How to Tour Glendale, Arizona

Before it became a town, the site of Glendale, Arizona was that of a canal, completed in 1885, to bring water to Arizona’s dry desert land. That combined with its selection as a pathway for a line of the Santa Fe Railroad is what attracted homesteaders there. Here’s how to tour Glendale, Arizona – from its historic landmarks, to its world-famous Arizona Cardinals football stadium.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Stroll the grounds of Historic Sahuaro Ranch with the free-roaming chickens, peacocks and guinea hens that call this lush landscape home. Located beside the Glendale Main Library, Sahuaro Ranch was built in 1885 and features 17 ranch buildings, including the ranch house through which you can take a guided tour. Of all the things you can do when you tour Glendale, Arizona, this promises to be one of the most memorable.

2. Get xeriscaping ideas from the Glendale Xeriscape Botanical Garden. Like Sahauro Ranch mentioned in Step 1, the garden is located by the library on four acres of property featuring more than 400 varieties of desert plants.

3. Hike, bike, jog, stroll or picnic in Thunderbird Conservation Park. Named for the World War II pilot training facility just four miles away, the park is on more than 1,000 acres of desert preserve, featuring four wildlife viewing blinds.

4. Visit Derby House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, Lloyd Wright, in 1926 and now on the National Register of Historic Places. Lloyd Wright’s original blue gum trees are still standing on the site.

5. Stop by the University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals. With its retractable roof and roll-in natural grass field, Business Week named it one of the 10 “most impressive” sports facilities in the world.

6. Step into El Miradero Castle, built from 1903 to 1909. This castle-like home is now the Brand branch of the Glendale public library.

7. Go antiquing in Historic Downtown Glendale, known as “Arizona’s Antique Capital.” Make your way through Historic Caitlin Court’s more than 90 antique stores, boutiques, specialty shops and cafes. It's a must-do when you tour Glendale, Arizona.

8. Stop by the Doctors' House. This Queen Anne-Eastlake style home built in 1888 got its name from the series of doctors who once lived there. It’s now a museum featuring guided tours.

9. Look for petroglyphs at Deer Valley Rock Art Center. A quarter-mile trail features rock art petroglyphs left by the Hohokam and Patayan peoples.

10. Tour the Bead Museum. This international collection of more than 100,000 beads and bead artifacts includes pieces ranging from 15,000 years ago to today.

11. Take in a performance or film at Alex Theatre, built in 1925. This Neo-Greek, Egyptian and art-deco building features a landmark marquee tower.

Resources

• Glendale Office of Tourism

[jusdeke]

on 6/20/2009 Steps 4, 6, 8, and 11 will require a quick jaunt 375 miles west to the city of Glendale, California where the Derby House, Doctors House, El Miradero Castle and the Alex Theater are actually located. Might wanna do a bit of research there, gang.