Phoenix is a great place to visit and explore the American Southwest. This city is filled with lots of exciting things to see and try. If you are visiting for the first time and have some time to explore the area, check out these interesting activities.

Desert Botanical Garden

Explore the Desert Botanical Garden and learn about the local plant life of the Southwest Desert Region. The Botanical Garden features several trails that wind through the area and provide you with examples of common desert foliage. The Garden also includes summer camps, music in the garden events, and plenty of tours and activities. The Botanical Gardens also feature many of the birds that are native to the area, as well as learning opportunities for how to protect and care for the local plant life. This is a great place to get a taste for local wildlife and environments if you don’t want to leave the city or go on a long hike. For more about the Desert Botanical Garden, go to https://www.dbg.org.

Arizona State Capitol Museum

If you enjoy learning about the American political system and want to discover more about the State of Arizona, visit the Arizona State Capitol Museum. This Museum features displays and exhibits regarding the states early history and what life was like when it became a state in 1912. The museum includes examples of early Arizona artwork, along with remnants from the famous U.S.S. Arizona that was sunk in Pearl Harbor. You can also get a glimpse of the offices of the legislators for the state.

Dining Out

If you’re exhausted from a day in the heat full of activates, make sure you have a few places in mind for dinner. The Southern Rail in uptown Phoenix is famous for flavors of the American South like gumbo and BBQ, and enjoys fame from the chef Justin Beckett of Beckett’s Table. Another favorite in downtown is Short Leash Hot Dogs. Once a food truck vendor now turned restaurant, these hot dogs aren’t your run-of-the-mill stadium grub. Utilizing the nearby farmers market, fresh ingredients are always included and be sure to try the Breakfast Corn Dogs which are dipped in a pancake batter.

Pioneer Living History Museum

For those who are interested in the early history of the American Southwest, check out the Pioneer Living History Museum. This 1800’s styled town covers 90 acres and includes examples of local buildings like an old west Mercantile shop, a Victorian house, Saloon, and more. The Living History Museum even includes the Opera House where the famous Lilly Langtry entertained the audience with her singing. This Museum is a great place for photographs and you can even see reenactments of old west shootouts and other events taking place in the streets of the town.

These are just a few of the many local activities and events that are available for you to see when you visit Phoenix. There are several types of public transportation services that can help get you to these locations. The city has several taxi services like Yellow Cab and others that can help you get where you need to go.