The Kierland Art & Wine Festival was held at the Kierland Commons. It is a two day affair with all…read moretypes of art work as well as many wine dealers. Also included is live music with a great band. The festival was quite crowded with customers and wine drinkers. You could attend the art show and shop at the stores there. What a great idea to have an art festival held at a outdoor shopping plaza.. There is parking, which includes street, covered and valet.

Nestled right in my backyard, the Kierland Art and Wine Festival is the kind of event that leaves…read moreyou thinking, "What did I do to deserve this awesome (and free) slice of culture?" Picture this: strolling through the streets with a wine glass in hand, feeling like a sophisticated art critic who might actually be a little bit tipsy. No judgment here! From the moment you arrive, you'll notice two things: There's no admission fee, so you've already won the day. Wine tasting tickets are discounted if pre-purchased. The abundance of art is only rivaled by the abundance of wine. The local artists bring their A-game, showcasing everything from breathtaking paintings to sculptures that make you say, "Is that alive?" (Pro-tip: Don't be afraid to talk to the artists and learn.) And let's not forget about the wine. Whether you're a connoisseur or just here for the samples, there's a little something for everyone. The hardest part is pretending to know the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir. My advice? When in doubt, talk to the people serving and learn, and taste side by side - works every time. All in all, the Kierland Art and Wine Festival is the perfect neighborhood event. Great art, fantastic wine, and did I mention it's free? Cheers to that!

We really enjoyed walking the Phoenix festival at the Arts this Saturday morning. Parking is…read moreavailable on lots or side streets near the festival. Entry to the festival is free. The festival is on a large grass lot with white tents housing a variety of artists, jewelers, vintners, chocolatiers, weavers, woodworkers, ceramicists, and other artisans. There are food trucks along the street. A large blowup grinch snow globe play dome is available for kids in an open grassy area and there is live music in an outdoor stadium adjoining the grassy field with the festival. There are several picnic tables and pop-up tables at which to rest or eat food. Public restrooms are available as part of the park facility.

This was my first time attending the event and I gotta say it wasn't anything special. My many…read morevendors and food choices. Parking was horrible. A lot of homeless around as well. Overall it was ok but nothing like the Tempe Festival of the Arts. I would say go to this if you have nothing to do but wouldn't go out of my way to go again.

FUN AND ENTERTAINING! A great way to spend a weekend. They have a farmer's market and always unique…read moreand creative booths to shop from. You can bring your dogs too which is nice for them to get exercise and stretch their legs as well as you! :) It's worth coming to see and check out. The only negative about it is sometimes the music totally sucks! Haha Each week they have a different band come and play so it's hit or miss on wether your ears are going to be ringing after you leave! :D

The Scottsdale Street Fair is a great place to hang out on the weekends. They have great food…read morevendors, craft vendors, and support local businesses. I have had a booth there in the past and found it helpful for my business. Kid Murals by Dana Railey had a few new clients as a result of Scottsdale Street Fair and their great advertising and support of local business owners. Also, I loved the fact that they had organix produce form local farms to purchase as well! As long as the weather is perfect, come on down to the Scottsdale Street Fair with your family and have a great time!

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.

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.

Business was shut down and there was no mention on the website. Save your time and money because…read morethe building was vacant.

Such a fun place to visit right in the heart of the shopping center. And worth the $10 to get in…read more Every imaginable movie/horror with creatures that have so much detail they even feel real. The owner loved showing us around and you can still take your time and just observe. Photo ops too

As a butterfly fanatic, I was in heaven!! There are so many beautiful species in the garden, there…read moreis no bad direction to look in. The staff were so knowledgeable and truly cared about all the animals in their care. Highly recommend, especially as a break from the heat!

This experience starts with a 3D movie about the migration of monarch butterflies, then a stop in…read morethe Emergence Gallery, where you can see caterpillars and chrysalis (aka cocoons). From there, visitors can access the Conservatory through the doors. Though a bit humid, it is such a magical environment with concrete pathways, a few seats, a koi pond, and lots of greenery. Various plants creating a beautiful setting, including flamingo flower, panama rose, purple heart, and sandpiper vine. And informative signs are posted throughout, educating visitors about the conservatory and butterfly care. Visitors are given a butterfly guide in the beginning, but some of the butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly nonstop, it was sometimes hard to identify. The big blue one (blue morpho, I believe) looked like a bird as it soared in and out of the plants and overhead. There were so many butterflies in the air, on the leaves and flowers, they even had signs noting how you could get them to land on you as well. The random music in the background wasn't too loud. At some point, the Harry Potter theme song came on, and what an enchanting vibe in the conservatory! They had bees in there too (behind glass). Once you exit the butterfly conservatory, there was much more to see. The Rainforest reptile gallery included awesome turtles (like the mata mata turtle camouflaged with the rocks), snakes, and even amazing axolotls on display. And the Tropical Waters room was delightful to view, with fish, stingrays, and more. There was also a gift shop, cafe, and vending machine selling edible bugs. Butterfly Wonderland is great for all ages, and I had such a memorable time here this past weekend.

We came to check out the After Dark experience in August, and it totally exceeded our expectations!…read more There were beautiful lights hanging from the plants, and the whole place was decorated in such an artistic and magical way. There were also lots of fun interactive activities--stargazing, a scavenger hunt, drawing desert plants with fluorescent markers, a kaleidoscope, and more. Unfortunately, it was still pretty hot when we went around 8 PM, so we didn't get to explore everything before heading home. But we'll definitely be back next time--hopefully when it's a little cooler!

I came here during a work trip--my first time visiting Arizona. I was looking for something to do…read moreon my last day, and several people recommended checking this place out. I arrived just before sunset, and it was absolutely beautiful. The gardens were well-maintained, peaceful, and offered some amazing views as the sun went down. I really enjoyed taking my time walking through the different areas and soaking in the scenery. The grounds were very clean, and the pathways were easy to navigate, making for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. If you're visiting the area and looking for a scenic way to spend a few hours, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

Went to see James Hood's "Astronomica" at the Dome - what an experience!…read more We had VIP tickets and sat in the reclining chairs, the whole dome ceiling covered in twinkling stars before the actual show itself. The music was performed by an orchestra, I believe it was the Hungary Philharmonic in the credits, and the narration was about how we are all part of the Universe, stardust over millennia becoming bodies. This is a visual performance without astronomy as a lesson; the graphics are fantastic and all around you as you lie back - just like gazing at the sky at night. I couldn't help smiling during the entire hour! The seats were great, I'm so glad we sat in the recliners and not upright for the display. Parking - we found out later - is at the Heritage building and they will validate your ticket; we parked in the other garage and it wasn't cheap due to the game nearby. It is wheelchair accessible, but in the Ladies restroom there was only one stall for disabled. In the atrium there's a gift shop as in all museums, and a cafeteria still open when we left the Dome. The ongoing Julia Child exhibit was right near the Astronomica show, so I went and took a walk around the exhibit: big fan of Julia so it was an extra bonus :) I enjoyed the experience very much, I hope you will too!

Jen & I wanted to take our granddaughter Op somewhere before she started school so we headed to the…read moreArizona Science Center, we had a great time seeing everything and being in side an air conditioned building. We got there early before it really started to get busy so was able to see everything without bumping elbows with other people. We had a good time and sure you would as well so plan a date and enjoy a trip to the Arizona Science Building.