The Best Parks and Museums Located In Phoenix AZ
Phoenix AZ is filled with beautiful parks and fascinating museums. On top of it all, art galleries, zoos, historic districts and botanical gardens provide hours of learning and fun in the city. The following is a list of the best parks and museums in Phoenix AZ that you must see as you explore the city's culture and arts:
Phoenix AZ Art Museum
Since its construction in 1959, the Phoenix Art Museum has retained the title of the biggest art museum in the south-western region of the US, providing access to educational programs and visual arts in the state of Arizona.
Millions have visited the magnificent museum in the last five decades to view the over 400 international and national exhibitions it has held. These are displayed alongside its collection, which has grown to over 17,000 objects of Latin American, Asian, American, European, Western American, contemporary and modern art, fashion design, and photography.
The museum holds annual photography exhibitions. Visitors also get to enjoy the interactive PhoenixArtKids gallery as well as the lush Dorance Sculpture Garden.
Penske Racing Museum
Penske Racing Museum is home to a stunning collection of racing memorabilia, cars and trophies chronicling the careers of some of the most successful sporting dynasties of time. The museum has over four decades of racing experience as well as over 300 major wins in fifteen different Phoenix AZ 500-mile race courses.
You will find a collection of cars detailing the Penske Racing's diversity, such as a replica of the 1964 Pontiac Catalina that was driven by Roger Penske in his 1963 Riverside 250 win. Additionally, a number of Phoenix AZ 500-mile race winning cars are displayed in the museum, including the 2009 Dalara which Hellion Castronves drove to win 2009 Indy 500. Visitors can conveniently locate the Penske Racing Museum along the Scottsdale 101 Avenue.
Luke Air Park
Luke Air Park was named after World War One aviator Frank Luke Junior, the first pilot awarded the Medal of Honor. The primary mission of this park is to train fighter aviators, including those that fly the F35, America's most sophisticated fighter jet.
On Thursdays and Tuesday from May through September, members of the public can schedule tours from 9 am to 12 pm to see a static display of aircrafts in which Luke aviators have been trained throughout history.
Visitors can also pay respects to heroes of Arizona by stopping at the Medal of Honor Memorial where their names are displayed. Hundreds of visitors flock to the base every year (especially in March) for the Air Show, featuring aerial performances and aircraft displays, more so the Air Force Thunderbirds' precision maneuvers.
Phoenix Zoo Papago Park
Each hour spent at Papago Park is always memorable. Why? Well, the park, voted one of the top five parks for kids and adults in Phoenix AZ and the US, connects visitors with natural habitats in a unique way. Covering over 150 acres, Papago Park is home to 7,500 animals making it the largest private nonprofit zoo in the US with exhibits designed to recreate the natural habitats of animals.
Of important note are the park's four trails: the Africa Trail that has elephants, tigers and lions, the Tropics Trail providing fantastic bird watching, the Arizona Trail with animals native to Arizona and the Children's Harmony Farm and Discovery Trail with a butterfly garden and farm animals.