10 Best Hidden Gems in Phoenix

The Japanese Friendship Garden is a 3.5-acre oasis of greenery located in the heart of Phoenix. Cooling streams meander through the gardens, merging into a 12-ft waterfall and a pond teeming with hundreds of Koi carp. There are plants from all over the world, such as Afghan Pine, Mexican Plum, and Chilean Myrtle.

Take a 30-minute tour to learn more about the architecture, landscaping, and Phoenix's connections with Japan. At one end of the garden, a Japanese tea house hosts monthly tea ceremonies that are highly popular. Other cultural programs include aikido lessons, language workshops, ikebana lessons (the art of flower arranging), and guided meditation.

Cosanti Originals is a monument to the creativity and innovation of artist and architect Paolo Soleri. The mound-shaped buildings are designed in harmony with nature, capturing heat in winter and reflecting it in summer. Take a tour of the studios and you'll have the opportunity to watch molten bronze being poured in the foundry.

Inside the gallery, you'll find some of Soleri's original sketches and sculptures, while outside, the courtyards, terraces, and gardens are adorned with thousands of handmade bronze wind-bells. The studio offers a chance to purchase the bells, along with bronze bowls, ceramic tiles, and jewellery made by Cosanti's artisans.

Roosevelt Row is a vibrant district that's home to numerous art galleries, craft boutiques, and a plethora of colourful street art. Start your exploration at '1½ Street', located behind the Roosevelt Row Welcome Center, where the entire alley is adorned with murals by local artists. As you stroll down Roosevelt Street, you'll come across more murals and dozens of galleries.

In addition to galleries, the district offers fantastic shopping opportunities, with local artisans and small businesses selling paintings, prints, sculptures, jewellery and unique clothing. Make sure to visit on the 1st Friday of the month, when over 70 galleries and art venues stay open late for a self-guided art walk. Other events include pop-up markets and mini-music festivals.

Phoenix is well-known for its stunning desert landscapes, but did you know that it also features an exceptional wetland? Through extensive conservation efforts, Tres Rios has welcomed back a variety of birds and wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, western burrowing owls, and the endangered Yuma clapper rail, as well as muskrats, raccoons, and beavers.

Raised decking surrounding the wetlands allows visitors to walk right through the reeds and get up close to the wildlife for some great photo opportunities. There are also biking and horseback riding trails around Tres Rios and the surrounding Mesquite forest. Visitors can obtain a free access permit by applying through the City of Phoenix website.

The S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly the Pueblo Grande Museum Archaeological Park) is an opportunity to travel more than 1,500 years into the past and explore Arizona’s ancient history. These prehistoric dwellings were once occupied by the Hohokam people, who built 1,000 miles of canals around them to irrigate their fields. An interpretive trail leads you around ceremonial courts, reconstructed houses and a central platform mound.

Three galleries display artifacts discovered at the site and various exhibitions on the ancient cultures of Arizona. Visit the children’s gallery for hands-on exhibitions aimed at budding archaeologists. There are also archaeology classes, craft workshops, and a store selling Native American art.

Winding through the eastern section of South Mountain Park, Hidden Valley is one of the most captivating hikes in Phoenix. It offers visitors the chance to see petroglyphs, ancient rock carvings of abstract figures, and the Hidden Valley Observation Point, which provides stunning 360-degree views of Phoenix and the surrounding desert.

At one end of the trail is Fat Man’s Pass, a narrow passage between 2 boulders that only an adult can fit through. At the other end, the Hidden Valley Natural Tunnel provides a bit of cool shade on hot days. The trail is moderately difficult, with a few steep parts and some scrambling over boulders.