Want to get away, but don’t have the time to plan a vacation? Then a short, fun day trip is the perfect option. Check out this list of Phoenix attractions to plan a great day trip.

  • Boyce Thompson Arboretum
    37615 U.S. Hwy. 60, Superior
    520-689-2811
    Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, the arboretum is a living museum of thousands of plants from around the world — displayed alongside native Sonoran Desert vegetation.

  • Dolly Steamboat, The
    Apache Junction
    480-827-9144
    At Canyon Lake, 90-minute nature cruises and 2-1/2 hour twilight dinner cruises.

  • Wickenburg
    216 N. Frontier St., Wickenburg
    800-942-5242
    Just 60 miles northwest of Phoenix in the northern reaches of the great Southwest’s Sonoran Desert. Wickenburg is noted for its clean air, good country living, Western hospitality and all-around high quality of life.

  • Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium
    16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park
    623-935-WILD (9453)
    Wildlife World Zoo has been an integral part of the West Valley for more than two decades, and with the opening of our new multimillion-dollar aquarium, we just keep getting better and better. The Zoo is open 7 days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The aquarium is open to 9 p.m.) That means we are open every day and night of the year — even holidays!