Visiting Phoenix & Scottsdale | Phoenix Restaurants Online

Visiting Phoenix

In Greater Phoenix, you'll find everything from world-class hotels and resorts and fine dining to exhilarating adventure, breath-taking golf courses, trendy shopping, modern nightlife and enriching culture.

No matter what time of year you visit Greater Phoenix, you’ll find plenty of things to see and do. More than 325 days of annual sunshine mean you can count on exceptional weather as you experience the rich diversity of our Sonoran Desert playground.

Our near-perfect weather goes hand-in-hand with exciting recreation and adventure activities, which are enjoyed year-round. Experience a wide range of tours and sightseeing excursions, whether by Jeep or hot-air balloon, on horseback, or even by boat. Of course, golf is one of the most popular outdoor activities, as Greater Phoenix provides more than 200 pristine courses.

More than three dozen luxurious resorts are scattered throughout the Valley, many of which provide spectacular spas that offer special treatments native to Arizona. Visitors also take pleasure in an exceptional dining scene, which features everything from savory steaks to exquisite Southwestern fare. Then, once you’re full, take advantage of the area’s dynamic nightlife.

For more information visit the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.visitphoenix.com

Things To Do in Greater Phoenix

Arizona Science Center

offers hands-on, eye-opening fun with more than 300 interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, and traveling exhibitions. Explore 350 hands-on exhibits, a five-story theater and a planetarium in a unique setting. Group rates and facility rentals available.

Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving

The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving teaches thrill seekers and current or aspiring racers how to drive like the pros! Our racing school features a 60 acre purpose-built racing facility - something other car racing schools can't claim. Our racing courses range from four hours to four days and we have beginner driving courses designed for people wanting a thrill of a lifetime and advanced racing courses for experienced racers or professionals.

Camelback Mountain

Climb the city’s most famous landmark, the mountain resembling a crouching dromedary, for superb Vally views. Or visit the Echo Canyon recreation area, where sheer red cliffs and hiking paths attract out door enthusiasts

Challenger Learning Center

The Challenger Space Center provides an exciting space-based learning environment where schoolchildren, families, senior citizens, corporate teams and others fly simulated space flight missions where they become flight crews, mission controllers and scientists.

Cerreta Candy Co.

For more than 70 years, the Cerreta family has prepared their candy the old fashioned way—by hand. Only the finest chocolates, nuts and ingredients are used to produce candy made famous around the world. Cerreta candies and chocolates are made daily and arrive in stores fresh and at the peak of flavor. The Cerreta family offers FREE factory tours where sampling is encouraged! Watch as we perform magic right before your eyes. Individuals and tour groups, large and small, are welcome.

Deer Valley Rock Art Center

A 47-acre nature preserve that contains more than 1,500 petroglyphs, merges past, present and future. Managed by Arizona State University's Department of Anthropology, the center features petroglyphs left on more than 500 boulders throughout the Hedgpeth Hills, a sacred Indian site.

Desert Botanical Gardens

Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. One of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums, this one-of-a-kind museum showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences to more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Dolly Steamboat Excursions

This "Junior Grand Canyon" tour is consistently rated one of the "Best Things to Do in Arizona" and is a premier Arizona attraction for locals and tourists alike. Cruise secluded waterways and relax while you admire the breathtaking flora and fauna of the lower Sonoran desert. Along the way, your captain will recount the legends and lore of the Superstition Mountains. Bring your camera and binoculars; bighorn sheep, coyote, deer, bobcats and mountain lions may all be seen, along with bald eagles, hawks, vultures and many other native avian species.

Encanto Park

Encanto Park is a 222-acre oasis with picnic areas, a lagoon, boat house, swimming pool, nature trail, Kiddieland/Enchanted Island amusement park, urban fishing and two golf courses. The park is an emerald-like jewel just a few blocks from the busy central corridor. The municipal golf courses offer modest fees and are busy all year long. The lagoon offers paddle boats and canoes as well as fishing and an opportunity to observe ducks and other waterfowl. The facility also features a softball diamond, and basketball and tennis courts. Encanto (Spanish for "enchanted") Park is a favorite Valley spot for weekend picnics and cookouts

Goldfield Ghost Town

The Valley's only historic ghost town offering mine tours, gold panning, specialty shops, museum, horse rentals, narrow-gauge railroad, steakhouse/saloon and much more. Spectacular view of the Superstition Mountains. Bring your camera.

Heard Museum

The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum is one of the best places to experience the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest. With a commanding presence on Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix, the museum hosts nearly 250,000 visitors a year and " provides Indian artists with a wonderful home that will excite and inspire visitors from around the world." according to Arizona Highways, October 1999. The museum's 10 spacious exhibit galleries and beautiful outdoor courtyards feature outstanding traditional and contemporary Native American art.

Historic Heritage Square

Historic Heritage Square is a striking remnant of Phoenix’s Victorian past. The Rosson House is the cornerstone of a city block dating from the late 1800s. Museums, shops and restaurants now inhabit the block, which encompasses the only remaining group of residential structures from the original townsite of Phoenix. Historic Heritage Square is a part of Heritage & Science Park that includes the Arizona Science Center, Phoenix Museum of History, restaurants and a parking garage. The park is operated by the city of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with the Rosson House-Heritage Square Foundation.
www.azscience.org
www.pmoh.org
www.rossonhousemuseum.org
www.ci.phoenix.az.us/parks

Japanese Friendship Garden - Ro Ho En

The essence of the Japanese culture is brought to the desert through the three and a half-acre authentic Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix. The garden and teahouse celebrate the spirit of understanding and promote educational and cultural awareness between the East and West. The garden features more than 50 varieties of plants, flowing streams, a 12-foot waterfall and a Koi pond. The garden is a joint project between Phoenix and its sister city of Himeji, Japan.

Papago Park / Hole In the Rock

The park today covers 1,200 acres and has numerous picnic sites with ramadas, tables, grills, water and electricity. The park also contains fishing lagoons and bike paths as well as a zoo, a botanical garden, fire museum and a golf course. Two of east Phoenix's best known landmarks are in the park, Hole-In-The-Rock, a natural geologic formation; and Hunt's Tomb, a white pyramid burial place of Arizona's first governor.

Phoenix Art Museum

Phoenix Art Museum's Collection includes over 17,000 artworks in Amererican, Asian, contemporary,European, Latin American, and Western American art, plus fashion design and the Thorne Miniature Rooms of historic interiors. The Museum also features an interactive "child-friendly, please touch!" gallery called ArtWorks. You can learn about the Collection through video presentation in the Museum's Orientation Theater. You may also create your own tour by using the audio guide. The Museum encompasses over 160,000 square feet, and approximately 1,000 works from the Collection are on view at any one time.

Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area

Piestewa Peak, part of the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, is one of the city's best-known landmarks. The park features a 1.2-mile trail to the peak's 2,608-foot summit, which offers a spectacular view of the Valley of the Sun. The area boasts dozens of miles of trails that allow you to enjoy the glory of the Sonoran Desert in relative solitude.

Phoenix Museum of History

The Phoenix Museum of History is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting the early history of Phoenix. Visitors of all ages enjoy interactive and educational exhibits showcasing Phoenix’s metamorphosis from a dusty desert town to a modern metropolis. Now in its seventh decade, the museum continues to receive recognition and appreciation for its contribution to the cultural life of Phoenix. Come discover how time and place have influenced modern Phoenix, and the stories of the city's exciting and colorful past.

The Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo is the nation's largest privately owned, nonprofit zoological park. The Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals, including 200 endangered or threatened birds, mammals and reptiles from around the world. Each lives along one of four distinctive trails. The Arizona Trail features plants and animals of the American Southwest; the Africa Trail presents meerkats, lions, warthogs and more; the Children's Trail brings young visitors together with small mammals from around the world, and includes a barnyard petting area; and the Tropics Trail highlights plants and animals from the rain forests of the world. See the Zoo's newest exhibit, Monkey Village, where you walk with the monkeys in the exhibit!

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park

Pueblo Grande is the only National Historic Landmark in the city. The park includes a 1,500-year-old Hohokam culture ruin along an interpretive trail as well as an onsite museum with three exhibit galleries and a theater featuring exhibits of the Hohokam and other cultures of the Southwest. The site also includes some of the last remaining intact Hohokam irrigation canals. Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of southwest cultures, past and present.

Rawhide Western Town

Arizona's largest Western-themed attraction. Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse is an authentic replica of an 1880's town complete with a Main Street, gunfights, seasonal speciality shows, stagecoach and train rides, camel and burro rides, mechanical bull and climbing wall, petting ranch, gold pannin', shootin' gallery, unique retail shoppes, Sundown Cookouts, and a world famous Steakhouse & Saloon. The world-famous Rawhide Steakhouse features mesquite-grilled streaks, juicy prime rib, and mouth waterin' BBQ. A must see attraction for every visitor and perfect for any size group. Admission to Rawhide is FREE! Easy access from the I-10 freeway.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Founded in 1999, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is the only museum in Arizona devoted to the art, architecture and design of our time. Global in its focus, SMoCA is a unique and vital cultural resource for the Southwest, serving local audiences as well as visitors from all over the United States and abroad. Designed by award-winning architect Will Bruder, SMoCA's building has five galleries for showcasing changing exhibitions and works from the Museum's growing permanent collection. SMoCA presents a variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families, including lectures, docent-led tours, workshops and classes. The Store @ SMoCA offers classic design objects and furnishings, contemporary jewelry, art and architecture books and imaginative gifts.

Shemer Art Center and Museum

The Shemer Art Center and Museum is located in an historic home built in 1919. Nestled in Arcadia, one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Phoenix, Shemer boasts a panoramic view of Camelback Mountain with a touch of nostalgia. Donated to the city in 1984 by Martha Evvard Shemer, the residence has become a cultural center for all ages. The range of exhibitions is diverse, including traditional and nontraditional works by Arizona artists. Fun and affordable visual art classes are offered year round by practicing artists. Its mission is to provide the community a unique and inviting atmosphere to enjoy, promote and learn about visual art through exhibitions, classes and outreach programs.

South Mountain Park

Serving as the "exclamation point" of pride, South Mountain is the largest municipal park in the world. The 16,500-acre park is home to more than 300 specimens of plant life and a wide variety of fauna, including rabbits, foxes, coyotes, snakes, lizards and birds. The park features picnic areas and ramadas, hiking trails and spectacular lookouts. South Mountain Park is the home of the 10,907-square-foot South Mountain Environmental Education Center, 602-534-6324.

Taliesin West

Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona is considered one of Wright's greatest architectural masterpieces. Taliesin West served as his personal homes, studios and campus for his architectural school and is considered central to understanding Wright's architectural genius. By visiting this site visitors are able to broaden their appreciation of architecture and Wright's continuing contribution to it through his theories of organic design.

Visiting this site is particularly meaningful since the buildings are used for the purposes for which they were designed; the sites still serve as living, working, educational facilities with an on-site architectural firm. Taliesin West is the international headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, the site of the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives, and the winter campus for the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture.

Tovrea Castle and Carraro Cactus Garden

Another familiar Phoenix landmark, Tovrea Castle sits atop a cactus-covered hill like a giant tiered wedding cake. This one-of-a-kind castle was built in the 1920s by Alessio Carraro and sold shortly thereafter to cattle baron Edward Tovrea. The castle reflects the rustic elegance of 1900s Arizona. Now owned by the city of Phoenix, the castle is an historic preservation project of the Phoenix Historic Preservation Office and the Parks and Recreation Department. The city has completed a garden restoration project on the grounds. The castle, currently under restoration, will be open to the public on a limited basis upon completion.

January is Collector-Car-Auction season.

Here are the players. Visit their web sites for dates and times.

Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction

The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company is well known for being the premiere classic car auction company in the United States. At the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction even the most serious collector will find enticements in the form of some of the most exclusive vehicles available at auction.

The Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale will take place over nine days incorporating special events, displays and activities. The auction will feature more than 1,200 collector and special interest automobiles from all years being auctioned off at No Reserve, as well as daily "automobilia" auctions. Over 350 vendors and exhibitors will also be on hand.

Gooding and Co.

A high-end auction that features the rarest jewels of the collector-car world, with several multimillion-dollar sales expected. Gooding holds a one-day event with about 70 primo cars in Scottsdale.

International Classic Auctions - ICA

Often overlooked is the International Classic Auctions in Gilbert. This relaxed and hobbyist friendly event takes place at the Diamond Ranch with over 500 muscle cars, classics and street rods. January, March and November.

Kruse International

Kruse International is one of the world's leading auction firms and the largest collector car auction company, selling more vintage cars than all other firms combined. It auctions more than 13,000 cars in more than 30 events and dozens of real estate properties each year. In addition to collector cars, the company has auctioned distinctive real estate, vintage aircraft, collectible tractors, mobile homes, collectibles, rare oil paintings, factories, islands, zoos, railroads and three entire towns. This auction offers a wide range of vhicles, from six-figure classics and sports cars to inexpensive American collectibles sold in an accommodating country fair setting.

RM Auctions Vintage Motor Cars

A paramount passion for cars, exotic, antique or collectable is what drives Rob Myers. The original founder of RM Restorations and RM Classic Cars and the leader in the investment-grade collector car market in North America has taken his professional restoration and auction businesses and transformed them into a world renowned group of companies.

Each year the company is responsible for setting many of the world's top ten vintage automobile sales records. Some of the company's significant highlights include a Ferrari 412 S for $5.6 million, a Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe for $4.4 million, a Mercedes-Benz 540K roadster for $3.6 million, a rare Alfa Romeo Tip B race car for $2.1 million, a Ferrari 250 LM for $2.3 million and an ex-Fangio Ferrari 860 Monza racer for more than $2 million.

With a diverse and classy collection of about 100 high-end collector cars, this toney event has a polite atmosphere that feels something like a fine-art auction. The 2007 auction saw one-day auction sales of $30 million with six cars exceeding seven figures.

Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions

This little monster we created just seven years ago has suddenly arrived as one of the “big three” Scottsdale collector car auctions, and one of the most respected auctions in the world. We are 100 percent committed to offering the finest in European Sports, American Muscle cars, Hot Rods and Customs in an intimate environment. Camaraderie amongst enthusiasts IS why we do this, and it is our goal to produce this event with professionalism, discretion, and most of all, for the love of the hobby that we are all a part of.

Silver Auctions

Silver Auctions has had one simple goal: to be the best collector car auction company in the business. Silver Auctions produce 30 auctions a year in 10 Western States and Canada. Some are small and some big. Some are enormous including the Fort McDowell Auction in Phoenix. With a laid back atmosphere and diverse collection of about 500 moderately priced collector cars, mainly i nthe $10,000 to $50,000 range, Silver has attracted a loyal cadre of auction-goers who appreciate the down-to-earth sale and amenities.

Men’s Luxury Toy Expo

Founded in 2005, The Men’s Luxury Toy Expo has been honored to serve the needs of the country’s most renowned personalities, including a multitude of sports figures, nationally recognized car collectors, celebrities, and a wide range of corporate leaders. Since its inception, with the help of loyal clientele and the popularity of the event, The Men’s Luxury Toy Expo has grown over 2000%. This event is where consumers go to purchase luxury goods and services in the Southwest. Quality customer service, and a wide-range of the finest and most prestigious exhibiting companies gives us a well-developed and national reputation. In March and October.

About the Cities of Greater Phoenix

Part of what makes Greater Phoenix an outstanding destination is the social mosic created by our nearby communities. You don't have to travel far to experience and appreciate the subtle nuances and differences that make towns such as Scottsdale, Carefree, Glendale and others distinct and uniquely appealing.

Apache Junction

A place where the old West meets the new Millennium with pizazz. Our region is guarded by the majestic Superstition Mountains and everywhere you go you will be awed by its beauty. As you drive down the Apache Trail or take Highway 60 to Queen Valley, you will see great places to shop, vacation and invest. No matter what the season you will find something to do in our region, be it hiking, a national sporting event, golf, fishing, horseback riding, hunting or shopping.

Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson

Discover the unique charm and diverse entertainment available in the Southwest Valley communities of Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park and Tolleson. Just 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, the West Valley is a best kept secret that is fast becoming a favored destination point for out-of-towners and natives alike.

Carefree & Cave Creek

Intimately tucked away in the northeast Valley, our area offers an exclusive spot like no other to get a feeling for Arizona as it is supposed to be. From the famous Carefree Fine Art & Wine festival where you peruse fine art in the amid the backdrop of Black Mountain, to the fun, informative historical events at the infamous Cave Creek Museum where you just might spot a javelina, a coyote or a real cowboy, our communities offer fun for everyone who visits.

Chandler

The City of Chandler, AZ is one of the fastest growing cities in the country featuring beautiful Arizona resorts, it's no wonder why its one of the great Arizona vacation spots. The City of Chandler, AZ boasts world-class golf facilities, Arizona resorts, fabulous restaurants of every cuisine, premier shopping and tons of fun activities.

Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills is situated on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains about 500 feet in elevation above Phoenix. This majestic range naturally separates the community from Scottsdale and the rest of metro Phoenix. The community’s most valuable asset is its beauty. Incredible views and natural terrain provide for a wide range of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, boating and some of the more challenging and picturesque golf courses you’ll find in the country.

Gilbert

It’s sprawling faster than any other municipality in America, and it exudes affluence like few other Arizona communities. It's the town of Gilbert, and it offers so much more, from a family-friendly culture to the best waterfowl sanctuary in the Valley. And unless you visit the Gilbert Historical Society Museum you're likely to miss a point often recounted boastfully by its old timers – that Gilbert was once hailed as the hay capital of the world.

Mesa

From dawn to dusk, your days in Mesa will be graced with the flavor of the desert Southwest. Explore the mysterious Superstition Mountains, test your skills as a fighter combat pilot, get creative at an interactive children’s art venue, or see a Broadway play. Outdoor adventure is just minutes away. You can explore the desert terrain in a Jeep or Hummer, go hiking, golfing, horseback riding, or tubing down the Salt River! When the sun goes down, you can let music, dance and drama fill your nights along with the aroma of Southwest cuisine.

Paradise Valley

This exclusive resort community surrounded by Camelback Mountain adn Piestewe Peak Recreation Area offers luxurious accommodations, spa retreats, shopping, dining and more.

Peoria

Peoria is home to the Peoria Sports Complex, the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners, and where various events and festivals take place throughout the year. Lake Pleasant and the Challenger Learning Center are in Peoria.

Scottsdale

Scottsdale is one of the Southwest's premier resort destinations. This young, active and wealthy community borders Phoenix to the east and north. With more than 170 golf courses, 11,000 hotel rooms, and 500 restaurants, millions of people come to enjoy the spas and resorts in Scottsdale each year.

Scottsdale's popularity is well-deserved. The beautiful desert landscapes have inspired such people as architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who built an internationally admired winter retreat here at Taliesin West. Outdoors lovers will find hundreds of things to do along the Salt River, in the rocky city parks and neighboring mountains, or on ranches in and around the city. Hot air balloon rides, horseback tours, kayaking, and mountain climbing are all just minutes from Scottsdale.

The Sun Cities

These planned communities welcome residents 55 and up to a decidedly upscale resort retirement lifestyle. Great golf, shopping, dining and entertainment highlight the Sun City experience.

Surprise www.northwestvalley.com
This Northwest Valley community is one of Arizona’s fastest-growing cities and is the Spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers.

Tempe

This city is packed with history, culture, shopping, dining, nightlife, sports and special events. Treat yourself to an ASU football game, go on a shopping spree at Arizona Mills or the largest IKEA on the West Coast, kayak on Tempe Town Lake, enjoy a Broadway performance at ASU Gammage, hike in the picturesque Papago Park or simply lounge by the pool. Or plan your trip around one of our fun-filled annual events such as the Tempe Festival of the Arts or P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1⁄2 Marathon.

Relocation

Don't be surprised if during your visit you begin dreaming of making Phoenix your home. You wouldn't be the first and certainly won't be the last. More than allure surrounds our desert metropolis; a combined promise of economic opportunity and quality living convinces more than 50,000 people to move here each year. If you're thinking of counting yourself in, you're sure to find a welcome reception.

Greater Phoenix is now America's fifth-largest city — a sophisticated, urban region of 3.4 million people with a marketplace valued at more than $50 billion. our population is young, educated, multi-cultural and upwardly mobile. Our residents are as equally dedicated to hard work as they are to play. We are culturally and artistically minded and new and long-established residents alike share an appreciation of the unique land we call home.

For More Information visit:
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau

Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

City of Phoenix

Schools

Phoenix is home to 325 public schools in 30 school districts along with more than 200 charter and private schools plus Arizona State University and Maricopa County Community College.

Education in Greater Phoenix

Looking for a school in Arizona that's the right fit for your child? As a mom who has been through the process, I know you probably have many questions. Let our school choice tips lead the way. Armed with our practical advice on choosing the best option, public vs. private schools or charter schools, what to ask on your school visit and more, you'll be set to begin your search. www.greatschools.net/arizona

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