Three to See in Papago Park

Drive a few minutes southwest of downtown Scottsdale and you’ll find yourself in Papago Park. The unmistakable red rocks dotted with holes like Swiss cheese are home to small animals such as jackrabbits and ground squirrels, as well as picturesque hiking trails and picnic areas, and one of the nation’s top zoos for kids.

You can spend a day enjoying the park’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage at three diverse attractions – the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, and Pueblo Grande Museum & Archaeological Park.

Desert Botanical Garden

At the Desert Botanical Garden, you’ll see more than 20,000 individual plants from deserts around the world while learning about desert living, colorful wildflowers, and the diverse plants and people of the Sonoran Desert. Home to several lush trails, the Garden also offers guided tours, seasonal exhibits such as the Butterfly Pavilion, live concerts under the starry skies, fun family activities such as the Summer Flashlight Tours, an outdoor café, and a gift and plant shop.

Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals, including more than 200 endangered or threatened species. Designed around four distinct trails – Africa, Tropics, Children’s and Arizona – the zoo offers daily activities such as the Safari Train, Stingray Bay, Giraffe Encounters, Wild About Animals Show and a petting zoo. Be sure to stop by Monkey Village, where you become part of a family of squirrel monkeys as they play around you.

Pueblo Grande Museum & Archaeological Park

You’ll be taken back 1,500 years at the Pueblo Grande Museum where you’ll experience the ruins of an ancient Hohokam Indian village, including an excavated prehistoric ball court and two full-scale reproductions of prehistoric Hohokam dwellings. Kids will “dig it” as they explore archaeological clues from ancient and historic sites to identify artifacts. Changing galleries showcase exhibits on archaeology, Southwestern cultures and contemporary American Indian arts.

At the end of each fun-filled adventure, be sure to stop by the museum stores and gift shops to bring home a unique Arizona gift, including Native American art, Southwestern foods and candies, and more.

from Official Travel Site for Scottsdale, Arizona | http://ift.tt/1OUNXdj
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