Phoenix attractions and museums
– 
Arizona Resorts / Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf
Downtown Phoenix lacks any real centralized, pedestrian area, although millions of dollars are being poured into the district in hopes of providing it more of a neighborhood feel, rather than the somewhat disconnected sprawl it currently represents. Still, visitors will be impressed with its urban gleam—glistening corporate buildings, pristine cultural institutions, Arizona events and polished residences reflect the relative newness of this city.
What really brings tourists to downtown, though, are its two stellar museums—the Heard Museum and the Phoenix Museum of Art. The Heard Museum 2301 N. Central Ave.; daily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; 602-252-8848 is a great introduction to the area’s native heritage and features a wonderful Native American art and archaeology collection, including an impressive collection of several hundred kachina dolls, colorful Hopi-designed religious figurines and displays dedicated to the plight of and featuring works by the indigenous people of the Southwest, including Navajos and Hopis—groups that still reside on nearby reservations today.
A few blocks south, the Phoenix Art Museum ,1625 N. Central Ave.; Tue 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Wed.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 602-257-1222 has garnered recognition for its exhibits and growing collection of more than 17,000 works covering Asia, the Americas, and Europe. As the largest art museum in the Southwest, its highlights include the Thorne Miniature Rooms of historic interiors and the Western Art room, featuring works by members of the Cowboy Artists of America, an art organization dedicated to depicting the lifestyle of the cowboy and the American West.
To explore the contemporary edge of the Phoenician art scene, a slew of urban galleries beckon—and if you happen to be in town on the first Friday of the month, artlink’s First Fridays
On the eastern edge of downtown, Heritage Square, 115 N. 6th St.; hours vary for each building; 602-262-5071; is a full city block of Phoenix’s last remaining structures from its original settlement site, providing a nice contrast to the uber-modern city that now surrounds it. Stately Victorians, dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries, now house a quaint assortment of museums, shops, and restaurants, including a tearoom, an 1895 home, and a toy museum. Across the street, history buffs will appreciate the Phoenix Museum of History’s 105 N. 5th St., Phoenix; Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 602-253-2734; displays that retrace the Valley’s trajectory from a Hohokam Indian village to a modern-day metropolis. Also in this area is the immensely popular Arizona Science Center 600 E. Washington St.; daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 602-716-2000; a worthwhile stop particularly for those with kids in tow for the more than 300 interactive, hands-on exhibits along with a state-of-the-art planetarium, an IMAX theater with a five-story screen, and a science store.
Horticulture enthusiasts shouldn’t miss Papago Park, Van Buren St. and Galvin Pkwy.; daily dawn-dusk; free admission to trails, charges for picnic rentals; east of downtown Phoenix. The 50-acre Desert Botanical Gardens,1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Papago Park; daily Oct.-April 8 a.m.-8 p.m., May-Sept. 7 a.m.-8 p.m; is home to 139 rare plant species from around the world and laced with walking paths popular to desert animals and birds. A visit at dusk is particularly pleasant, when the garden cacti are illuminated by soft lights and night-blooming flowers begin to show their colors. The Phoenix Zoo ,455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Papago Park; hours vary by season; 602-273-1341; is another area of interest in the park for its tremendous range of animals more than 400 species of mammals alone and habitats, from the American Southwest to the African savannah. Kids will love the Children’s Trail, with a butterfly garden, playground, and an old-fashioned farm.
Arizona Resorts / Arizona Travel Deals / Arizona Golf
Sorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.