Cold weather has been sweeping the nation but the gorgeous state of Arizona offers warm temps with plenty to do outdoors and indoors. You can always head up north to checkout some of the beautiful colder weather and snow, but stick to the city of Phoenix and surrounding areas to get a break from the winter weather and enjoy some sunshine along with fun activities.
Courtesy of experiencescottsdale.com
The Desert Botanical Garden is a magical and peaceful place to visit in Phoenix and features the world’s finest collection of arid plants. The unique outdoor setting has more then 50,000 plants from deserts around the world and includes five different trails. You can go on a tour, attend special events, see seasonal exhibits, rock out to concerts and so much more. Plus there is a gift and plant shop along with a restaurant and café nearby.
Not far from the Desert Botanical Garden is the Phoenix Zoo. It is an ideal place to visit, especially in the winter when the weather is perfect. The zoo has been in operation for over 50 years is home to a variety of animals from around the world. Guests can observe different animals like the Sumatran tiger, giraffes, monkey and more. The zoo also has a Stringray Bay and 4-D theater that is a lot of fun for the whole family. The Phoenix is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the nation and is dedicated to conservation by providing experiences to motivate people to care for the natural world. During the holidays, the zoo transforms into a winter wonderland when thousands of sparkling lights take over the zoo.
Courtesy of travelingcanucks.com
Phoenix also hosts a handful of festivals and offers a ton of fabulous shopping and delicious restaurants. If you want to stick to outdoor activities, there are hiking trails all over the valley. If you are looking for some sporting events, the Phoenix Suns play in Downtown Phoenix and the Arizona Cardinals play not far from downtown in Glendale.
The weather is usually always consistent and gorgeous with temperatures ranging from the lower 60s to high 70s, depending on the day. But there is no shortage of sunshine and there is always something to do.
Feature image courtesy of phoenixchildrensfoundation.org.
Categories: Arizona, Fun Stuff, Sightseeing
