In 2026, cultural immersion jumped into the top five priorities for luxury travelers worldwide, according to Virtuoso’s annual Luxe Report. This is great news for Phoenix, a city with a longstanding history of preservation and care for tradition.
Phoenix remains one of the largest cities in the country, and a huge tourist draw. Visitors can choose from an abundance of riches: historic attractions, stunning nature and an emerging arts and dining scene.
Interest in the area doesn’t seem to be waning, either. The Arizona Board of Regents reports a 10.3% increase in hotel and motel sales as of March 2026. And among affluent travelers, authenticity ranks as a top travel motivation this year, according to the same Virtuoso report; a trend Phoenix is well positioned to meet.
Rooted in the desert
Imagine standing in front of a 30-foot saguaro. It’s not just a cactus; it’s a living monument. Reaching nearly 3 stories high, it was already ancient by the time Arizona became a state in 1912. You’ll see saguaros of all different sizes, along the roads, in the Desert Botanical Garden or next to your outdoor table when you eat breakfast. These cacti have a personality of their own as guardians of the Sonoran Desert, standing watch as history unfolds.
The desert’s roots go even deeper when you trace them to their Indigenous heritage. Take a ride on horseback through Native American Pima country to see even more native plants and wildlife, like mesquite trees, jackrabbits and wild horses. Start your guided tour at Koli Equestrian Center, and when you’re finished, head to James Beard Award-winning Fry Bread House for an authentic fry bread taco and honey fry bread that melts in your mouth.
In good hands
The tradition of honoring the land stems from its caretakers. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to developing with the land rather than replacing it. A walk through the property, established in 1937, seamlessly leads visitors in and out of rooms uniquely engineered to celebrate Arizona’s landscape.
In Paradise Valley, artist Lon Megargee constructed Casa Hermosa, a family home built in the adobe style that became a gathering place for friends. The Hermosa Inn was born after guests arrived, unaware that the property had been sold. As a multi-year recipient of Travel + Leisure’s T+L 500 distinction, this boutique hideaway has been welcoming visitors for more than 91 years.
Megargee’s cowboy artwork, which has been featured inside Stetson cowboy hats for more than a century, can be seen throughout the estate, and his memory is commemorated in nearly every room. Lush gardens and fountains abound between each building, and its popular restaurant, LON’s, pays tribute to the original owner.
Perry and Brenda Rea had a different idea about life in the desert. In 2005, they moved their family to Queen Creek and started what would become Arizona’s first and only working olive mill. Visitors can spend the day at Queen Creek Olive Mill with an estate tour through the olive trees, which ends with an olive oil tasting. Follow it with an enormous sandwich from the on-site restaurant, or shop for olive oil products in the boutique store to round out the experience.
Heritage as a blueprint
With collaborative architecture, history and agriculture as the foundation, Phoenix is well-positioned to carry the torch into modern projects. Downtown’s Roosevelt Row is a great example, with its stunning street art decorating the buildings, boutique shops, restaurants and bars, all in a walkable setting.
Rough Rider is a must-visit dining spot with a delicious menu. Former President Theodore Roosevelt inspired this basement-level hotspot with a speakeasy vibe, and its historic namesake is an homage to the first United States volunteer cavalry soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American War. If you think your GPS led you astray, don’t worry. Finding the restaurant is part of the fun.
Nearby, Greenwood Brewing is a woman-owned brewery with a fantastic selection of beers and a great atmosphere, featuring indoor and outdoor seating. Starting construction in 2026, the highly anticipated Atari Hotel will bring a first-of-its-kind, nostalgic entertainment destination dedicated to gamers. Downtown Phoenix is the flagship location and is set to open in late 2028.
Beyond Roosevelt Row, the Phoenix foodie scene is bursting with creativity and culture. Highly acclaimed restaurants like The Mission, with its modern Latin menu, or Indibar, serving mouthwatering India-inspired dishes, are plentiful.
Phoenix is a surprise in the best possible way. Grounded in respect for the land and inspired by human connection, the city seems to have taken on a wisdom found only in the desert.
Andrea Updyke is a food and travel writer at Just is a Four Letter Word, where she shares easy recipes and family travel tips. When she isn’t traveling, Andrea loves spending time with her husband and two teenage sons in Raleigh, North Carolina.