Phoenix Outdoor Activities

With walls stretching to heights of 30 feet and more than 15,000 square feet of climbing surface, Phoenix Rock Gym is an impressive sight to behold. Seasoned instructors stand at the foot of ropes and bouldering walls, guiding clients of all ages who scamper up and down faces, cracks, arêtes, and chimneys within the comfort of a climate-controlled gym, safe from mountain goats that have developed a taste for human gym shorts. The gym's assortment of more than 50 courses accommodates all skill levels, from first-time climbers to the seasoned scalers of the Phoenix New Times. Staff members switch up holds and paint colors regularly to keep climbs from getting stale.

Christened Best Family Entertainment Value in AZCentral.com’s Readers' Choice poll, AZ on the Rocks belays beginners and seasoned climbers to higher levels of scaling skill with 14,000 square feet of ascendable terrain. They happily host birthday parties or freestyle-climbing sessions in their air-conditioned climbing facility, which houses 50 top ropes, a cave, 2,800 square feet of bouldering space, and a challenging treehouse course doused in vegetable oil. They also teach private lessons, which can grant clients access to the repelling platform. Additionally, AZ on the Rocks has a full gym stacked with cardio machines, weight machines, and free weights, which can be accessed via monthly memberships or day passes. At AZ on the Rocks, all participants must sign a waiver, and birthday girls, boys, and belayers may brave indoor peaks for free on their day of special-suit wearing.

Though a pilot mans each of Hot Air Expeditions balloon flights, the excursions are really guided by Mother Nature. The colorful balloons simply follow the wind, hovering above the cacti and coyote that call the Sonoran desert home before gently climbing breezes to give passengers a full view of the surrounding mountains and lakes. Groups can take morning flights year-round or afternoon flights from November through March, both of which offer spectacular photo opportunities, as well as time-sensitive challenges to any still-life painters on board.

The mutable nature of the flights mean they last anywhere from 45–90 minutes, after which, passengers will enjoy sparkling beverages and catered snacks, such as pastries. Each guest is awarded an official flight certificate as a memento of their aerial journey before boarding a courtesy van that returns them to the launch point. Though the actual flights last up to 90 minutes, groups should allow up to four hours for the entire trip.

The ice rink at Arcadia Ice Arena invites bladed feet for a full calendar of public skate times, hockey leagues, and figure-skating lessons. For public skating sessions, skaters may bring their own skates or rent hockey or figure skates before carving figure eights and love notes to the zamboni into the ice. Beginners and Olympic hopefuls alike can improve their technique through the arena's Learn to Skate programs, complete with private or group lessons.

GolfTEC has three convenient locations in the Phoenix area and one in Tucson, all staffed by experienced golfing professionals and computers who’ve sworn allegiance to the Three Laws of golfing robotics. Motion sensors and high-speed cameras monitor the golfer’s swing and break it down on a high-definition video display. GolfTEC’s PGA specialists point out golfers' flaws and strengths, and coach them on how to permanently improve their game, from tee to green. Sensors chirp with approval when golfers execute a perfect stroke or crack an especially witty golfing joke. Customers will also benefit from a $10 gift certificate to Golfsmith, the golf equipment superstore housing GolfTEC’s Chandler, Scottsdale, and Tucson locations. Each of Golfsmith's four Arizona locations is stocked with cutting-edge equipment and custom-fitted clubs.

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.