20 Mesmerizing Things To Do In Tempe, Arizona

Boating in Arizona is best done on the Tempe Town Lake. It has different types of boats in its fleet ranging from kayak boats, pedal boats as well as electric boats among others.

Tempe Boat Rentals and Boat Rentals of America are two venues that offer products and services that can be rented. If you own a boat, you require permission from the city to use this on Tempe lake.

Note that swimming is prohibited. Besides, it is a fun place for activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding and fishing in case one is interested. Around the lake, there are also beautiful walking and biking paths.

Tempe marketplace is an outdoor mall with a landscaped veranda, delightful outdoor cafes, and shady, short walks from store to store. This is one of the valley's most visited shopping centers.

There is a varietal mix of upscale shopping, walk-up bars, great restaurants, and good outside cafes. Live music flows out from many nightspots most evenings and several arcades are open late to cater to different visitors.

Several benches are provided as you are sure to get tired walking through this huge mall. This is one of the busy but fun activities to do in Tempe AZ.

A cute aquarium with lots of interesting sea animals to view. It takes almost 30 minutes to walk the whole space.

The standard tour is worth the ticket price to visit. Your ticket lasts all day so you can pop in and out to use the food court or visit the shops in the mall as well. The full tunnel aquarium was so cool. Having sharks, fish and a sea turtle swim over your head and under your feet is something else.

You can also pay an additional amount to take a Behind-the-scene tour with a turtle encounter. There is a playground at the end and you exit through the gift shop. Save money on discounts at the Arizona Sea Life Aquarium website.

Located close to Tempe Town Lake, this center is a beautiful building. It hosts many gatherings, including shows, live performances, and events.

The views are gorgeous, especially during the sunset and night. You can see the reflection of lights and buildings in the town lake. If you want fun things to do in Tempe, visit the venue on Wednesdays.

Today, walk-ins are happily welcomed. They can hear local musicians, enjoy an open bar, and check out the box office for performances. Multiple halls with different seating capacities are available. There is also ample parking space in a dedicated building near the center.

Tempe Diablo Stadium is a decent Spring Training ballpark with relatively easy access to I-10. The field is beautifully kept up and the seats are comfortable for a ballpark.

The grassy berm beyond the outfield fences is a fun and inexpensive option. The ticket prices are reasonable. Purchase the tickets online and get some offers on some occasions.

If you arrive perhaps an hour before the kickoff, you will most likely be able to find a parking space in a small parking lot behind the hill at the stadium. It is much easier getting out if you can claim a parking spot.

Desert Botanical Garden is an exceptional facility found in Phoenix that presents an excellent feel of desert vegetation. This is a good way to see some of the plants and flowers characteristic of the desert without getting into the desert itself.

What makes this place unique is seeing how the animals of the desert interact with the plants in the garden. The layout is designed in such a way that it offers an easy walk.

There is a central path with 5 or 6 varied offshoot trails with different themes to explore that bring you back to the main path. This is among the things to do Tempe Arizona best during the cooler periods of the year. Take a look at things to do in Phoenix as well.

The Forum of Lights Street Parade is one of the popular Tempe AZ attractions and entertaining holiday occasions in Downtown Tempe. It is on the 29th of November 2024 from 4 in the evening until 8 at night.

This event involves the pressing of a button to light a Christmas tree and includes a parade with a float, music, and dances among others. Some of the traditions that remain part of the celebrations involve taking pictures with Santa and strolling around tasting snacks.

This parade is open to the public and is one of the amazing things to do in Tempe AZ. Learn more about this and many upcoming winter events from the Downtown Tempe website.

A small, but enjoyable history museum focusing on the founding and history of Tempe. Admission is free and there is a lot of information to read and learn, as well as interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages.

Check the signs exhibit that usually hang all around Tempe, including some historic ones. Other exhibits included a timeline with artifacts over the decades of Tempe, historic vehicles, and also historic photos and concept art.

There is even a section dedicated to Tempe's appearances in movies. It also has a commendable committee that organizes lunchtime talks and presentations, monthly music ensembles, and other enlightening experiences for its audiences.

This brewery is an amazing blend of great food, excellent drinks, and a cozy space. It is also a go-to spot after indoor rock climbing at Phoenix Rock Gym around the corner.

The vibe is inviting and laid-back. The outdoor seating adds a fantastic atmosphere that makes the evening different. Apart from many amazing beers, their food menu is also extensive.

They also have a kid-friendly menu. Some of the recommended dishes are Brickhouse pretzel, spinach artichoke dip, green chile pork poutine, four peaks, southwest, wings, and burger.

The Mill Avenue District is approximately four city blocks and is a favorite of both residents and leisure travelers. It has many shops, eateries, and places of entertainment which show that the district is worth to be visited.

Lately, there have been expansions of sidewalks, and the volume of traffic has been minimized to enhance its pedestrian-only experience. Mill Avenue has relatively many recorded buildings, which define the current and also the history.

The area is also blessed with institutions such as Arizona State University, which gives the area an innovative young feel. All this makes it one of the notable Tempe Arizona attractions.

This is another great location in the Tempe area to enjoy the outdoors, exercise, and see some unique landscapes. There are so many trails you can take that lead up to the mountains.

It offers both paved and groomed (gravel) trails for every level of hiker. You can head to Hole In The Rock, an interesting rock formation with a wind-created hole. Take your hiking shoes for that climb.

You might get to see the cactus flowering, snakes, lizards, road runners, and some small mammals. There are also places to eat a picnic, and useful amenities for water and a lavatory which is always very helpful on a hot day.

ASU Gammage is a multi-faceted theater that resides inside Arizona State University. It has a capacity of more than three thousand people and has staged many shows and concerts for example Broadway productions.

It has a round shape and is said to have excellent sound quality, thus is often used for several functions. The public can view artwork on the walls and also get an opportunity to take a guided tour of the building.

ASU Gammage has also nearby restaurants and places to park for visitors who will be attending any performance.

This is the best place to get up to date with the history of Arizona at Papago Park. Displays take visitors through the past from Pumpkinvile to the present.

There are two levels of exhibits with different variations of Arizona history and a library with historical archives. Although it is an amazing museum, it's more popular for its central location, desert landscaping, and multifunctional event space.

People use it for weddings and celebration events. The large outdoor courtyard with access to indoor spaces off each side features a large waterfall as a backdrop to the main event. Also, view these touristy things to do in Arizona.

It is a 1,500-foot-tall hill with other names such as Hayden Butte or 'A' Mountain. Its surface is characterized by the presence of shrubs and cacti plants that grow in deserts.

The site has a history; Hohokam people inhabited the area around the 1400s. It is evident by pottery and petroglyphs. Today, the Tempe Butte is filled with city preserves for hiking.

There at the top visitors can decide to relax and view the beautiful sight and feel of the surrounding area which includes part of the Arizona State University and the Sun Devil football stadium.

It is a nice zoo and easy to walk through in half a day. This is a very spacious zoo and you get to cover a great deal of territory.

There is a pretty good assortment of animals here. Three lions, a leopard, at least one elephant, and plenty of monkeys. They also have a rhino and camels. Speaking of camels, the camel ride is very popular.

Eight dollars per person but the kids will enjoy it. There is a shuttle to take you around the zoo, but that will cost you extra. At least eight dollars. Also, free parking is not too far from the entrance.

C2 Tactical is an indoor shooting range. It is a non-threatening place where people of different ages, talents, and capabilities are encouraged to participate.

Its floor space comprises 23 shooting lanes, which makes the facility very comfortable. C2 Tactical offers firearms rental, and teaching services, as well as sells firearms and accessories.

It also has lessons depending on the specialization level of a student. Moreover, the range invites and hosts group events and special events such as birthday parties, or corporate meetings.

Haji Baba is a well-known Middle Eastern restaurant at 1513 E Apache Blvd Tempe, Arizona. It is known to offer original meals that are tasteful and reasonably priced. A sample of meals includes gyros, kabobs, and baba ganoush.

People also like the mixed kabob plate and this dish is usually very big which can feed a small family. Among appetizers one prepared from the roasted eggplant known as baba ganoush accompanied by pita bread is a favorite among locals.

Baklava is another sweet delicacy that can be bought with a filling of almonds, pistachios, cashews, or other nuts of the buyer's choice.

VIB Hotel by Best Western is a contemporary stylish hotel connected to Arizona State University and relevant downtown attractions. Functional everyday facilities also include a free Wi-Fi connection, a flat-screen TV, and cozy bedding in large rooms.

Also, there is a heated outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and a bar on the roof of buildings. This hotel also provides a restaurant and coffee shop for guests' order of meals and other drinks.

Business people and tourists would find it the ideal place to be. This hotel is for people to enjoy their time either relaxing or having fun which is why people of all ages should go for this hotel.

Kiwanis Park is one of the big parks and at the same time, it is a place of fun for all. This will allow you to swim in a 12-acre lake that will offer services like kayaking and paddle boating.

Among these are children playing beaches, onsite gym, children playing parks, football fields, and volleyball fields. The park also has an indoor play area including a waver pool that includes waves and slides to swim in regardless of the season.

If you are into sports there are batting cages and tennis courts. The park also has The Cloud a special splash playground for children with water toys.

Ken McDonald Golf Course is an eighteen-hole par-72 Golfing Course. It has a length of 7447 yards and is a good play for all types of golf-playing individuals.

The layout is generally flat, but the presence of water in eight of the holes makes for a bit of a challenge. Despite its relatively low price, this course is kept in good condition, so it is really popular among people.

It also has a full-service restaurant and lessons for golfers. Year after year it receives much attention and it has even been ranked amongst the best daily fee courses in the Phoenix area.