10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Phoenix
What Not to Do in Phoenix on Your First Visit
The mistakes people make when visiting Phoenix are often quite common among first-time visitors to the Valley of the Sun. The city got its nickname for a reason: it’s right in the Salt River Valley in the northern Sonoran and receives abundant sun.
Phoenix has always appealed to outdoor enthusiasts. You don’t have to leave the city limits to enjoy beautiful hikes, with the likes of Camelback Mountain right on your doorstep. But the beauty of the desert ought to be enjoyed safely. Read on for important tips on this as well as other things to avoid during your trip to Phoenix.
10 Mistakes People Make When Visiting Phoenix
- Hiking in summer
- Forgetting to bring enough water
- Concentrating on your phone on one-way streets
- Disrespecting nature
- Defacing Native American sites
- Ignoring sights beyond the city limits
- Missing out on small restaurants and local food
- Choosing the wrong time to visit
- Packing unsuitable clothing
- Relying solely on public transportation
1. Hiking in summer
And going up the mountains alone
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One of the big no-nos, especially for first-time visitors to Phoenix, is to go hiking in the mountains of Salt River Valley in the peak of summer. Even if you’re an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast and you’re used to the heat with humidity, Arizona’s very dry heat might take you by surprise. This kind of heat saps moisture from you the moment you step outside.
Some of you may want to hike solo to avoid the crowds, but this is simply doubling the risk. Local authorities recommend choosing an easy or populated hiking trail if you really want to go it alone. Be sure you always let others know where you’re going and bring your phone, too.
Hiking in summer
2. Forgetting to bring enough water
It’s important for both you and your car
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With the dry heat of Phoenix, it’s important to always bring enough drinking water and stay well-hydrated while enjoying the great outdoors. That applies whether you’re hiking up in the mountains or even just going out for a stroll around Downtown.
Phoenix locals say that as soon as you feel thirsty outside, it might be a little late. On any hike in the mountains, don’t refuse someone asking for water as their life could depend on it. There are water refilling stations at most hiking trails. Bring clean water on road trips too as you never know when your car radiator will need it.
Forgetting to bring enough water
3. Concentrating on your phone on one-way streets
Paying attention to traffic and speeding vehicles must be your priority
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Some streets in Downtown Phoenix are pretty and relaxing while on others you need to be vigilant and pay attention to traffic and not your phone, camera, or the views. The north-south 7th Avenue is a long and straight stretch that’s notorious for its high number of accidents. It all comes down to the collective mentality of motorists. Unfortunately, many exceed the speed limit on Phoenix’s one-way streets.
Therefore, such streets in the Downtown area aren’t the friendliest for either motorists or pedestrians. Although some major one-way streets have become two-way streets in recent years, they remain sketchy for cyclists and pedestrians. Put simply, watch the traffic when out and about.
Concentrating on your phone on one-way streets
4. Disrespecting nature
The wildlife and the cacti should be left alone
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As beautiful or terrifying as the wildlife around Phoenix may be to us, they always deserve our respect. On any encounter, give them a respectable distance. The same goes for the indigenous plants such as the majestic saguaro cactus. They’re protected, and damaging or vandalizing a cactus by slicing, carving, or hitting one is considered a felony. Chopping one down is punishable with jail time, plus a hefty fine.
When out and about in the Sonoran desert, always be aware of your surroundings. Even the outskirts of the city are home to potentially dangerous wildlife like coyotes and rattlesnakes, as well as smaller desert critters like scorpions. So, keep your eyes open and mind where you step.
Udforsk hoteller i nærheden af Sonoran Desert National Monument
Disrespecting nature
5. Defacing Native American sites
Doing so to any historical site is a big no-no
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The Phoenix area is home to major Native American sites, some with a series of petroglyphs on soapstone boulders that date back thousands of years. The treasures at sites such as Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve and South Mountain Park and Preserve are there for all to see and cherish and should remain for generations to come.
Unfortunately, there have been several cases of vandalism in the past, with rock carvings either painted over with modern graffiti or parts scraped beyond recognition. Be considerate of the landscape, the local history, and future explorers who wish to see these works of art.
Udforsk hoteller i nærheden af Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve
Defacing Native American sites
6. Ignoring sights beyond the city limits
Planning for hikes in Sedona and day trips to the Grand Canyon pays off
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It’s worth combining a trip to the city with a day trip to some of the unmissable sights outside the city limits.
Sedona, with its rich and alluring landscapes of red rock formations, is worth adding to your itinerary if you have the time. It’s within the 2-hour drive north via Interstate 17 N. If you have more time, the Grand Canyon is surely a natural wonder worth seeing in anyone’s lifetime. To reach this natural wonder from Phoenix, drive around 3.5 hours north from the city.
Ignoring sights beyond the city limits
7. Missing out on small restaurants and local food
The alleged birthplace of chimichangas is worth checking out
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Phoenix’s food scene is enriched by iconic dishes that you shouldn’t miss on your visit to the valley. These range from the jerky-like traditional Sonoran machaca (comprising spicy marinated beef or pork and often used as the filling for tacos or burritos) to original Native American ceme’t flour tortillas.
Another must-try while in Phoenix is chimichangas. The city is known as the birthplace of this wholesome deep-fried stuffed tortilla. The story goes that Woody Johnson invented it entirely by accident. He was making a traditional, meat-filled burrito when he accidentally dropped it into a deep fryer. Head to the longstanding Macayo’s Mexican Food in the Ahwatukee neighborhood where it all happened.
Missing out on small restaurants and local food
8. Choosing the wrong time to visit
Peak season in Phoenix might surprise you
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It’s hard to predict the weather and the start and end of seasons in places with desert climates like Phoenix. You’ll hardly see any autumn colors or spring flower blossoms, nor does it snow in winter. Even so, it does get a little cold and even freezing in the winter months, with highs of around 50°F.
The high season in the region is usually October–May. Many consider the best time to visit Phoenix is between November and April, when the sky is at its bluest and when temperatures are more pleasant. Hotel rates are also at their peak between January and April. If you’re planning a hike in the mountains, avoid visiting in summer, from June to September.
Choosing the wrong time to visit
9. Packing unsuitable clothing
Preparing for Phoenix’s extreme temperatures is no joke
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As it can get sweltering hot by day and freezing during the night in Phoenix, you’ll need to pack right for your trip. The sun’s rays are strong during the day, so a hat, sunscreen with SPF30 or higher, sunglasses with high UV protection, and layers of cool and breathable clothing are among the necessities. Light layers for daytime wear and thicker ones for the evenings are recommended.
For footwear, you can include comfy gym shoes and sandals. If you’re planning a hike through the Sonoran Desert, bring a good pair of boots and extra pairs of socks to protect yourself from the heat, sharp rocks, cactus needles, snakes, and scorpions.
Udforsk hoteller i nærheden af Sonoran Desert National Monument
Packing unsuitable clothing
10. Relying solely on public transportation
Cars are often a necessity for getting around
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Phoenix is one of the desert metropolises in the USA where cars are the main means of transportation. Although it’s very possible to visit and get around the city without a car, you’ll likely end up burning a hole in your budget with taxi cab fares. For getting around Downtown, public transportation is mostly by bus and the 20-mile Valley Metro Rail system that runs through downtown and into Tempe and Mesa in the east.
Ride-hailing services are great alternatives, but most of the top attractions are outside city limits anyway. So, consider hiring a car to easily get where you want to go.
Relying solely on public transportation
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