From that blues bar you havent visited yet to the desert hike you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson.- Cool things to do in and around the cities: Kick back at a Spring Training game or squeeze into the grandstands of El Gran Mercado for some lucha libre. Bike the famed Loop in Tucson, kayak Tempe Town Lake, and lace up your boots for an urban hike in the Phoenix Mountains. Support local BIPOC writers at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore and taste whats on tap at a women-owned brewery. Savor Sonoran-style food like tamales and carne asada or try authentic Tohono Oodham fry bread
- Day trips and weekend getaways: Dip into hot springs or cool off in a secret swimming hole. Travel back in time in a ghost town or sip your way through wine country. Trek the Arizona Trail, hike the hoodoos at Chiricahua National Monument, pick saguaro fruit, and spend a night under the stars
- Experiences broken down by category: Find ideas for each season, activities for kids, outdoor adventures, learning about indigenous cultures, getting to know a new neighborhood, and more
- A local's advice: Whether its a wilderness area or a beloved soul food spot, local author Jessica Dunham knows the ins and outs of Arizona
- Inspirational full-color photos throughout
- Easy-to-scan planning tips: Addresses and nearby spots, plus tips for avoiding the crowds if you're heading to a popular attraction
What are you doing this weekend? Try something new with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to telland they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.
For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.
|
|
|
|
1 Take to the sky in a hot-air balloon |
|
|
26 | (4) |
|
2 Cheer on lucha libre at Crescent Ballroom |
|
|
30 | (4) |
|
3 Taste the Fry Bread House's namesake dish |
|
|
34 | (4) |
|
|
|
38 | (4) |
|
5 Discover new writers at local bookstores |
|
|
42 | (4) |
|
|
|
46 | (4) |
|
7 Take a field trip on the Fresh Foodie Trail |
|
|
50 | (4) |
|
8 Hear local voices at Arizona Storytellers Project |
|
|
54 | (4) |
|
9 Buy authentic American Indian art |
|
|
58 | (4) |
|
10 Stretch out at goat yoga |
|
|
62 | (4) |
|
11 Feast on soul food at Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe |
|
|
66 | (4) |
|
12 Play hooky at a Cactus League Spring Training game |
|
|
70 | (4) |
|
13 Ply the waters of Tempe Town Lake |
|
|
74 | (4) |
|
14 Learn about Arizona's American Indian heritage at the Heard Museum |
|
|
78 | (4) |
|
15 Explore Phoenix's mid-century modern architecture |
|
|
82 | (4) |
|
16 Celebrate the Miss Gay Arizona America Pageant |
|
|
86 | (4) |
|
17 Go behind the scenes at sports stadiums |
|
|
90 | (4) |
|
18 Watch the sun set at South Mountain Park |
|
|
94 | (4) |
|
19 Play at the Musical Instrument Museum |
|
|
98 | (4) |
|
20 Lace up your boots for an urban hike on Trail 100 |
|
|
102 | (4) |
|
21 Dive into the blues and R&B scene |
|
|
106 | (4) |
|
|
|
110 | (4) |
|
23 Soak up city views at Wrigley Mansion |
|
|
114 | (4) |
|
|
|
|
24 Taste Tucson's global flavors |
|
|
118 | (4) |
|
25 Honor the dead at the All Souls Procession |
|
|
122 | (4) |
|
|
|
126 | (4) |
|
27 Outfit yourself in custom Western boots |
|
|
130 | (4) |
|
|
|
134 | (6) |
|
29 Join La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros |
|
|
140 | (4) |
|
30 Raise your glass at historic bars |
|
|
144 | (4) |
|
31 Summit "A" Mountain at sunrise |
|
|
148 | (4) |
|
32 Savor Sonoran-style food |
|
|
152 | (4) |
|
33 See the mermaids on Fourth Avenue |
|
|
156 | (4) |
|
34 Stroll the Heirloom Farmers Market at Rillito Park |
|
|
160 | (4) |
|
35 Transform your backyard with desert plants |
|
|
164 | (4) |
|
|
|
|
36 See wild horses along the Salt River |
|
|
168 | (4) |
|
37 Helicopter over the world's fourth-tallest fountain |
|
|
172 | (4) |
|
|
|
176 | (4) |
|
|
|
180 | (4) |
|
40 Backpack the backcountry |
|
|
184 | (4) |
|
41 Enjoy desert blooms and autumn leaves |
|
|
188 | (4) |
|
42 Trek the Arizona Trail |
|
|
192 | (4) |
|
|
|
196 | (4) |
|
44 Follow the Salsa Trail |
|
|
200 | (4) |
|
|
|
204 | (4) |
|
46 Cool off in secret swimming holes |
|
|
208 | (4) |
|
47 Hike the hoodoos at Chiricahua National Monument |
|
|
212 | (4) |
|
48 Drive the Joshua Tree Parkway |
|
|
216 | (4) |
|
59 Pack up for a family campout |
|
|
220 | (4) |
|
50 Wander lavender fields |
|
|
224 | (4) |
|
|
|
228 | (2) |
|
|
|
230 | |
Jessica Dunham lives in Phoenix with her husband and two spunky dogs, but inherited a family summer home on Lake Champlain in Vermont. This seemed heavenly to her, until she tried to imagine getting there from halfway across the country. Then it required some effort and a little imagination. The only way to transport the herd from one place to another was to pile into a Jeep and drive.
On these drives, she came to appreciate the spontaneity a road trip provides, pulling over for a fruit stand or stopping to take pictures at a scenic overlook, as well as the sense of discovery. This is how she first encountered Route 66. It's also how she explored the Finger Lakes of upstate New York, followed the prairielands of Nebraska, dipped into the cornfields of Indiana, carved through Kentucky (with a stop at a distillery or two), and drove the Ozarks of Arkansas.
Formerly a travel guide editor at Madden Media, Jessica is now a freelance travel writer. She is also the author of Moon Route 66 Road Trip and The Open Road. Her writing has been featured in PHOENIX magazine, Valley Guide, Phoenix Travel Guide, Arizona Visitor's Guide, Midwest Living, Phoenix New Times, Modern Luxury, Annapolis Visitors Guide, Connecticut Visitors Guide, Runner's World, Jane, Discover South Carolina, and more.
