Desert Botanical Garden

Sprawling across 50 acres in Papago Park, the desert may seem like the last place you'd expect to find flora. Yet the Desert Botanical Garden is home to thousands of species of cacti, trees and flowers from all around the world. The garden's brightly colored plants sharply contrast the Sonoran Desert's cinnamon-red buttes, and numerous hiking trails -- like the "Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert" and the "Desert Wildflower" trails -- allow you to experience the region's natural wonders the way early settlers once did. The Desert Botanical Garden also hosts numerous events, including bird-watching expeditions and outdoor concert series.

Located just south of downtown Scottsdale, the garden is open every day with varying admission costs based on age. For more information about special events, check out the Desert Botanical Garden website.