From Hiking to Spas: Top things to do in Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona offers sunshine, mountains and dozens of great golf courses for sunbirds. If you're visiting the city on business, don't spend all your free time in your hotel room. Take advantage of the year-round warm climate to enjoy more than 200 miles of hiking trails and 41,000 acres of parks and nature preserves in the Phoenix area.

If you need a break from the outdoor heat, visit one of the city's many world-class spas or museums to absorb some pampering and culture.  Vibrant and ever-changing, this is a city never comes up short on appealing options.
 

Sensational hiking

Camelback Mountain in the middle of the Phoenix Valley offers great views of the city and surrounding regions. Camelback's 2,704-foot summit is accessible via several trails, including the moderately difficult Cholla Trail and the Echo Canyon Trail which is designed for expert hikers, as it includes some scrambling and rock climbing.

The 100,000-square-mile Sonoran Desert includes the McDowell Sonoran Preserve near Scottsdale (about 12 miles from Phoenix). This huge preserve is the largest of its kind in the United States and offers visitors more than 100 miles of interconnected trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Choose from several guided tours of the preserve and surrounding areas, including jeep excursions, hot air balloon rides and rappelling adventures.

Piestewa Peak's Quartz Ridge trail, an out-and-back trail near central Phoenix, attracts fewer hikers than Camelback, but the moderate, 1.7-mile trail is kid-friendly and good for birding and nature trips. With an elevation of 1,300 to 1,800 feet, it starts out easy, with terrain becoming a little rugged near the top. The trail gets its name from the large quartz boulders found along the way and makes for interesting views every step of the way.

For a less challenging trail, the Arizona Canal Path offers an easy stroll along the 70 miles connecting Peoria to Scottsdale. Bike, walk, jog, skate or ride a horse along these trails. The walkways are paved and wheelchair accessible.
 

Peerless parks

South Mountain Park and Preserve is one of the largest municipal parks in the U.S. and covers over 16,000 acres. It’s home to the Ma Ha Tauk Trail, Gila and Guadalupe Mountain ranges, more than 150 animal species and more than 50 miles of biking, hiking and horseback riding trails. Drive or hike to Dobbins Lookout for a panoramic view of the Phoenix Valley or Gila Lookout for a splendid view of the Gila River Valley.

Located just a short drive from downtown Phoenix, Papago Park has something for every hiker, regardless of skill. The short nature trail features signs describing local plants and animals, while several trails have lower elevations that are suited to mountain bikers.

Relaxing spas

Relax for a few hours at a luxury spa after a morning of shopping or in between business meetings. The Alvadora Spa at the Royal Palms Hotel is a AAA Four Diamond wellness resort with over 110 rooms for guests. Pamper yourself with an Orange Blossom Body Buff, a Citrus Ritual (full body exfoliation) or a luxurious Mediterranean Manicure. The spa features a 24-hour fitness center with personal trainers and private classes.

The relaxation doesn’t stop there — the Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a full-service health retreat with a AAA Five Diamond rating. It features an exercise physiologist, expert yoga instructors and an acupuncturist to cover a variety of health and beauty needs. Take a dip in the cold-water plunging pool or revitalize yourself in the eucalyptus inhalation room. This spa also features a healthy spa menu with a quinoa energy breakfast, king salmon super food and other low-calorie dishes.

If you’re in Phoenix for a shorter visit, the LeMonds Aveda Salon Spa is situated on the modern Wigwam resort in western Phoenix. The spa offers everything from stylish haircuts and relaxing massages to luxurious and customizable facial treatments to leave your skin feeling well pampered. Take a dip in the pool or enquire about full spa packages for an all-round experience.

Explore the arts

Roosevelt Row Arts District, a walkable stretch of cutting-edge restaurants, stores and galleries in downtown Phoenix, shows the best that the city’s artistic community has to offer. Get your game on at Cobra Arcade Bar, admire contemporary sculptures or paintings at Modified Arts and end the night with coffee or a meal at one of the district’s many coffeehouses. The ever-evolving area is also home to innovative architectural styles, such as the IDA on McKinley, a six-story housing complex with sustainable living at its core.

The Music Instrument Museum, the largest of its kind in the world, includes a geographic gallery highlighting the musical heritage of instruments from countries all over the world. The museum features kids’ programs and concerts by popular country, jazz and pop stars.

Brilliant brewery and winery Tours

When you think of beer, Phoenix might not immediately come to mind, but the state capital and its metro area boast more than 100 breweries and a few wineries. PHX Beer Co. Brewery + Taproom offers tours of the microbrewery and tastings in a converted warehouse, while the Wren House Brewing Co. won a gold medal in The Great American Beer Festival and has a welcoming taproom for visitors to enjoy their various beverages.

If you're a craft beer connoisseur, spend your day visiting a few of the city's best breweries with Arizona Tours. The company offers both public and private tours of three breweries along with meals and merchandise. The best part? The tour's drivers transport you between breweries, so you can sample the libations without any worry and leave your car back at your hotel.

Arizona Winery Tours includes three top wineries and provides transportation on its half-day tour. Eat lunch and enjoy complimentary pick-up and drop-off service with the tour. Wine tastings are extra.

Get your shopping fix

Shop for vintage clothes, mid-century furniture and other treasures in Central Phoenix's 7th Avenue/Melrose shopping district. Each year, the Melrose 7th Ave Street Fair brings music, food trucks and other events along the avenue to make shopping and browsing even more enjoyable. Browse through colorful arts and crafts from Mexico at Mexican Art Imports or unearth vintage clothing from the 1920s through the 1980s at Antique Sugar. This shopping district is the fastest-growing LGBTQ+ community in Phoenix, with several bars, nightclubs and a community center.

Make the most of nature

The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, located in nearby Gilbert, is a 110-acre preserve dedicated to protecting natural water resources, vegetation and wildlife. Bike, hike or ride horses on the preserve trails or camp overnight. Fishing is permitted in Water Ranch Lake, but not in retention basins with reclaimed water. Birding docents lead family bird walks to teach visitors about various bird species in the preserve.

Phoenix is overflowing with entertaining possibilities for business travelers with a little free time on their hands as well as families looking for a unique vacation. Share your favorite spots with us on Twitter.