I've called Phoenix home for 10 years here are 8 places I recommend to visitors, from my favorite hiking trail to a Wild West ghost town

The Desert Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places in the entire state. I like coming here to see interesting plants and enjoy the feeling of being immersed in the desert. It's a 140-acre property with hundreds of native plants, cacti, and butterfly gardens.

It's laid out beautifully, in my opinion, with paved pathways and trails that are easy to navigate. Some of my favorites to wander are the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail, which has great views of the mountains, and the Wildflower Loop Trail, where I often see bees around the native wildflowers.

There are daily tours included in the cost of admission, which I think is a great option for first-time visitors who want to learn about desert wildlife from an expert guide. I also like visiting the garden for its special events, which include sunset dinners, plant sales, and rotating art exhibits. These vary seasonally, so I recommend checking the calendar ahead of your visit to see what's planned.

Located in Paradise Valley just north of Phoenix, Cosanti Originals is an open-air art gallery built by architect Paolo Soleri, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright.

In the 1950s, Soleri built the eco-architectural structures on his property from concrete and soil, mostly by hand. He also created the Cosanti bell, a hand-poured bronze wind bell.

The buildings on the property always have me in awe, and I enjoy listening to the sounds of numerous Cosanti bells chiming in the wind. I recommend taking one of the daily guided tours to learn more about the history of Cosanti. The bells are also available for purchase, which I think makes for a nice keepsake.

One of the first places I visited in Phoenix after moving here was Papago Park, and that visit played a big role in how quickly I fell in love with the city.

This free park is family-friendly and has a handful of easy, flat hiking options through the desert. There are also trails along some creeks. I love coming here for a hike with friends, and am always in awe of the desert's unique, rust-colored rock formations.

My favorite part of Papago Park is the Hole in the Rock, which is a hiking destination that's exactly what it sounds like. It's a quick and easy five-minute hike up to the hole, and I recommend going at sunrise or sunset for incredible views.

Taliesin West is the former western homestead of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated in north Scottsdale, overlooking the McDowell Mountains, the property was built in 1937 and is now a preserved, walkable museum.

Dubbed Wright's "desert laboratory," Taliesin West is a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as a National Historic Landmark.

There are eight large buildings on the property, the majority of which you can check out in person on a guided tour. Coming here puts me in an exploratory mood, and I think all of the architecture is intriguing. The museum also hosts temporary programs and rotating exhibitions about Wright's life and art style, as well as events like community shows, movie viewings, and sunset happy hours.

The carefully curated gift shop is also not to be missed, in my opinion, for a Phoenix Souvenir. It sells local artwork, Frank Lloyd Wright prints and products, and coffee table books. I recommend reserving a tour at least a week in advance, because in my experience by the day of, it's often sold out.

One of my favorite places to take friends and family visiting Phoenix is Goldfield Ghost Town.

In the Old West era, it was a thriving town and home to miners from the nearby Mammoth Gold Mine. It's located near the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, and about a 45-minute drive from Phoenix proper.

Now, it's a tourist attraction with cowboy shootout reenactments, saloons, and old-timey photo booths. I think it's fun to walk around the main street, tour the former Old West brothel, and spend some time in the shops, which sell everything from homemade soaps to salsas.

I also recommend dropping by the nearby Elvis Chapel on your way in or out, which was used in the old Elvis Presley western, "Charro!," and is a fun photo opportunity, in my opinion.

The Heard Museum, founded in 1929, is dedicated entirely to showcasing and advancing Indigenous and Native art from across the country. I think this museum does an exceptional job of displaying both traditional art and contemporary art from living artists.

I also find the museum interesting since it showcases art of all mediums — historical artifacts, sculptures, textiles, and more. Many exhibits include plaques with first-person stories or historical information that allows visitors to better understand Indigenous art.

Along with permanent galleries, the museum also has rotating temporary exhibits, and events like music concerts and open-air markets.

When I first moved to Phoenix, I fell in love with the region's natural beauty. Even today, I still feel lucky to see miles of foothills, cacti, and sunsets just by looking outside my window.

One of my favorite ways to get these views, plus a good workout, is to hike Camelback Mountain. It's a peak in the center of the valley near Scottsdale at 2,700 feet tall, which means there's a view of the city and sweeping desert below.

I find the hike to be strenuous, since it has a steep incline most of the way up. It's 2.4 miles long, and I recommend allowing two to three hours or longer, depending on how often you stop to take in the views or catch your breath. It's also best done between October and May since it's very hot to hike it in the summer. Regardless of which season you go, I'd advise wearing comfortable shoes and carrying sun protection and water.

I have fun visiting the Musical Instrument Museum both with out-of-towners and by myself.

It's in north Phoenix just beyond Paradise Valley, and exhibits a wide range of historic and modern musical instruments. The museum's website says it has about 8,000 instruments on display.

My two favorite exhibits are the piano room, where you can see a deconstructed Steinway, and the experience gallery, where you can play obscure instruments like the theremin and communal drums. I also recommend checking out the events and concerts schedule to see upcoming live music performances.