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Things to Do in the West Valley

Visiting Phoenix's West Valley? Here's what do to and where to eat in communities including Glendale, Litchfield Park, Surprise and Goodyear.

Phoenix is the heart of what we locals call the Valley of the Sun. More than 20 cities and towns comprise this bustling metro area and all have something unique to offer visitors. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be highlighting the can’t-miss things to do and places to eat in some of the different parts of greater Phoenix.

This post: Things to do in the West Valley, which includes west Phoenix, Glendale, Avondale, Litchfield Park, Peoria, Goodyear, Surprise and more.

Things to do

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

Guests have the opportunity to meet with a menagerie of furry, feathered and scaly creatures. See living dragons in Dragon World, visit newborns at the Baby Animal Nursery and get a chance to feed parrots and giraffes. The park also features an aquarium that houses sharks, colorful tropical fish, crocodiles, jellyfish and more.

16501 W Northern Ave, Litchfield Park 85340
623-935-9453

Sahuaro Ranch Park

Love history? The Sahuaro Ranch Park is a place to step into a pioneer past. It features historic buildings, a barnyard and fruit orchards. You can tour the historic Main House Museum, built from 1891 to 1898, and learn about the history of the pioneers who lived there.

9802 N 59th Ave, Glendale 85302
623-930-2820

White Tank Mountain Regional Park

Surround yourself in the rugged beauty of the desert at the largest regional park in the county. With nearly 25 miles of shared-use trails among 30,000 acres of Sonoran desert, the park is one of the area’s ideal spots for experiencing our famous terrain. Check out their event calendar for special events such as guided hikes, stargazing, snake feedings and more.

20304 W White Tank Mountain Road, Waddel 85355

White Tank Mountain Regional Park. Photo via Maricopa County Parks and Recreation

Adobe Mountain Desert Railroad Park

Take the family for a ride on one of five routes operated by Maricopa Live Steamers. Every Sunday the park offers free train rides for visitors along their 13 miles of railroad track. Guests can also enjoy railroad artifacts and model-train layouts and browse research materials.

23280 N 43rd Ave, Glendale 85310
623-670-1904

Cerreta Candy Company

What’s your favorite indulgence? Truffles and caramels? Or simply a one pound bar of dark chocolate? Well, at Cerreta’s Candy Factory you can find all of this and more. In addition to selling its chocolate in boxed assortments, the factory sells its creams, caramels, crunches, truffles and other candies by the piece. You can even take a guided factory tour, held Monday-Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

5345 W Glendale Ave, Glendale 85301
623-930-9000

Tour State Farm Stadium

You’ve seen it on TV. It’s hosted two Super Bowls. It hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl and has hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Now you can go behind the scenes and tour the facility recognized as one of the best sporting venues in the world. Public tours are available on select days throughout the year.

1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale 85305
623-433-7101

State Farm Stadium

Pioneer Living History Museum

Step back in time to more than 100 years ago, before cars filled the streets. At Pioneer Living History Museum, visitors can explore 30 historic buildings, including a blacksmith shop and a mercantile store. You can even look through a 1890s dress shop and tour a sheriff’s office.

3901 W Pioneer Rd, Phoenix 85086
623-465-1052

Tolmachoff Farms

Spend your day down on the farm. Tolmachoff Farms is a fourth generation family-operated farm that grows a selection of fruits and vegetables. The farm also puts on special events and activities throughout the year, including Family Farm Day, Pumpkin Days and a Corn Maze, a haunted corn maze for Halloween, as well as Christmas events throughout December.

5726 N 75th Ave, Glendale 85303
602-999-3276

Tolmachoff Farms. Photo via Facebook

Phoenix Raceway

Check out one of the NASCAR races that make a pit stop here in March and November. If you want to see how fast you can fly on a professional raceway, book one of a variety of NASCAR racing experiences and ride shotgun while a racing instructor takes you to top speeds. 

7602 S Avondale Blvd, Avondale 85353
623-772-2000

Cactus League Spring Training

With our sunny skies and perfect spring weather, it’s no wonder why Arizona is the hub of all things Spring Training. There are a total of ten stadiums throughout the Greater Phoenix that host baseball teams, five of them located in the West Valley. The Spring Training baseball schedule goes from the end of February until the end of March.

Peoria Sports Complex: San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners
16101 N 83rd Ave, Peoria 85382

American Family Fields of Phoenix: Milwaukee Brewers
3600 N 51st Ave, Phoenix 85031

Camelback Ranch: Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers
10710 W Camelback Rd, Glendale 85037

Goodyear Ballpark: Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians
1933 S Ballpark Way, Goodyear 85338

Surprise Stadium: Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers
15960 N Bullard Ave, Surprise 85374

Maryvale Baseball Park

Westgate Entertainment District

Westgate Entertainment District is home to nearly 20 restaurants, AMC Theatre, free live music events, several stores and fun for families. The district is also home to Desert Diamond Arena and State Farm Stadium, home to the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

Westgate Entertainment District
6751 N Sunset Blvd, Glendale 85305
623-385-7502

Desert Diamond Arena
9400 W Maryland Ave, Glendale 85305
623-772-3200

State Farm Stadium
1 Cardinals Dr, Glendale 85305
623-433-7101

Arizona Broadway Theatre

Catch a Broadway-style show at the this state-of-the-art theatre. Guests can take advantage of full bar and full service dining during big-name musicals such Les Misérables, The Producers and Legally Blonde.

7701 W Paradise Lane, Peoria 85382
623-776-8400

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Load up your water recreation toys and head to the largest lake in the Phoenix area. Lake Pleasant is a great place to explore various coves in a kayak, race across the water on skis, or take in the views on a sail boat. 

41835 N Castle Hot Springs Road, Morristown 85342
928-501-1710

Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Hurricane Harbor Phoenix - Six Flags

Cool off on one of 30 water slides and attractions, including the Tornado, which shoots riders from seven stories up, down a 132-foot tunnel at speeds of 35 feet per second; and the Big Kahuna, which winds more than 600 feet around sharp turns, and over steep drops, giving your group tons of wall time. The little ones, however, will get their thrills at the Soak 'em Playground and Splash Island. Adventure River and Hurricane Bay are perfect for relaxing the day away with the entire squad. Check their website for seasonal hours.

4243 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Glendale 85310
623-201-2000

Tanger Outlets

Indulge in retail therapy at this outdoor shopping center which has more than 50 stores such as Steve Madden, Under Armour, Chico’s Outlet, Coach and H&M.

6800 N 95th Ave, Glendale 85305
623-877-9500

Restaurants

Kiss the Cook

Considered one of the go-to breakfast spots in the West valley, Kiss the Cook is a favorite among locals. A quirky resemblance of your grandmother’s attic and a menu full of comfort food allow guests to take a trip down memory lane. Enjoy dishes like buttermilk pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and pecan cinnamon rolls.

4915 W Glendale Ave, Glendale 85301
623-939-4663

Haus Murphy’s

Polka, brats, and steins of beer: Haus Murphy’s is the place to go for all things German cuisine. Among the favorites they serve up are beef and pork meatloaf, smoked pork chops over sauerkraut and apple strudel.

5739 W Glendale Ave, Glendale 85301
623-939-2480

Carolina’s

Mention Carolina’s to any local food fan and we guarantee the first thing they say is “Best tortillas in town!” It’s the restaurant’s tagline for good reason. Carolina’s has been a mainstay in the Phoenix area for decades Westsiders don’t have to travel far to taste the authentic Mexican cuisine at the Peoria location.

9030 W Peoria Ave, Peoria 85022
623-487-1400

Cucina Tagliani

Cucina Tagliani has been serving up Italian favorites since 1993. They have two locations in the West Valley and their Peoria one is perfect for dinner after catching a Spring Training game at nearby Peoria Sports Complex.
 

17045 N 59th Ave, Glendale 85308
602-547-2782

8349 W Bell Rd, Peoria 85382
623-412-2670

Flavors of Louisiana

The bayou comes to the desert at Flavors of Louisiana. Dig into their seafood gumbo, fried green tomatoes, po-boys, and more of their cajun cuisine.

13025 W Rancho Santa Fe Blvd, Avondale 85392
623-935-2357

Flavors of Louisiana

Majerle’s

Majerle’s Sports Grill, a favorite of locals throughout Greater Phoenix, includes a Goodyear location in the West Valley. Come catch a game on their big screens or grab a burger and beer after a Spring Training game at Goodyear Ballpark.

13375 W McDowell Rd, Goodyear 85395
623-207-6999