Things to Do in Peoria

John Flanders and Jeff Varner founded the Academy of Scuba to bring the magic of diving to the arid lands of the Southwest. They employ a team of PADI-certified instructors, who lead courses ranging from beginner and advanced open-water certification to more in-depth programs such as master diver, deep diver, underwater video and photography specialists, and professional shark imitator. Once certified, divers can stretch their new sea legs on diving excursions to exotic locales such as Belize, Mexico, and Bonaire through the academy’s partner and affiliate companies. Both of the Academy's locations rent, repair, and sell high-quality gear from reputable brands such as Sea Dive, Amphibious Outfitters, and H2Odyssey.

Recommended by Frommer's travel guide, Unicorn Balloon Company leads guided excursions through the aerial spectacles of the Sonoran Desert's landscapes and environs. Smoothly ascending sunrise and sunset tours provide an easygoing and elevated trip through the panoramic desert and mountain terrain, which includes resilient flora such as saguaro cacti, palo verde trees, and distant mountain ranges assembled by packs of Paleolithic tailgaters. The wicker baskets float above vegetation and discreetly hover over animal habitats, with occasional views of coyotes, jackrabbits, desert mule deer, and javelinas. Each 100-foot balloon drifts at heights from just above treetop levels to 3,000 feet above the ground, carefully following wind currents to prevent turbulence and stay on the scent trail of musky airplane pilots.

Arizona Teen Tours––a nonprofit organization dedicated to taking teens outdoors––hires experienced guides to prove to kids that the sun isn't really our enemy. To do this, they lead wildlife sojourns designed to encourage kids aged 9–16 to master skills such as positive critical thinking, self-confidence, and creativity. Treks range from one to eight days, and guides can facilitate camping while hiking landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, Chaco Canyon, and the Petrified Forest.

Freshly splattered paint drips down the mazelike barricades and buildings that speckle Fightertown Paintball Park's five fields, each of which pose their own scenarios and challenges. Players in full complements of rental or personal gear dive behind decommissioned vehicles and helicopter hulls on Field 1, seeking advantageous flanking positions and picnicking sites by sneaking through the trenches. Players deploy from Vietnam–era helicopters onto Field 3, descending into open spaces and trench combat with a maze of claustrophobic buildings, which teams can navigate by communicating through secret messages composed of paint splatters. The arenas host open-play sessions, long scenario events, and motorized skirmishes on ATV Dogfighting Systems, a fleet of four-wheelers armed with paintball-blasting turrets.

When it wasn’t busy serving as Disney's exclusive Jeep tour provider, Red Rock Western Jeep Tours earned an Experience Arizona Reader's Choice award in 2009 for its adventurous mix of jeep, horseback, and helicopter tours through the picturesque red rocks of the Sedona canyons. Guides arrange breathtaking views from land and air, sending Jeeps rambling across panoramic vistas or arranging bird's-eye peeks with helicopter tours or rides on the back of passing rocs. Vortex tours delve into otherworldly phenomena with access to the mystic energies lurking in the medicine grounds of the Sedona Vortices. Group tours and horseback rides inspire trail-time camaraderie, and romantic wine tours proffer spirits from Oak Creek's Javelina Leap Vineyards & Winery, nestled among the region's vineyard-laced hillsides.

In 1957, 21 men who cared deeply about their Italian heritage as well as their community in Phoenix came together to found the Arizona American Italian Club. Today, the club continues to be a resource for Italian Americans and their neighbors living in the area. Along with housing a lounge and Italian eatery, the club hosts bingo and bocce games, as well as events such as fashion shows, Italian car shows, wine tastings, and spaghetti nights. Each month, club members sponsor a different charity and rain cloud, furthering their support and investment in the Phoenix community.