We visited the museum on a weekday morning. We enjoyed the displays of rocks from various parts of…read morethe earth, the Arizona-Mexican artifacts, and of course the dinosaurs, especially the aquatic dinosaurs. This museum has an active dinosaur fossil dig - you can watch and even talk to the paleontologist working on it! There's lots to see and enjoy here, including real elements from a jail that held prisoners from the 1830s to the 1970s!! The gift shop is reasonably priced and you can even purchase a "memory bag" filled with pencil, notebook eraser, etc, for only $2.50 each.

Paid $14 and only stayed about 40 minutes. There were multiple groups of school children that were…read morerunning around, screaming, jumping and bumping into everything. I expect that behavior to be tolerated at a children's museum, not a public museum where a basic level of respect and decorum is expected for EVERYONE inside. Wish I could say I enjoyed it but the hundreds of screaming children ruined any experience I could have had and left with a migraine. **Would appreciate museums to have specific days for "field trips" or hours for school days. Unfortunately many museum experiences are ruined due to the behavior of unruly children, and I'm still the one paying full price.

Fantastic museum! Many interesting exhibits and helpful staff. Couldn't believe this museum was…read morefree. One of the best parts of my trip! Some of the kids' art was incredible. It's great to see such talent showcased.

I loved my visit! I love that it was FREE! I didn't notice any donation box or anything but I…read morewould've left something if I saw one.. I had a great experience. I love that they change exhibits every so often. I really enjoyed learning about Chandler. But was most meaningful to me during my visit was the 4th Grade Project Exhibit. "Judy Gelles mission to foster empathy and curiosity". She had been working on this project since 2008 and asked 4th graders all around the world 3 questions. Who do you live with, who do you live with and what do you worry about? Heartfelt. You never stop to think how much worries young people. Some worried about death, being shot, getting their only shoes dirty, etc. shows how much factors at home and impact them. It was deep to see and read!! Worth a visit I will return to see what the next exhibit might be!

Much more than we could absorb in one visit !! We are already planning our return. We never…read moreeven made it to the second floor where the boarding school exhibit was presented.

After discovering the Heard Museum in the book "1000 Places to go Before You Die", we put it on the…read morelist of ''must sees' for a recent trip to Phoenix. TAKE THE LIGHT RAIL We took the light rail to the museum from our downtown hotel. There's a stop just down the road. GET A DISCOUNT The adult entry fee was $26 and we used our AAA membership for an exciting $1 off. I feel by the time you're paying $50+ for a couple, the cost is getting off-putting. LOCKERS AVAILABLE We used their complimentary storage lockers for our carry-on luggage as we were on our way to the airport afterwards. You also have to stow water bottles in the lockers. There are a couple of water fountains around the museum in case you get parched. ALLOW HALF A DAY The museum is a quality museum with a lot to see and read, but you really have to be into southwest stuff to really appreciate it in my opinion. After a few hours we were getting slightly overwhelmed, glassy-eyed and tired/bored with aching backs. (To be fair, it was our fourth museum in 3 days, so we were a little burned out!) STAY FOR LUNCH We really enjoyed an excellent lunch at the cafe in the courtyard and highly recommend it. EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP(S) There's a high-end store where you can purchase expensive rugs, jewelry, sculptures, etc. and there's also the 'Mugs and T-shirts' souvenir store and a small coffee shop. RIDE SHARE DROP OFF AND PICK UP The ride share pick-up and drop off is around the back at one end of the parking lot. Helpful?

MIM is amazing! This is one of the most thorough and thoughtfully curated museums that I've been…read moreto, with something for visitors of all ages to enjoy. I went with my family on a Monday morning in early May. While there were a few school groups and retirement homes visiting during that time, it didn't feel crowded at all! There's so much to learn and explore ... you could honestly spend all day here and still not see everything. Some exhibits are interactive, and there are literally instruments from every corner of the world on display. We did check out the coffee shop before exploring, and grabbed a quick bite! They do not let you bring any food or drink into the exhibits, even water. However, you can check your items at the front desk to pick up on your way out. All tickets include a headset with music or a voiceover that will automatically play as you get close to a specific display. It's hard to choose a favorite room, but the diversity in the Asia wing really stands out. My younger sister also loved the jazz exhibit! I highly recommend a visit to MIM for locals and travellers alike.

There was a reggae event happening at the museum during my recent visit, featuring a drumming…read moreworkshop and reggae performances on Saturday, as well as documentary shorts on global reggae culture and guest speakers throughout the weekend. Even without special events and exhibits, there is so much to see and explore here. It is unbelievable how much they pack into this place. Give yourself at least two hours, or more if you want to thoughtfully read each of the exhibit descriptions or attend any of the optional workshops or performances on site. Food and drinks are not allowed in the museum rooms, except in the food area and courtyard, with Cafe Allegro offering a global menu and Beats Coffee Bar selling all day breakfast along with other snacks and beverages. Museum staff were helpful and welcoming, and I loved using the headphones given in the beginning, as these were connected with the exhibits, and the sounds of various instruments and videos could be heard as you walked by displays throughout the two levels of the venue. The second floor takes you across continents in the world of music, with unique instruments from Latin America, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and beyond. I learned about how instruments were played to engage with spirit animals in African culture. And I was fascinated with the Indonesian Gamelan exhibit, showcasing the arts I've experienced before with shadow puppetry. I even discovered many unique and amusing instruments I was not familiar with, like the tortoiseshell drums of the Garífuna and the buccin (french slide trombone), characterized by a dragon's head, as well as Belarus' instruments used for "teasing" songs. In addition, the STEM Gallery allowed for exploration of the science of sound, where I learned that all musical instruments share a common characteristic: vibrations! And the Artist Gallery had individual displays dedicated to iconic musicians, like Elvis, Taylor Swift, and The Wailers. My favorite section of the museum was the Mechanical Music Gallery. It felt like I was at the circus, captivated by vintage instruments such as the calliope (a self-playing steam powered organ) and antique nickelodeon machine. This room definitely added excitement to my visit. I also tried my hand at the theremin in the Experience Gallery, and it was like making music with magic. Lots of quirky items were offered in the gift shop too, like themed puzzles and ornaments, boom box lunch boxes, and a quote book for the melophile in your life. I absolutely enjoyed and appreciated my time at this museum, learning about and listening to the diverse and beautiful sounds created across cultures and throughout time.

Admission price is $4 for seniors and $5 for adults. Very reasonable for the amount of displays…read morethere are. There's native Americans artifacts, model railroad display, fire,police and medical exhibits plus loads more inside and outside! I highly recommend this museum!

The Museum of Casa Grande, 110 W. Florence Blvd., is a typical small-town historical museum…read more Exhibits cover the entire history and pre-history of the area.. The premises include the Casa Grande Stone Church, a former Presbyterian church now used as a performance space. I wouldn't say it's worth driving from Phoenix or Tucson just to see this museum, but if you're in Casa Grande anyway, it's worth an hour of your time.

The Desert Botanical Garden is always a great place to go for a walk and experience the beauty of…read morethe desert. Every visit feels a little different depending on the season, and it's amazing to see all the different desert plants, wildlife, art installations, and water features throughout the garden. My wife especially loves coming here for gardening inspiration because this is one of the best places to see what actually thrives in a desert environment. One of the things that keeps us coming back is how often they rotate exhibits and events throughout the year. If you live nearby, a membership is absolutely worth it because just a few visits will pay for itself. Earlier this spring we visited during the FRAMERATE: Desert Pulse installation, which used 3D scanning technology to document desert life. The huge digital displays scattered throughout the garden added such a unique modern contrast to the natural scenery. They're currently hosting the Garden: After Dark exhibit with light installations integrated into the trails and cactus gardens. We visited during the daytime so we haven't experienced it firsthand yet, but it already looks incredible. Another highlight is the permanent Dale Chihuly glass exhibit near the entrance. If you're a fan of glass art or Chihuly's work, you'll definitely want to spend time checking it out. A few tips: definitely bring water, especially if you're visiting during the day. Thankfully there are several refill stations throughout the trails and plenty of shaded seating areas to rest. There's also Gertrude's near the main entrance along with a café deeper in the garden for snacks and lighter fare. The gift shop is also worth browsing before you leave. One of my favorite parts of every visit is the wildlife. On this trip alone we saw prairie dogs, quail, woodpeckers, doves, hummingbirds, and even a roadrunner. It's such a peaceful and beautifully maintained place that never gets old no matter how many times you visit.

The garden is always such a nice place to experience nature, get inspired for gardening and outdoor…read moredesign, and get a little walk in. They do such a nice job with all of it! They also hold events all through the year. I definitely recommend a membership if you're close-ish. I come often and it's definitely worth it and supports a great organization. If you see volunteers at any of the tables throughout the garden, take a moment to stop! They have interesting information and its fun to learn new things from them. The short guided tour is also worth doing.

The building was constructed with careful consideration about blending into the earth on which it…read moresits. Exceptionally well-curated displays AND well-narrated, factual documentaries of the First Nations of this large area in Arizona. There is a main floor, an upper floor and a viewing area on the upper floor/roof. I would highly recommend a visit to this well-maintained historical museum. It is located on Indigenous Territory (Tribal Land).

Ladies up front were knowledgeable and sweet! They even had a scavenger hunt for the kiddos that my…read moreboys loved! Thank you for telling us more about the history here!

Great place to visit. Parking is hard since it can get pretty full really quickly. Lots of options…read moreto choose from for the family and friends. Different stores. New stores added and some moved. Some upgrades made. A new Ferris wheel was added.

This is a cool, though touristy, entertainment destination in Scottsdale. Lots of positives about…read morethe place. A nice variety of family-friendly activities along with several shops and eateries on site, free parking, and great deals with the purchase of a combo ticket to experience different attractions at a discount. I did the "pick 2" combo for access to Butterfly Wonderland and the UFO Experience, and though the former was far more interesting and enjoyable, I'm glad I was able to check out both during my recent visit. Service was great as I interacted with staff at the arizona boardwalk, and the place wasn't overly crowded on a Sunday, which I appreciated.

Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

Honestly, this place is absolutely gorgeous,I will fully admit that. The setup, lights, and overall…read moreaesthetic are really beautiful and definitely make for pretty pictures. But personally, I just don't see it being worth the price of $14 a person. One of the biggest things for me was that the actual area itself felt a lot smaller than I expected. On top of that, there were SO many people packed in that it was hard to even stop for a second and actually enjoy the ambiance without constantly being surrounded by crowds or trying to move around people. It kind of took away from the experience because instead of feeling immersive or relaxing, it mostly just felt overcrowded. What also made it hard for me to justify the price is that you can literally see the entire thing through the fence from the park next to it. Honestly, if I ever wanted to see it again, I'd probably just go sit at the park, save my money, and actually have more room to enjoy the view comfortably without feeling packed in shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. Overall, it's definitely very pretty and visually impressive, but for me personally, the experience didn't match the cost enough to make me want to return.

Was on a layover and decided to checkout some local activities…read more Parking was on the challenging side because it is also next to a theatre and a performance was scheduled. We visited on a Wednesday after 3pm...it's pay what you can and they're open til 8pm so that also added to parking congestion. No pressure to pay/donate but they did let us know the normal price. We opted to pay $5 vs. the regular $28 per person. I primarily wanted to visit the Yayoi Kusama room but loved the butterfly installation and the tiny rooms as well. They have a nice variety of art work overall. There were some areas that were closed off due to a private event, so didn't get to visit all exhibits and they also have some additional pay areas too. Highly recommend and would definitely visit again!

PRICE SLIGHTLY STEEP Not my favorite art museum I've ever…read morebeen to as it lacks big well known pieces. I felt the adult price of $28 was too high, especially as a couple -- that's almost $60 for a day out of looking at some pictures. They do offer a AAA $3 discount, which we took advantage of. KUMSAMA FIREFLIES INFINITY MIRROR ROOM My favorite part was the Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room, where you wander into a room of darkness surrounded by mesmerizing twinkling lights and mirrors. I wasn't aware that this was there, so it was a pleasant surprise. LAYOUT I felt the museum has a slightly confusing, disjointed layout. GIFT SHOP There's a quality gift shop selling typical art museum items like jewelry, scarves, mugs, etc. LOCKERS There are complimentary lockers for backpacks/purses and water. WEB SITE Before our trip, I used their web site and found it confusing to find out the price of tickets and as to whether they were actually open on certain days. See my photos attached. Helpful?