We visited the museum on a weekday morning. We enjoyed the displays of rocks from various parts of…read morethe earth, the Arizona-Mexican artifacts, and of course the dinosaurs, especially the aquatic dinosaurs. This museum has an active dinosaur fossil dig - you can watch and even talk to the paleontologist working on it! There's lots to see and enjoy here, including real elements from a jail that held prisoners from the 1830s to the 1970s!! The gift shop is reasonably priced and you can even purchase a "memory bag" filled with pencil, notebook eraser, etc, for only $2.50 each.

Paid $14 and only stayed about 40 minutes. There were multiple groups of school children that were…read morerunning around, screaming, jumping and bumping into everything. I expect that behavior to be tolerated at a children's museum, not a public museum where a basic level of respect and decorum is expected for EVERYONE inside. Wish I could say I enjoyed it but the hundreds of screaming children ruined any experience I could have had and left with a migraine. **Would appreciate museums to have specific days for "field trips" or hours for school days. Unfortunately many museum experiences are ruined due to the behavior of unruly children, and I'm still the one paying full price.

Fantastic museum! Many interesting exhibits and helpful staff. Couldn't believe this museum was…read morefree. One of the best parts of my trip! Some of the kids' art was incredible. It's great to see such talent showcased.

I loved my visit! I love that it was FREE! I didn't notice any donation box or anything but I…read morewould've left something if I saw one.. I had a great experience. I love that they change exhibits every so often. I really enjoyed learning about Chandler. But was most meaningful to me during my visit was the 4th Grade Project Exhibit. "Judy Gelles mission to foster empathy and curiosity". She had been working on this project since 2008 and asked 4th graders all around the world 3 questions. Who do you live with, who do you live with and what do you worry about? Heartfelt. You never stop to think how much worries young people. Some worried about death, being shot, getting their only shoes dirty, etc. shows how much factors at home and impact them. It was deep to see and read!! Worth a visit I will return to see what the next exhibit might be!

Much more than we could absorb in one visit !! We are already planning our return. We never…read moreeven made it to the second floor where the boarding school exhibit was presented.

After discovering the Heard Museum in the book "1000 Places to go Before You Die", we put it on the…read morelist of ''must sees' for a recent trip to Phoenix. TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL We took the light rail to the museum from our downtown hotel. There's a stop just down the road. GET A DISCOUNT The adult entry fee was $26 and we used our AAA membership for an exciting $1 off. I feel by the time you're paying $50+ for a couple, the cost is getting off-putting. LOCKERS AVAILABLE We used their complimentary storage lockers for our carry-on luggage as we were on our way to the airport afterwards. You also have to stow water bottles in the lockers. There are a couple of water fountains around the museum in case you get parched. ALLOW HALF A DAY The museum is a quality museum with a lot to see and read, but you really have to be into southwest stuff to really appreciate it in my opinion. After a few hours we were getting slightly overwhelmed, glassy-eyed and tired/bored with aching backs. (To be fair, it was our fourth museum in 3 days, so we were a little burned out!) STAY FOR LUNCH We really enjoyed an excellent lunch at the cafe in the courtyard and highly recommend it. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP(S) There's a high-end store where you can purchase expensive rugs, jewelry, sculptures, etc. and there's also the 'Mugs and T-shirts' souvenir store and a small coffee shop. RIDE SHARE DROP OFF AND PICK UP The ride share pick-up and drop off is around the back at one end of the parking lot. Helpful?

I had such a wonderful time exploring the MIM! I highly recommend taking a day off to visit…read more There's so much to see, hear, learn, and experience here! Staff and volunteers are happy to be here and helpful. My faves were the artist gallery (Prince's purple piano!) and the experiential room where I could pound on a drum! Ahhhh. Two floors of meticulously curated items designed to inspire and educate you - just wow. Then, enjoy a coffee or snack or a freshly made salad or sandwich at their cafe. The food is exceptional, especially enjoyed on their patio. I stopped in to the gift shop and found a small token for my brother. If you can, also check out the many performers: some well-known and some up & comers - who perform in the comfortable performing arts theatre. They have a calendar of events on the website. The MIM literally has something for everyone. I think what's so great is I can bring guests to the MIM and not be bored b/c you can never see all there is to see in just one day!

I've lived in Arizona a long time now and had never been to this museum, which is well-renowned and…read morehighly rated. I'd heard good things about their concerts, specifically. April is community college month and for that, they offered all MCCCD students and employees half off admission, which I took advantage of. I brought my friend here and we got two for one admission, plus entry to their special exhibition: The Magical Flute. After we got our tickets, we were given a headphones and audio set so we could hear. The music being played on the screens throughout the museum. No food/drink allowed, or backpacks. I was wearing a small one but was able to keep it with me by wearing it on my front, maybe so I wouldn't inadvertently knock things over if it was on the back. We started on the second floor and moved through the continents, starting with Africa, "Middle East" (aka West Asia), Asia, Latin America, USA/Canada, and Europe. Saved the two we were least interested in for last. Honestly, I was overwhelmed with the variety and amount of instruments; the orientation video said they have 10,000. I was curious how they amassed them all and hoped it was done ethically (saw a few spots that notated gifts and donations by certain people). I liked the similarities of instruments across geographical areas, and it made sense when I saw the Silk Road section and how trade connected these countries. I had quite the jump scare as I was moving through West Asia and I came across "Isr*el". That is NOT a real place and it should be correctly labeled as Palestine. I didn't even look at that exhibit as it made me too mad, and I vocalized my annoyance. Almost ruined my visit honestly, and I wish they would rectify this particular exhibit. I read a review that said it used to be Palestine; if so, shame on them for changing it. During the Latin American section, the power ran out on my portable headset so we went back downstairs and got new ones so we could continue to enjoy the music. It did make me think about how deaf people experience this museum in a much different way than people who can hear, as it becomes primarily a visual experience. I agree with my boba sistah who shared her desire to play with the instruments, as that same feeling came over me many times during my visit. I understand why this isn't allowed, but it takes some self-restraint. I must have missed the experience gallery with instruments that could be played, that would have been fun. Though the gift shop had a few instruments that we tried out. The special exhibit on flutes was fine, but not worth the extra price if I had to pay. I did recognize a familiar face: Ken Koshio, who plays the drums and flute at sunrise on Piestewa Peak. The museum also has an artist gallery of different musicians that I didn't find too interesting (Maroon 5? Taylor Swift? Really?). They have a cafe and we quickly perused the menu, but seeing items like a pork banh mi for $19 doesn't sound tempting. Overall, I would say this is a worthwhile visit and there is so much to take in and explore. I was glad to have gotten a deal on admission. Though I am super bummed about their exclusion of Palestine, hence my rating.

Admission price is $4 for seniors and $5 for adults. Very reasonable for the amount of displays…read morethere are. There's native Americans artifacts, model railroad display, fire,police and medical exhibits plus loads more inside and outside! I highly recommend this museum!

The Museum of Casa Grande, 110 W. Florence Blvd., is a typical small-town historical museum…read more Exhibits cover the entire history and pre-history of the area.. The premises include the Casa Grande Stone Church, a former Presbyterian church now used as a performance space. I wouldn't say it's worth driving from Phoenix or Tucson just to see this museum, but if you're in Casa Grande anyway, it's worth an hour of your time.

My best friend and I visited Desert Botanical Garden after a lovely dinner in the area. She…read morementioned that she had tickets left over from a visit earlier in the day that granted admittance later in the evening/after dark. I had never been to Desert Botanical Garden despite living in the area for nearly five years, so I was quick to agree to tag along! We visited on an evening that was also dog night, so in addition to seeing the beautiful botanicals, we got to see lots of happy pups. Though my dog was not with us, I appreciated how they had lots of doggy bags, water bowls, and water stations at the ready for the dog owners. The exhibit was beautiful, seeing the lights intertwined with the plants and the cacti. This was truly breathtaking. I will definitely add Desert Botanical Garden to my list of places to take friends and family who visit me out west.

Beautiful area to stroll in nature and see desert plants and animals, with a similar experience to…read moreBoyce Thompson Arboretum but less sprawling. The spring is also a great opportunity to see cactus flowering; the nice thing is experiencing the space in different seasons. They frequently have special exhibits and events. This month, it was focused on desert photography and there were several screens put up throughout the garden including a video screening indoors. They also have the garden at night if you want to explore under the cover of darkness and the garden is lit up. On certain weekends they also have dog days where pets can come with owners. In the butterfly area they happened to be releasing butterflies so we got to open envelopes and let them go; kids especially enjoyed this. There are plenty of lizards, bees, hummingbirds and other birds, and for the first time saw a snake slithering around. In the summer, they open early and it's better to go early because it can get very warm when the sun is full force. There are many places to walk, sit on benches and enjoy nature. There are also water bottle filling stations and bathrooms throughout. There's a store with gifts and garden items and a restaurant as well. If you're a member, you also get a small discount at the store. The restaurant isn't cheap, entrees are about $30-35 and they have tacos, salads and appetizers. Near the airport and Papago park, visit the gardens for a peaceful outing.

The building was constructed with careful consideration about blending into the earth on which it…read moresits. Exceptionally well-curated displays AND well-narrated, factual documentaries of the First Nations of this large area in Arizona. There is a main floor, an upper floor and a viewing area on the upper floor/roof. I would highly recommend a visit to this well-maintained historical museum. It is located on Indigenous Territory (Tribal Land).

Ladies up front were knowledgeable and sweet! They even had a scavenger hunt for the kiddos that my…read moreboys loved! Thank you for telling us more about the history here!

Overall, fun complex with some good experiences/activities. However, it's highly overpriced and…read moreneeds more food and dining options. Restrooms were also a bit limited. It looks like they are adding more in the future, so hopefully it improves. Definitely a lot of potential.

Came here this afternoon to kill some time and it's a very clean complex with plenty of ample…read moreparking. Super clean. Plenty of restrooms. Something for everyone. We did the UFO Experience as we've already been to the aquarium. We wanted to eat lunch at Maria's, but they were closed (despite us being there during business hours). I'm fearful the aquarium is doing its best to keep the entire boardwalk afloat. Not sure how sustainable that is as there weren't many people here today. Hoping they can get some additional viable businesses in here...

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.

Was on a layover and decided to checkout some local activities…read more Parking was on the challenging side because it is also next to a theatre and a performance was scheduled. We visited on a Wednesday after 3pm...it's pay what you can and they're open til 8pm so that also added to parking congestion. No pressure to pay/donate but they did let us know the normal price. We opted to pay $5 vs. the regular $28 per person. I primarily wanted to visit the Yayoi Kusama room but loved the butterfly installation and the tiny rooms as well. They have a nice variety of art work overall. There were some areas that were closed off due to a private event, so didn't get to visit all exhibits and they also have some additional pay areas too. Highly recommend and would definitely visit again!

PRICE SLIGHTLY STEEP Not my favorite art museum I've ever…read morebeen to as it lacks big well known pieces. I felt the adult price of $28 was too high, especially as a couple -- that's almost $60 for a day out of looking at some pictures. They do offer a AAA $3 discount, which we took advantage of. KUMSAMA FIREFLIES INFINITY MIRROR ROOM My favorite part was the Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room, where you wander into a room of darkness surrounded by mesmerizing twinkling lights and mirrors. I wasn't aware that this was there, so it was a pleasant surprise. LAYOUT I felt the museum has a slightly confusing, disjointed layout. GIFT SHOP There's a quality gift shop selling typical art museum items like jewelry, scarves, mugs, etc. LOCKERS There are complimentary lockers for backpacks/purses and water. WEB SITE Before our trip, I used their web site and found it confusing to find out the price of tickets and as to whether they were actually open on certain days. See my photos attached. Helpful?