If you put stock in the wisdom of locals and are a sucker for a good story, you’ve come to the right place. The articles and essays below are authored by writers who call Phoenix home. We asked them to share their thoughts about the city—and how to spend quality time in it—in the hope their stories will inspire your travel ideas.
Reconnect with the sights and sounds of nature at these top spots for birding in Greater Phoenix.
Gritty, urban and cool, this downtown neighborhood is the next Phoenix frontier.
With one of the state’s only USDA-certified organic farms, Bob McClendon brings the desert’s bounty to Phoenix restaurants and farmers markets.
Cloth & Flame brings diners to the desert—literally—with their one-of-a-kind dinner series.
Phoenix's newest restaurant row has popped up on a short stretch of North 7th Street.
A tour of the famous "wedding cake house" gives visitors the real scoop on the Phoenix landmark.
The Italian artist and architect's legacy lives on in the futuristic desert home where he sculpted his famous bells.
Channel your inner architecture geek in the city's timeless mid-century modern neighborhoods.
When a hike is just an excuse to work up an appetite to wine and dine.
In Midtown and Uptown, eat/drink/shop gathering places thrive where strip malls once stood.
Phoenix's Seventh Avenue "gayborhood" welcomes all to its diverse mix of LGBTQ-friendly eateries, shops and galleries.
These intra-city road trips allow you to travel from Point A to Point Beautiful…and be back home in time for dinner.
Phoenix sculptor forges scrap metal, railroad spikes and more into memorable works of art.
A float trip down the Salt River douses desert stereotypes and puts paddlers up close and personal with wild mustangs, blue herons and bald eagles.
An avowed ‘night owl’ communes with glowing scorpions and night-blooming cactuses on a guided, after-dark hike.
Phoenix’s summer sunshine compels local barflies to step out of the light and grab a drink in cool darkness.
Inspired by a meal and moments of reflection at the Louvre in Paris, a local writer spotlights Phoenix cultural attractions that elevate the dining experience.
Market shoppers scoop up farm-fresh goods next to downtown’s de facto living room.
One Arizona transplant shares how she learned to stop worrying about summer’s heat and embrace monsoon showers, twilight hikes and the year’s best sunsets.
A stroll along Phoenix's historical canal system promises artful waterfalls, craft beer, homemade paella and a bat cave.
Local bootmaker stitches colorful, custom leatherwork in his Central Phoenix storefront.
The Teapot lets parents retain their latte-sipping sensibilities while their kids frolic in a backyard playground.
Hop on a Grid Bike and take a tour to the Japanese Friendship Garden, DeSoto Central Market and more of Central Phoenix’s cultural gems.
400 species of wildflowers grow in this tiny county park, and ranger Kevin Smith knows (almost) all of them.
Hiker who’s traversed the state (twice) on the AZT shares her favorite trail segments near Phoenix.
In search of tangible things in a digital age, a local writer finds where to ditch screens and go old school in Central Phoenix.
Jewelry designer Alex Ozers forges brass and copper into wearable art that feels aged by desert forces.
A daughter carries on a legacy by roasting beans from the family farm in Brazil at Peixoto Coffee in Chandler.
Bitter & Twisted barman Ross Simon takes writer on a tour of his favorite Central Phoenix cocktail spots.
In her quest to create the perfect tamale, Martha Castillo built a family business with a cultish following.
For one Phoenix transplant, visiting the Desert Botanical Garden is a life-balancing ritual.
Ariel Bracamonte’s passion project—a retro arcade bar—is a game changer for downtown Phoenix’s nightlife scene.
Who needs a car when a ‘conveyor belt’ can transport you between Central Phoenix dining and drinks?
Arizona Biltmore pool is where Marilyn Monroe preferred to sunbathe, and Irving Berlin first dreamed of a ‘White Christmas’
Phoenix loves a parade, but diving into the city’s LGBTQ community also entails rodeo, softball and frequenting ‘The Collection’.
A local writer and bona fide pizza fanatic gives us the rundown on Phoenix’s formidable pizza scene.
This multi-mountain trek inspires hikers to look beyond Phoenix’s iconic peaks for their next excursion.
This secret garden above I-10 creates a cocoon of tranquility in downtown Phoenix.
At his shop in the cowboy town of Cave Creek, Eric Watson crafts hats that last a lifetime.
Little shop on Grand Ave fulfills the guitar dreams of curious customers—and its meticulous proprietor.
Tour of midcentury home provides glimpse of Frank Lloyd Wright at the peak of his powers.
A transplanted Southerner satisfies her hankering for the tastes of home at these local joints.
Masked acrobats of Mexican-style wrestling give audiences a reason to scream on Sunday night.
It's a neighborhood mainstay for when you absolutely, positively have to have a chicken biscuit and a boulevardier after midnight.
Bouffant-coifed waitresses serve up ice cream and nostalgia at this Coronado Neighborhood eatery and retro boutique.
At Phoenix’s indie bookshops, you can find a sense of community while losing yourself in a book (and maybe a brew).
A resort built on cotton has a soft spot for families, neighbors and loyal employees.
This taxidermist’s shop in Central Phoenix is the place to go for freeze-dried bats and beetle earrings.
Rancho Ochoa, a rodeo arena in southwest Phoenix, treats local fans to traditional charreada.
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