Local Attractions

Castles 'N' Coasters offers a relaxing, fun miniature golf atmosphere for those seeking a hole-in-one, or simply a good time with friends and family.

See the desert come alive before your eyes when you visit the Desert Botanical Garden. These 150 acres contain more than 4,000 different species of cacti, succulents, trees and flowers. Be sure to stroll along the half-mile-long "Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert" trail.

Floating above the desert in a Hot Air balloon is a truly special experience. Accompanied by a peaceful silence, you'll be carried on the wind as you get a unique perspective of the desert hundreds of feet below. Your vantage point may even allow you to spot elusive desert creatures in their natural habitat.

Just when you thought the East and West coasts were the only places you could go to see the ocean, you'll discover Island of Big Surf 2.5-acre ocean oasis in the middle of the desert. Island of Big Surf is a great place to cool down while having a blast. Spend your time swimming, or even surfing, in the wet wonder of the desert.

This curious dwelling was hand-built from desert rocks, railroad refuse and anything else its builder could get his hands on. Mystery Castle is chock full of oddities that will fascinate everyone in the family.

Check out the Phoenix Zoo, where five designated trails wind through 125 fascinating acres which replicate such habitats as an African savanna and a tropical rain forest. Meerkats, warthogs, desert bighorn sheep and endangered Arabian oryx are among the unusual sights.

Rancho El Dorado is a 1,600-acre community with plans for an 18-hole golf course, schools, parks and 5,500 homes. This community is conveniently situated near the new Phoenix Amtrak location and Harrah's Ak-Chin, and is just minutes away from the charming town of historic Maricopa.

As you travel up the Superstition Highway through Tempe and Mesa, you'll eventually arrive at Apache Junction, home to the massive Superstition Mountains. However, in the mountains' majesty lies a mystery: Are the mountains home to the Lost Dutchman Mine? Explore the mystery in this magical part of the desert.