Find your green-thumb inspiration in the garden's Berlin Agave Yucca Forest or the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail at the Desert Botanical Garden, a naturalist's dream where they showcase more than 145 acres of stunning desert blooms, flora, and fauna year-round. The site opened in 1939 and now boasts over 21,000 plants, including outdoor exhibits and displays, specialty greenhouses, and endangered and fragile species preservation. One-third of the plants are native to the area, while the remaining plants come from all over the world, including special collections from Australia and Baja California. Ecosystems represented include mesquite bosque, semidesert grassland, and upland chaparral scrub.
Discover the vibrant city of Phoenix and the beautiful Valley of the Sun through exciting walking, tasting, and bike tours led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic local. Whether you're intrigued by street art, fascinated by the Wild West, or enjoy exploring historic neighborhoods and sampling delicious treats, you will have an unforgettable time. The focus on cross-cultural tours and experiences in the Phoenix area allows them to share the fascinating Arizona story while also working to improve lives for people locally and worldwide.
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city by taking a self-guided quarter-mile nature trail that features over 1,500 recorded petroglyphs on nearly 600 boulders, native desert plants, and animals in their natural habitat at the Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve. The preserve also has historical research data and displays of ongoing Southwest archaeology research by ASU faculty and students. The museum, gallery, trail, and free audio tour are available for the petroglyph trail. The university has been operating, protecting, and preserving the site since 1994, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore and learn more about the area and indigenous cultures through guided tours, publications, and ongoing lecture series.