Best Places to Visit in Phoenix, AZ: Desert Botanical Garden

Every time I Googled “What to do in Phoenix” the Desert Botanical Garden popped up – so I knew I had to give it a try!

While the Desert Botanical Garden provided entry, all opinions are my own

140 acres and located in the heart of Papago Park is the Desert Botanical Garden.

I'm a plant nerd – I go out of my way to visit botanical gardens. The Desert Botanical Garden is the best botanical garden I have ever experienced. This isn't just a place to go with your grandma. It's a haven for influencers, families, yogis, and everyone in-between.

The area is so expansive that at times you feel like you are on a hike in the Arizona wilderness. I highly suggest bringing along a water bottle, as they offer refill stations throughout the gardens.

We visited around sunset, and the views were immaculate. The incredible cacti served as the foreground to a colorful sunset behind the Hole in the Wall hike in Papago Park.
This was the end of my trip before an early flight, so we walked through rather quickly. At a brisk pace, it took us an hour and a half to see the entire garden. You could easily spend a half-day here.

Entrance of Gardens with Chihuly Glass Exhibit

When you enter the garden, you're greeted by Chihuly glass. The garden also works with local artists to showcase their work throughout the property like in the photo below:

Next time I'm in Phoenix, I fully intend to dedicate a half-day to the gardens. There are so many peaceful nooks to get lost in a book at, take photos, meditate, or simply just be.

Me and my mom after a long day exploring

Quick Highlights:

• Location: 5/5
• Atmosphere: 5/5
• Overall Experience: 5/5