When searching for activities and things to do in Phoenix, it can seem more like the question should be “what isn’t there to do here?!”, as the weather and year-round festivities make Phoenix and surrounding Sonoran Desert a truly unique vacation spot.

Luxury camping is available in many campground regions around Phoenix, ensuring you and your traveling party will enjoy every moment of sleeping out under the stars. Further north, private tours of the Grand Canyon are available by helicopter or Jeep, or you can schedule a private hot air balloon sunrise excursion. Thrilling whitewater rafting awaits you on the Salt River or choose to spend a more relaxing day on the Salt River tubing with your group. For a special after-dark activity, explore the desert at night to view wildlife and delight in the brilliant starry night sky.

Seeking adrenaline-driven activities? Then schedule an afternoon of exotic car racing in Chandler (featuring Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches), or drive a Nascar or Indy car in Avondale! Live the dream of being a fighter pilot by flying in “air combat missions” with exhilarating tandem flying experiences through the skies over Phoenix. Or let someone else do the flying and plan a private sunset helicopter tour of the breathtaking skyline and desert landscapes.

Hiking opportunities abound in Phoenix; remember to get out early and bring plenty of water along. Camelback Mountain boasts two tricky trails, but with a 1,200-foot elevation rise, the effort is well worth the views from the top. Camelback has become one of the most popular urban hiking spots in Phoenix, so weekday adventures are a good choice. South Mountain Park and Preserve offers 50 miles of trails just minutes from the city. Another favorite, Papago Park, is minutes from downtown and home to the Phoenix Zoo, numerous parks, fishing lagoons, and hiking trails.

If pushing G-force limits or hiking the hillsides is not on the agenda for you, then allow Phoenix to draw you in with plentiful prospects for relaxation. Spas dot the landscape of Phoenix and the surrounding cities, with many located on the grounds of luxurious resorts such as The Phoenician or the Arizona Biltmore. Forbes four-star rated Aji Spa or The Centre for Well-being are highly rated, popular choices, as well.

During the heat of mid-day, escape indoors to investigate the one-of-a-kind-collection of world instruments at the Musical Instrument Museum, or view the Southwest’s largest fine art assemblage on display at the Phoenix Art Museum. Art lovers will certainly want to plan a trip to enjoy the First Friday art festival that happens in Phoenix on the first Friday of every month. From 6:00pm – 10:00pm over 70 galleries and art-related spaces are open to the public. The Heard Museum offers visitors an immersive and educational experience, featuring exhibits of the culture and history of 22 regional Native American tribes.

Unique to Phoenix is the winter home of masterful architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. The home is named Taliesin West, it is a National Historic Landmark, and much of the structure was crafted using rocks and sand from the desert washes that surround it. Functioning as an architectural school and open year-round for tours, the house provides remarkable views of the surrounding deserts. (The summer nights tours are especially spectacular!) Visitors will feel inspired as they walk through the many rooms, gardens, and Wright’s entertainment pavilion.

Old Town Scottsdale features fun shopping and nightlife, with plenty of southwestern art, hip eateries, and after-dark dancing. Other can’t-miss dining opportunities in Phoenix include James Beard award-winning restaurants at Heritage Square, and the restaurant at the Sanctuary Camelback Resort (run by celebrity-chef Beau MacMillan), Elements. Additional outstanding five-star dining in the Phoenix area includes Durant’s, Binkley’s Restaurant, and Kai. Every high-end resort in the region has their own exclusive dining options, too, such as the Different Pointe of View restaurant, set high on a hill in the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs resort.