Things to Do in Phoenix, Arizona

Have you found yourself in Phoenix with nothing to do? I have traveled to Phoenix three separate times for Origami Owl’s national convention, and have found myself in the same sense of confusion and boredom. Over the course of my trips, I have scoured Google Maps for what seems like hours looking for fun things to do in the Phoenix Convention Center area. So here you go: I have compiled a list of my favorite things I have done in Phoenix. Enjoy and I hope it helps you discover something new!

1. Phoenix Zoo

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It is a bit of a family fixation to check into a zoo in each state we visit (I highly recommend the Omaha Zoo, while the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is nothing to write home about). After our first O2 Convention, my mom and I checked Arizona off our zoo list. It has been a few years since I visited the Phoenix Zoo, but I remember it to be pleasant and clean. At $25, the cost of admission is pretty standard for a zoo. For an additional cost you can ride a camel or feed a giraffe. This zoo also boasts the nation’s only walk-through squirrel monkey exhibit (which I must admit, I do not remember at all, but it is advertised on their website and it sounds pretty neat). Be warned, the zoo closes early in the summer. Make this a morning activity to ensure you make the most of your visit.

Transportation: The zoo is not far from the Convention area, but its not necessarily easy to get to. It is accessible by city bus. We opted to take the light rail, but soon realized the nearest light rail station is about a mile walk from the zoo’s entrance. We made the hike, despite the extreme summer heat. I advise taking a Lyft (which unfortunately didn’t exist at the time we took our trip).

Visit the Phoenix Zoo’s website for more information.

2. Desert Botanical Garden

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This is my favorite item on this list. This place is gorgeous! It’s a great way to spend a few hours learning about the desert plants and enjoying their beauty. The garden is comprised of a series of walking trail loops, each with different plants and different focuses. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering the loops and admiring the cacti, succulents, and wildlife. It will be hot, there is little shade, and you will be outside. Bring lots of water and sunscreen and I suggest you bring a hat. We mistakenly arrived at the garden at 2pm, the heat of the day. After a very sweaty and exhausting hour, we took a snack break at the garden’s cafe (it was wonderfully air-conditioned, the staff was friendly, and the prickly pear lemonade was deliciously refreshing). After our cool down, we returned to the garden for more wandering. I highly suggest going to the Botanical Garden in the evening, as the sun is beginning to go down. Not only was it cooler, but the wildlife was much more active. We watched a hummingbird, caught sight of a cottontail rabbit, chased lots of lizards, looked at many birds, and even got a glimpse of a roadrunner! Rumor has it the sunset is amazing from the garden (I cannot attest to this statement, we were much too tired to stick around for the sunset). At $25, the price may seem a little steep, but your are allowed to exit and reenter as many times as you want in the day. Visit in the morning, go do something else, then come back for sunset. It is totally worth the admission. Especially if you are not familiar with the desert landscape.

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Transportation: The Desert Botanical Garden is in the same area as the zoo. It is accessible by bus. The light rail will take you part way, leaving you with a mile walk to the garden entrance. According to Google maps, the garden is a 30 minute walk from the zoo, making it possible to do both attractions in one day (also in this area is Hole in the Rock, a popular rock formation and short hiking trail). I suggest taking a Lyft if coming from the downtown Phoenix area.

Visit the Desert Botanical Garden website for more information.

3. Rosson House

Located just one block east of the Convention Center, the Rosson House is a historic house situated on a preserved piece of property in the middle of Downtown Phoenix. Restored to its original state, the Rosson house gives its visitors a glimpse into Phoenix life in the early 1900s. It was not busy the day we visited, my mom and I were the only two on our tour! We thought it was quite odd to see a Victorian style house in the middle of the desert. The absurdity of the architecture continued inside as the guide walked us through the house and told the stories of the four families that had lived in the home. Purchased by the city of Phoenix in the 1940s and meticulously restored, the house offers an odd little history that is sure to delight. The tour was a little gem of fun stories and bits of history from an area of America that I have never studied. The tour lasted about an hour and cost a whopping 8 bucks. It is the perfect afternoon activity for history lovers. After visiting the house, stop by the gift shop or pick up a cup of coffee from the cafe in Heritage Square.   

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Transportation: An easy walk from most Downtown Phoenix hotels.

For more information visit the Rosson House website.

4. Talking Stick Resort Arena

Home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, the basketball arena is a quick walk from any Downtown Phoenix hotel. One year, while attending O2 Convention, I was walking back to my hotel when my phone alerted me that the Minnesota Lynx were playing nearby. I had gone to Timberwolves games in MN, but had never seen the MN women’s basketball team play. I still don’t know why my phone thought I would be interested, but mom and I agreed it would be a nice way to spend the evening. The Talking Stick Resort Arena was easy to navigate, clean, and most importantly AIR CONDITIONED. Even though we’re not huge sports fans, we found this to be an enjoyable way to spend an evening in Phoenix. If you’ve got an evening with nothing to do, check the schedule at the Talking Stick Arena. It’s a refreshing escape from the heat. 

Transportation: A quick walk from all Downtown hotels.

For more information or to see what’s currently happening at the Arena, check out the Talking Stick Resort Arena website.

Honorable Mentions

In my trips to Phoenix, I have had things on my bucket list that I have not been able to cross off. Being that I have only traveled to Arizona in the summer, which is the offseason, many tourist attractions are closed or down for refurb. Here is my list of things I would like to do, but have not been able to. Let me know if you try any of these. I would love to hear about your experience.

1. Visit the Wrigley Mansion, a house built by the chewing-gum tycoon
2. Tour Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home 
3. Visit the historic hotel, The Arizona Biltmore
4. Take a day trip to the Grand Canyon
5. See Tovrea Castle, a castle in the heart of Phoenix
6. Catch a baseball game at Chase Field
   

Attending conventions in unfamiliar cities sometimes leaves downtime that needs to be filled. I hope this list has given you a few little charms to check out the next time your find yourself in the downtown Phoenix area.

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