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Phoenix’s Essential Desert-to-Downtown Sights
13 placesPhoenix
Experience Phoenix’s defining attractions, from Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and world-class museums to desert landscapes, Papago’s signature sandstone formations, and a South Mountain sunset. This route moves from the northern reaches of the metro through central Phoenix and Papago Park before ending above the city.
- Pop culture
- Music
- Art
- Architecture
- Science & Tech
- Nature
- Local culture
- History
- Social Justice
- Food traditions
- Sports
- Religion
Places in this guide
- 1
Taliesin WestFrank Lloyd Wright's final resting place 🪦 - 2
Musical Instrument MuseumWorld's largest musical instrument museum 🎶 - 3
Camelback MountainPhoenix metro's highest peak ⛰️ - 4
Heard MuseumConfronting the policy to erase culture - 5
Phoenix Art MuseumThe Southwest's largest visual art museum 🎨 - 6
Arizona Science CenterThe Southwest's most advanced planetarium venue 🔭 - 7
Hole-in-the-Rock☀️ Ancient solar calendar - 8
Desert Botanical GardenFounded to glorify the desert, not destroy it 🌵 - 9
Phoenix ZooAmerica's largest privately owned nonprofit zoo 🦁 - 10
South Mountain ParkAmerica's largest municipal park 🏜️ - 11
Roosevelt Row Arts DistrictMurals, galleries, and First Fridays 🎨 - 12Heritage SquareLast remaining block of original Phoenix 🏡
- 13Melrose DistrictPhoenix's proudly eclectic gayborhood 🏳️🌈
