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Tips & Traps
Insider advice from Local Friends and travelers. What to do, and what to avoid, city by city.
- TipA place or a move worth it
- TrapWhat to avoid, and how
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Insider advice from Local Friends and travelers. What to do, and what to avoid, city by city.
Join RALF to share your own tips and traps
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Summer is Phoenix's low season, and many resorts price packages well below winter from roughly June to September. Look for offers with resort credits or a waived resort fee, and compare each package against the standard rate. Pick a property with a good pool and plan outdoor time early in the day before the heat…
The Arizona Biltmore opened in 1929 with precast Biltmore Blocks made on site and inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's textile blocks. Architect Albert Chase McArthur designed it, and Wright consulted for four months in 1928. Even if you stay elsewhere, the resort runs history tours that usually start in the lobby and are…
Arizona Matsuri is a free two-day Japanese cultural festival held each February at Steele Indian School Park. Expect taiko drumming, martial arts demonstrations, cosplay, food vendors and a beer and sake garden. A parade starts the day, so arrive in the morning and bring sunscreen for the open park. The Japanese…
Each March the Heard Museum holds its Indian Fair and Market, a juried weekend with Native artists from more than 100 tribal nations. Go on the first day for the best selection and buy tickets at the gate or in advance. Take Valley Metro light rail to the Encanto/Central stop, rather than hunting for parking, and…
Crescent Ballroom, in a downtown building that began as a garage in 1917, books live music nearly every night, from national touring acts to local bands. Cocina 10, the on-site kitchen, serves dinner before or after the show. Check the calendar early, because popular nights sell out. Valley Bar, a sister venue in a…
The Rhythm Room on Indian School Road has been a Phoenix blues and roots club since 1991, with national acts on its calendar most nights. Owner Bob Corritore has announced that the club will close for good on May 30, 2027, so the current season is the farewell run. Check the calendar, buy tickets for the acts you want…
Phoenix Park 'n Swap is a sprawling open-air swap meet on East Washington Street with more than 1,000 vendors and food stalls, a local fixture since the 1960s. It runs on selected days, with midweek evening and busy weekend sessions, so check the schedule first. Arrive early for parking and cooler weather, wear…
Under the federal Indian Arts and Crafts Act, art sold as Native American made must be produced by a member of a recognized tribe or a certified Indian artisan. Southwest jewelry is easy to find around Phoenix, so ask for the maker's name and tribe and get a receipt that lists both. If you are unsure, request written…
A 20-foot white pyramid stands on a hilltop in Papago Park. It is the tomb of George W. P. Hunt, Arizona's first governor, built after his wife died in 1931 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. It is one of the park's better sunset spots, with views toward the zoo and the east Valley. An…
Dobbins Lookout, at 2,330 feet, is the highest point open to the public in South Mountain Park, with views over downtown Phoenix and the Valley. A stone ramada gives shade and an observation platform labels landmarks such as Camelback Mountain. Drive the summit road or hike the Holbert Trail, about 2.5 miles one way…
The Heard Museum in Phoenix is a private museum devoted to American Indian art, founded in 1929 and holding more than 40,000 items. It is open daily from September to May, closes on Mondays in summer, and shuts for Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Arrive when it opens, give the galleries a full…
S'edav Va'aki Museum, called Pueblo Grande on older maps, is a city-run Hohokam village site near the airport. A two-thirds-mile trail passes the platform mound, a ballcourt, replica houses and a garden of local crops, so allow about an hour and a half. Stay on the marked paths and do not touch the archaeological…
The PHX Sky Train is free and runs around the clock, linking the airport terminals, the Rental Car Center and the 44th Street and Washington station. At that station an escalator takes you down to the Valley Metro platform for a train toward downtown and Tempe, with ticket machines on the station level. Light rail…
Summer monsoon storms can send water across Phoenix's washes and low dip crossings. Arizona's Stupid Motorist Law lets agencies recover rescue costs from drivers who go around a barricade and need help, and towing and repairs come on top. Check the forecast before you drive, plan a route that avoids low crossings, and…
Valley Metro stopped accepting paper passes in October 2024, so fares now run on the Valley Metro app or a reloadable Copper Card. Pick one of the two, since they cannot share an account, and scan or tap on every boarding. Cards are sold at Circle K and Safeway stores and at transit center windows, and cash one-ride…
On Silent Sundays the main road in South Mountain Park is closed to cars past the one-mile mark, so it belongs to walkers, cyclists and joggers. The closure covers the early morning on most Sundays and runs all day on the fourth Sunday of the month. Park at the Activity Complex near the gate, then climb the quiet road…
The Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area turned a former Salt River dumping ground into about 600 acres of wetlands, mesquite and cottonwood, with more than 200 bird species recorded. Start at the free Audubon Center on South Central Avenue, then follow the trails early or late in the day when birds are active and the…
The Fry Bread House on North 7th Avenue is a family-run Tohono O'odham restaurant that won a James Beard America's Classics award in 2012. Fry bread is the point here. Order it sweet with honey and powdered sugar, or savory with beans, meat and cheese. It works well for a casual lunch or takeout, and the family still…
Chino Bandido is a long-running Phoenix takeout counter on Bell Road that mixes Chinese and Mexican cooking, with Cuban and Jamaican touches. Order a combo bowl or a burrito, or put together a platter by choosing a meat, a rice and a sauce. It is open every day, so aim for mid-afternoon when the lunch crowd thins…
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