15 Best Things To Do In Peoria, Arizona: Active Body, Fit Mind!

1. Peoria Sunrise Mountain Preserve

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Sunrise Mountain Preserve is one of the best spots in Peoria for catching unobstructed views of the rising sun. It has an approximately 4-mile (7-kilometer) scenic yet heavily trafficked trail that allows people to get the aerobic session their body needs before reaching the top. It is best to wake up early and get to Sunrise Mountain Preserve way before the rest of Peoria flock to the place to avoid crowding problems. Here, dogs are welcome to run or walk along with you in the loop trail, although they need to be leashed and supervised. With stunning views of nature, a quiet time with the rising sun, and an adorable Siberian Husky tagging along, you are setting yourself up for a therapeutic activity.

Peoria Sunrise Mountain Preserve

Address: Sunrise Mountain Trail, Peoria, AZ 85383, United States

Website: Peoria Sunrise Mountain Preserve

2. Kiwanis Park

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Kids adore the wide-open grassy areas of Kiwanis Park that they can use for running, sports practice, dance rehearsal, and practically anything outdoors. It is located south of Sweetwater with 0.4 hectares (5 acres) of land beside Oasis Elementary School. The park has a decent-sized tennis court and a play area with a bed of cedar wood chips. Now, the supervising parents will also appreciate this neat park as it has bike tracks and jogging paths that will keep them busy. However, if grilling patties and reading books is the kind of busy you need, then feel free to use the park’s barbecue facility and picnic tables.

Kiwanis Park

Address: 12687 N 78th Dr, Peoria, AZ 85381

Opening hours: 6am - 10:30pm (daily)

3. Palo Verde Park

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

An archaeological site turned into a lovely neighborhood park in the Terramar community—that’s Palo Verde Park in a nutshell. When the kids are done sliding and climbing in the play area, you can let them explore Indian historical ruins. The fascinating stories shared in this mini-educational tour will eventually include tooth fairies and candies—a time well spent with the kids, for sure. The park may be relatively small, but its facilities are enough to keep you coming back: a shaded pavilion, a basketball court, a hiking/biking trail, barbecue stations, and picnic tables.

Palo Verde Park

Address: 26200 N 73rd Dr, Peoria, AZ 85383, United States

Opening hours: 6am - 10:30pm (daily)

4. Peoria Sports Complex

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

This multi-functional sports and events facility consists of a baseball stadium that boasts over 12,000 seats, aside from the area occupied by 12 other practice fields. Peoria Sports Complex is that massive! It is close to the shopping centers and restaurants on Bell Road, too. Being the home of two well-known baseball groups—the Seattle Mariners and the San Diego Padres—things could get pretty intense during the league competitions, especially in spring. Book a ticket during one of the game seasons and witness the excitement baseball brings. Also, the facility offers a neat place for events, such as weddings and birthdays. If getting wed within a sports facility sounds interesting to you, shoot an inquiry anytime through its official website.

Peoria Sports Complex

Address: 16101 N 83rd Ave, Peoria, AZ 85382, United States

Website: Peoria Sports Complex

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)

5. Challenger Space Center

Since 2000, the Challenger Space Center has opened minds to the wonders of space, with a variety of team building sessions, workshops and field trips that provide important life skills as well as knowledge of exploration and innovation. Set up by a dedicated group of citizens and community leaders, the center today attracts more than 33,000 students each year to discover space history. Suitable for all NASA enthusiasts, people of all ages will enjoy learning about space shuttle exportation and space history in this museum with welcoming and friendly staff.

Challenger Space Center

Address: 21170 N 83rd Ave, 85382 Peoria, Arizona, United States

Website: Challenger Space Center

6. Rio Vista Recreation Center

Engaging residents and promoting healthy lifestyles, the Rio Vista Recreation Center, a family friendly facility, provides a variety of activities and programs for all ages. Visitors will find an abundance of amenities. There is a public gymnasium, an indoor racquetball court, and a climbing wall. There are also pavements for walking, jogging, and biking, fountains, waterfalls, ponds from which you can fish and plenty of places for kids such as the playground, the skate board park or the ball fields.

Rio Vista Recreation Center

Address: 8866 W Thunderbird Rd, 85381 Peoria, AZ

Website: Rio Vista Recreation Center

7. Pioneer Community Park

September 21 introduced Peoria’s new 33-hectare (83-acre) recreation campus to the general public, Pioneer Community Park. The park features four lighted multi-purpose fields, restrooms with a central plaza, picnic ramadas with grills, a dog park, splash grounds and swing sets in a playground. There’s also an area called Heritage Garden where small events can be reserved and an urban fishing catch-and-keep lake.

Pioneer Community Park

Address: 8755 N 83rd Ave, 85345 Peoria, AZ

Website: Pioneer Community Park

8. West Valley Art Museum

The only fine art museum in the western section of the Valley of the Sun with a permanent collection focusing on international fine art prints, Arizona artists, ethnic dress and related artifacts from all parts of the world. Bringing visitors from all around Arizona, the West Valley Art Museum boasts a diverse display of a permanent collection of 2,000 items from more than 60 countries, consisting of high-quality art with an array of themes. Apart from visual displays, special events such as Mind of the Artist, Appraisal Day and art workshops are held in the museum.

West Valley Art Museum

Address: 8401 W Monroe St, 85345 Peoria, AZ

Website: West Valley Art Museum

9. Arizona Broadway Theatre

Quality dining and professional theatre come together in the Arizona Broadway Theatre, with the vision and goal of offering a complete entertainment experience at great value. Experience wonderful entertainment with professional actors, amazing sets as well as a nicely thought out acoustics and seating system that allows easy listening during dinner. You won’t even have to get up from your seat to view the play!

Arizona Broadway Theatre

Address: 7701 W Paradise Ln, 85382 Peoria, AZ

Website: Arizona Broadway Theatre

10. New River Trail

Images of the New River Trail are currently unavailable.

With a paved, open trail for walking, running and bike riding, New River Trail features a 21-kilometer (13-mile) long, multi-use pathway system and plenty of opportunities to view wildlife, native plants, and natural areas. Through residential and business areas, it follows the route of New River to the northwest of Highway 101.

New River Trail

Address: 8866 W Thunderbird Rd, Peoria, AZ

Website: New River Trail

11. Wild Horse West

Approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Lake Pleasant on the southeast corner of Carefree Highway and Lake Pleasant RD (99th Avenue), visitors will find Wild Horse West. Housed in a western themed building, this cash-only oasis of wallet-friendly eateries and suds is “where the burgers are best” in Peoria, Arizona. It’s a fun filled bar with a big screen TV, indoor and outdoor dining, a pool table and a general store that sells baits, tackles, sodas, snacks, and supplies for the lake. With flavorful, juicy meat and fast, efficient service, burgers and hot dogs can be cooked any way you want, and the house brand hot sauce is definitely worth a try.

Wild Horse West

Address: 8415 W Carefree Hwy, 85383 Peoria, AZ

Website: Wild Horse West

12. Peoria Jail House

With hard work and funds from members of the Peoria Arizona Historical Society, the Peoria Jail House Museum was built in the mid-1930s as a WPA project according to the Central Arizona Museum Association and was restored in 2002 to its 1938 decor. Apart from being the local jail, this building held city council meetings and at one point was used as an office by the Chamber of Commerce.

Peoria Jail House

Address: 8322 W Washington St, 85345 Peoria, AZ

Website: Peoria Jail House

13. Peoria Arizona Historical Society

Aimed at bringing history to life for the young and old alike, the society wants citizens of Peoria to learn about the city’s early farming and ranching roots and to also build a new history, among other things. Stimulating the mind and entertaining the eye, both local residents and out-of-town visitors can enjoy the programs offered. With an aim to improve the quality of life in the area of Peoria, items related to their history are collected, preserved and displayed, historical research and education are supported and encouraged, and public interest in the history and the contributions of its organizations and people are sustained and promoted.

Peoria Arizona Historical Society

Address: 10304 N 83rd Ave, 85345 Peoria, AZ

Website: Peoria Arizona Historical Society

14. Freak'N Brewing Company

Making appearances at events and competitions such as Arizona Beer Week and the 2013 Great AZ Home Brew Competition, Freak'N Brewing Company has been around for several years and has now opened a tasting room in Peoria (Olive Avenue), bringing brews to brewpubs and restaurants. The tasting room is open on Thursdays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., where Freak'N growlers are up for sale and you can bring in your favorite food or call for a delivery to your table from their list of local restaurants.

Freak'N Brewing Company

Address: 9299 W Olive Ave #513, 85345 Peoria, AZ

Website: Freak'N Brewing Company

15. Lake Pleasant

Catch glimpses of Arizona bobcats, roaming wild burros and bald eagles along the shoreline, dine indoors or outdoors at the restaurants available, delight in the tranquil atmosphere of the sunset and slumber on a boat under the bright stars. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year, the largest lake in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area with pristine waters covering 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of water surface, a shoreline of 180 kilometers (116 miles) and an average depth of 21 meters (70 feet), Lake Pleasant is a power boater’s dream. A tight safety policy is enforced in this family lake. So party-goers are allowed to have a blast, rent a house boat, set up a grill, and turn up the music but must behave themselves.

Lake Pleasant

Address: Peoria, Morristown, Maricopa / Yavapai Counties, Arizona, US

Website: Lake Pleasant

Explore Peoria!

Diversity, national quality museum exhibits, and memorable scenery are all part of the Peoria experience.