15 Actually Cool Things You Can Do in Phoenix This Winter

Things might be feeling a little more normal here in Arizona, but with COVID cases still on the rise, it’s time to get creative while celebrating the holidays so you can stay safe without sacrificing spirit. Thankfully, the state’s beautiful 60-degree winter means it’s the perfect time for socializing outdoors—with plenty of space for social distancing. Here are our top things to do to get you in a fun, festive mood, either outdoors, or at great community spaces with safety precautions in place.
 

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The 90-degree temperatures are behind us (hopefully!) so it’s time to embrace the Valley’s best patios—from the dog-friendly OHSO patios to the patio at Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn with its cozy, giant fireplace, green garden, and mountain views.

Downtown Phoenix
Who knew you could go ice skating in Phoenix? At CityScape you can enjoy the views of vibrant downtown Phoenix while ice skating around CitySkate’s giant tree surrounded by decorations. Plus, while you’re at CityScape, you can grab a craft cocktail at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails or go straight for a gourmet milkshake at The Yard.

Downtown Phoenix
We’re still riding high from the history-making last season, and we’re ready to see the Suns in the playoffs again—and maybe win it all in 2022. See all your favorites—from Chris Paul to Devin Booker—on the court at Footprint Center.

Downtown Phoenix
Pemberton PHX is part art piece, part dining destination with pop up eateries and bars by Saint Pasta, Baba’s Falafel, Melt Ice Cream, and more—making it the perfect place for a socially distanced dinner and drinks with friends. Just make sure you allow extra time to explore the colorful, quirky property for your next ‘Gram-worthy photo.

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Miss trying chef-prepared dishes and dining alongside strangers, but want to do so safely? Cloth & Flame’s outdoor dinners were a must-experience even before the pandemic, attracting the likes of Google, Bentley, and Chanel—to name a few. Recent dinners have featured favorite Arizona chefs like Silvana Salcido Esparza, incorporated cannabis or were themed around cult film Midsommar, so there’s something for everyone. Dinners sell out fast, so make sure to check their ticket page often.
 

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If getting onto a crowded airplane is at the bottom of your ‘to-do list’ right now, we don’t blame you, but you can still enjoy a change of scenery right here in Arizona. With just a few hours in the car, you can dine at best-loved local restaurants in Tucson, visit the awe-inspiring and newly reopened Antelope Canyon or see the snow at Sunrise and Snowbowl Ski Resorts.

North Scottsdale
If you haven’t made your way back to Disneyland, Christmas at the Princess might be the next best thing. While the rides might be a bit less exciting, we’ll take a turn on the Ferris wheel overlooking the resorts’ literally millions of lights. Go ice skating, sip spiked hot chocolate, make s’mores or dine in a mini igloo—you’re sure to leave feeling holly jolly.

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Takeout boxes piling up in the living room? It’s time to peel yourself off the sofa and get some fresh air. Our city offers countless parks to explore. In fact, the Phoenix Metro is brimming with 200 green spaces. City parks like Papago, Encanto, Civic Space Park, and Hance Park all make ideal picnic locations. Find a public park in your neighborhood.

Downtown Phoenix, online
Don’t forget the wine! Local bottle shop Sauvage has bottles on bottles just waiting to find a home on your personal wine rack. Really, they offer a rotating selection of craft ciders, orange vinos, hard-to-find spirits, canned options, and so much more. So, if you need a way to effortlessly impress your friends at a holiday party or you’re searching for a natural wine to bring to a picnic in the park, any bottle, really, from Sauvage, is sure to spark a “spirited” (get it?) conversation.

Downtown Phoenix
Let’s be real, we could all use a little zen these days, right? Modeled after the traditional strolling gardens throughout Japan, Phoenix’s own Japanese Friendship Garden provides a serene and peaceful setting that often plays host to traditional tea ceremonies, informative workshops, seasonal experiences like Otsukimi Moon Viewing, and socially distanced group activities including tai chi classes. In an effort to keep visitors safe, The Japanese Friendship Garden is abiding by CDC guidelines and requests that all guests properly social distance and wear a mask throughout the duration of their visit.

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Whether you’re searching for locally made pasta, fresh-baked breads, cage-free eggs, seasonal organic veggies and fruits, or tapenades, Valley farmers markets including the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market, Uptown Farmers Market, and Mesa Farmers Market & Flea have what just what you need to conquer your shopping list. You'll leave with a warm fuzzy feeling knowing that you’re supporting local farmers, makers, and vendors during these uncertain times. And that feels good, doesn’t it?

Downtown Phoenix
Head to the Phoenix Art Museum for exhibitions such as Clay and Paper: Japanese Ceramics and Screens featuring an array of functional and decorative modern ceramics and traditional screens. And you can experience the immersive You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies. Want to keep the arts shining bright in your city? Adopt a digital firefly from the installation. You’ll get sweet perks like unlimited admission, invitations to exclusive members only events, free or discounted tickets to workshops, lectures, and films, plus some other cool benefits, too. Plot your visit and explore the world-class exhibits and comprehensive, and we mean comprehensive, collections right here. The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Southwest, after all. Museum-goers are encouraged to reserve tickets online for a seamless no-touch or low-touch check-in experience.

Phoenix
Spanning 140-acres, this urban garden space is basically a living museum where art and nature collide. Home to thousands of species of trees, flowers, and cactus, including 485 rare and endangered species, the Desert Botanical Garden, one of only 24 botanical gardens accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is undeniably a plant-lovers dream. DBG also hosts fun, limited-capacity events including dog-friendly days, large-scale art exhibitions, and seasonal experiences like Las Noches de las Luminarias, an annual affair that lights up the garden with thousands of luminarias and twinkly lights. See what’s happening in the garden right now, here. Advanced ticket reservations and masks are required to visit DBG.

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Hungry? Take your rumbling stomach to the drive-thru. Local joints like Federal Pizza, 32 Shea, Luci’s at the Orchard, and Melrose’s Copper Star Coffee all have really fantastic menus and convenient drive-thrus. Fast food just got a lot tastier. Now, who’s up for some eggplant parm ‘za and saucy meatballs?

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Travel might look different these days, but adventure is a lot closer than you might think. Lace up your hiking boots and point your GPS towards local urban hiking hotspots like Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, or South Mountain Park & Preserve. Rather explore your city on two wheels? Spanning 11-miles, The Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt features an oasis of explorable paths, parks, and lakes, which lands it on a list of the top urban green spaces in the state. The greenbelt begins at Tempe Beach Park and stretches all the way to Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. Explore the scenic route on a group bike tour or opt for a self-guided ride and pedal at your own pace. As always, use caution when visiting trails, wear your mask around others, and bring plenty of water. But you know that already.

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