Things to Do in Anthem

As the Bradshaw Mountain range stretches into the Sonoran Dessert, its landscapes change quickly. Shrub-strewn hills dip into valleys dotted with cacti. Clear streams run through dense copses, and then open to bare, clay-red plateaus. The guides at Desert Wolf Tours unveil these unforgiving yet magical landscapes, chiefly by leading caravans of Tomcars. These all-terrain vehicles let guests power over rocks, up hillsides, and through card towers to visit destinations such as old turquoise and gold mines and a ghost town.

Desert Wolf's team also takes visitors into the desert for recreational target shooting, supplying them with firearms, such as M16 rifles and Glock 17 handguns, to shoot under the supervision of NRA-certified instructors. Desert Wolf, a family-owned business, adheres to eco-friendly practices, participating in programs such as the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. These efforts have not only earned the respect of guests, but also a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor.

"From the first time I worked extensively with clay, I felt a connection to it, and a passion for it that has never waned," asserts Michelle Katz, owner of Desert Dragon Pottery. A ceramics artist for more than a quarter century, Katz harnesses her fine arts degree and aesthetic aptitude to teach students of all levels how to exercise their imaginations. Through a roster of classes, pupils explore the shapes of vases and plates, before leaving their finished works for Michelle to fire in her self-made, gas-fired car kiln. When not teaching, Katz often exhibits her work with pottery guild Arizona Clay Association, a collection of regional artists who share with the community their insights, masterpieces, and tips for creating life-like body doubles

Fourteen lighted outdoor tennis courts, four new pickleball courts, seven indoor racquetball courts, weight rooms, a group fitness studio, and an indoor cycling room make up the facilities at La Camarilla Racquet, Fitness & Swim Club, setting the stage for members to get fit any way they see fit. For one, there’s a varied schedule of group fitness classes, with structured workouts such as tai chi, muscle cardio, yoga, and spinning. Treadmills, upright bikes, elliptical machines, and other fitness machines are within the four fitness rooms, too. If you want to cool off after a workout, feel free to swim the club's 25-meter outdoor pool or juggle ice cubes in the members’ lounge and bar area.

You can hear a constant thwacking of tennis balls and shuffling feet in the outdoor tennis facility, which hosts numerous tournaments, clinics, and lessons. Director of tennis Roger Furman and his staff of USPTA-certified pros offer instructional guidance to aspiring tennis players and ball boys of all ages.

The certified instructors at Go Stand Up Paddle propagate their passion for serenely skimming the waters during paddleboard lessons for first-time paddlers to aspiring paddleboard racers. The classes range in subject matter from basic skills to prodding aside herds of lake monsters to fitness—incorporating flexibility, cardio, and core-strength exercises into the low-impact, full-body sport. The teachers also lead parties to introduce groups to paddleboarding and help them to celebrate a special occasion, and Paddleboard Adventures, in which they supply the gear, know-how, and midday meal necessary to fuel paddlboarding excursions. Before setting onto the gentle body of water, athletes can rent a board or build their own out of popsicle sticks.

Lake Pleasant Watercraft Rentals’ staff helps its customers explore 10,000 acres of water surrounded by the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The company's three-person Yamaha jet skis speed across the water's surface, sending blasts of mist and churned water into the faces of tailgating pelicans. Nearby, 200 horsepower speedboats create rushes of adrenaline as they tow wakeboards, tubes, and water skis. Pontoon boats take up to 10 passengers on floating picnics and fishing trips, and tours let customers experience the lake without having to learn its fish community’s complicated traffic laws.

Maintaining a fleet of 19.5- and 25-foot speed boats, Sunset Toy Rentals' crew sees the water as an endless canvas on which to paint high-speed adventures and relaxing getaways. The team complements every boat rental with the addition of skis, tubes, and wakeboards so customers can add water-slicing entertainment to their time afloat. Alternatively, Sunset Toy Rentals' experienced drivers can captain charter cruises for customers. Aboard a 28-foot yacht, an experienced driver churns the vessel through the water as groups relax—lounging atop couch seating, sipping beverages from a cooler, and listening to their favorite phone messages on built-in stereo equipment.