The Environments for Aging Conference + Expo (March 16-18) is headed to Phoenix, “The Valley of the Sun,” where, outside of conference and expo hall hours, opportunities for sightseeing and activities abound.
Here’s some recommended attractions for sampling the lifestyles and flavor of the Sonoran Desert landscape.
Take a desert hike
An early morning hike up Phoenix’s Camelback Mountain (2,704 feet high at the summit) or Piestewa Peak (summiting at 2,610 feet) will offer stunning views of the city skyline, according to Visit Phoenix. Both are in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, just east of Arizona State Highway 51, and present a challenging workout. Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon Trail is a 1.2-mile hike to the summit with a steep and rocky ascent; while Piestewa Peak’s Summit Trail is 2.1 miles. Give yourself 2-3 hours for either trail, and bring plenty of water.
Rocking recreation
For a less-challenging sample of Sonoran Desert scenery, head to Papago Park, just minutes from downtown and home to red rock buttes looped with trails, including one of Phoenix’s most intriguing rock formations atop the Hole-in-the-Rock Trail. The park also is home to two of the city’s top attractions, the Desert Botanical Garden and Phoenix Zoo, and the Papago Golf Course, set at the base of the park’s buttes.
Arts & eats
Explore the urban heart of Phoenix with a jaunt to one of its arts, shopping, and dining districts. Roosevelt Row, about 4 miles from the Phoenix Convention Center, is home to art galleries, murals, and colorful street art. About a 20-minute drive from the convention center, Old Town Scottsdale is a popular destination for shopping and nightlife, along upscale art galleries and trendy boutiques on Fifth Avenue. For a more historic view, head to Heritage Square, only about a five-minute walk from the conference. This district is ringed by 19th-century homes and heralds “the best pizza in the nation” (James Beard Award-winning) Pizzeria Bianco.
Find updates and additional information on the 2026 EFA Conference + Expo here.
