Places to go in Phoenix.

If you see one thing in Phoenix, make it this. Paths wind through thousands of desert plants from around the world - towering saguaros, wildflower beds, agaves the size of cars - with the red buttes of Papago Park behind them. It is the best introduction to the Sonoran Desert there is, and it is gentle enough for any age.

The city's signature peak, shaped like a resting camel. Both routes to the top - Echo Canyon and Cholla - are short but genuinely steep, with scrambling near the summit, and the view across the whole Valley is the reward. Treat it as a real hike: proper shoes, more water than you think, and no attempts in the afternoon heat.

A short, easy climb leads up into Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural opening in a red sandstone butte that frames the city to the west. It is the easiest sunset in Phoenix and a favorite for photos. The same park holds the Desert Botanical Garden, the Phoenix Zoo and small fishing lagoons, so it pairs well with a morning visit to either.

One of the largest city parks in the country, with miles of trails and a paved road that climbs to Dobbins Lookout. From the stone shelter at the top you see the entire Valley spread out below, which makes it the best city-lights view after dark without any hiking at all.

The locals' workout hike: a steady climb on stone steps to a summit with 360-degree views. It is a little less crowded than Camelback and very central, so it suits a visitor with a free sunrise and a busy day after.

One of the country's leading museums of American Indian art and culture, open since 1929. The collection of Hopi katsina figures is remarkable, the galleries on boarding-school history are moving, and the courtyards and shop are lovely in their own right. Allow two to three hours.

Visitors arrive skeptical and leave raving. MIM displays instruments from nearly every country on earth, and wireless headphones play the music of each exhibit as you walk up to it. It takes most people half a day, and the museum's own concert theater hosts touring artists most weeks.

One of the largest art museums in the Southwest, with strong American, Western and fashion collections and the much-loved Thorne Miniature Rooms. It sits on the same stretch of Central Avenue as the Heard, so the two make an easy museum day.

The remains of a Hohokam village and platform mound, right beside the airport. The Hohokam dug hundreds of miles of irrigation canals across this valley, and many of Phoenix's modern canals still follow their routes. It is small, quiet and a surprisingly good hour before a late flight.

Hands-on galleries across several floors and a planetarium. It is built for children but holds adults' attention too, and it is next door to Heritage Square, so lunch is a short walk away.

The city's arts district: murals on nearly every wall, small galleries, coffee shops and some of the best casual restaurants in town. It is at its liveliest on the first Friday evening of each month, when the galleries open late and the streets fill with people for the art walk.

A block of restored late-1800s homes, the last of old Phoenix. The 1895 Rosson House offers guided tours of its Victorian rooms, and the square is also home to the original Pizzeria Bianco, which still draws a line.

The Biltmore opened in 1929 with an architectural style influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright, and its lobby and grounds are worth a look even if you are not staying. On the hill above it, the Wrigley Mansion - built by the chewing-gum magnate for his wife - is open for tours and dinner with a view over the city.

Galleries, Western-wear shops, restaurants and, after dark, the Valley's busiest bar district, all in a walkable grid. It deserves its own day - see our guide to things to do in Scottsdale.

Next to Arizona State University, the lake has a waterfront path, paddleboard and boat rentals, and Tempe Beach Park. A block away, Mill Avenue is lined with restaurants and student-friendly bars.

The Diamondbacks play under a retractable roof at Chase Field, which closes and cools the ballpark on hot summer nights. A few blocks away, Footprint Center is home to the Phoenix Suns and Mercury and hosts the biggest touring concerts. Both are on the light rail.

Symphony Hall is home to the Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona. The Orpheum, a restored 1929 theater with a painted sky ceiling, hosts concerts, comedy and touring shows. Dress up a little - it is part of the fun.

A large, shaded zoo arranged in loop trails, with a strong focus on desert and Arizona species. Go when it opens in summer; in winter it hosts an evening light show that is popular with families.