Top Things to do in Central Arizona
Top Hotels in Central Arizona
- 1. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 2. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport
- 3. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Happy Valley
- 4. Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas
- 5. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
- 6. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
- 7. Gila River Resorts & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass
- 8. The McCormick Scottsdale
- 9. The Wigwam
- 10. Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Tempe
What to do and see in Central Arizona, Central Arizona: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona
1. Hale Centre Theatre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 300 reviews
Arizona’s Premier Family Theatre in Gilbert since 2003! 350-seat theater-in-the-round putting on family-friendly shows throughout the year.
Reviewed By 2bsuzyQ - Ontario, Canada
I booked tickets for a BFF bday getaway in Gilbert Arizona. I choose this after reading reviews here and looking at their website. I admit we had a slight concern when we saw the sea of grey hair in the audience, but it was a 5 star performance. I almost didn't buy tickets ahead assuming there would be seats in a community theater, but I'm glad I did get them ahead as it was a full house. I Would do will call if I go to Gilbert again. I actually forgot my tickets ( I live in Canada) There was no problem looking it up. I haven't been to a round theater before and it's a must try. While the seats were a very slightly old style squished, ( & air freshener In the bathroom would be a good idea) it did appear that every seat had a good view. It was neat to see how the director placed everyone so no one feels like they missed out on any action. I didn't take a star off for being squishy as it was a great night and it was a nice temperature. The price point is fine. All the staff were friendly and appeared happy. The drinks & snacks were reasonable priced which I truly appreciate. I loathe price gouging at theaters. There was free water as well. No problems with parking and there are several restaurants around. The cast for John Loves Mary surprised me with their talent and pulled me right in. They stayed outside to thank people and came together for our picture- that I will share if my friend ever emails it to me. ( hint hint ????????) There was wheelchair seating available. I was I, pressed with all of the actors, director and behind the scene staff. I will send a short out to the actors and recommend any future shows they may participate in. From the program they were Kim Stephenson Smith, Matthew r. Harris, David Michael Paul, Laura Soldan, Justin Howell, Juli Gore, Joey Morrison, Tom Endicott & Bobby Jean Owensby. Bravo!
2. Musical Instrument Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,330 reviews
The World's Only Global Musical Instrument Museum. Home of the MIM Music Theater--a 300-seat acoustically superb performance space--as well as the award-winning Café Allegro (open 11 am - 2 pm daily) and the MIM Museum Store. The average guest spends nearly four hours at MIM. Please allow plenty of time to fully enjoy MIM's galleries and exhibits. Open daily, 9 am - 5 pm; Closed Thanksgiving; Open Christmas, 11 am - 5 pm. General Admission: $20; Teens (ages 13-19): $15; Children (ages 4-12): $10; Children 3 and under: Free. Hours and prices are subject to change.
Reviewed By P1520TPandrewk
1. Expect to spend at least five hours or more! 2. Wear comfortable shoes! 3. Take your camera, phone charger etc.. 4. For Musicians, music lovers etc... 5. Bucket List Item 6. All styles of music represented 7. 777 Jackpot Rating! Go and see this place!
3. Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 184 reviews
Reviewed By MsCanuck24
Hidden in an unassuming warehouse building, a labyrinth of galleries exhibits thousands of paintings and sculptures from the Basha family's private collection. I spend hours there upon each visit. Admission is free, so please donate generously. It will be the most extraordinary collection of western art that you will ever see!
4. Arizona Copper Art Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 494 reviews
--Winner of the Arizona Tourism Award!-- The Copper Art Museum is one of the most interesting in the USA, purposely located in the former copper town of Clarkdale - a USA City Beautiful Movement town founded in 1912. Clarkdale was built by Senator W. A. Clark "America's Copper King." The collection on display is massive with over 5000 artifacts and hundreds dating to the 1500-1800's, Galleries; Special Historical Information, Military Art, Art and Architecture, Kitchen Collection, Drinking Collection and Winery and Distillery Collection. You will be amazed by this museum!
Reviewed By tbone4 - Scottsdale, United States
An education around every corner. This museum is immaculately maintained and has wonderful self guided signs throughout. The feeling is cool, quiet and peaceful. They have worked hard to create this space. Plan on spending a couple of hours if you want to stroll through....longer if you want to read every sign. Every question you might have about copper and this museum is answered somewhere within these walls. Loved it! There's few places to eat while in Clarkdale. However we took a stroll around this cute little town. We went back to historic Cottonwood for lunch. There's a lot of places to stop there.
5. Douglas Mansion
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 233 reviews
This former home of a mining baron became a state park and a museum in 1965.
Reviewed By AZJoeW - Sun City, United States
The Douglas Mansion is the main feature of the Jerome State Historic Park. This is well worth the stop. It is a self-guided tour of the mansion and there is a 30-minute film about the history of Jerome, AZ. The views are also spectacular looking north towards Sedona. Unlike the rest of Jerome, parking here is easy.
6. Heard Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,899 reviews
The foremost showcase of Native American art and culture in the U.S., the Heard Museum reveals the cultures of tribes in the region through exhibits, demonstrations and live performances and displays the work of contemporary Native American artists. Artists demonstrate their work during the week and musicians perform on most weekends.
Reviewed By MsInformedALWAYS - Las Vegas, United States
This place was a real surprise, nice architecture, beautifully displayed/housed native America goods from clothes, baskets, paintings, and general artifacts in excellent condition. Very well laid out with a nice bookstore AND gift shop (a bit pricey) Most enjoyable visit and stands out above and beyond most I've seen (I'm a fan of native American indian works - I've been to a half dozen wonderful museums...)
7. AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Home of the Centennial Museum, celebrating more than 100 years of Arizona history. Exhibits focus on the history and growth of Central Arizona, particularly the metropolitan Phoenix area. Walk through exhibits that take you from territorial days through WWI and WWII, to modern times. Hands on exhibits for kids, gift shop and special programming throughout the year. New exhibits opening regularly.
Reviewed By mountainMissouri
The museum is a beautiful building with huge saguaros and other cactuses in front. The displays are interesting and informative about all aspects and periods of Arizona history. The displays are set up on such away that families would enjoy them. Also enjoyed a special exhibit of photographs of homeless people in the Phoenix area along with their stories. Very meaningful and insightful exhibit.
8. Jerome State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 574 reviews
The Douglas Mansion has been an eye-catching landmark in Jerome since 1916, when James S. Douglas built it on the hill just above his Little Daisy Mine. This former home is now a museum devoted to the history of the Jerome area and the Douglas family. The museum features photographs, artifacts and minerals in addition to a video presentation and a 3-D model of the town with its underground mines. There are more displays outside along with a picnic area offering a beautiful panoramic view of the Verde Valley.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
My wife and I love to visit ghost towns, the remains of old mining camps in California, Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. One of our favorite stops is Jerome, Arizona, a 45-minute drive from Sedona, across the Verde Valley. Established in 1965, the Jerome State Historic Park has survived budget cuts that closed the park from February 27, 2009, to October 14, 2010. Today, it is open seven days a week thanks to additional funding by Yavapai County, the city of Jerome, the Jerome Historical Society and the Douglas family, which built the Douglas Mansion in 1916 that remains the major attraction in the park. The mansion was built by Jimmy Douglas, the head of a family of mining entrepreneurs, on a hill above his Little Daisy Mine. It features a museum with photographs of the family, the town of Jerome during its mining years, mining artifacts, minerals, antique mining equipment, a video detailing the history of the town and a 3-D reproduction of the town showing the mine shafts underneath the town. The mansion also features a wine cellar, billiard room, marble shower, steam heat and a central vacuum system which was much ahead of its time. Constructed of adobe bricks made on the site, the Douglas Mansion is the largest adobe structure in Arizona. Outside, a picnic area offers a panoramic view of the Verde Valley and Verde River and the Red Rocks of the Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon region. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
9. Arizona Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 356 reviews
The Arizona Museum of Natural History is the premier natural history museum in Arizona. It is dedicated to inspire wonder, respect, and understanding for the natural and cultural history of the Southwest. Explore Arizona and the Southwest from the creation of the earth 4.5 Billion years ago to the present. See the origins of life on earth, meteorites and minerals. In Dinosaur Hall, discover some of the biggest dinosaurs that ever lived, and on Dinosaur Mountain see how some appeared and sounded in a natural context. In a Walk through Time, explore ancient Arizona's Paleozoic Seas, Triassic Petrified Forest, monsters of the Cretaceous Seas, and the first animals to fly. "Rulers of the Prehistoric Skies", our newest exhibit, presents the amazing diversity of Pterosaurs, the flying reptiles of the Mesozoic. Neither dinosaurs nor birds, Pterosaurs ruled the skies from about 225 to 65 million years ago.
Reviewed By mostlywheels - Paris, France
We did not have very high expectations when we saw how inexpensive the entry fee was... but WOW! This place has so many dinosaurs. It was very easy to navigate with a whee chair and even spaces we thought would not be accessible were made large enough to accommodate a standard chair. Plenty of hands on activities to keep everyone busy, including panning for gold! The exhibit on mining was very well done and gave people a real sense of how dark and scary it was. I highly recommend this if you have kids. Or if you are an adult who loves dinosaurs, old west history, minerals and rocks, and to have fun. We were so excited to arrive when an archaeologist was present with a series of skulls and was answering questions about the evolution of humans.
10. State Farm Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 876 reviews
Reviewed By DeanONKW - Kitchener, Canada
I enjoyed this tour. The stadium itself is quite interesting and the guide was good at engaging the entire tour group. One highlight was seeing the difference between the home team locker room and the visiting team locker room. Another was understanding how the real grass turf is rolled outdoors like a "giant lasagna pan". Seeing the press box and a luxury sweet were interesting. The only aggravation regarding this tour was Ticketmaster. Tickets are available on-site for no service fee but I was staying in another city and I knew tours could fill up so I had to use Ticketmaster. I believe the total cost was 250% of the list price due to all of the stupid fees!
