Points of Interest in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area:

• Desert Botanical Garden For more than 70 years, the Desert Botanical Garden has been teaching and inspiring visitors from the local community and around the world, providing research, exhibits and more designed to help us understand, protect and preserve the desert's natural beauty. Today, the garden features 50,000+ plant displays showcased in beautiful outdoor exhibits. With approximately fifty acres under cultivation, something is always blooming at the Desert Botanical Garden.
• Phoenix Zoo Voted one of the nation's top 5 zoos for kids, the Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals including 200 endangered species and participates in 37 Species Survival Plans (SSPs) to breed and maintain endangered species populations in captivity.
• Phoenix Symphony Based in Phoenix Symphony Hall (opened in 1972, renovated in 2005, and seating 2,312), the 76-member ensemble is Arizona's only full-time, professional orchestra. The orchestra offers 275 concerts and presentations in an annual season running from September to May. Events in the second half of May 2012 include Concierto de Aranjuez and Cirque de la Symphonie.
• Arizona Science Center Arizona Science Center offers educational fun for the whole family, from pre-K to gray! From family-friendly presentations to hands-on gallery programs, get your hands on science!
• Arizona Diamondbacks In their first five seasons, the Diamondbacks won three division titles, a National League pennant, and a World Series championship in 2001. You can check them out at the Chase Field located in downtown Phoenix.
• Heard Museum The Heard Museum actively collects American Indian fine art, and a variety of paintings, drawings, prints, photography and sculpture can be found throughout the museum's galleries and grounds. Dedicated to the sensitive and accurate portrayal of Native arts and cultures, the Heard is an institution that successfully combines the stories of American Indian people from a personal perspective with the beauty of art. Partnerships with American Indian artists and tribal communities provide visitors with a distinctive perspective about the art and cultures of Native people, especially those from the Southwest.
• Taliesin West Frank Lloyd Wright began building this desert masterpiece in 1937 as his personal winter home, studio, and architectural campus. Located on the beautiful Sonoran desert in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in northeast Scottsdale, the site offers a broad range of guided public tours. Visitors experience firsthand Wright's brilliant ability to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Lost Dutchman State Park Superstition Mountain and the Dutchman's Lost Mine are synonymous with Arizona lost mine lore. Lost Dutchman State Park is home to the Lost Dutchman Museum and the Goldfield Ghost Town.
• Arcosanti An experimental town in the desert of Arizona, built to embody Paolo Soleri's concept of arcology - the fusion of architecture with ecology. Arcosanti is an urban laboratory focused on pursuing lean alternatives to urban sprawl through innovative design with environmental accountability.
• Old Town Scottsdale Take a walk through the historic Old Town Scottsdale and get a flavor of the old west. Wooden sidewalks and rustic traditions are preserved as you tie your horse to each shop's hitching post. Browse the many quaint stores that line the streets of Old Town and you'll find a mix of traditional Western-wear retailers, Southwestern specialty shops and tasty treats.
• Greasewood Flat The original stagecoach stop between Fort McDowell and Phoenix, the Greasewood Flat bar is housed in a 120+-year-old bunkhouse. Greasewood Flat (which serves hearty burgers and some wicked libations) and the nearby Reata Pass Steakhouse are located at an elevation 2000 feet above the valley floorm making the night air 10 degrees cooler.

In addition, many parks have been established to preserve the desert landscape in areas that would otherwise quickly be developed with commercial and residential zoning. Aside from the Desert Botanical Garden listed above, the most noteworthy park is South Mountain Park, the world's largest municipal park with 16,500 acres (67 km2); others include Camelback Mountain, Sunnyslope Mountain, also known as "S" Mountain, and Piestewa Peak, which boasts dozens of miles of trails to enjoy the glory of the Sonoran Desert in relative solitude. Encanto Park, named one of the "Top 12 Best City Parks in America!" by the Forbes Magazine, is the city's largest and primary urban park, and lies just northwest of downtown Phoenix. Papago Park in east Phoenix is home to both the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo, as well as a few golf courses.