Taylor And Associates

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.

Take the chance to explore the Arizona Capitol Museum and learn about Arizona's bootstrapping attitude and dynamic history. Discover more than 20 exhibits that showcase the evolution of Arizona from its territorial beginnings to the present day. The museum offers a glimpse into the state's diverse cultures and the significant historical figures that helped shape it. Visitors can explore displays highlighting Arizona's state symbols, the USS Arizona, and photographs by Edward S. Curtis. There's something for everyone to enjoy. One of the most impactful exhibits is the Arizona Gratitude Train boxcar, sent to the state as a token of gratitude from France after World War II. The artifacts, such as a wedding dress from Lyon and a Peugeot bicycle, pay tribute to Arizona's resilience and strength.

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.