Great Place for pictures! This is the second time I have come here to get pictures. Last year and…read morethis year, our children opted to come to Manistee Ranch for Homecoming pictures with their friends. Tip: The evening light is gorgeous. The ranch offers great places for photographs with the backdrop of greenery, a rarity in the desert landscape of Phoenix. There are arboretums, trellis with gorgeous vines, park benches, quaint historical buildings that suit a photoshoot. Parking is nearby albeit it is hidden. Turn south on 51st from Northern. Watch carefully for the sign next to the Walgreens parking lot that says in fine print: Manistee Ranch Parking. For those in heels and finery, the grounds are small so there isn't a long walk to the great photo spots!

I almost hate to put this place on the Yelp! map because of wanting to keep this "secret" garden…read moreall to myself :) But seeing as I do love a good park amidst the city scene it is worth a mention. Note: you have to walk to it since there is no dedicated parking for this park, but it is definitely worth it!

I was pleasantly surprised by this park! It was very nice and clean, lots of paths to take. There…read morewere a lot of different areas to the park too, one area had old antique buildings and farming equipment while another area was an orchard/garden. The grilling setup was probably the nicest I've ever seen for a public park. There were probably 20-30 individual picnic table areas each with their own grill. They also had a covered area with even bigger grills. There were even peacocks walking around! Numerous baseball/softball fields, as well as playground equipment. I would definitely come back here and bring people.

Fun little trail to run walk or watch the peacocks shaded in some areas can be crowded with moms…read morewith strollers but it's a park what do you expect there's people. Fun history all over this old farm/ranch

The community centre is outstanding. The cleanliness is probably better than a hospital. Friendly…read morestaff the machines are in great shape indoor track basketball Pickleball computers excellent.

Rio Vista Park is pretty much in the heart of Peoria right off Thunderbird Blvd. Super clean with…read moreplenty of ample parking. This is a great park to get access to the canal trail which is what I use it for. No issues with people tampering with your vehicle due to the volume of people who frequent the park. You can fish, use the gym, bring your offspring to the play area or get on the canal trail and bike, walk or run.

Lots of space. Fields were nice. Parking could be far depending on where you park. Looked like a…read morelot of activities could go on at one time.

Very clean, big & fun park! Big playgrounds for the kids (watch for bees though), big lake, grass…read morearea and even cooler a really fun splash pad! We came back multiple times during summer to help beat the heat!!

There are a bunch of trail options, some easy loops, some more vertical if you want to get your…read morelegs burning. H1 is a good short climb with views at the top, and H3 is a nice longer route if you want to string a few miles together. Watch for rattlers. Bring water. Views are solid, especially around sunset. Nothing too dramatic, but still peaceful and grounding. The signage can be kind of confusing if you're new to the park, and there's not much shade. Also, no bathrooms mid-trail, so plan ahead.

Lots of trails, and a primitive venue. Slow down as you approach as it can be tough to find from…read moreother directions than Deer Valley. Elevation can give spectacular sunsets. Bring your supplies; cart them out, as it's a wonderfully clean place. Lots of parking. Not a lot of restroom or other facilities, but acres and acres of hiking from easy to moderate. It's a large area funded by a low budget, but it's a great resource and most will have fun.

Great hiking area with beautiful views all around! The trailhead starts right at the base of the…read moremountain - don't be misled by Google Maps - just drive straight up the road leading to the mountain ahead. Once here there are several routes you can take varying from easy to challenging. Most importantly, please wear appropriate footwear!! I saw an older guy wearing Crocs without the back supports going up the path and he nearly toppled backwards several times. I was very worried for his well-being - this path really requires socks and shoes. Of note, depending on when you go and which direction you choose to go in, one side of the mountain has no relief from the sun - it is hot! The other side is shaded and pleasant. Whichever route you take, make sure to bring liquids to hydrate and know your limit. You can always get to a lower elevation and walk around the mountain if it gets too steep.

Lookout Mountain Preserve was on my list of the top hikes in Phoenix. Located in North Phoenix, I…read moremade my way on a weekday afternoon. According to All Trails, this is a moderate hike. I would agree with that assessment. It took me a little over an hour to complete. There are 30 free parking spots or so and I didn't have trouble finding a spot. I'm not sure if this is the case on a weekend too when the weather's nice. While it's not a super long hike, here's what adds to the difficulty: a good amount of steep incline on the way up the mountain with some rocky terrain. For a small portion, you have to scramble a bit. On the way down, some pretty steep decline in some areas so make sure to have the proper footwear. Even with my hiking boots, my shoes slipped a little bit. I didn't fall or anything, but you probably will if you're not wearing the right stuff. Once you get to the top of the mountain, you'll be rewarded with great views of Phoenix. I sat up there for a good 10 minutes. Enjoy it, this is what it's all about.

This is a Super duper park with lots of walking, a well maintained playground, & clean restrooms. I…read moreenjoy meeting up here with a friend to stroll about and count bird species. It's a good size parking lot and not heavily busy in the early morning. A nice neighborhood surrounds it and we were lucky to get a few target birds. I do like the name of it too.

Moon Valley Park has it all!! It has tennis courts, a basketball court, an extensive playground and…read morea lovely walking path. I have been walking my dog here every morning since I moved here. Also around the walking path they have those work out stations, they are kind of old but they still work! This park is very well maintained and always feels super safe. Great spot to see the sunrise!!

The Japanese Friendship Garden is beautiful with a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere and stunning koi…read morefish. Everything is very well maintained, and the restrooms were especially clean. There's also a small gift shop with nice items, though it can feel crowded when several people are inside at once. Keep in mind the garden is outdoors, so Arizona summers can be very hot. It's best to visit early, bring water, and plan for the heat. The garden is also smaller than expected--you can likely walk through it in about 30 minutes or less, depending on how long you stop to enjoy the scenery and koi. They also offer excellent workshops and special programs throughout the year, which are worth checking out for a deeper experience. Be sure to visit their website for the latest schedule. Overall, it's a peaceful, beautiful escape and definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy koi, gardens, and tranquil scenery.

Beautiful grounds! I…read morewent in June in the early morning and it got hot fast. It's a small park so very doable for a quick in and out of your area short on time or want to avoid the heat. It cost about $15 for an adult ticket. No food or drinks are allowed on the grounds. I thought I could walk around with my morning coffee it had to quickly drink it before entering the park.

It's a very unique park. It had a rock climbing wall and tall slides. The park is also set in a way…read morewhere it faces the East so you can clearly see the sunrises beautifully with the mountains as a backdrop. It also has well maintained fields for sports, and they're larger than most parks. It has a lot of parking, and a basket ball court too. It's great for jogging, really beautiful and clean.

Huge park that is easy to find and super well kept. Came here for the annual Boo Fest, hadn't been…read morebefore as far as I remember, it was so busy! Nice big playground, plenty of areas for different sports, plenty of nearby parking. Definitely a nice park in the north west Phoenix area!

Super nice to go with family or just go to enjoy the landscape. Super calm if you go don't leave…read moreyour garbage anywhere there are garbage cans. Excellent place.

The play structures for the kiddos are tooooo lengthy a walk away from the designated parking…read moreareas. This does not make it easily accessible for kiddos with mobility issues.