What are the best things to do in Arizona?

Arizona offers an extraordinary range of experiences. Visit the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Hike Camelback Mountain or Cathedral Rock in Sedona. Explore Old Town Scottsdale's 100+ art galleries and boutiques. Tour ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Experience the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. Attend Cactus League Spring Training games across the Phoenix metro area. Drive the Arizona stretch of historic Route 66 through Flagstaff, Williams, and Seligman.

What is the best time to visit Arizona?

The best time to visit Arizona depends on your destination. For Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, October through April offers ideal temperatures (60-85°F) and is peak season for golf, hiking, and outdoor dining. Spring (March-April) is perfect for Cactus League baseball and wildflower blooms. Summer is best for northern Arizona - Sedona, Flagstaff (elevation 7,000 ft), and the Grand Canyon stay 15-20°F cooler than the desert. Fall brings pleasant temperatures statewide and fewer crowds.

What are the best neighborhoods in Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale is the vibrant heart of the city, packed with art galleries along the Scottsdale ArtWalk, upscale dining at FnB and Citizen Public House, and lively nightlife. The Scottsdale Arts District features the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Scottsdale Civic Center. North Scottsdale offers luxury desert resorts like The Phoenician and Four Seasons, championship golf at TPC Scottsdale, and stunning McDowell Sonoran Preserve trails. South Scottsdale has a growing craft brewery and restaurant scene along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt.

What are the best hiking trails in Arizona?

Arizona's top hiking trails include Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon (9.5 miles to the Colorado River), Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon Trail in Phoenix (1.2 miles, strenuous), Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona (1.2 miles with red-rock scrambling), Humphreys Peak Trail near Flagstaff (Arizona's highest point at 12,633 ft), Havasu Falls (10 miles to stunning turquoise waterfalls), and Tom's Thumb Trail in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. For easier hikes, try Papago Park's Hole in the Rock in Phoenix or the Devil's Bridge Trail in Sedona.

What are the best restaurants in Phoenix?

Phoenix's dining scene features James Beard Award nominees and diverse cuisines. Top picks include Binkley's Restaurant in Cave Creek for contemporary American tasting menus, Barrio Café for elevated Mexican cuisine, Pizzeria Bianco (nationally acclaimed pizza), Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass for Native American-inspired fine dining, and Hana Japanese Eatery for omakase. For casual dining, try The Larder + The Delta for Southern comfort food, Tacos Chiwas for Chihuahua-style tacos, and Cornish Pasty Co. for eclectic pub food. Phoenix also boasts vibrant food halls like The Churchill and Uptown Farmers Market.

What are the best desert resorts in Arizona?

Arizona is home to world-renowned desert resorts. The Phoenician in Scottsdale offers a luxury spa, golf course, and Camelback Mountain views. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain features boutique casita-style rooms and the acclaimed elements restaurant. The Boulders Resort in Carefree sits among dramatic 12-million-year-old granite formations. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North provides secluded desert luxury with Pinnacle Peak views. Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson is a top-ranked wellness destination. L'Auberge de Sedona offers creekside luxury amid Sedona's red rocks.

What events are happening in Arizona in 2026?

Arizona's 2026 event calendar features major highlights: Cactus League Spring Training (February-March) with 15 MLB teams across 10 Phoenix-area stadiums. The WM Phoenix Open golf tournament (February) at TPC Scottsdale is the best-attended event in golf. Scottsdale Culinary Festival (April) showcases Arizona's dining scene. The Arizona Renaissance Festival (February-March) runs weekends in Gold Canyon. Sedona International Film Festival (February) draws filmmakers worldwide. Country Thunder Arizona (April) brings four days of country music to Florence. Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns provide year-round professional sports action.

Is Arizona good for a family vacation?

Arizona is an excellent family destination year-round. Top family attractions include the Phoenix Zoo (one of the largest nonprofit zoos in the U.S.), Arizona Science Center, Children's Museum of Phoenix, and OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale. For outdoor fun, visit Slide Rock State Park near Sedona, Lake Powell for houseboat adventures, or Kartchner Caverns State Park for underground tours. The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger program engages kids at all ages. Many Scottsdale and Phoenix resorts offer kids' clubs and family pool areas. Tucson's Pima Air & Space Museum has 400+ aircraft on display.

What are the best day trips from Phoenix?

Phoenix is ideally located for Arizona day trips. Sedona (2 hours north) offers red-rock hiking and vortex sites. The Grand Canyon South Rim is a 3.5-hour drive. Tucson (1.5 hours south) features Saguaro National Park and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Jerome, a former copper mining ghost town, sits 1.5 hours north with art galleries and the Jerome Grand Hotel. Prescott (1.5 hours) has Whiskey Row saloons and Watson Lake. Montezuma Castle (1.5 hours) showcases 800-year-old cliff dwellings. Apache Trail east of Phoenix offers Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake, and the Superstition Mountains.

What is there to do in Sedona?

Sedona offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure, spirituality, and arts. Hike to Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, or Bell Rock for iconic red-rock views. Visit the four main vortex sites (Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon) believed to radiate healing energy. Explore Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village for galleries and Southwestern art. Take a Pink Jeep Tour through the backcountry. Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the red rocks. Sedona's dining scene includes Elote Cafe (Mexican-inspired), Mariposa (Latin-inspired with panoramic views), and Cress on Oak Creek. The Sedona International Film Festival runs annually in February.

Arizona Events - Concerts, Sports, Festivals & Things to Do | Come See Arizona

Live event crowd in Arizona with desert sunset in background

Arizona Events

Concerts, sports, festivals, and things to do across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, and beyond.

Arizona hosts hundreds of events year-round, from Cactus League spring training across 10 Valley stadiums to Country Thunder music festival in Florence, First Friday art walks in downtown Phoenix, and the Scottsdale Culinary Festival. Events are updated weekly and filtered to show only upcoming dates.

Showing 9 events

APR14

Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres

Chase Field · Phoenix

6:40 PM

APR15

Sports

Phoenix Suns vs Golden State Warriors

Footprint Center · Phoenix

7:00 PM

APR17

Family

Mesa Riverview Outdoor Movie Night

Riverview Park · Mesa

7:00 PM

APR18

Music

Concert Series at Ak-Chin Pavilion

Ak-Chin Pavilion · Phoenix

7:00 PM

APR18

Arts

Sedona Arts Festival

Sedona Red Rock High School · Sedona

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM · through Apr 19

APR18

Music

Chandler Jazz Festival

Downtown Chandler Stage · Chandler

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

APR24

Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Francisco Giants

Chase Field · Phoenix

6:40 PM

APR25

Music

Live Music at Desert Diamond Arena

Desert Diamond Arena · Glendale

7:30 PM

MAY1

Arts

First Friday Phoenix Art Walk

Roosevelt Row Arts District · Phoenix

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Events last updated: 2026-04-11

Events sourced from Eventbrite and PredictHQ. Some events are manually curated by the Come See Arizona editorial team. Currently showing curated events. API sources will load when configured.

Come See Arizona - Your Guide to Things to Do, Events, Dining & Travel in ArizonaCome See Arizona is the definitive guide to Arizona travel. Explore things to do, events, dining, neighborhoods, and itineraries across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Tucson, Flagstaff, and beyond.Featured Stories

Celebrate Arizona's Rich Heritage - Explore Arizona's cultural traditions from Native American heritage to modern celebrations.

Ancient Civilizations of the Southwest - Discover ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, and Canyon de Chelly.

Scottsdale's Art District Guide - Over 100 galleries, Thursday ArtWalk, and world-class Southwestern art.

Route 66 Through Arizona - Drive the longest remaining stretch of the Mother Road through the Painted Desert and beyond.

Upcoming Events in Arizona 2026

Cactus League Spring Training - February-March 2026, Phoenix Metro Area

Scottsdale Culinary Festival - April 2026, Scottsdale

Arizona Renaissance Festival - February-March 2026, Gold Canyon

Sedona International Film Festival - February 2026, Sedona

WM Phoenix Open Golf Tournament - February 2026, TPC Scottsdale

Arizona 3-Day Itineraries

3 Days of Arizona's Natural Wonders - Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley

3 Days of Arts and Culture - Phoenix museums, Scottsdale galleries, Native heritage

3 Days of Arizona Dining - Tucson gastronomy, Phoenix food scene

3 Days of Golf Paradise - Scottsdale courses and desert resorts

3 Days of Family Fun - Phoenix Zoo, Children's Museum, water parks

3 Days of Old West History - Tombstone, Bisbee, mining towns

Arizona Neighborhoods

Old Town Scottsdale - Arts & Shopping

Downtown Phoenix - Urban Core

Sedona Red Rocks - Spiritual Retreat

Tucson Historic District - Cultural Heritage

Paradise Valley - Luxury Living

Flagstaff - Mountain Town

Bisbee - Artistic Colony

Prescott - Old West Charm

Phoenix's Best Rooftop Bars

Arizona's Best Hiking Trails

Best Desert Resorts & Spas