Girl sitting on red rock formations in black romper outfit — Hanging out at the Hole in the Rock in Phoenix. Click on my photos to pin on Pinterest!

Visiting Phoenix, Arizona is fun no matter what time of year! This blog will be all about what to do on your visit. I’ll go over the best hikes, where to stay, where to eat, and my favorite things to do around Phoenix, Arizona.

Best Time to Visit Phoenix

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding areas many times. Shout out to my amazing Aunt Lisa for showing me around and always being the best host! It’s so nice to escape the cold and get some sunshine, especially during the winter or spring months. My favorite time to visit is the spring, because the weather is hot, but not too hot and the cacti are blooming. I’ve also visited during the summer, and I’ve enjoyed that as well! You just have to be a bit more strategic if you’re hiking or doing outdoor activities, like wearing appropriate clothing, leaving earlier in the morning, and drinking plenty of water. The Arizona heat can get very intense. No matter what season you visit, there is plenty to do!

Couple hugging and smiling in private outdoor pool — Hanging out poolside in Arizona

This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Erin Molstad is a participant in the Tripadvisor, Expedia, and VRBO Affiliate Programs, affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to tripadvisor.com, expedia.com, vrbo.com, and affiliated sites at no cost to you. I only recommend services I believe in and appreciate your support!

Where to Stay Around Phoenix

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort are both amazing and popular resorts to stay at. These resorts have all the amenities, like lush golf courses, relaxing spas, great pools, and even a waterpark!

If you’re looking for something more low-key, a vacation rental with a pool is a great choice. Check out these homes around Phoenix with a private pool!

Phoenix vacation rental with putting green and pool

For large groups, I recommend this vacation rental with a heated pool, putting green, fire pit, pool table, and a total of 5 bedrooms. My family stayed here and we loved it! Everyone had their own bedroom and we were entertained even if we were just lounging around the house.

Wherever you decide to stay, I recommend a rental car to get around. Check out affordable rental cars here.

Best Hikes Around Phoenix

Since I’ve explored around this city with someone who lives in the area, I’ve become pretty familiar with some great things to do while in Phoenix. One thing that we always do while visiting is hike!

Blonde hiker standing on red rock near a cactus overlooking Phoenix — Hiking Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain is the most iconic Phoenix hike and I highly recommend tackling it. This hike is considered challenging on Alltrails, so you’ll want to be prepared before hiking it. Not only is the climb difficult in many spots, but the heat can make this hike even more dangerous. If you’re planning on hiking Camelbak Mountain, make sure to start early and bring lots of water! The views from the top are absolutely stunning and for me, it’s well worth the adventure.

Take this hike seriously. People have to be rescued from Camelback Mountain quite often, suffering from heat exhaustion. You don’t want this to happen to you and your group! Remember, Phoenix temps can get well over 100 degrees. Check out this guided hiking tour if you’re looking to hike with a knowledgeable guide who is also a trained EMT or wilderness first responder. Stay safe out there!

Three sisters smiling wearing hiking gear and sunglasses — Telegraph Pass lookout with my sisters

Telegraph Pass

Telegraph Pass is another favorite hike of ours. This trail is located in the South Mountain Preserve, just outside Phoenix. Telegraph Pass trail is rated moderate on Alltrails and is more family friendly than Camelback Mountain. As for any Arizona hike, make sure to bring a lot of water. Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful stone lookout over Phoenix.

Couple celebrating making it to the top of a summit with mountains in the background — Summit of Gila Trail with Ross

Gila Trail

Near Telegraph Pass is another great hike, the Gila Trail. This trail will get your heart pumping as it’s pretty steep to the top, but worth it! It’s considered moderate on Alltrails. Personally, I think this trail is harder than Telegraph Pass, as it’s longer and steeper. The top provides amazing views of the surrounding mountains and if you go during the spring, you’ll see the cacti blooming.

Hole in the Rock

If you’re not into hiking but still want a great view of the city, visit Hole in the Rock right in Phoenix! This is a popular tourist attraction, but for a good reason. The rock formations are so cool! And of course the view is beautiful. This is a great stop to get some photos while in Phoenix.

Visit Old Town Scottsdale

I love to shop, and one of the coolest places to shop while visiting Phoenix is Old Town Scottsdale. Just a short drive away from Phoenix, you’ll find a fun variety of stores and restaurants here. I love to check out the Native American jewelry and treasures, made by local artists.

Old Town Scottsdale is also known for their nightlife. You can find a relaxing saloon or even stay up all night at one of their nightclubs. Old Town Scottsdale has a little something for everyone!

Desert Botanical Garden

No matter what time of year you’re visiting, don’t miss the Desert Botanical Garden. It’s located right by Hole in the Rock, so you can visit both during the same outing. The Desert Botanical Garden is a beautiful display of desert landscape and they always have fun exhibits and experiences throughout the year, like Music in the Garden, Light Bloom, and Dog Days. Make sure to check it out!

Hand holding a polaroid photo of smiling couple in front of blue pool waves — Pool day to escape the Arizona heat

Spa Day at The Revive Spa

The Arizona sun can be brutal, so if you’re looking to escape, I recommend a spa day at The Revive Spa at JW Marriott Desert Ridge. Not only can you enjoy a relaxing massage and facial, but you can float in the pool, detox in the sauna, or grab a bite to eat at their bistro. This spa is open to anyone, so you don’t have to be a JW Marriott Desert Ridge guest to enjoy it. I highly recommend a spa day here!

Baseball Spring Training

A fun activity in the spring is watching your favorite baseball team practice and train for the upcoming season. I’ve watched the Brewers’ Spring Training at the American Family Fields of Phoenix, and it was so fun! We grabbed some drinks and hung out at the baseball field for the day. If you’re a baseball fan, I definitely recommend it. Check to see if your team is training in Phoenix this spring.

Banana peacan french toast from The Farm at South Mountain — Banana pecan french toast at The Farm at South Mountain

Where to Eat Around Phoenix

Phoenix has a lot of great restaurants to check out. Use my list if you’re looking for some inspiration for good eats.

The Farm at South Mountain

My favorite spot to eat around Phoenix is The Farm at South Mountain. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a whole experience! Depending on what time of day you go, you’ll get a different restaurant experience. We went for brunch and had a laid back atmosphere and enjoyed our delicious food at a picnic table under the pecan trees. The food is made fresh from everything they grow and raise on their farm. After our brunch, we strolled around the farm looking at all their gardens and animals. It’s such a beautiful place! They also have a gift shop and even have a space for weddings and events.

Biscuits

I love breakfast and brunch, and another delicious restaurant I recommend is Biscuits. This is the perfect spot to stop at after your hike to refuel. My aunt always orders the Champion Pancakes, which are filled with granola, blueberries, almonds, and cinnamon. They’re so good! Banana Nutella French Toast and of course their biscuits are also fan favorites.

There are a few Biscuits locations around Phoenix. Our go-to is the Biscuits on Elliot Rd. It’s super cute with that classic diner feel.

Los Taquitos

Another great restaurant along Elliot Rd is Los Taquitos. This Mexican restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, so you know they have to be good! I loved their AZ Style Burrito. Los Taquitos is seriously delicious.

Queen Creek Olive Mill

If you’re ok driving a little outside of Phoenix, you should take the trip to Queen Creek Olive Mill. It’s about a 45 minute drive Southeast, but you can spend a few hours here tasting olive oil, grabbing a bite to eat, and touring the olive mill.

Queen Creek produces Arizona’s only extra virgin olive oil and they have a ton of varieties to choose from as well as many other goodies. They also have a kitchen with fresh farm-to-table cuisine like charcuterie boards, sandwiches, pizzas, gelato, and even breakfast! Our food was delicious and we enjoyed tasting all the extra virgin olive oil varieties. We even shipped some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and honey back home.

Charcuterie board at Queen Creek Olive Mill

Day Trips from Phoenix

If you have extra time while in Phoenix and are looking for some day trip ideas, I’ve got you covered. Below is my list of fun day trips around Phoenix.

Couple side hugging with hands in the air standing on red rock bridge facing away looking at the mountainous scenery — Devil’s Bridge Hike in Sedona, Arizona

Sedona

Definitely make a trip to Sedona! I’ve done a day trip to Sedona from Phoenix multiple times. It’s certainly a FULL day, so it could be made into a multiple day trip if you want to spend more time in Sedona. Sedona from Phoenix is about 2 hours, so when we go, we leave very early in the morning. Leaving early in the morning allows us plenty of time to spend a full day hiking in Sedona.

I wrote a whole blog about My Favorite Photography and Hiking Spots Around Sedona, so go give that a read if you plan to make a visit. Sedona is just so beautiful and is one of my favorite places to hike, so if you get the opportunity to explore it, definitely take it!

Verde Canyon Railroad

Just under 2 hours North of Phoenix is the beautiful Verde Canyon in Clarkdale, Arizona. Here, you can take a train ride through the Canyon and enjoy the views, take a ton of photos, or just relax inside with bar service. The Verde Canyon Railroad is a great family or group activity and they have some fun specials, like Chocolate Lover’s Special for Valentine’s Day, Ales on Rails, and a Magical Christmas Journey train ride. The Verde Canyon Railroad is one of my grandma’s favorite tours!

I took the Verde Canyon train ride with my family. We booked the standard train ride and we loved it. The seating on the train was incredibly comfortable, and we were served complimentary snacks and champagne. We kicked off the train ride with a champagne toast to a great day on the railroad. How fun!

The Verde Canyon Railroad crew were all very friendly and guided us outside when the best photo ops were happening. If you’re a train lover, photography enthusiast, or just want a relaxing day of sightseeing in Arizona, this is the activity for you.

The Grand Canyon

Another cool day trip is of course the Grand Canyon! This trip is around 3.5 hours North of Phoenix, so again, you’ll likely have a FULL day and have to leave early. Make sure to purchase an entrance pass before visiting. You can find more information here. If you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon, this is a must! You’ll be blown away by the size and beauty.

Saguaro National Park

About 2 hours Southeast from Phoenix over in Tuscan is the incredible Saguaro National Park. It’s named Saguaro National Park for a good reason. You’ll see the most Saguaro cacti you’ve ever seen in your whole life here. There are over 2 million! It’s pretty cool. During our time there, we hiked Gould Mine Loop and Signal Hill trail. We were surrounded by cacti and even saw petroglyphs carved into rocks. Both of these hikes were short, and a great way to sightsee. Overall, this was a fun day trip from Phoenix and I recommend checking it out if you have some extra time.

If you plan to visit, make sure to wear proper clothes for the desert and stay aware of your surroundings. You don’t want to get caught up in a cactus! Don’t forget an entry pass. You can find more information here.

Overall thoughts on Phoenix, Arizona

Overall, Phoenix has so many fun things to do and the hikes and landscape are incredible! Phoenix has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for relaxation, nightlife, or adventurous activities. I highly recommend a vacation here!