14 Places to Learn Something New in Phoenix

Put those cowboy boots on and mosey on down the dusty streets of this Wild West theme town to see trick-roping, gunfights and stagecoach rides. Saturday night enjoy hayrides, live music and a sun-down cookout.

Spend a day marveling at Indian art, pottery and jewelry at the Heard. See how Apaches once lived in a wickie-up, a tepee-like structure made of branches, twigs and hide.

Wander among the labyrinth of galleries filled with a collection that includes Spanish colonial furnishings, religious art and the works of artists as various Frida Kahlo and Auguste Rodin. Imagine a fantastic voyage at the Thorne Miniature Collection, with tiny rooms only one foot wide.

Get a glimpse of Wild West Phoenix when exploring the late 19th- and early 20th- century structures at Historic Heritage Square, Phoenix’s original settlement site. Then head to the Teeter House for afternoon tea or stay a little later for live jazz and cocktails.

No seals or polar bears at this warm weather zoo. See baboons frolic about in the impressive African savannah exhibit or watch giant Galapagos tortoises bask in the sun.

The Deer Valley Rock Art Center preserves Indian petroglyphs, some dating back 5,000 years. See the ancient rock drawings close-up, a top 10 culture thing to do in Phoenix.

Architecture buffs marvel at Frank Lloyd Wright’s windowless, open-walled desert camp. A behind-the-scenes tour includes morning tea with Wright associates and ample time to explore and snap photos.

Southwest artifacts like old jail cells, a walk-through gold mine and a model of an Indian village are some of the highlights of a visit here. Kids are mesmerized by the animatronic dinosaurs prowling the indoor cliffs and rushing waterfalls.

Come sit among the cacti and wildflowers and listen to everything from blues to country at Music in Garden, held at the Desert Botanical Garden. With concerts starting at dusk, the sunset dipping behind the red mountains serves as a dramatic backdrop.

Time-travel back to the 1800s through the exhibits and memorabilia at this celebration of Wild West culture. See the real Wild West in period photographs, ogle the gold nuggets and imagine riding an original Wells Fargo stagecoach.

The Phoenix Theatre has launched the careers of many big stars over the years, and having been established since the 1920s, it's one of the oldest theatre groups in the west. Their latest home is an impressive glass-fronted building with a large atrium and modern performance spaces, where you'll find accessible, audience-pleasing shows like musicals and rollicking comedies.

Dating back almost a century, the Orpheum Theatre was once host to vaudeville acts and has since been restored to create a spectacular backdrop for musicals, dance, and other live performances. Outside you'll find elegant Art Deco features, and inside the auditorium are desert landscape murals, making it the perfect venue for the Phoenix Opera who host their limited and exclusive shows at this theatre.

With its eye-catching, grid-like façade, Burton Barr Central Library looks rather retro-futuristic, and when you’re inside you can look out over the sprawling desert landscape of Phoenix. Set over several floors, it’s a treasure trove of reading material and also has a great children’s section as well as exhibits on Arizona’s history.

Though Phoenix is known for its modern architecture, there are also charming older buildings to explore, with roots in the Victorian and Civil War eras. The Rosson House Museum is a grand example of Queen Anne architecture. It dates back to 1895, with exhibits showing what life was like for the wealthy families of Phoenix. You can see authentic clothing and artworks of the era, and the expert guided tours taking on a fascinating journey back in time.