Top Rated Attractions in Phoenix

Music lovers should head to the Musical Instrument Museum which has a collection of 15,000 musical instruments as well as multimedia exhibits. The collection of musical instruments comes from every corner of the world. Many so strange, they are exhibited along with an instructional video. Visitors get the opportunity to learn diverse music styles that exist around the globe. The museum also has live performances held at its theater.

Located close to the city of Scottsdale, the Camelback Mountain watches over Phoenix, Arizona's sweeping semi-arid plains from a spectacular elevation of nearly 1,400 feet (426.72 meters). The mountain gets its name from the resemblance it bears to the unmistakable shape of a camel's hump. The north trailhead offers views of red cliffs rising 200 feet (61 meters) in some areas, beckoning rock climbers with its challenges. Antelope squirrels, lizards, and snakes are the landscape's most widely-spread inhabitants. The Praying Monk red sandstone formation is arguably the site's most noticeable sight.

Located in the Phoenix Convention Center, the Orpheum Theater is one of the oldest historic venues in the city. Built in 1929, the Spanish Baroque-style building underwent major transformation after its purchase by the city of Phoenix in 1984. The theater reopened in January 1997 and continually hosts performances. The building itself listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The venue seats 1,364 and is used for performing arts and touring productions featuring dance, theater, and music concerts.

The Desert Botanical Garden was opened in 1939 to preserve the area's pristine desert environment. Today, the garden helps save endangered plants, with the focus still on native flora and special emphasis on succulents. The cactus collection is world-renowned and between the months of March through May, the seasonal blooms are spectacular. The garden hosts several events throughout the year, some of which include the popular 'Butterfly Habitat' during the spring and the 'Luminarias' during the holiday season. If you come during the summer months, don't forget your hat and sunscreen!

One of the largest in the Southwest, the Phoenix Art Museum includes a staggering collection of exhibits from the world over. Permanent displays in this facility include miniature interiors as well as 20th-century art. Featured pieces cover contemporary art and fashion design with international exhibits from Europe, Asia, Latin America as well as Western America. Interactive, hands-on activities are featured for kids at the PhxArtKids space. Traveling displays are often included in the museum's highlights. Exhibits include popular works by Ubertini, Nicolas Lepicie, Max Beckmann, Robert Henri, Eugène Boudin and many more.

True to its name, FilmBar, showcases mostly indie films and it serves superb craft beers, wine and other spirits while you enjoy the flick. The micro-cinema space within the bar seats up to 70 and screens an interesting selection; from foreign and independent titles to cult classics and the work of local filmmakers. Tickets to the shows can be bought at the venue itself and members enjoy concessions and combos. For those coming in just to enjoy the bar, their range of drinks covers 25 different craft beers and a wonderful selection of wines. One other note, if you wish to continue the drinking after the film ends, the Angels Trumpet Ale House across the street is a beer lover's dream.