Destination 9: Phoenix, Arizona

Emily James
Jul 27, 2015
5 min read

Phoenix, Arizona is a beautiful, warm destination to travel to. There's a lot to do in this area. This is a great place to visit no matter the size of group and no matter who's in your group/what age you are-whether it be family, yourself, or friends!

The climate in Phoenix is typically very warm. The July high is around 105 degrees. The January low is about 42 degrees. The average range of temperatures in this city is 70-80 degrees. Anywhere with warm weather, I'm so in!

Top Attractions:

There are many different places to see in Phoenix but the top 10 are as follows: Camelback Mountain, Musical Instrument Museum, Papago Park, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, Heard Museum, Roosevelt Row, South Mountain Park and Preserve, Phoenix Art Museum, and Heritage Square Dining. As you can see, that's a lot to choose from-especially knowing there are tons more other places that are also an option to check out! The top three places I would pick to see are Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Zoo, and Heard Museum. These are the three places I will talk about.

Camelback Mountain gives off a panoramic view of the city of Phoenix and Phoenix Mountain Preserve, which is absolutely breathtaking. It is called Camelback Mountain because it resembles a kneeling camel with a hump. Hikers gain 1,200 ft in elevation to the summit. This area is one of the most popular spots to hike and travel amongst in the city, so be aware that there will be quite a bit of trail traffic. Consider hiking on weekdays because weekends get the craziest for trail travel. During the hot weather months, be sure to drink a lot of water and also consider going early in the morning where it's cooler. Trailhead hours are dawn-dusk. The trail starts at Echo Canyon Trailhead: 4925 E. McDonald Dr. and ends at Echo Canyon Trailhead: 4925 E. McDonald Dr. Dogs are prohibited on the trail tracks. Another tip: If traveling with a group of people, try to carpool as much as possible due to limited parking in the area. It is free admission and open to the public. For more information, visit their website: http://climbcamelback.com/. Below, is a picture of the view on top of Camelback Mountain and a map of the trail.

Phoenix Zoo is a very popular recreational place to visit in Arizona. It has a golf course and seven acres of fishing in lagoons. The zoo interests people of all ages. It's one of the nation's largest non-profit zoos that has more than 1,400 different animals on site. With being a non-profit organization, they hope to motivate people to take better care of the natural world. The Phoenix Zoo hosts many events throughout the year. Each event is listed on their website: http://www.phoenixzoo.org/. Their current hours are 9am-4pm daily. These change throughout the change in season. Children 3-13 get in for $14.95. Adults (14+) get in for $24.95. This may seem like a high price, but for experience and everything you get to see, it's not as much as you think! If you're interested in going multiple times, your best bet would be to purchase the membership fee. If you are a member, it is $69/year and you get unlimited re-entry. There are many camps and on-site staff that love to help you learn about the different species they have in their zoo. Below is a list of all of their animals they take care of, and a map of the venue.

African Lion

African Wild Dog Aldabra Tortoise Andean Bear Arabian Oryx Asian Elephant Bald Eagle Black Howler Monkey Bighorn Sheep Bornean Orangutan Buff-cheeked Gibbon Chilean Flamingo Coyote Desert Tortoise Galapagos Tortoise

Gerenuk Golden Conure Golden Lion Tamarin Greater Flamingo Grevy’s Zebra Hamadryas Baboon Jaguar Komodo Dragon Mandrill Masai Giraffe

Mexican Gray Wolf Mountain Lion Ocelot Ostrich Prairie Dog

Pronghorn Radiated Tortoise Reticulated Giraffe Rhinoceros Hornbill Ring-tailed Lemur Siamang Spotted Necked Otter Squirrel Monkey Sumatran Tiger Thick-billed Parrot Vultures Warthog White Faced Saki Monkey

Heard Museum is different than your average place to visit while touring, but it seems interesting to me. http://heard.org/ is the website for detailed information. I've never been to Phoenix, so getting to know the culture a little more would definitely be in my agenda, and I encourage you to want to dive into their culture as well! The tradition, culture and history of 22 regional American Indian tribes converge in the Heard Museum's immersive exhibits and authentic art shop. Through art and cultural objects, the museum’s ongoing exhibits tell the stories of native people of the Southwest, from early history to powerful memories of boarding schools. Your visit to the Heard Museum in Phoenix includes 12 exhibition galleries, free public guided tours, outdoor sculpture gardens, a renowned café, a contemporary art gallery and trading-post style shopping, plus much more. They are open 9:30am-5pm Monday-Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm. You can purchase your ticket online or in person. Ticket prices vary.

Children aged 6-17 pay $7.50

Student with college ID pay $7.50

Adults 18-64 pay $18

Seniors 65+ pay $13.50

There is much to learn about in the Heard Museum, and as time goes on, the exhibits change, so if you're interested in going and going again, chances are, you will likely see different exhibits each visit. There are shops and dining here as well. So if you feel like seeing different culture than your own, shopping, and getting a bite to eat, this is your place!

Places to eat:

There are so many different places to eat in Phoenix, but the top two places that I've heard so much about that I would definitely try when visiting is In-n-Out Burger and Little Miss BBQ. They are both definitely moderately priced and rated 5/5 star on TripAdvisor. In-n-Out Burger is located at 19407 N 27th Ave. They have burgers and chicken sandwiches, along with your choice of delicious sides. It's a quick bite to eat if you're in a rush, but delicious at the same time! Little Miss BBQ is located at 4301 E University Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85034-7317. It is an American restaurant that has many different kinds of barbecued meats. I love meat, so I'd definitely love to try this place out. I've heard many good things about it and also saw while researching, that many people enjoy it by reading their reviews. Their barbecued brisket has the best review. YUM! As I've previously stated, there are many different restaurants in this area, but these are the two that I've been dying to try!

Place to stay:

There are tons of places to stay at in Phoenix whether you're looking to stay in a 5 star expensive hotel or if you're looking to stay in an average, decently priced hotel. As goes for me? I'm a broke college student, so I'll take what I can get! I'd be interested in staying at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Phoenix. This hotel looks very nice and super cheap! As I've mentioned before in previous blog posts, the price of a room obviously depends on when you plan to stay. The touristy months are going to be more expensive than the non-touristy months. It is November currently, which isn't a time for a lot of travel. I found a very nice looking room for a flat rate of $80! I can't even find a hotel that cheap in my area. This hotel offers free wi-fi, an in the hotel restaurant, fitness facilities, pet friendly (my favorite quality), meeting rooms, and indoor/outdoor pools. It's located in a nice area. To me, that's a great deal for all it entails! For reservations, visit their website at www.hilton.com/DoubleTree/Phoenix‎.