Fly In Style: Your Ultimate Guide To Lot Polish Airlines Adventures!