Things to do in Phoenix & Scottsdale
The Phoenix metropolitan area, also known as the Valley of the Sun, is home to more than five million people. The capital of Arizona, it’s the largest capital (by population) and the fifth largest city in the United States. 19.5 million people visited Phoenix in 2022, with many exploring the surrounding areas like Scottsdale.
Over the last few years, we’ve visited the area several times, enjoying all that Phoenix and Scottsdale have to offer. It’s a great reprieve from Chicago winters, but there are things to do year-round for any interest.
Getting there
If you’re not within driving distance, Phoenix Sky Harbor is the main airport in the area. Sky Harbor is a hub for American Airlines and also a focus city for Southwest. Every time we’ve visited, we’ve flown United out of O’Hare and had no difficulty finding desirable flight times for our trip.
Phoenix does have public transportation, but we haven’t taken it. We recommend renting a car because it makes getting around the city and surrounding areas easy. With the natural beauty that Arizona has to offer, a car allows you to get in and go without having to wait for a taxi or ride share.
Things to do
One of our favorite things to do after we land at Phoenix Sky Harbor is visit the Phoenix Art Museum. The exhibit we could spend hours in is Yayoi Kusama’s “You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies”, a captivating infinity mirror room.
Depending on the weather, the Desert Botanical Garden is a great option to explore. Learn about the abundance of plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert as you stroll through the many trails.
If you’re a sports fan, the greater Phoenix area is home to NBA, NHL, MLB, NFL, and WNBA teams. Cactus League Spring Training is also located in greater Phoenix in February and March, bringing 15 major league teams to the area for more than 200 games.
Old Town Scottsdale – spend an afternoon strolling through the local shops of southwestern goods and enjoy the local atmosphere in Old Town.
Golf – if you’re a golfer, you have more than 150 courses in greater Phoenix to choose from.
Scottsdale is also home to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tours start at $39 for adults.
Places to eat
We definitely do not define ourselves as foodies, but we wanted to highlight a few local places we’ve enjoyed when we’ve been in the area. As Chicagoans, we do stop at In-N-Out when we’re in the Phoenix area since we don’t have it at home. And, as always, we use a credit card that gets 3x or 4x on dining when we buy food on trips!
Pizzeria Bianco has been rated amongst the best pizza in the United States, and if you have time, it’s well worth a visit. Be warned that you will encounter a wait. We arrived right at opening and still had to wait nearly two hours for a table for two.
Fry Bread House was founded by Cecelia Miller, a Tohono O’odham woman who wanted to serve Native American food. If you visit, definitely get the fry bread – it’s in the name! We tried the Native Taco (refried beans, cheese, and lettuce) and the Combo Taco with beef. Each taco starts at $11, but there is a lot of food in one taco. The fry bread holds tons of fillings, and you will not be hungry afterwards. For dessert, we got the cinnamon and sugar fry bread.
Diego Pops – three words. Brussels. Sprouts. Nachos. Located in Old Town Scottsdale, stop in for a drink and a bite to eat or even a full meal. We’ve gone back several times just for the Brussels Sprouts Nachos, but there is plenty of delicious food on the menu if you’re looking for something else.
Original Chop Shop is a casual spot serving healthy dishes in a few locations in greater Scottsdale. Try out a protein bowl, superfruit bowl, or one of their delicious protein shakes as a great start to your day.
Day Trips
While Phoenix and Scottsdale are great places to visit on their own, it’s worth exploring Arizona outside the city.
Just two hours north of Phoenix is Sedona, home to energy vortexes and tons of hiking. Sedona is worth at least a few days visit but can be done in one day. Hikes like Cathedral Rock, Devil’s Bridge Trail, and the Birthing Cave can all be done in a few hours (or less) as you enjoy the beauty of the area.
Saguaro National Park, just outside Tucson, is about an hour and a half from Phoenix. Home to the tallest cacti in the United States, enjoy the more than 90,000 acres of land that the park protects.
Over 3 hours northeast of Phoenix is Petrified Forest National Park. Best known for its petrified trees (hence the name), the park offers sprawling views throughout the 28-mile drive through the park.
If you are visiting lots of national parks, check out our post on how to save money and earn points & miles here: National Park Visits.
Summary
Phoenix and Scottsdale have something for everyone. Shopping, sports, relaxation – you name it and you can find it. What’s also nice about the area is that the size of the city and abundance of tourism means there are a lot of options from a travel perspective, so you can find what you need to fit your budget.
