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

I heard about this place recently and was in the area and decided to check it out. It basically…read more mini-hydroelectric plant on the canal system and the origin of the canal system is traced back to the Hohokam Indians that lived in the valley about 1500 years ago. The water falls are a cool secondary benefit of the water works plant at Arizona Falls. There is a nice park and biking trail that we look forward to exploring on our next visit. Highly recommended for a unique opportunity to enjoy waterfalls in the valley of the sun and learn about how the innovative Hohokam Indians.

So much fun and many places to visit. Beautiful murals too. Lovely coffee shops. I like the shoe…read moremill for Birkenstock and other leather shoes. Great festivals and block parties too. Recently saw Luke Bryan and Kane Brown at Innings Fest. Tempe is so good for entertainment. Walking the lake trail on both sides is gorgeous too. Jogging Mill ave is fun and don't forget the east side of Mill for additional restaurants and couple churches and donut shop- Voodoo donuts, and places to jog.

Mill Avenue is a staple out here in Tempe and a must stop if nearby. Yes it's a college spot as ASU…read moreis in walking distance, but it's also rich in history with the Hayden Flour Mill and more. You can rent boats disguised as ducks and go adventure Tempe town lake and more. You won't find a shortage of bars here as well as so many great restaurants and shops. A few of my faves have to be 411 Pizza, Daily Jam, Loco Patron and more. We visited Pedal Haus Brewery today and it was awesome as well. Plenty of parking garages nearby to spend some time adventuring.

World of illumination is such a great family, friendly event! It's a moment away from the hustle,…read morebustle of daily life and time for everyone to come together, regardless of age or ADA status to take time to be grateful and share the happiness of the season! I would definitely recommend this activity to families of all sizes and ages! We stumbled upon this event through Costco, and we decided to buy tickets since we love holiday lights. It was such a great decision!! Plan for a long lines to enter, but once you're in, almost everyone will be dazzled by the lights and join in for the merriment! We're looking forward to returning next year!

Drive through Light show is an annual tradition now. As always the show and synced music didn't…read moredisappoint. Unfortunately, this year the wait to enter WITH AN ASSIGNED TIME was ridiculously long. One hour and 20 minutes to enter. At 9 pm. In the past we'd drive up and enter immediately at that time. If this is the case now, they either need to limit tickets sold at later times or have more efficient traffic control.

The workmen are making progress on the construction by the scenic drive. S temporary wall…read moreseparating drivers from the equipment has been removed. Drivers are now able to go along a newly paved street. Hooray! Several drivers have rebounded and nicked the wall, so it is good to have it removed. Good to see the progress.

The original intent of the scenic drive has seriously waned over the years, as the area has become…read morecommercialized. It's okay--but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.

Over the years, I have visited the ASU Downtown Phoenix Campus and Civic Space Park on a regular…read morebasis. While there have been different people, different roles, and even different buildings, one consistency has been the "Her Secret is Patience" sculpture in the park. In fact, almost 13 years ago, I even did a photo shoot under the sculpture. The sculpture is in the Civic Space Park, where there is a nice, grassy area, some tables, and chairs right next to the US Post Office and ASU Student Center. I have seen groups of students and even community members holding events in the park either in front of the Student Center entrance at the tables and chairs (gatherings by students or staff), on the grassy lawn area (community members playing soccer, frisbee, or having a picnic), or even on the south side of the walkway (though the lighting wasn't very good in the evening in that area). "Her Secret Is Patience" is a public art sculpture commission designed by artist Janet Echelman for the City of Phoenix. The sculpture consists of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and colored lights. It is 145 feet tall and suspended as an aerial sculpture. It is monumental yet soft, fixed in place but constantly in motion. It dances gently in the air, choreographed by the flux of desert winds. During the day, the sculpture hovers high above heads, treetops, and buildings. The sculpture creates what the artist calls "shadow drawings," which she says are inspired by Phoenix's cloud shadows that captivated her from the first site visit. At night, the illumination changes color gradually through the seasons. The goal in selecting the colors is to provide residents some small climate relief through color, adding cool hues in summer, and warm tones in winter. The lighting design also changes what portion of the sculpture is illuminated, leaving parts obscured in mystery, much like the phases of the moon. I've heard students and staff at ASU discussing how the artist was supposedly inspired by monsoon cloud formations and the shadows they cast, in addition to forms found in desert flora. Now that I work only a short walk away from the sculpture, I see it almost every day at work!

This is one of the most eye-catching pieces of public art that I have had the pleasure of seeing…read more It is located in the Civic Space Park and is the work of artist Janet Echelman who made the piece in 2009. Echelman got the name of the piece from a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson. It is constructed of painted, galvanized steel, polyester twine netting, and an assortment of ground mounted colored lights that give the nets its color. The piece is not cheap though and costed $2.5 million. The massive piece starts at 38 feet off the ground and extends to 100 feet in the air. To give it more perspective, the piece's largest ring is about 100 feet wide. The piece is intended to resemble a cumulus clouds. However, I see a tornado or jelly fish when I looked at it. It was given the title of Best Public Art by the Phoenix New Times. The wonderful mix of blue, orange and purple just draws you in like a moth to a flame. It is cool to visit during the day, but is amazing at night. The color of the piece changes constantly with the seasons throughout the year. The piece is not without its critics. Many people question the cost of the piece and whether that money could have been used elsewhere. Additionally, the piece's nets and lighting has to be replaced every five years, which makes this piece a gift that keeps on costing. It is unknown how much this periodic maintenance costs the city. This piece has metered street parking located within a reasonable walking distance, as well as commercial parking lots. There is also a train stop right in front of the piece, if you are plan on taking public transportation to get there. I really like this piece. It is a marvel, but I too am a critic of the price tag and reassuring maintenance fee. This piece can rally become the face of the city and one of its iconic images. It is very picturesque and Instagramable. Anyway, as with most public art that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 10 minutes. So, you may want to consider making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. You can start with Civic Space park, where the piece is located.

I'm so glad Tempe Blooms returned for another year. The people behind it have created such a…read moreunique, fun event to bring locals and tourists to downtown Tempe and blend them with beautiful floral art, music, and local businesses. There are a couple of parking garages/lots in DT that give you a discounted rate during the event- we paid $10 for the 201 Ash garage, off the light rail. How it works - you meander around DT and look at, experience all the beautiful floral artworks. Downtown Tempe has a couple of stations with staff peppered about DT that provide a map of where things are located. You can go about at your own pace or route. Be aware that people can be a little vicious with trying to get "the shot" #ForTheGram. There are a couple of specific areas with small businesses posted up. We were hoping to make a bouquet at the fresh flower market but by the time we arrived - the line was super long and looked like flowers were picked over. So if that's your priority, go early. We were there no more than 2 hours and had a great afternoon taking in all the sights and sounds (there's live music peppered around too) of Downtown Tempe.

This was a nice event and the weather was perfect! It was a…read morelittle too spread out, but I understand that they want to showcase different businesses. The vendors were well chosen and had some really cool stuff. We did not go to the food area, but nothing beats food trucks!

I don't know why there are so many bad reviews for this light parade and just wonder why people are…read moresuch bah humbugs out there! Its the holidays, lighten up a bit! I enjoyed seeing this Fantasy of Lights but also I didn't fight for a seat in the front row on Mill Ave or had to hand over my kidney for a parking spot. I can see why people were annoyed as parking anywhere near Mill Ave is usually a pain. My game plan was to get in an evening jog and at the same time see this parade and it worked out! I parked my car close to the Tempe Town Lake marina near the 100 mile Brewery and then jogged my way parallel to the lake and then jogged over the bridge to Mill Ave and voila...you're right in the smack dab of all the excitement! I walked when it was pretty crowded on the street and definitely there were a lot of people and then I made a U turn back onto the other side of Mill Ave at Unviersity. Mill Ave on the other side was less congested and I just jogged back to my car while also getting some good videos and pics of the parade. Overall, for me, I got two things done, was able to get in a 5K and see this cool parade! I might just now make this an annual tradition and just jog here to see this parade and avoid the hassle of parking and fighting for a prime viewing spot on Mill Ave.! I left happy, with my heart a little healthier and not annoyed with all the people! Its an all around win win situation!

Wow! Just miserable. What a waste of a holiday weekend. First had to park about a mile away in…read moreorder to get to event 2 hrs early. Then wait in line for 30 mins to $15 for a chicken and white rice bowl. Then try get a spot 15-20 people deep along the Tempe lake. Waited there 30 more minutes while show was to start and still didn't see a thing. Finally left to walk another mile back to try and find our car in the dark and fight traffic on the way out as others also ditched this waste of time. Tempe should not hold an event like this again. Even the MC of the event couldn't continue to appease the frustrated crowd! I would give event zero stars if I could.

Chandler is not only known for its ostriches, but also for tumbleweeds. This annual tradition of…read moreconstructing and displaying a Christmas tree made of tumbleweeds goes back to 1957. The tree is on display during the Christmas season in the center of Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler. It is made up of 1,000 tumbleweeds, sprayed with fire retardant & white paint, and decorated with over 1,000 LED lights. Every year in early December, the city of Chandler hosts a Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony. It's a fun tradition and a great time to come out and see families and the community come together.

An impressive holiday tradition not to be missed in adorable downtown Chandler, AZ, the Tumbleweed…read moreTree and Sugarland Canal of Lights. The tradition of the tumbleweed tree dates back to 1957. The tree lighting ceremony (first week of December) is free, and the tree stays up until Jan. 2nd. Approx 1,000-2,000 tumbleweeds are wrangled up by the Parks Department to create this awe inspiring tree that stands 33 feet high. The holiday display and Sugarland Canal of Lights is a great compliment to the downtown area of shops (boutiques, restaurants, San Tan Brewery, Hotels, etc). This is a MUST DO activity to add to your holiday festivities.

Loved it but not going on this year- 2023. No lights. Picture is from last year. Truly magical. We…read morejust drove by Friday night 6:30.

It's not nearly as big as it was in years past. You can drive by and look at the lights or walk by…read morebut that's it. The backyard is not open and parts of the house are no longer open. The owners should update the photos to only show what you would see from the curb.

Welcome to the colorful urban area of Roosevelt Row of Phoenix. Here you will find small funky…read morebusinesses, plenty of graffiti and restaurants throughout the area. The area has undergone some gentrification with shiny new bars and eateries popping up here and there. You can still find free street and metered parking. Fewer galleries now than before. All in all, it's a cool hangout for a beverage Al fresco. This is also the First Fridays art walk where vendors will take over the streets selling their goods. Past issues during First Fridays has caused the event to shrink in size.

If you're into murals, stop by Roosevelt Row (otherwise known as RoRo)!…read more I loved checking out the alley that had various murals from different local muralists. The area also has art galleries, boutiques, and various eateries. Easily accessible via the bus or the light rail. +murals