Came here on a weekday and it was a ghost town. The staff greeted me as soon as I walked in and…read morealso asked if I would like food or drinks. The bartender was at his station waiting to serve drinks seems like a fun place if it was a bit more lively. The theater was clean and so were the bathrooms. There seems to be boarded up mirrors in the bathroom due to vandalism, but other than that, it was an enjoyable experience.

Here we go. When you go up the escalator the anticipation builds up. The entrance is quite…read moreimpressive but you do note to yourself does anybody work here? Once at the concessions you find a handful of staff standing by. I was looking forward to a cocktail but was told the bar is closed due to no bartender and they are trying to hire one. The bathrooms were super clean. Once we sat down , the experience took another turn as our seats made various squeaking sounds adding their soundtrack to the horror movie we were watching. Needless to say we watched the movie sitting still and not because of the scare factor. On our way out there was no room in the trash cans by the doors. Ps. There were only 8 people in the theater and we did not fill those trash cans.

Ok, I'm going to give this place 5 stars because, technically, it is a cool place that not a lot of…read morepeople know about. It's actually a hydroelectric plant along the Arizona Canal. As we approached the building (you can't go in it), the smell hit us and I thought, oh no, I've made a huge mistake. I think I was just there on a bad day or something, because I didn't see many reviews mention the smell at all. What smell? Raw sewage, very sulphur- and trash-like. I mean, it STUNK. It was strongest at the top overlook, right next to the building. As we went down the staircase to the lower level, the smell began to dissipate and eventually, to my nose, disappeared altogether. On the lower level, we saw the waterfalls. You can walk under/behind two of them and there are "seats" made of stone blocks in front of the third. The water was flowing pretty hard the day we visited, so the seats and all the pavement was wet and there was a slight mist coming off the middle one. The overall place is like a mixture of industrial and environmental architechture. There are metal-looking columns holding up the upper deck, yet the waterfalls look like they were copied from Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and there are large stones/rocks embedded into the walls everywhere. It sits on the edge of a small park with a decent sized lot and there are hiking paths. We only came for the falls, so I can't speak to the hike, but the area looked fairly nice. I'd like to see it at night as it looks pretty cool in pictures I've seen. If you're looking for something a little different to do or show your visitors from out of town, this is a neat place to go. Hopefully, the smell is a one off, but even if not, hold your breath and go down the stairs..... 13/2026

Arizona Falls is an unexpected delight. The small hydroelectric plant, paired with multiple…read morepicturesque waterfalls, creates a perfect blend of nature and history. It's serene, interesting, and well worth the visit. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and beautiful stop.

Please don't go here when it's summer time in Az. Unless you think you can handle the actual sun…read moreBEATING YOU UP (iykyk). The hike is gorgeous, I recommend going at sunrise or sunset. You see the valley in a whole new light. It's always been one of my favorite places to explore. Every time I go, there's something new/someone friendly just around the corner. Love this mountain.

Super easy hike comparable to A mountain just a little more rugged. My 7 year old and 12 year old…read morejoined me on the hike with no issues.

The tour was worth the five year wait/lottery! We had a wonderful docent and received a fantastic…read moretour of Tovrea Castle which was superb in every way possible. I have lived in Arizona, specifically the Phoenix area, for most of my life and have driven by Tovrea Castle thousands of times. It was so cool to be able to walk the grounds and get a peek inside. I would highly suggest entering the lottery, it's free and some people have better luck than I did and can get in sooner than 5 years. This was an insightful tour mixed with great storytelling and history. The basement with all the artifacts of the family and learning more about the area makes me proud to be a part of Arizona! Worth the visit!

If you live in the Valley it's highly likely that you have driven by this place. From the 202 fwy…read moreyou can easily see it. I often wondered what is that building? Finally after passing it so many times I was curious enough to look it up. I googled "cake shaped building PHX" and it was the first result. "Tovrea (said tov-ree) Castle aka A jewel in the Sonoran desert" Since 2010 the City of Phoenix purchased, renovated, and opened it for tours. The very abbreviated story with this place is that some homesteaders from the early 1900s owned the land, sold 277 acres to a wealthy Italian man. Alessio Carraro had built a fortune in the sheet metal business in the 1920s from San Fran. He planned to build a hotel resort surrounded by a housing subdivision on 277 acres, Carraro Heights. The castle was built near the timing of when the Great Depression set in. Carraro wanted out, he sold the castle and some amount of acreage (for a fraction of his investment) to Della Tovrea, wife of cattle baron E.A. Tovrea. She lived there until her tragic death in 1969. Nearby is the Stockyard Restaurant, built by E.A.'s son so cattlemen had somewhere to eat near the stockyards. That restaurant still exists today. I plan to check it out. If you want more details and full story, go take the tour :) however tickets are not easy to come by. Tours sell out many months in advance and they started using a lottery system. I bought my tickets months ago. However worth a try to go. I wouldn't say its the most amazing thing I've ever seen and the use of the word "castle" is a stretch. I've been inside some real castles in US and Europe, however it's interesting and a fun thing to do and it satisfied my curiosity! :) Per their website- The Ticket Lottery for Fall 2022 Tickets has ended and all tickets have been distributed - look for last minute cancellation tickets. Ticket Lottery for Spring 2023 Regular Tours closed on October 15, 2022 and Winners will be notified via email starting November 1, 2022. https://tovreacastletours.com

So for my thousand Yelp review I wanted to make it special. I wanted to chose a place that is a…read morestaple of the local community. I mean after all, isn't that what Yelp is all about? I wanted to review a local business that seemed to Ooooooze AZ identity. Sooooooo, I even put a call out to my friends and fellow Yelpies on social media. I asked them to think about it. When they thought of AZ, what local businesses came to mind? I got so many great answers. However, when I saw the list I realized that after 15 years being Elite, I had already reviewed all of them. When I went onto this page and realized I had not made a review of the David and Gladys Wright House. It seemed like a perfect Karma solution and partnership. I did not know how that was even possible that I had not already reviewed this local treasure. What a great way to complete my One Thousandth review with such an amazing place! To honor a great artist that is associated and influenced within the State of 48 is special. Wright is one of the Kings of American Architect. So let's begin. When you go you will be greeted to a unique layered circular shaped home. Some of you might recognize the ASU Grady Gammage cake swirl technique. ( do you like my fancy non expert architecture terminology there? Ha!) The driveway is the same. Take in all the glory of that breathtaking view of camelback mountain and the property. According to https://franklloydwright.org/site/david-wright-house/ the masterpiece of this Wright residential home home was Titled "How to Live in the Southwest" in the plans by Frank Lloyd Wright, the David & Gladys Wright House is one of three spiral designs realized by Wright. Raised on columns to provide a view of the property's citrus orchard, the house at the base of Camelback Mountain looked outward towards the surrounding desert and inwards onto a central courtyard with a plunge pool and shaded garden. David and Gladys Wright lived in the house until their deaths (David in 1997 at the age of 102, and Gladys in 2008 at the age of 104), after which the residence fell into disrepair. Saved from demolition, its current owners are restoring the property. In early 2022, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Definitely sign up for a tour and go and check it out. It is totally worth it for historical and artistic purposes alone. Oh, okay, who am I kidding? It is worth the price alone to just check out that view and the home. Just a quick note, you cannot just show up and expect to get in. You have to go with a tour. Enjoy your visit. Happy 1,000 review! I hope this was helpful to those architecture and history fans out there.

Came here for a holiday lights open house this year…read more You park at the south side of the church at 5225 E. Camelback and there is a door that you walk through to get to the Wright House. I have to share, it was a beautiful evening. The weather was warm and even before we got out of our car, we could see the hundreds of Christmas lights twinkling in the distance. As we walked through the door, we were greeted warmly by volunteers and there was a long, long driveway leading to a giant Christmas tree beautifully lit, the long driveway continues to the house. There was a string quartet playing and hot chocolate/ coffee & macaroon served by the Henry. I brought my 9 year old son & his friend with me. There were not too many kids there which was too bad since the look of wonder on their faces were priceless. They were old enough to appreciate the experience and the architecture. It created a memorable experience for them. The house itself is being restored and sits on I think sits on at least a 3 acre property. It's beautiful & worth a visit. Thank you for opening this up for the public for this holiday season!

If you look up the top attractions in Phoenix on TripAdvisor, Dobbins Lookout will be toward the…read moretop of the list. For good reason. Located in South Mountain Park, Dobbins offers picturesque views of Phoenix and surrounding areas. There are two ways to get there: (1) you can take the easy way and take a scenic drive up to a parking lot right next to Dobbins or (2) take Holbert Trail to Dobbins which will be about an hour an a half hike. Naturally, I took the more difficult route and was rewarded for my efforts with all that Dobbins has to offer. You'll see people sitting on the various benches and ledges to enjoy the views. You'll see people snapping pics. And you'll even see vendors in the parking lot selling Native American art and jewelry, drinks, and snacks. While I wasn't there during sunset, I hear it's a spectacular place to come at that time.

Dobbins Lookout, Phoenix, AZ, Nov, 2025. Driving up to the Dobbins Lookout was a highlight of our…read morerecent vacation in Phoenix. This lookout is in South Mountain Park and Preserve (see my separate Yelp entry), which is one of the nation's largest municipally-owned parks. You can hike up to the lookout on the Holbert Trail, which is reputably a steep uphill on a rocky trail. We took the easier option -- the 5.5 mile road that takes about 25-30 minutes to drive up. This scenic, gradually climbing road is shared by motorized vehicles and mountain bicycles, and is an adventure in itself. It features blind corners, narrow sections, and some treacherous drop-offs. The lookout is at 2,330', the highest point in the park that is open to the public. The highlight is the panoramic 360-degree views of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Camelback Mountain, and the Sonoran Desert. There are also old masonry structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), a shaded structure, benches, and a primitive restroom. There are other lookouts to check-out nearby, and you might consider going up early morning or late afternoon for cooler temperatures and sunrise or sunset. Entrance gates are open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., although hiking trails are still open after 7 p.m. and you can exit until 11 p.m. Admission and parking is free.

On my birthday, I always like to go on a mini adventure. Old Adobe Mission Scottsdale is located…read moreright next to The Mission Old Town (a popular Mexican restaurant) so it made for a natural pitstop after lunch. While Old Town can get busy, especially on the weekends, you'll find a free parking spot if you circle around a little bit. We found parking across the street in the surface lot. Now let's get to the good stuff. The Old Adobe Mission Scottsdale is the oldest Catholic church in Phoenix. You'll learn all about the history of the church inside. There's various information you can read on the walls, as well as a video playing in the back room. There's some cool art to check out too. With that being said, the coolest aspect of the church is the adobe architecture. It's free to get in and you can check it out in 10-20 minutes.

If you are in old town Scottsdale area, don't miss a chance to visit this charming historic old…read morechurch that dates back to 1930's. Stepping inside feels like going back old time--deep sense of history and character, the architecture is simple and beautiful and very peaceful. Learning a little more about Scottsdale in all at once!

Albesila is a traveling art exhibition, passing through various cities in the US and is designed by…read moreAlan Parkinson. Held at Mesa's Pioneer Park, it was here for 2 weekends and has since moved on for its next stop in Virginia. We went on the last Sunday before the show ended here in AZ. Parking was plentiful at the park and it was a short walk to the sculpture. It was a chilly day so I'm glad we bought our tickets in advance since there was a long line for tickets at the door. As a result we didn't wait too long, maybe a few minutes after getting our tickets scanned. Since the entire exhibition consists of plastic inflatable sculptures, shoes are not permitted in order to prevent any damage to the structure. There's some cubby holes off to the side next to the entrance where you can store your shoes while you're inside. Although the structure is meant to be maze-like it was a fairly straightforward walk through everything. It was fun walking through the different "rooms" of various colors. Those red rooms are intense! There are some illuminated patterns on the ceilings of some of the domes to serve as landmarks. The main dome had a brilliant display of pattern and color and I also liked the other main landmark called The Tree, which had some circular above ground cutouts within the structure. It was a pretty short walk through the entire exhibition. You have around 30 minutes to be inside but we were done in maybe 15 minutes. When you exit there are some food trucks along the street if you feel like grabbing a bite to eat. When we were here they had Philly cheesesteak, coffee, and Udder Delights food trucks. The price was reasonable, $7 per person so overall I felt satisfied for how much we paid.

I waited in line for an hour in 50 degree weather for this? I was done in 5 minutes. All it is, is…read morea bunch of bounce house connected together without the fun of the bounce. I'm pretty sure even the three year olds were unimpressed.

Scorpion Gulch in Phoenix is such an interesting historic stop. It's an abandoned stone structure…read morebuilt in 1936 by William Lunsford as a home and trading post, and it still has that rugged Wild West feel. The stone walls and open-air layout make it a great backdrop for photos, which is why I stopped by to scout it for a shoot. It's right on the way to South Mountain Park, just before the main entrance, so it's easy to find. There is convenient parking right in front of the buildings and more parking adjacent to the site. I drove down to the visitor center for a restroom but they were closed, so that was a little disappointing, though I did find very clean porta potties in the parking lot. There are also some beautiful hiking and walking trails around the area, but I didn't get a chance to explore them that day. I went midweek and I was the only person there, which made it peaceful and easy to look around without any crowds. Whether you're into photography, history, or just want a quick scenic stop on the way to South Mountain, Scorpion Gulch is worth checking out.

This is a neat stop in the south Phoenix area. It's a good place for a western photoshoot, if…read moreyou're into that sort of thing. We had directions here and it was easy to find with directions. Without knowing this was here or having any directions, I don't think this is something you'd just stumble upon. Driving off the 202 and into south central Phoenix to get here was questionable with some sketchy areas. We were rerouted because ADOT decided to close the exit we needed to get here, so we ended up driving through the south central area longer than expected. A drive that should have taken us 20 minutes, took more like 35 minutes. Once here, it was neat to walk around the building and take photos. There are mountains behind the building which make a nice backdrop. Glad we saw it, but would not go out of our way again to come here.

My goodness this place is wonderful! I went on a Tuesday and ended up having a solo tour. The…read moregentleman who gave the tour was so enthusiastic, kind and it was such a fun experience. I very highly recommend!!

This was my number one destination spot when I planned on going to Apache Junction simply because…read moreit's not something you hear about or get a real chance to learn about and I was not disappointed. The tour is entertaining and informative and costumes and rooms look so authentic. Absolutely LOVED everything about it!