The Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix is a true gem in this city.
Many people rave about this place, so I'm just going to focus on what I like about it:
1. They open at 7AM. This means that you can go early and see the blossoms first thing in the morning.
2. As you walk in, head to the Desert Wildflower Loop Trail on the far right. The hummingbirds and butterflys are most active first thing in the morning.
3. The latest Chihuly exhibits are best seen at night. Absolutely stunning.
4. Regarding the price, just buy an annual pass. Then you can come whenever you want and see the plants change with the seasons.
5. This place is extremely large and cell signals are spotty. They have free wifi in some key locations. This is really nice for uploading photos.
6. They have lots of performances here - jazz, classical music, etc. The garden is a fantastic setting for after hours events.