Arizona
Phoenix
Welcome to the Wild, Wild West. Not the wild associated with the dusty cowboys of a bygone era. Wild as in bold, innovative, diverse and surprising. Wild as in raw, untouched Sonoran Desert landscapes. Wild as in cuisine and craft beverage pairings that celebrate tradition but defy genre.
In Phoenix, our wild engages your senses and dares you to try something new. It’s impossible for us to know exactly what that might be — you may not yet know — but, rest assured, the answer is now at your fingertips.
Autumn welcomes for recreational pursuits, off -season sunbathing and festivals. Winter offers serious shopping, spa-holiday escapes and festive outdoor soirees. Spring brings blooming cactuses, wildflowers and spring training fans. Summer is a great value season when it comes to accommodations and attractions.
When to visit
Summer
34°C
Autumn
25°C
Winter
14°C
Interesting fact
The Sonoran Desert is considered the wettest in the world, which means that recreation of every variety of lush flora, water recreation Sandstone buttes awaits you here.
Since March 2020, the Greater Phoenix area welcomed 34 new hotel and resort properties ranging from retro boutique hotels to the region’s first resort in a certified Dark-Sky community.
Roosevelt Row
Roosevelt Row, downtown Phoenix’s nationally recognised arts district, is home to art galleries, restaurants, bars and boutique shops in a walkable landscape dotted by colourful street art. Monthly First Friday Art Walks are the ultimate way to experience this city's culture, arts, flavour, and overall vibe.
Whether it’s happy hour, golden hour, or after hours, there’s something about sipping from an elevated perspective that makes the cocktails even sweeter. Greater Phoenix is home to more than a dozen chic rooftop bars, most of which are new or recent additions to the city’s selection of watering holes.
The Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden offers the world's finest collection of arid plants from deserts of the world in a unique outdoor setting. Explore more than 50,000 desert plants on display throughout five thematic trails that illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert, and desert wildflowers. The garden also offers specialised tours, cultural events, seasonal exhibits, concerts, family activities, and is home to a restaurant, a café as well as a gift and plant shop.
Sonoran Desert
Greater Phoenix is home to more acreage of parks and preserves than any other major destination in the United States – and visitors can explore all this public land via hundreds of miles of trails. Choose trails that best suit your style of adventure, and immerse yourself in these Sonoran Desert landscapes.
Located in the Tonto National Forest, about 40 minutes from downtown Phoenix, the Salt River is a recreational oasis for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and tubing. Just let the river's current gently lead you downstream and enjoy the views – which may include a sighting of the area's famed wild horses.
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa will welcome a new restaurant concept by celebrity chef Angelo Sosa. Tía Carmen, named after his aunt, will feature contemporary Southwestern, cuisine that highlights a number of local purveyors.
Barcoa Agaveria
Downtown Phoenix also welcomed a new drinking experience in March. Barcoa Agaveria serves up tequila, mezcal, bacanora, raicilla and sotol – as well as knowledge on each of these agave-distilled spirits – alongside Mexican beers, wine, and craft cocktails.
Arizona is a place where it’s easy to combine outdoor exploration and urban culture.
Experienced adventure companies and outfitters can escort groups to some of Arizona’s most beautiful places—from Jeep tours in Sedona to float trips on the Colorado River to horseback treks in Monument Valley. Such photogenic endeavours can be seamlessly augmented by museum visits and memorable meals in the cosmopolitan centres of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson.
Arizona also caters to lovers of wine, golf, astronomy, Old West history, professional sports, luxury spas and shopping. Aficionados of the latter can peruse fashion centres, designer outlets, art galleries and vintage boutiques.
So, sure, the Grand Canyon—one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World—is something no visitor to Arizona should miss. But it’s far from the only thing that makes Arizona grand.
