Very fun and interactive art pieces! Make sure to pull up the descriptions on your phone for an…read moreeven better experience. Some fun pieces, some unique, and some inspirational artwork as well.

Bestie was in town and she had this genius idea to visit Wonderspaces Arizona. She's been to the…read moreSan Diego one twice and loved it, so I was excited to see what it's all about. This place is beyond cool! There are different rooms to experience, and each one is truly unique. I think I speak for us both when I say the one with the string lights was the most entertaining visually. The light show lasted about 15 minutes total from beginning to end. When you first walk in through the mall entrance, you'll end up at the bar area. Alex was so nice and very engaging. She answered our questions and whatever you order at the bar, you can bring it with you so don't feel confined to the bar area as you finish your drink! I got the School Rules (mocktail) and bestie got the Mango Colada. They were so good, I finished mine pretty quickly! One of the other exhibits that I enJOYed was the coin flipping one. Whoever thought of all this is amazing to say the least! The face display made out of different sized balls on strings was so cool to see, especially when you walked up to it and to the side of it. We don't have membership, but the older gentleman sitting near the bar informed us that if you pay the $99 fee, you can come as many times as you like and you'll get 20% off any merchandise. He was really informative and we appreciated that he wasn't trying to push it on us. I believe you can also bring a guest for a discounted fee. Some of the exhibits were not as entertaining as others, and I do wish there was more to see, but they do switch it up every couple of months so that would definitely be worth the membership. Don't forget to get your selfies in front of the huge mirror near the bar! I highly recommend coming here if you have out of town guests, or if you've just never been. The bonus is that it's located inside the Fashion Square Mall in Scottsdale (same floor as the food court under the escalators), so you can have something to eat or walk around before or after Wonderspaces! It would be a cute date idea, too. I just may buy into the membership because the best part about it is that it does NOT automatically renew. So, if you don't like it, you won't have to worry about your account being charged. Good idea! Check out Wonderspaces Arizona and have so much fun!

This is a must do in Scottsdale. Period. Art is an…read moreexperience. A memory. This will be a core memory for you right here. You will expand your mind and think about how art parameters are often too narrow. Parking was easy. Old town shopping is across the street. There are a plethora of outdoor sculptures to explore. This is a day for the whole family. Be sure to say hi to the nicest docent ever! George loves to tell you about the work and is the most lovely soul. So far this was my favorite day in AZ yet.

SMoCA, Scottsdale's Museum of Contemporary Art was a refreshing find in Old Town Scottsdale. The…read morevenue is intimate but that is where it shines. We enjoyed three main exhibitions which were all well curated, interactive and amazingly well presented. Squidsoup - Infinite : a darkened space filled with lighted spheres dancing to instrumental music commissioned by SMoCA. An immersive experience evoking thought and mood. Casey Curran - Tidal Sky : immersive and interactive sculptures framed and freestanding, each incorporating delicate movement, beauty and decay. James Perkins - Burying Painting : literally, this artist buried his artwork in locations such as beaches and the desert, exposing them to the collaborative forces of nature to evoke beauty and emotion. --- Bonus for us was a weekend Merchantile Market gathering of vendors for the afternoon in the nearby Civic Center Plaza offering live music, food trucks, handcrafted beverages, and vintage finds and handmade goods perfect for gifting. Street parking was easy and free nearby. Well worth a visit in Old Town!

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?

One of my goals this year is to be more like a tourist even though I'm a resident. Meaning hitting…read moreup the types of spots that tourists would visit in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Case in point: Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon with my mom to check out this museum that specializes in Western and Native American art. Here's what I really like: complimentary docent-led tours three times daily. We got to participate in two of them. They're a great way to get a more in-depth view of the museum. With that being said, even if you explore the museum on your own, you'll have a great time doing it. It's a two-level museum and there's plenty to read about and check out. We spent roughly three hours there and probably got through about 50% of the museum. Here's what I didn't like: they have two back-to-back video presentations in the small theater. They unfortunately weren't happening when I was there due to a private event. Bad luck on my part. Also, general admission is a bit pricey. Outside of the price, it's a fantastic museum. There's a complimentary parking lot across from the museum or you can find street parking. And it's a few blocks away from the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. You'll see Arizona's landscape represented in paintings, Native American artwork, Western movies, and much, much more. I'll definitely be back again!

I wasn't sure what to expect with Western Spirit - Scottsdale's Museum of the West, as it is a…read moreniche museum, but I was thoroughly impressed with my visit here. Located just off Old Town Scottsdale, this museum has beautiful and modern interiors, with wood accents and colors that perfectly complement Western and frontier themes. The employees/docents are all incredibly kind and friendly. Exhibits are spread out over 2 floors, with much of the artwork on the 2nd floor, with unique Western and Native American artifacts and exhibits on the first floor. There's also a theater showing a film which we enjoyed. The collection of cowboy tools on display was truly impressive and unparalleled, as the only place in my travels that has come remotely close to showing such a vast collection of similarly themed artifacts would be the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. We really enjoyed our visit here, and really regret that this museum wasn't on our radar on prior visits to Scottsdale. For those even remotely interested in Western and Native American history, I'd recommend a visit to this museum when visiting the Phoenix and Scottsdale region.

The Desert Botanical Garden is always a great place to go for a walk and experience the beauty of…read morethe desert. Every visit feels a little different depending on the season, and it's amazing to see all the different desert plants, wildlife, art installations, and water features throughout the garden. My wife especially loves coming here for gardening inspiration because this is one of the best places to see what actually thrives in a desert environment. One of the things that keeps us coming back is how often they rotate exhibits and events throughout the year. If you live nearby, a membership is absolutely worth it because just a few visits will pay for itself. Earlier this spring we visited during the FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse installation, which used 3D scanning technology to document desert life. The huge digital displays scattered throughout the garden added such a unique modern contrast to the natural scenery. They're currently hosting the Garden: After Dark exhibit with light installations integrated into the trails and cactus gardens. We visited during the daytime so we haven't experienced it firsthand yet, but it already looks incredible. Another highlight is the permanent Dale Chihuly glass exhibit near the entrance. If you're a fan of glass art or Chihuly's work, you'll definitely want to spend time checking it out. A few tips: definitely bring water, especially if you're visiting during the day. Thankfully there are several refill stations throughout the trails and plenty of shaded seating areas to rest. There's also Gertrude's near the main entrance along with a café deeper in the garden for snacks and lighter fare. The gift shop is also worth browsing before you leave. One of my favorite parts of every visit is the wildlife. On this trip alone we saw prairie dogs, quail, woodpeckers, doves, hummingbirds, and even a roadrunner. It's such a peaceful and beautifully maintained place that never gets old no matter how many times you visit.

The garden is always such a nice place to experience nature, get inspired for gardening and outdoor…read moredesign, and get a little walk in. They do such a nice job with all of it! They also hold events all through the year. I definitely recommend a membership if you're close-ish. I come often and it's definitely worth it and supports a great organization. If you see volunteers at any of the tables throughout the garden, take a moment to stop! They have interesting information and its fun to learn new things from them. The short guided tour is also worth doing.

I grew up in an old victorian house and thought it would be fun to bring my dad here for a tour…read morewhen he was in town visiting. We ended up being the only ones on the tour which was nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The entire house has been restored to represent how the original owners would have it set up as closely as possible. The inside details are gorgeous and intricate. Our tour ended up being more like 45 minutes because it was just us and we didn't ask questions. It was a great way to spend a little bit of time before our next activity.

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

The Marshall Gallery is located in an Old Town Scottsdale. It is one of my favorite galleries in…read morethe area for all their contemporary collection of paintings, glass, and sculptures. Don't forget to visit their upstairs area showing more glass works and paintings. Free street parking.

I visited the Marshall Art Gallery this morning and received an excellent education in many fine…read moreartists and their outstanding pieces. I personally loved the works of Douglas Aagars. Jillian did a wonderful job of demonstrating the importance of lighting when displaying his Birch Tree painting. The Gallery had a wonderful display of multiple mediums from many artists from the Western States. I would recommend visiting this Gallery and working with Jillian Latzman.

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.

I had 2 oil on canvas paintings that were originally purchased by my grandparents, both painted by…read moreartist Andreas Roth. At the urging of my wife, I took them to the Scottsdale Marketplace recently (https://scottsdalemarketplace.com/) and was introduced to John L. who accepted them on consignment. John is very knowledgeable regarding this type of artwork, and potential values. The very next day I received a message from John letting me know that one of the paintings had already sold. Thank you John! John's website - https://estateandconsignmentfineart.com/ I highly recommend John and his team for handling the sale of your family's artwork.

I happened upon this charming gallery while killing time waiting to head to the airport for my…read moreflight . What a FIND, I purchased several small pieces for a very reasonable price. John was extremely helpful and answered all my questions and followed up with more information on my artist after I got home. They had an incredible variety of art and artists to consider for both the novice collector (myself) or the experienced one. Definitely worth the stop!

I had my first experience at this museum & it was such a good one!…read more My favorite part was capturing the illusions in my photos! There are so many illusions to choose from. I loved that they had stickers that helped navigate you to on how to take the perfect picture with the illusion within it. The customer service was 10/10. The staff was so helpful and offered to take photos for us. If we were having a trouble finding the illusion, they would guide us through it. This is the perfect activity for a date night, solo date, or family fun day! There is something for everyone!

3.5/5 I've been to…read moreone other Museum of Illusions and I think 95% of the exhibits here are the same. My kiddo and I still had fun though seemingly defying gravity and conjuring all sorts of optical illusions. We didn't look at some of the illusions on the walls so it took us maybe 45 minutes to go through the whole museum. It's a little pricey even with the discounted admission if you book online I feel, since it's not a very large museum and you don't spend a ton of time here. All the staff here were very nice though and willing to answer questions and take photos for us.