This was my second year at AZ Rise Up, and while I haven't been to Tempe Beach Park as an actual…read morepark in... honestly, I don't even know how long... as a festival venue? Solid. Like, genuinely well done. They space the vendor area far enough from the stages so you're not fighting for your life trying to shop while also dodging people who are deep in their "vibe." Huge win. The stages are set up in a way where, even when artists are playing at the same time, it doesn't feel like a chaotic sound clash, which I did not expect but fully appreciated. Also noticed they adjusted the layout a bit this year (especially around the Rise Up stage), and it worked. Way smoother flow overall. GA+ still not exactly bursting at the seams, but hey, more room for the rest of us. Sound? On point. Setup? Thought out. Experience (overall)? Actually great. Now... the people. Let's just say there comes a moment in life where you realize a fan base is no longer your fan base. And for me, that moment was somewhere between hour 8 and hour 9 of holding down my spot, when I got full-on trampled by someone who apparently believed personal space is a myth. Ma'am. I had been standing there for nearly 9 hours. NINE. This was not a casual pop-in situation. Up until that point, everything had been amazing. The music, the energy, the flow, chef's kiss. But that one interaction? Immediate vibe break. That said, I'm choosing growth here: I genuinely hope she finds whatever she's running toward... and maybe learns how not to run directly through people to get there. Overall though? As a venue for this fest, Tempe Beach Park absolutely delivers. I'll be back... just maybe with stronger crowd boundaries and a little more side-eye.

We've visited the Tempe Beach Park area a few times for events like breast cancer walks and…read morefestivals. It's a beautiful location with scenic views of the bridges and water, and there's even a nearby museum which adds to the experience. Parking can be a bit of a mixed situation. There is a parking garage available, but it does require payment. We also noticed an additional open lot next to the garage where you can park for free; however, it is gated and the surface is mostly dirt and rocks, so just something to keep in mind. One thing we didn't come across was a public restroom, so it's unclear where the nearest one is located. Overall, it's a great area to visit and enjoy events. My only suggestion would be to add more parking options or provide a designated free parking area for visitors, so not everyone has to pay for parking.

This park is so great for kids of all ages! Gated splash pad, lots of shaded ramadas and climbing…read morefor the older guys.

I love coming to this park. It is really big and there is so much to do. I mostly come here to run…read more Riverview Park does make me wish I was a kid again because they have so many cool things for the little ones to enjoy. The parks I grew up playing at were nothing like this one. There is a 50-foot tall Genesis climbing tower, playgrounds with a rubber surface to protect from falls, a 60-foot long caterpillar mesh rope climbing structure and a splash pad. The lake is stocked for those that like to fish. There are picnic tables, a fountain and ramadas that can be reserved in advance. It is nice to come here in the evenings and see people going on walks and families gathering for celebrations. We all need to get out and enjoy the outdoors more in my opinion. Riverview Park is next door to Sloan Park and the Mesa Riverview shopping area. There is so much in this area to do and enjoy. I have really enjoyed living a short drive away from here the past couple of years. Riverview Park is located right off the 202 freeway and has plenty of parking.

It's a shame this park is no longer well kept. Sure, there's no trash on the ground but the water…read moreis so polluted, I half-expect a mutated loch monster to emerge from the murky, sewage-green depths. I passed two dead catfish, belly-up near the shore in two different places as I walked the length of the lake. Water pipes and covers are broken throughout the park, art pieces are corroding, and just about every surface of this park is covered in graffiti. A shame, because this park was once very nice. I do enjoy coming here during the spring and fall months because it's a solid distance to walk, the sidewalks are wide, and there are a lot of community picnic areas. This park is so big, it stretches across both sides of Mill Avenue off Baseline Road. There's a place to rent paddle boats and bikes, and there are fishing areas spaced strategically around the lake. Something I also like is how easy it is to find shaded areas. This is a very family friendly park with space for children to play. It's also a great place to bring your dog and have your daily walk. There is a recreation center on the SE side of Mill Avenue that houses tennis courts (and I believe there's a pool). Also within this area is a large playground. I also love the ducks, and I'm sad they're swimming in polluted water. City of Tempe: be better. Take care of your parks, especially since tax dollars go toward the upkeep.

Amazing. All week I'd been looking forward to spending the afternoon outside with others just…read morewanting/needing to breathe, let go and heal. This park is so beautiful. My first Water Lantern Festival, but not my last.

I love the uniqueness of this park The lake, the library,…read morethe kid swings, the musical instruments, all so fun. It's clean and well kept. There's a new book featured around the water area every month to read with your kiddo. Duckies to feed, fishing. And it's not too big to where you'll misplace your child

It's a very small park but it's nice bc it has a pond near by to feed the ducks. There's also a…read morebasketball court as well which is nice.

This is absolutely our new favorite! A big open space with lots of great playgrounds for both big…read moreand small kids to keep them busy and jumping around. We went when the park had an event in the community and it was so much fun, lots parking space and just right in town which you can walk around go for lunch and back to park just sit back and hang out around. Good for parents who are looking for a new park to take their kids to try a different spot around towns Check it out this lovely park, your kids will have a blast !

Busy park on a Sunday! Lots of littles and obstacles. Fun slides, cool train, horseshoe area and a…read moresplash pad. Lots of seating and benches. Bathrooms needed some cleaning for sure. There were people bringing their own canopy and tables for parties. Eloteros were present. Bring sunscreen and hand sanitizer.

Quiet, clean great place to walk dogs, sit and enjoy the weather, exercise and walk. Very clean…read morewell kept. Grass was just cut this morning. Friendly people who are walking around the park. I'd recommend this location for dogs and relaxing. Today was a great day (good weather)

Great park to walk around or just relax. Also a great place to walk dogs since there's a ton of…read moregrass space away from the road and paths all over it.

Fork 'em, Devils. If…read moreyou attended ASU, you have probably climbed "A" Mountain. It's a rite of passage as a Sun Devil. Did you even attend ASU if you haven't stepped foot here? It's a tradition for me to hike this mountain on New Year's Day. You got to start the new year heading in the direction you want to go: upwards and forward. Hayden Butte Preserves is a very doable and easy hike in the heart of Tempe. Come for the sights.

Pretty easy hike. Trail could use some maintenance- missing/washed out steps. Not too crowded at…read more8am on a warm Sunday. No bugs or overgrown shrubs. Rails toward the top for safety and easy to grab/hold onto for stability. We finished in 33 mins and that includes a couple stops to take in the views and catch our breath after a set of steps.

I loved my experience here at the Japanese Friendship Garden! For starters, this area is peculiar…read morefrom the rest of Phoenix, making it stand out from the other attractions enlisted here. It creates a beautiful environment that not many can experience outside of Arizona, and it is highly recommended to visit for anyone that is seeking a quiet, peaceful, calm, and beautiful setting with jaw dropping scenery. I went with one of my close friends and we both enjoyed the experience we shared. There were benches around to sit and admire the views, along with bridges to get a closer look at the koi fish and ducks. However, the best part was how many ducklings there were following their mamas. I had never seen anything like it, and it was truly an experience to remember.

Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

A quick trail to get your steps in with an amazing view once you reach the top. Make sure to watch…read moreyour step and be careful when you head to the open cave like peak. Once there take a seat and enjoy the view. There is a nice breeze that passes through even in the heat. Plenty of free parking and there are restrooms. *Proper shoes, sunscreen and a hat are highly recommended ~ and that's all I have to say about that...

Depressing, barren and not dog friendly…read more After exploring the great parks in parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Gilbert, the dead trees and stagnant water at Papago Park were more like an inner city experience.

This park is wonderful! It's spacious with plenty of parking Great for picnics or family functions…read morelarge and small. The splash pad was my most favorite enjoyable enough for a 1 1/2 year old and myself as well. I got to be a kid again. We'll be back again and again!

This is a pretty nice city park with multiple parking lots, a walking path around a "lake", lots of…read moregreen space, seating, and a playground. There's also a scouting activity area that looked interesting and seems to be for scouting troops to have campfires and outdoor activities. Technically there's also a hummingbird garden but unless you parked in a specific spot or know where to look, you'd miss it as its small and tucked in a far corner. While small, it is nice (aside from the pile of cigarette butts some jrrk left) with some nice plants, a short walking path, and a water feature. It has a lot of desert plants but I was surprised not to see more spring flowers this time of year. The park is nice and the water seemed clean and not smelly, but I wish we had more areas of denser vegetation like the hummingbird area to walk around in. It does seem pretty well kept up and I noticed several newer desert willows growing. At 8 am on a spring Sunday, it was busy with people walking, fishing, at the playground, and doing tai Chi, but parking wasn't an issue.