TORONTO — When travellers think of Arizona, what comes to mind is likely desert landscapes, sunsets, poolside settings – and lots of golf.

Many may not realize that the state has quite the budding arts and culture scene, rife with museums, galleries, installations and tours.

Here’s a roundup of some of the most popular …

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM (MIM)

It’s not hard to understand why the MIM was ranked as Phoenix’s number one attraction on TripAdvisor considering, from experience, attendees leave the venue beaming about all the interactive fun they had. It was also ranked as one of the top four museums for families in the country by USA Today Travel.

Expect immersive experiences, fun programs, monthly cultural celebrations and 250 concerts each year in its theatre. In the Experience Gallery, guests can play guitars, gongs and rattles. The Artist Gallery features exhibits dedicated to John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and more.

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TALIESIN WEST

Taliesin West was built by Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices in the 1930s and was constantly expanded and modified by the iconic architect until his death in 1959. In 2019, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Taliesin West was created out of the desert by gathering rocks and sand from the desert floor to keep the design in balance with the surrounding environment. The site, considered one of Wright’s greatest masterpieces, was designed to serve as his personal home, studio and architectural laboratory. A 60-minute walking tour is available to guests on their smartphones.

Taliesin West

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SCOTTSDALE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (SMoCA)

Found in Scottsdale’s popular Old Town district, SMoCA presents contemporary art, architecture and design from local and beyond. The museum features nine to 12 rotating exhibitions per year, accompanied by a full schedule of related events and educational programs.

SMoCA’s minimalist building – a renovated movie theatre – includes a public ‘Skyspace,’ one of only a handful of public Skyspaces in the world. It allows visitors to experience the ever-changing light of the desert sky.

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THE HEARD MUSEUM

The Heard Museum teaches about the cultures and art of American Indians. The museum is internationally acclaimed for the quality of its collections, exhibitions, one-of-a-kind shop, educational programs and festivals.

Founded in 1929, The Heard presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective. Exhibitions showcase the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art. It has an outdoor café and courtyards featuring more Native art.

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WESTERN SPIRIT: SCOTTSDALE’S MUSEUM OF THE WEST

Clients get a taste of the spirit of the American West through exhibitions of art and artifacts in this space, entertaining events and informative programs that bring the nation’s Western heritage to life. Here, permanent galleries and regularly rotating exhibitions on loan from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions are showcased in a contemporary setting.

The museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate and, in 2021, was named the ‘Best Western Museum’ in the nation by True West magazine. It’s certified LEED Gold and within walking distance of numerous art galleries and downtown Scottsdale restaurants.

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

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MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA (MNA)

MNA is located in Flagstaff at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. Founded in 1928 by locals, it’s a non-profit, educational institution meant to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage of northern Arizona through research, collections, conservation and education. The MNA bills itself as a gateway to understanding the Colorado Plateau by engaging audiences with enriching knowledge and experiences.

The Museum of Northern Arizona

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DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

A slightly different, but nonetheless intriguing entry, the Desert Botanical Garden, for more than 82 years, has offered a fine collection of arid-land plants from deserts around the world, housed in a unique outdoor setting. Some 50,000 desert plants are nestled amid the red rocks of the Papago Buttes.

The garden’s plants are found throughout its five thematic trails, which illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert. A variety of lectures and workshops on desert landscaping and horticulture, botanical art and illustration, nature art and photography and health and wellness are offered. Or partake in a specialized tour, special event, seasonal exhibit, concert, family activity or visit the outdoor café and the garden’s gift and plant shop.

DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

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NATIVE ART MARKET

From a new storefront in Old Town Scottsdale, Native Americans sell their artwork, bringing cultural awareness while offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Arizona’s rich Indigenous culture and art. Native owned and operated, all vendors offer solely Native items that are handmade and of Native American descent.

The Arizona Office of Tourism is represented in Canada by Reach Global Marketing. To learn more about travel to Arizona, go to VisitArizona.com. To read Travelweek’s interview with Lisa Urias, Executive Director, Arizona Office of Tourism, click here, and for the latest on Porter Airlines’ new flights to Phoenix from YYZ, click here.