111 Places in Phoenix That You Must Not Miss

Travis Swann Taylor moved around a lot while growing up throughout the South, Florida, Texas, and even Wyoming. His sense of wanderlust has grown exponentially over the years and continues to take him to exciting and interesting destinations around the world. A self-taught photographer, Travis has carried a camera with him since the age of 10. Today, he lives in Phoenix, unexpectedly loving the desert life. He is also the author and photographer for 111 Places in Atlanta That You Must Not Miss.

• 9/11 Memorial PonyWorld’s largest firefighting museum | 10Airport Art CollectionA phoenix, giant aviators, and so much more | 12Alwun HouseDowntown art pioneers, of a unique sort | 14Anthem Veterans MemorialSolar spotlight at 11:11am on 11/11 | 16Arizona Doll & Toy MuseumA 300-year-old doll and Mr. Spock, too | 18Arizona FallsPhoenix’s first hydroelectric power plant | 20Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural CenterRaising up Latin American culture | 22Base and Meridian MarkerFrom where (almost) all Arizona land is measured | 24The Bat CaveThousands of bats in dramatic flight | 26Battleship Silver ServiceStately tableware shines solemnly | 28Bernie the RobotReminding you to look up from your phone | 30The Bible MuseumNot your standard hotel Bibles | 32Bil Keane’s TombA beloved cartoonist depicted family funnies | 34Blonde Butcher’s HouseWhere jealousy led to murder | 36Bragg’s Pie FactoryNow a haven for local artists and entrepreneurs | 38Buddy Stubbs BikesThe Southwest’s largest collection of motorcycles | 40Calvin C. Goode BuildingRemarkable career begets building namesake | 42Cancer Survivors ParkHopefully one day a historic relic | 44Carnegie Public LibraryPhoenix’s first public library building | 46Centennial Time CapsuleTo be opened…in 100 years | 48Centennial Way100 years of Arizona history in plain sight | 50The Circle of LifeDark history of forced assimilation | 52Copper Company LocomotiveA relic from the early days of mining | 54CosantiA living testament to Paolo Soleri’s “arcology” | 56Curious NatureTarot, taxidermy, and tea leaves | 58Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage CenterThe first synagogue in Phoenix | 60Del Monte MarketThe oldest market in Arizona | 62Disco DragonThe décor brings you in, the food brings you back | 64Dobbins LookoutPetroglyphs, saguaros, and scenic views | 66Dolly SteamboatCruise on Canyon Lake | 68Dulceria La BonitaCelebrations are better with a giant piñata | 70Elvis ChapelThis movie set survived two fires | 72Encanto CarouselLocals saved this historic treasure | 74Estrella Star TowerA tribute to stargazing cultures | 76First Christian ChurchA born-again Frank Lloyd Wright | 78Flite GoodyearOffices, radar, aircraft, blimp, tires, cotton | 80Flying V CabinThe bloodiest family feud in history | 82Frank Lloyd Wright SpireCommemorative park hidden in plain sight | 84Fry Bread HouseCommunity is the most important ingredient | 86Fry’s DowntownConstruction revealed recent and ancient history | 88GenuWine ArizonaEnjoy self-pour wines from Arizona | 90Geographical Center of PhoenixA phoenix marks the heart of Phoenix | 92Giant Golden PandaPandas are so cute, even at 13 feet tall | 94Giving Tree Café“Welcome to a Space of Love” | 96Governor Hunt’s TombArizona’s first governor interred under a pyramid | 98Grunow Memorial ClinicOnly historic building to retain its original use | 100Hanny’s BathroomThe most Instagrammable loo in town | 102Hawk SalvageYour destination for one-of-a-kind curios | 104Her Secret is PatienceInspired by monsoon clouds | 106Historic Fire Station 8If the engine is in the driveway, they’re open | 108Historic Sahuaro RanchPeacocks with ties to Chicago and Mexico | 110Hohokam Ancestral GroundsMeet the Native Americans who built our canals | 112Home of the DiamondbacksTour Chase Field year-round | 114Ira H. Hayes USMC MemorialPima Indian was one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers | 116Irish Cultural CenterA tale of a collection, a cottage, and a castle | 118Japanese Friendship GardenShowcasing four regions of Japan | 120Liberty BellArizona’s traveled the state, and beyond | 122LIX Uptown Ice CreamAward-winning and even lactose-free | 124Long Wong’sDeliciously “winging it” since 1980 | 126MacAlpine’s Soda FountainIce cream sundaes, dinner with pie, and antiques | 128Magic Carpet UnderpassTaking beautification to great heights | 130Majestic Tempe 7Movie parties, curated film, and tea time | 132Maricopa County Justice MuseumWhere the Miranda Warning was established | 134Martin Auto MuseumThe rise, fall, and rise again of the iconic Tucker | 136Mel’s Diner“Kiss my grits!” | 138Melinda’s Alley SpeakeasyKindhearted lady of the evening | 140Merci Train49 boxcars of gratitude from France | 142Mexican Arts ImportsA mecca for Mexican arts | 144The Onion HouseEvans House, among the oldest private homes | 146Origin of Phoenix NewspapersA plaque marks the city’s first newspapers | 148Palm LaneA Hollywood-like drive without the LA traffic | 150Papago Park Amphitheater3,500-seats now abandoned | 152Peacock StaircaseMae West and others graced these stairs | 154Penske Racing MuseumCars, trophies, and racing legends | 156Petroglyph PreserveArt, cultural, way-making, or religious icons? | 158PHX Cat CaféHelping kitties find their ‘fur-ever’ homes | 160Piestewa PeakThe first Native American woman killed in combat | 162Pioneer Memorial ParkSeven historic cemeteries dating 1884 to 1914 | 164Pip Coffee + ClayMake a mug that looks like your dog | 166Ponderosa StablesSpectacular valley views, especially at sunset | 168Prince Tribute MuralLet’s go crazy for Phoenix mural culture | 170The Psycho BuildingClassic scenes from Psycho filmed in Phoenix | 172Rainbow Wings Photo-OpAn open-armed welcome to the LGBTQIA+ community | 174Rancher Hat BarDesign your own cowboy hat | 176Rare Crested SaguaroScientists baffled by cause of mutation | 178Redwood Pipeline ScandalFirst efforts in municipal water works had leaks | 180Rosson HouseArizona’s first bride lived here | 182Rustler’s RoosteSlide into a rattlesnake and cactus appetizer | 184Samurai ComicsBring the whole family | 186San Carlos Hotel Star WalkWalk amongst the Hollywood stars…and ghosts? | 188Schreiner’s Fine SausagesIt’s bigger on the inside | 190Scorpion GulchTrading post and a home near a gold mine | 192Sisters of MercyMemorial Wall chronicles a history of healing | 194Sphinx Date Co.A date night with a date shake and more dates | 196Spielberg’s Film DebutAn award-deserving ‘red carpet’ experience | 198St. Mary’s BasilicaPope John Paul II prayed here | 200Stardust PinbarWalk-in cooler door is a pinball rabbit hole | 202The Sun WorshipperA landmark returns decades later | 204Susan Arreola Postcard CollectionTime travel through 2,500 vintage postcards | 206Thunderbird Field No. 1Funded by Hollywood, future WWII pilots trained here | 208Tonto Hills KachinaThe world’s largest kachina doll | 210Tony DeMarco’s Living RoomOnce a “champion” piano bar | 212Tribute to Navajo Code TalkersThe unbreakable code during World War II | 214Uptown Farmers MarketLocal food, local crafts, and lots of locals | 216USS Arizona AnchorHeavy on the hearts of her visitors | 218Valley Youth TheatreEmma Stone performed in 16 productions here | 220Water MarkEnchanting, gigantic, equine gargoyles | 222West Wind Drive-InDate Night old school style, but modern | 224Whisked Away Cooking SchoolA reluctant cook becomes a chef and teacher | 226Wide World Maps & MORE!Largest map store in the Southwest | 228Xeriscape GardenGardening possibilities in low-water spaces | 230