If you are seeking adventures under the blazing desert sun consider a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. This capital city is known for breathtaking views of the mountains and the stunning Sonoran Desert welcomes you with open prickly arms. Although it is one of the wettest and greenest deserts in North America you still need to bring plenty of water whenever you venture outside for physical activities. The Greater Phoenix area is packed with more parks and nature preserves than any other major city in the United States and over 22 million people travel to Phoenix annually. I have visited Phoenix multiple times and still not experienced all the unique activities this desert city has to offer. Below are a few of my favorite nature and history inspired activities to get you started on your journey.
Hike Up A Mountain
Phoenix is known for exceptional hiking trails with magnificent panoramic views. There are endless mountains and routes to choose from including Camelback Mountain, located 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix. Here you will find Echo Canyon Trail, a steep and rocky trail with handrails for assistance and a 360-degree view at the end; or hike Cholla Trail over large boulders. You can also check out a regional park in the Greater Phoenix area and hike the Blevins Trail in Usery Mountain Regional Park or the Waterfall Trail in White Tank Mountain Regional Park and admire the Saguaros while searching for ancient petroglyph carvings.
Fly Among The Birds
Both locals and visitors to Phoenix dream about stunning sunrise and sunset hot air balloon opportunities. There are several hot air balloon companies to choose from including Hot Air Expeditions and Rainbow Ryders. Grab a coffee and venture out into the dark desert before dawn to meet your flight crew and watch them inflate balloons using motorized fans and then a propane-fired burner to heat the nylon. It’s standing room only in the sturdy wicker baskets so hang on as you start to glide higher and higher into the sky. There are several packages to choose from and I love the adrenaline-charged sunrise option and watching it rise over the mountains and desert. Definitely bring your camera for this adventure.
Rumble Through The Sonoran Desert
If whipping past cacti up and down mountain trails at fast speeds get yours adrenaline pumping you need to ride through the Sonoran Desert. We opted for the guided UTV tour with a driver and he was kind enough to stop and take photos of us at all the best viewpoints. For the brave souls wanting to personally get behind the wheel, Arizona Outdoor Fun offers guided and unguided ATV/UTV tours. But the benefit of having a private guide is we also learned about the native wildlife in the area, an abandoned mining town, Native American ruins and the massive Saguaro cactus worthy of every selfie you will take. They provide all safety gear so all you need to do is bring your sense of adventure.
Kayak Along Lake Pleasant
Peoria, an adorable town on the border of Phoenix and still part of the Greater Phoenix area, is the perfect day trip. Bring your bathing suit and a picnic lunch and head out to Scorpion Bay located at Lake Pleasant. Marina services include hourly and daily boat rentals such as kayaks and ski-boats and on site dining. Glide along the shimmering lake with striking views in all directions and you may even see wildlife roaming free and staring right at you. Scorpion Bay is part of Lake Pleasant Regional Park so you can eat lunch among nature followed by a hike or desert walk. The park offers several programs and events such as a scorpion search trail walk with an expert guide through the wild desert.
Learn The History Of The People
Like any destination I visit I try to learn the history of the people and the land I am occupying. Heard Museum located downtown is a must-see attraction if you want to educate yourself about what happened to American Indian children and families. Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories is an extremely powerful installation that opened in 2000 and continues to educate visitors and locals alike. My son and I walked through the hallways slowly and stared at the powerful black and white photos of children much younger than him that were taken from their homes by the US government in order to assimilate American Indians into society by placing them in boarding schools. Many of these kids went years without seeing their families and this still impacts Native communities today. To understand a county’s present situation you must first learn what happened in the past. Also at Heard Museum are collections of stunning artwork by American Indian artists of the Southwest. Exhibitions showcase traditional and contemporary art and tell fascinating stories of American Indian people.
