Known for its year-round heat and rolling deserts, things can get pretty hot in Phoenix. So when the sun isn’t shining too brightly, us Phoenicians like to venture out and enjoy some of the most exciting plans in the city. From hiking mountains to off-roading in the desert, action-packed adventures in and around Phoenix await. But when things get too hot in the Valley of the Sun, museums, Instagram-worthy restaurants, exhilarating escape rooms and more offer a cooler alternative to your outdoor plans. So to cover all bases, we’ve rounded up a range of things to do in Phoenix that tick both the indoor and outdoor boxes.
1. Pay a visit to Phoenix Zoo
Spanning 125 acres, Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the US. Over 3000 animals call the zoo home, and you can expect to see cheetahs, flamingos, giraffes, elephants, monkeys and many more on your visit. Thanks to the zoo’s outstanding on-site facilities, it’s a complete oasis for the animals that live there as well as the humans that visit. There’s a Harmony Farm where kids can pet a bunch of farm animals as well as a Safari Cruiser that takes visitors on a 20 to 25-minute tour of some of the zoo’s main attractions. It’s open form 9am to 5pm everyday and adult tickets cost at $37.95 per person.
🦁Get your tickets to Phoenix Zoo here!
📍Phoenix Zoo, 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
2-4. Explore the wilderness on a hike
Hiking is one of Phoenicians’ favorite pastimes. Sure, they can sometimes be challenging, but hikes are the perfect way to brush off the cobwebs, immerse yourself in nature and take a much-needed break from city life. And the best part is, they’re almost always completely free!
Piestewa Peak Trail
Piestewa Peak Trail is a 3.7-km out-and-back trail that’s known to be pretty challenging. It’s short but steep, and the reward of the stunning desert views once you reach the top make it all worth it. Dogs aren’t allowed on the route, so we recommend leaving your furry friends at home for this one.
🕒Trail hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
📍7232 Piestewa Peak Dr #7200, Phoenix, AZ 85016
South Mountain Park Trails
South Mountain Park is home to several hikes including the Crosscut Trail, Ma Ha Tauk Trail and T-Bone Trail. Each of these trails are under 2.5km, making them the perfect length if you’re a newbie in the hiking world.
🕒Trail hours: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
📍10919 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042
Cholla Trail
The Cholla Trail on Camelback Mountain is a super popular 5km hike. It’s sometimes easy to lose the trail, so be on the lookout for rocks with blue dots painted on them that mark the way. What’s more, dogs are more than welcome to join you on the hike if you’d like some canine company too.
🕒Trail hours: sunrise to sunset
📍 5700 N Echo Canyon, Phoenix, AZ 85321
5. Experience the magic of a Candlelight concert
Combine stunning live music performances with the enchanting glow from a sea of candles, and you have this spellbinding series of Candlelight concerts. Taking place inside magnificent venues in Phoenix, these candlelit concerts are lighting up the city with the help of gifted string quartets, solo pianists and more. From Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky to Coldplay and Taylor Swift, these magical tributes showcase a range of artists and genres, so you’re sure to find a concert that speaks to you.
🕯️Grab your ticket to this series of magical Candlelight concerts here.
6. Make a hole-in-one at one of Phoenix’s golf courses
Home to over 200 golf courses, Phoenix is quickly becoming one of the country’s most popular golfing destinations. But because there are so many golfing spots in and around the city to choose from, finding the right course for you can be a pretty tough task.
If you’re looking for an authentic Phoenician golf experience, Arizona Biltmore brings all the glamour and sophistication of the city to the golf course. There’s a huge putting green and driving range on-site as well as their pièce de résistance – an 18-hole PGA Championship course for you to practice your putting skills.
📍Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85016
7-10. Broaden the mind at a museum
With first-rate institutions dedicated to art, history, music and more, Phoenix is full of superb museums that suit any and every interest.
Musical Instrument Museum
Over 6800 instruments live inside the Musical Instrument Museum. It’s one of the city’s top tourist attractions and showcases music, cultures and talents from all over the world. In fact, many of the instruments on display here have been played by music legends including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. So as you boogie round award-winning exhibitions featuring state-of-the-art audio technology, you’ll get to learn more about the musicians and their instruments that helped change the musical world.
🎶Get your tickets to the Musical Instrument Museum here.
📍4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050
Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting immerses visitors in the firefighting universe as they explore exhibits featuring 130 vehicles and thousands of interesting artifacts. Expect to see lots of fire trucks, of course, including the now restored Rescue 4 trucks that played an important role during the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.
🧑🚒Grab your tickets to the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting here.
📍6101 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Phoenix Art Musuem
Phoenix Art Museum boasts a stunning art collection made up of over 20,000 artworks. Every year, their galleries come to life with their wide range of exhibitions that showcase art in all its forms, from haute couture fashion to art of the American West and more. Every Wednesday, the museum is open from 10am to 5pm and adult tickets cost $25 per person. Between the hours of 11:30 am and 12pm, the museum hosts an in-depth analysis of a singular piece of art to delve deep into its history and significance in the art world.
📍1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum puts a spotlight on Indigenous art from all over the world. In doing so, they give a voice to the Indigenous communities, letting them share their own stories through their own art and artifacts. Across 12 exhibits, there’s over 44,000 fascinating objects to be explored, from dresses to jewelry, breathtaking contemporary paintings and even 1200 Hopi Katsina dolls. Adult tickets cost $22.50 per person and opens from 10am to 4pm.
📍2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
11. Explore Desert Botanical Gardens
Nestled inside Papago Park lies Desert Botanical Gardens, a 140-acre oasis that hosts a unique collection of desert plant life. The gardens prove that the desert is much more than just sand and rocks, as they show off the beautiful plants and flowers that thrive even in the hottest and driest of conditions. It’s open daily from 8am to 8pm and tickets start from $24.95 per person.
📍1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
12. Enjoy a show with a tipsy twist at the Drunk Shakespeare Society
To shot or not to shot? That isn’t really the question at this unique Drunk Shakespeare Society show. Five actors come together to perform their own version of a Shakespearean tragedy, but while they perform, one of the actors takes five shots. As the remaining professionals try their best to keep to the script, the tipsy actor takes the eloquence of the famous prose and simply throws it in the trash. Delightful chaos inevitably ensues, making for a side-splitting experience that’s the perfect plan for both theater aficionados and those who love a good time at happy hour.
🍺Find out more about the Drunk Shakespeare Society experience in Phoenix here.
📍55 N 3rd St Suite 1010, Phoenix, AZ 85004
13. See Phoenix from above on a hot air balloon ride
Ever wondered what Phoenix looks like from the skies? When floating through the clouds on a hot air balloon, you’ll get to see the bustling city surrounded by all its sandy glory. Desert landscapes look vaster than ever, and the city’s mile-a-minute metropolis seems minuscule from above.
Rainbow Ryders is the largest hot air balloon business in the Southwest and has been serving the area for over 40 years. They offer sunrise and sunset rides with tickets starting from $189 per person, which is a pretty good price for this unforgettable bucket list experience.
📍7934 N Glen Harbor Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85307
14. Channel your inner child at the Crayola Experience
The Crayola Experience offers a range of super fun activities that are overflowing with creativity and color. Located in Chandler, the hands-on experience is the perfect way to express your artistic side in a completely unique way. It’s inspiring Phoenicians both young and old to think (and draw) brighter, bigger and bolder than ever while making colorful memories that last a lifetime. And by purchasing your tickets through the Fever app, you can skip the line to save you having to wait to enjoy the 17 fun-filled activities available.
🖍️Secure your tickets to the Crayola Experience Chandler here!
📍3111 W Chandler Blvd Suite 2154, Chandler, AZ 85226
15. Indulge in delicious delights at one of Phoenix’s unbeatable eateries
Rocks and cacti are in abundance in and around Phoenix, and so too are top-notch restaurants. Chow down on delicious meats at a sizzling steakhouse, satisfy your pizza and pasta cravings at an Italian joint or tantalize your taste buds at an Asian-inspired eatery that celebrates Thai, Chinese and Korean cuisines. In more of a seafood mood? There’s a number of outstanding seafood spots serving up delicious delights of the ocean too. The culinary possibilities are endless in Phoenix, and you’re guaranteed to be well fed here.
16. Sip on cocktails among the clouds at a rooftop bar
Taking your cocktail date to one of Phoenix’s top-notch rooftop bars elevates the whole drinking experience. Sipping on a craft cocktail on ground level just doesn’t compare to taking to the skies to enjoy the exact same drink. You can marvel at the stunning skyline views and uncover a whole new perspective of the city below.
If you’re on the hunt for an upscale bar among the clouds, Upstairs at Flint and Alibi Rooftop Lounge are two of our favorite elevated watering holes with a touch of sophistication. Both bars serve delicious bites as well as innovative cocktails, and the vistas are second to none.
📍Upstairs at Flint, 2425 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016
📍Alibi Rooftop Lounge, 108 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281
17. Catch a movie at your local cinema
Escape from the heat outside and enjoy one of the latest blockbusters (and some trusty AC) at your local movie theater. The AMC Yellow Ticket offers discounted cinema tickets for any participating AMC movie theaters including AMC Arizona Center 24, AMC Centerpoint 11 and AMC Ahwatukee 24. With your box of popcorn in one hand and XXL soda in the other, get ready to sit back and relax as you experience the magic of the movies at a reduced price.
📽️Find out more about the AMC Yellow Ticket here!
18. Ride through the desert on an ATV tour
Taking an ATV tour of Arizona’s vast desert lands will open you up to a new world that you simply wouldn’t get the chance to see on foot or by car. Arizona Outdoor Fun offers guided and unguided ATV tours, so you’re free to choose which suits you best. On both tours, you’ll roam through some of the most scenic areas of Sonoran Desert as you take the off-road trail into the wilderness. Tickets start at $75 per person and they also offer offer hiking tours, gold panning experiences and more.
📍61112 Black Canyon Fwy, New River, AZ 85087
19. Break free from an escape room
The concept of escape rooms is simple. Crack codes, find clues, escape rooms. They’re also seriously fun and can provide a good deal of laughter for hours on end. Riddles challenge the brain muscles and the exciting themes of every room keep you on your toes at every moment. In Phoenix, Puzzle Effect Escape Rooms is one of the highest-rated escape rooms and one of our personal favorites. Each room takes on its own unique storyline and gives challengers 60 minutes in total to solve the puzzles and break out while promising exhilarating twists at every turn.
📍4700 N Central Ave Suite 102, Phoenix, AZ 85012
20. Make a splash at one of Arizona’s swimming holes
When things heat up in Phoenix, sometimes the AC just doesn’t cut it. Luckily for us, the city is surrounded by several swimming holes that are a lifesaver once temperatures rise. Wet Beaver Creek, Grasshopper Point and Havasu Falls are some of the most popular dipping spots in Arizona, so don’t be surprised if they get super crowded when summer arrives. What’s more, stores in the area are few and far between, so we also recommend packing a picnic, sunscreen and any other essentials you might need on your trip.
📍Wet Beaver Creek, 6825 N Forest Road 618 Rimrock, AZ
📍Grasshopper Point, N State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ 86336
📍Havasu Falls, Hualapai Hilltop, Supai, AZ 86435