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During your Phoenix vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Mystery Castle
Built for a daughter who longed for a castle more permanent than those built in sand at the beach, Mystery Castle is a wondrous work of folk-art architecture. Boyce Luther Gulley, who had come to Arizona in hopes of curing his tuberculosis, constructed the castle during the 1930s and early 1940s using stones from the property. The resulting 18-room fantasy has 13 fireplaces, parapets, and many other unusual touches. Tours are usually led by Mary Lou Gulley, the daughter for whom the castle was built.
Deer Valley Rock Art Center
Located in the Hedgepeth Hills in the northwest corner of the Valley of the Sun, the Deer Valley Rock Art Center preserves an amazing concentration of Native American petroglyphs, some of which date back 5,000 years. Although these petroglyphs may not at first seem as impressive as those at more famous sites, the sheer numbers make this a fascinating spot. The drawings, which range from simple spirals to much more complex renderings of herds of deer, are on volcanic boulders along a quarter-mile trail. An interpretive center provides background information on this site and on rock art in general. From October through April, there are guided tours Saturdays at 10am and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1pm. From May through September, there are tours on Saturdays at 7:30am.
Desert Botanical Garden
Located in Papago Park adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo and devoted exclusively to cacti and other desert plants, this botanic garden displays more than 20,000 plants from all over the world. The Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail is the state's best introduction to ethnobotany (human use of plants) in the Southwest. Along the trail are interactive displays that demonstrate how Native Americans once used wild and cultivated plants. You can make a yucca-fiber brush and practice grinding corn and mesquite beans. At the Center for Desert Living, there are demonstration gardens and an energy- and water-conservation research house. On the Harriet K. Maxwell Desert Wildflower Trail, you'll find an ever-changing palette of colorful wildflowers throughout much of the year. If you come late in the day, you can stay until after dark and see night-blooming flowers and dramatically lit cacti. A cafe on the grounds serves good food and makes a great lunch spot. In spring and fall, there are also concerts in the garden. In early December, during Las Noches de las Luminarias, the gardens are lit at night by luminarias (candles inside small bags).
Comfort Inn North
Hotel adjacent to Turf Paradise Race Track. Passes to Track available. Walking distance to restaurants. Full Hot Breakfast ...
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