This place has been on our lists for a awhile and we were so happy we finally went this weekend…read more The admission is very affordable and the front desk people were so sweet and helpful. The property itself is huge so be prepared for lots of walking. The main trail is paved, and there are other off road trails that are not. We brought our 2 young children and they handled both very well. It was very educational and the houses were kept in excellent condition. I would have liked to see more of the yellow house but I understand why it's closed off. The telephone exhibit was interesting and brought back memories of having land lines as a kid. We will definitely be back!

I highly recommend this property for both adults and children alike and every age in between. This…read moreis an authentic pioneer village in the magnificent Southwest. This is considered "winter time" and the enactment scenes were not on. "Winter time" is 27 - 33C! LOL. Come here! It's an educational experience with wide, open spaces and vistas to walk and explore.

Since a kid, I've periodically visited Goldfield Ghost Town. When we have family visit from…read moreEngland, this is often a destination to visit as well. When the weather is cooler (November - February), this place is gorgeous to walk around and also take in the views of the Superstition Mountains. It's on my radar to return as I enjoy the restaurants, shops, and scenery. I think it would be a great date day with my boyfriend who has never been. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area!

It's a beautiful place with a nice western town vibe. Has lot of cool gift shops, history,…read moreatmosphere and so much more. There is plenty to see and do and it's just got an amazing vibe to it. It's worth checking out for more history and exploration of Arizona and of course the gold mine. There is so much to see at the museum as well and the staff are extremely friendly. They have so much to offer and prove more of the interesting history of the mine. As well as make sure you are having a fun time exploring this fascinating ghost town. It is more than just an attraction, its like an experience worth checking out. I also like the museum the town has. Even though you have to pay between $5-$10 depending if you're an adult or a kid, it is still fun to check it out. And learn more of the legend of the mine that many have spent decades looking for. There is also a zip line near here too but because of the intense heat I did not think to give it a try the day I went here. In the end, this is a solid place to check out and go to. There is so much to see, amazing vibes, fantastic customer service, and overall just a fun place to check out.

The perfect spot to visit on a trip to Phoenix! While it is a bit of a drive out of the city, it is…read more100% worth it to get a view of all of Phoenix. The drive up can be narrow at times and some people will come flying down the mountain. Once you get up the mountain, there are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the view. The parking can be limited during the peak visiting times so make sure to plan accordingly with plenty of time in case that is an issue. If you are visiting Phoenix, you must stop here!!

If you look up the top attractions in Phoenix on TripAdvisor, Dobbins Lookout will be toward the…read moretop of the list. For good reason. Located in South Mountain Park, Dobbins offers picturesque views of Phoenix and surrounding areas. There are two ways to get there: (1) you can take the easy way and take a scenic drive up to a parking lot right next to Dobbins or (2) take Holbert Trail to Dobbins which will be about an hour an a half hike. Naturally, I took the more difficult route and was rewarded for my efforts with all that Dobbins has to offer. You'll see people sitting on the various benches and ledges to enjoy the views. You'll see people snapping pics. And you'll even see vendors in the parking lot selling Native American art and jewelry, drinks, and snacks. While I wasn't there during sunset, I hear it's a spectacular place to come at that time.

Scorpion Gulch in Phoenix is such an interesting historic stop. It's an abandoned stone structure…read morebuilt in 1936 by William Lunsford as a home and trading post, and it still has that rugged Wild West feel. The stone walls and open-air layout make it a great backdrop for photos, which is why I stopped by to scout it for a shoot. It's right on the way to South Mountain Park, just before the main entrance, so it's easy to find. There is convenient parking right in front of the buildings and more parking adjacent to the site. I drove down to the visitor center for a restroom but they were closed, so that was a little disappointing, though I did find very clean porta potties in the parking lot. There are also some beautiful hiking and walking trails around the area, but I didn't get a chance to explore them that day. I went midweek and I was the only person there, which made it peaceful and easy to look around without any crowds. Whether you're into photography, history, or just want a quick scenic stop on the way to South Mountain, Scorpion Gulch is worth checking out.

This is a neat stop in the south Phoenix area. It's a good place for a western photoshoot, if…read moreyou're into that sort of thing. We had directions here and it was easy to find with directions. Without knowing this was here or having any directions, I don't think this is something you'd just stumble upon. Driving off the 202 and into south central Phoenix to get here was questionable with some sketchy areas. We were rerouted because ADOT decided to close the exit we needed to get here, so we ended up driving through the south central area longer than expected. A drive that should have taken us 20 minutes, took more like 35 minutes. Once here, it was neat to walk around the building and take photos. There are mountains behind the building which make a nice backdrop. Glad we saw it, but would not go out of our way again to come here.

My review is based on coming in with friends who brought their child here a few times, I haven't…read morebeen a guest here. This place is huge! My friends live in Anthem, and everything they told me about this community center was positive, including their daughter. They all love the activities, sports and events here. They have childcare camps available year round, which was really helpful during the holiday break last month for my friends who had to work. Security is required for checking your child in/out. The staff were friendly and gracious when we were there. Looked spotless, too.

I have been on the anthem swim teem for about 9 years now and I still cant wait for the next season…read moreto begin! Also the gym that's up stairs is awesome it's really clean and organized. On hot summer days I love to go to swim team then work out for a bit then just chill at the water park. If you live in anthem I would highly recommend to buy a membership here it is so worth it!

Hiked Badger Springs Trail just a couple of days after the recent storms -- parts of the trail…read moredefinitely showed signs of flooding, with debris scattered along certain sections. A few muddy spots made it a bit challenging in places, but nothing too crazy if you're careful. That said, the views were absolutely beautiful! The surrounding landscape was lush and vibrant after the rain, and the air felt so fresh. The water crossings added a bit of adventure, and the sound of the flowing creek made the whole hike even more peaceful. If you plan to go soon, wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a few messy spots -- but it's well worth it for the scenery!

The Agua Fria National Monument is over 72,000 acres. It is located in Yavapai County and open to…read moreeveryone. The parts that I visited were not shaded so I was glad that it was winter and not summer. It is dry and dusty land. You need a rugged 4WD if you plan to drive through it because the road is pitted and bumpy. They offer several hiking trails with some as short as two miles and others over 14 miles. The views are beautiful.

We toured Vulture City this past Monday, driving the 78 miles from Prescott on a lovely late winter…read moreafternoon. The temperature was in the 50's which made for a very pleasant trip. We almost went last September when it was hot and sticky, which would have been much less pleasant, as the ghost town is in the open desert with very little shade, other than when you go into the various buildings. There was a smattering of other visitors when we arrived, so parking was not difficult to find. We went to the small check-in kiosk where a pleasant young lady greeted us and collected our admission fees, $12 for each of us senior citizens. My husband also bought a challenge coin. We both signed a liability waiver (you wander about in dilapidated buildings and areas, so they want you to be aware!) and were handed a laminated map/guide booklet for the self-guided tour. The guidebook is clearly marked with each of the 19 buildings and areas that are open to visit. First, we went to the power house where we saw a huge WWI submarine diesel generator that was used to run the mine. Next, we toured a small garage complete with vintage artifacts. Other places we went to included the gas station (with a 1924 National Cash Register), pump house, Vulture's Roost which was the private residence of the mine manager and is now a small museum, blacksmith shop, post office, assay building, Henry Wickenburg's first cabin, doctor's office, brothel, and boarding house, and bunkhouse. In most of the buildings, there are signs warning visitors "You are on candid camera!" We looked for the cameras and didn't see them until we got to the gas station. There they were. There are many vintage items scattered about; you hope people would not be crapheads and steal them, but you know human nature! Glad there *are* cameras! The assay building was very interesting. That is where they did the smelting, weighing, and storing the gold. Also on display was the guards' living quarters and kitchen. The guards had a window above the floor vault so they could watch that no one stole gold. We noticed an old stairwell outside the kitchen area. A gate in front was unlocked, with the padlock open. It led to the guards' sleeping quarters. I remember seeing that area on Arizona Highways. We went up the stairwell and saw the guards' beds (they looked very uncomfortable) and chamber pots. We learned later that those are the original and rickety stairs, and it was supposed to be locked and off limits to visitors (oops). Next to Henry Wickenburg's cabin is the (in)famous "Hanging Tree" where 18 gold thieves or murderers were reportedly hanged! There is a threadbare and broken rope - original??? The doctor's office/brothel/rooming house is very interesting; you know which is the brothel because there are coins on the bed. We were not able to go into the cookhouse because it was closed off, and never found the church. Workmen were working on one of the buildings while we were there. Scattered about were various Halloween type displays including a mini outhouse where you could take your photo inside a pumpkin. I am guessing they decorate for Halloween. It does kind of detract from the historical nature of the place, especially in late February. Speaking of outhouses, there is a clean modern restroom labeled "Outhouse" near the Wickenburg cabin. Very appreciated! There is nowhere to buy food or drink although there is a concession stand which I assume is used for special events or perhaps weekends. It was not open. You can buy wrapped candy in the check-in place. It was wonderful being able to roam freely throughout the town. We encountered only a handful of others the entire time we were there; it felt like we had the place to ourselves. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and learned quite a bit. The private owners obviously have poured much love and money to restore the town. It is very much worth a visit if you are in the area. Note: It would not be interesting to small children, and I'd be worried about them tripping or hurting themselves. I'd recommend it for ages 9 and up.

Well me being a native east coast girl I'm always intrigued to learn more about the Wild West now…read morethat I call it our home! We've have Vulture City our list & we've finally checked it off before the summer came! We came here in March when the weather is perfect, but either way they're open from October - May for obvious reasons & it's all self guided tours! The buildings are well spaced out & there's lots of ground to cover so it takes a couple of hours to go through the whole site depending on how fast you're looking to go! The history is so different seeing it in the movies vs seeing a Billy the Kid Wanted poster in the real. There's several buildings to tour with all of their original artifacts & if you go too fast you might overlook some interesting things... like the License for Prostitution that i came across in the last house we toured! So glad that we finally made it here.... It definitely didn't disappoint!

I've always been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, America's preeminent architect. And it's nice that he…read morehas made an impact on Phoenix. While he has properties all across the U.S., he's most well known in Phoenix for Talisien West. While Frank Lloyd Wright Spire isn't as extensive, it makes for a fun mini adventure. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and had no trouble finding a free parking spot in the entertainment center where the Spire is located. Naturally, it's right off of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. If you're trying to find where to park, look for Maggiano's. The Spire was actually intended to be part of the State Capitol Building (another cool place to check out). Instead, it ended up in North Scottsdale. It's a large spire that stands out due to it's geometrical design and color scheme. While I saw it during the day, it's also nice to visit at night (when it lights up) or around the holidays (when an elf is attached to it). Outside of the spire, you have a good number of interesting sculptures designed by one of FLW's pupils. There's also a nice water fountain and bench area designed by another pupil. You can see FLW's influence in frequent uses of symmetry. And last but not least, there's a little tablet telling you a little bit about the spire and sculpture garden. This experience is free and can be done in about 10 minutes. I still have a few FLW spots to check out in town. On to the next one!

Huge fan of FLW and Taliesin West was the first FLW site I ever visited about 15 years ago so I've…read morealways had a soft spot in my heart for AZ because of this. We were driving to Cosanti and I wanted to stop here to check it out. My favorite part of Taliesen West is the sculpture garden with sculptures by Heloise Crista. The good thing about this location is you can see a couple of the same sculptures for free. The archer near the fountain is very memorable and I took a picture of it for a friend who visited TLW with me and he instantly remembered it.  The spire itself was draped with a blow-up elf for the holidays and it was distracting. It was originally meant for Arizona State Capitol. It's odd its just placed on a street corner though I can see why its probably the best location for it. The spires at the Marin County Civic Center and the Anderton Court Shops are integrated into his architecture and feel a lot more appropriate. Overall, it was quick free stop for FLW fans, no one else was there in the afternoon. You can see a wider breadth of the Crista Sculptures at Taliesen West and there are better FLW spires that are part of his buildings.

Visited: Afternoon while waiting for lunch nearby…read more A fun, informative glimpse into life in Phoenix in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The home is in its original location and hasn't been moved. A lot of parts have been restored and it seems well cared for. You can only explore the Rosson House through a guided tour (about 45-60 minutes), which costs $15 per person. Our guide was knowledgeable and funny (blanking on his name--will add if I remember!). He walked us through the history of the house, the people that lived there, what they used each room for, and the types of possessions they owned. It was interesting to think about what life might have looked like in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and how the rooms evolved over time. The rooms are furnished with a mix of original and period-appropriate items, so it feels immersive and well-curated. We stopped in while waiting for our table at Pizzeria Bianco, and it was a perfect way to pass the time. Overall: A great piece of history, an 1895 house still standing in the middle of downtown Phoenix.

Was in the area from out of town and I wanted to see this beautiful house in person. I wasn't able…read moreto go inside but the outside is so pretty Love all the details. It's truly breathtaking

This is such a cool, interesting feature for this community. I wouldn't elevate this as a must see…read moredestination. However, if you live within 15 minutes and looking for a nice easy date night stroll with a great view payout, this place is worth the stop. Best time to go is right before sunset to enjoy the desert hillside views.

Wish I'd done a bit more research before heading over considering it was about a 40 minute drive…read morefrom where I started. Directions will take you to the spot, but doesn't let you know to drive past to a small parking lot near what appears to be a visitors center/coffee shop to a housing community. We parked and unfortunately I was quite disappointed. There's a small walkway behind the shop to take you to the tower. I wouldn't even call it a star tower considering it closes around 8. There is a small set of circular stairs that takes you to the top. The view is decent of the mountains looking towards Estrella Regional Park. There is so much road noice it's not exactly relaxing. This seems to be more of a residents only spot. Cool to see maybe once, but I wouldn't come again unless to get coffee nearby and hike in the park a few miles away.