The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Phoenix is the hot desert sun. But really, it’s a city that’s learned to work with its extreme environment to create an exciting and cutting-edge place to live. With influence from many different cultures, Phoenix is a diverse hub that has some of the most unique foods, museums, and activities to enjoy.
Phoenix is known for being a gorgeous desert city with plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Phoenix is also famous for being a budding leader in the tech industry and an example to the rest of the world for wildlife conservation. Phoenix’s spirited nightlife, encouragement of innovation, and dedication to education make it a truly exciting city!
Let’s explore the 16 things that make Phoenix one of the most special cities in Arizona.
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1. Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix’s famous Desert Botanical Garden stretches 140 acres in Papago Park. With ample hiking trails and nature walks to choose from, it’s an instant must-see nature experience.
According to its website, the Desert Botanical Garden has been a “global leader in the research and conservation” of desert plant life. They are constantly collaborating with other countries to protect rare and endangered plants and to help regrow depleting gardens.
There is an abundance of activities and events you can sign up for at the Botanical Garden ranging from Dog Days, where you can bring your furry friend, to the always anticipated food tasting by Devour Culinary Classic, which sells out in minutes.
During the holiday season, you can go for Las Noches de las Luminarias; an event where they transform the garden into a desert wonderland. Walk through the twinkling cacti, enjoy warm hot chocolate, and stick around for some live music!
2. Iconic dishes
Phoenix is the birthplace of many creative and delicious dishes. With the border of Mexico close by and the influence of Native tribes, Phoenix’s signature dishes are unique and infused with incredible flavor.
One of the most famous dishes of Phoenix, and all of Arizona, is the chimichanga. This deep-fried burrito allegedly got its name when a cook dropped a burrito into the fryer and exclaimed a famous Mexican curse word. Now, it’s a staple of Arizona’s diet and has received further fame for being the favorite food of Marvel’s anti-hero Dead Pool.
Another famous Phoenix dish is the Sonoran hot dog, named after the surrounding desert. It’s a hot dog wrapped in bacon and smothered with pinto beans, onion, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño salsa. The signature fluffy bun is perfectly crisped on the outside to make a bread that melts in your mouth.
The Sonoran hot dog was recently given the James Beard Award, an award for culinary excellence, which put the food under the spotlight for the rest of the nation.
Phoenix is also famous for incorporating the prickly pear cactus into almost all food and drink. You can find the sweetness of this fruit infused in iced teas, margaritas, candy, tacos, and more.
Lastly, did you know that the Tequila Sunrise was invented in Phoenix? This popular multi-colored refresher was allegedly invented by Gene Sulit at the Wright Bar in Phoenix. It was popularized by Mick Jagger in the ‘70s on the Rolling Stones’ tour.
3. Golf courses
If you’re like my dad and are absolutely obsessed with golf, Phoenix is the place for you! With nearly 200 golf courses to choose from, it’s a golfer’s paradise.
Some of the most famous golf courses include Arizona Biltmore, Lookout Mountain Golf Course, and Papago.
The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club was built in the late twenties and has been a beacon for Presidents, Hollywood stars, and various VIPs to relax and play. There are two courses to choose from: The Links, a shorter course, and The Adobe. With breathtaking views of the mountains and the gorgeous Downtown Phoenix skyline, it’s no wonder it’s one of Phoenix’s most famous courses.
Lookout Mountain is a twelve-hole course that has golfers traveling through preserved land. This unique feature allows players to have uninterrupted views of nature and feel totally immersed in the serene Arizona wilderness. It’s a nine-time winner of the Golf Digest Four Star Award and has been recognized by Zagat for being one of America’s best golf courses.
In the heart of Phoenix, Papago serves as a special golf escape. Its vast course gives players gorgeous views of the Papago Buttes, Camelback Mountain, and Downtown Phoenix. In 2009, this course hosted the Ladies Professional Golf Association championship!
4. The heat
I’m sure we all have an idea of what “desert heat” feels like, but it’s even worse than that. Phoenix, and Arizona as a whole, are constantly on the news in the summertime for reporting record-breaking heat.
In October of 2022, the heat in Phoenix reached up to 110F! Now you may be thinking, how do people cope with such high temperatures?
People limit outdoor activity to early morning or late evening, drink plenty of water, take cold showers, and enjoy frozen snacks. You could also escape to an air-conditioned activity, like the movie theater or an arcade. Some like to venture out to various water parks or rivers, but make sure to wear plenty of sunscreen!
5. Drag shows
Who doesn’t love watching a queen lip-sync her heart out to a Whitney Houston song while pulling off the most seamless outfit change you’ve ever seen?
Phoenix is known for its lively and strong drag scene. One of the coolest aspects of Phoenix drag is the array of themes and types of performers. They have traditional drag queens and kings, but also some more experimental performers, like Dahli.
Dahli identifies themself as a “sexless demon” who often performs with body paint, horns, blood, and more. Their set pushes the boundaries of drag and makes for an exciting, never-before-seen show!
Phoenix is creating the perfect, supportive drag community where performers are encouraged to work together and build up aspiring kings and queens.
When speaking about the openness of Phoenix’s drag scene, the queen FeFe Minor said in her interview, “if you’re looking from the outside in, I’d say open the door, come on in, there’s a family waiting inside.” She went on to say, “be open to learning more about your community; we’re all one community.”
6. Water parks
With Phoenix’s notorious heat, it’s no surprise they’re also famous for having tons of water parks. With upwards of 16 water parks, you won’t be lacking in finding the perfect afternoon adventure.
The Oasis Water Park is one of the most famous attractions for locals and tourists alike. Stretching across seven acres, it’s a park that offers everything from a lazy river to a 35-person hot tub. This water park is fun for adults and kids with its huge wave pool, 8 stories of slides, and many kid pools to choose from.
Another famous water park is the River Ranch Water Park. It’s a 4-acre park that has a more relaxed feel to it. It has the traditional lazy river, but also several cabana areas for those who prefer to read. With stunning views of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, this water park makes for the perfect relaxing day.
7. Wildlife
Famous for the vast, beautiful Sonoran Desert, Phoenix has an abundance of exotic wildlife to spot. While there are the usual desert animals like coyotes, skunks, deer, and raccoons, there are some more species that, honestly, I’ve never heard of!
Have you heard of a javelina? Same. Javelinas are boar-like animals that many find entertaining. From their contentious hierarchy to the various noises they make, the javelina are a fun bunch to watch (from a distance, of course).
Fun fact: During Halloween, be sure not to leave pumpkins on your front porch or these creatures will devour them.
Reptilian life flourishes in the Phoenix desert. On a walk, you might stumble upon the western diamondback rattlesnake, which will rattle its tail if you get too close. There are also different types of iguanas, toads, and even gila monsters!
Gila monsters are made for the desert. They mostly lounge in boroughs during the day (same) and are seldom seen by humans. If you do see one, remember to keep a distance and not disturb the flow of the monster’s day.
Arizona is also famous for the roadrunner. If you’ve seen the Looney Tunes, I’m sure you have an idea of how fun these birds are.
A part of the cuckoo clan, these small creatures can run up to 26 miles per hour! This speed helps them prey upon pretty much anything, including rattlesnakes. Roadrunners also mate for life and are fierce defenders of their homes.
8. Famous people
It seems like there’s something special happening in the desert with the number of famous people who have hailed from Phoenix!
The heartbreak queen herself Stevie Nicks was born in Phoenix but spent a lot of her growing up moving around. However, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer always felt like Phoenix had her heart.
Nicks raised money for the Arizona Heart Foundation’s Cardiovascular Research building over the course of nine years. When on the 2014 Fleetwood Mac tour, Nicks was quoted as saying “I miss coming home to write and being near Camelback Mountain and all of you”.
Other Phoenix-born famous people include Kaitlyn Dever (actress in Booksmart), Jordan Sparks (singer), Haley Lu Richardson (actress in White Lotus), Chester Bennington (lead singer of Linkin Park), and even Lynda Carter, who played the original Wonder Woman in the 1975 live-action TV series of the same name.
9. The Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks became a team in 1998 when Phoenix joined the Major League Baseball franchise.
In the first five years of playing, the Diamondbacks won three division titles, a National League pennant, and the 2001 World Series! They also have produced some pretty impressive players who are of the Hall of Fame caliber — Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson, and Luis Gonzalez, to name a few.
The Diamondbacks have a fun history to their name. When deciding what the team should be called, the acting manager Jerry Colangelo and his associates held a public contest to allow fans to submit names.
It became a tie between the Diamondbacks and the Scorpions. Overwhelmingly, the Scorpions won!
But why are they called the Diamondbacks? It’s because scorpions gave Colangelo the heebie-jeebies and he didn’t want to have to look at the creature on their logo. So, Diamondbacks it was!
10. Camelback Mountain
The stunning Camelback Mountain became a city park in 1968 and has become one of the most famous hiking destinations in Arizona. Part of the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, this landmark is only 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix, making it easy and accessible.
The mountain got its name from the two rock formations that comprise it, which look like the head and back of a kneeling camel. More skilled hikers can choose from two difficult trails that ascend 1,420 feet to the summit. On top of the camel’s hump, as its nicknamed, adventurers can see a 360 view of Phoenix!
Hiking Camelback Mountain was awarded one of the top 10 things to do in Phoenix by Trip Advisor. When hiking the trails, you can see an abundance of wildlife including the famous Saguaro Cactus, Barrel Cactus, and Creosote Bush.
Fun fact: Saguaros only start growing their “arms” when they’re at least 50 years old!
11. Exciting nightlife
After a long day of exploring the wildlife Phoenix has to offer, why not kick it in the famous Roosevelt Row for a bit of partying? Roosevelt Row is Phoenix’s downtown arts district that has numerous bars, restaurants, unique shops, and colorful murals.
Of the many popping spots you could venture to, one of the most famous is the craft cocktail bar Bitter and Twisted. It’s the first bar in all of Arizona to have cocktails be the focus of their institution. It was recently recognized as one of the best bars in America by several reputable companies like Huffpost and the Food Network.
Other famous spots include Little Rituals, where you can order a drink that has an edible mural of Phoenix imprinted on it; Pigtails, a speakeasy with an impressive array of fresh foods; First Draft Book Bar, a bar in a bookstore where you can pick out your favorite book and enjoy it at the bar top.
If you’re not a fan of the bar scene, Phoenix is also famous for comedy shows, bat watching on the Arizona Canal, and the Walter Where? House that oozes good vibes with light shows and tons of art.
12. The zoo
Opening in 1962, the Phoenix Zoo is the largest non-profit zoo in the United States. A point of pride for Phoenix, the zoo stretches over 125 acres and sees about 1.4 million guests annually.
Visitors can explore the grounds via four themed trails, including the Arizona Trail, the Africa Trail, the Tropics Trail, and the Children’s Trail, which has a petting zoo!
The founders of the zoo also started Operation Oryx, which is one of the world’s most successful global wildlife conservation programs. When the program started, there were only a few remaining Arabian oryx left in the wild.
Thanks to the zoo taking them in and repopulating the species, there are now more than 7,000 Arabian oryx worldwide! Phoenix Zoo has become a beacon of hope to others for their continued conservation efforts and successes.
13. Hiking
With tons of hikes to choose from, Phoenix is the perfect place for the outdoor enthusiast.
There are trails for every kind of hiker, with the easiest being a unique walk through red rock at Hole-in-the-Rock Trail and the hardest at Siphon Draw Trail to Flatiron where travelers need to navigate rock walls, climbing on all fours, and unmarked trails.
Unique to Phoenix’s hikes is seeing petroglyphs, otherwise known as rock carvings. Quite a few trails have these interesting art pieces, including hikes at South Mountain Park and Preserve, Waterfall Trail, and Arizona State University Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve.
The latter is the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the greater Phoenix area. More than 1,500 ancient carvings can be found!
While one of the most famous hiking trails in Arizona, the Grand Canyon, is a bit further away from Phoenix, it’s another reason why Arizona has such a strong draw to it.
Tips for the Phoenix hiker: Bring water, keep an eye on the weather, stay on the designated path, and always bring a phone!
14. Tech industry
When you think of the tech industry, it’s easy to immediately think of Silicon Valley. But did you know that Phoenix’s bustling tech industry is one of the fastest growing in the States?
Ranked 15th among major U.S. tech capitals, Phoenix recently added 3,000 new tech roles across the state, boosting the number of tech companies by 300%. While big-name companies like Yelp and Lyft have satellite offices in Phoenix, it’s also home to many up-and-coming companies that range from software development to cybersecurity.
Phoenix is the perfect place for tech growth due to its history of aerospace engineering and it’s highly-ranked universities. Phoenix is also famous for its program #yesPHX, which provides support for start-up companies and encourages new ideas. Also, with a vibrant downtown and gorgeous scenery, Phoenix is a desirable place for techies to enjoy life away from the office.
15. Museums
From the art and science lover all the way to the history and technology lover, Phoenix has a museum for every interest.
Some of the most famous museums include the Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum, Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting, and even the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum.
The Musical Instrument Museum focuses on instruments played every day by people across the globe. With more than 8,000 instruments from over 200 countries, visitors can explore immersive exhibits that aim to teach about how music sways our emotions and how we can connect to other cultures via their music. This museum also holds daily concerts from artists of all different backgrounds!
The Heard Museum (pictured above) dedicates itself to the advancement of American Indian art. Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum has educated visitors through first-person perspective on the stories of American Indians and has displayed their unique and vibrant artifacts.
The museum collaborates with local American Indian artists and tribal communities and has been internationally recognized for its astounding collections, exhibitions, educational programming, and fantastic festivals.
Who didn’t want to explore a firehouse as a kid? Well, the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting is the next best thing!
With galleries that showcase uniforms and equipment, fire safety, and more, it’s the perfect spot for those who love this field. Several years after its opening, they were able to add the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, which honors American firefighters who have received the national award for heroism and those who have died in the line of duty.
For those who like to experience a blast from the past, the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum is an exciting homage to those who lived through the Wild West days.
With 90 acres to explore, visitors can wander through 19th-century buildings and original pioneer homes. You can even see the log cabin where the first senator of Arizona grew up! They also have the famous and charming Telephone History Museum on their grounds.
Fun Fact: Seasonally, they have costumed volunteers to make for a more immersive experience!
16. Papago Park
Stretching over 1,496 acres, this massive park houses the Phoenix Zoo, golf courses, museums, the Desert Botanical Gardens, and more.
One of the more unique features of Papago is the famous Hunt’s Tomb hike which quite literally takes you to the first governor of Arizona George W.P Hunt’s pyramid-shaped tomb.
Over the years, Papago Park has served many purposes for the city of Phoenix. Starting off by being a reservation for indigenous tribes, then a fish hatchery during the Great Depression, a VA hospital, and a prisoner of war camp during World War II.
Nowadays, it’s a hiker’s paradise! There are 8 trails to choose from, ranging from beginner walks to pack-your-own-lunch-hard.
One of the most famous hikes is the Hole-in-the-Rock hike, which is an easy 0.3 mi. Historically, this impressive natural formation was used by the Hohokam Tribe as a calendar to mark the summer and winter solstice.
If you’re not that into hiking, take advantage of the beautiful Sonoran Desert backdrop for a fun photo op, or go have a drink in the Desert Botanical Gardens!
What’s your favorite part about Phoenix? Let us know in the comments below!
