Best of the Valley 2026: Things To Do

The Valley’s wellspring of cultural diversions – festivals, the arts, fitness, et al. – has never been deeper or more diverse. Grab your swimsuit and dive in! 

Best Crafting Spot
Spacecraft/Craftspace 

We adored The Vintage Arizona, Shannon Steward’s love letter to all things old, particularly those belonging to her beloved father. So, when Steward announced she was switching things up, we were glued to her Instagram – till she announced her new concept. A crafting spot billed as a “thirdspace for weirdos”? We’re in. Pass the glue gun. 10637 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, @spacecraftcraftspace

Best Puzzle Action
Snakes & Lattes

This board-game bar hosts a puzzle tournament twice monthly featuring puzzles by the Ravensburger brand – all participants use the same puzzle to compete. The tournament is timed and team-based, so bring your besties and get puzzling. Tickets ($54/four-person team) include one drink and you get to keep the puzzle. 20 W. Sixth St., Tempe, 480-361-6644, snakesandlattes.com/tempe

Best Place to Get Your D&D On
Funkatronic Rex

There are plenty of places across the Valley to roll your 20-sided die, but none as welcoming as this Sunnyslope shop. Role players of all ages are welcome here, but if playing Dungeons and Dragons isn’t your thing, there is a slew of other board games on which you may geek out. 1343 E. Northern Ave., Phoenix, 602-531-0433, funkatronicrex.com

Best Place to DIY
Phoenix Forge

With a range of classes that will teach you how to make everything from a farmer’s market tote bags to coffee tables, there’s something for everyone who wants to make something at this makerspace operated by Gateway Community College – and open studio time, if you want to cast off on your own. 535 W. Van Buren St., Phoenix, 602-286-8599, phxforge.com

Best Elbow to the Face
Arizona Derby Dames

The state’s only banked-track roller derby league sells tickets ($25) to all races during their September-May season, with food and drink offered inside and at the local food trucks that roll up (ha!) outside. Arrive early to get your seat – first whistle blows right at 5 p.m.! 2517 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, arizonaderbydames.com

Best Place to See Classic Cars
Fourtillfour Café

Every weekend, Fourtillfour in the Scottsdale Arts District hosts events where auto enthusiasts can gawk at vintage and new cars, drink freshly roasted coffee and socialize with like-minded folks. The cars change weekly – sometimes it’s vintage Porsches or Volkswagens, and other times, it’s motorcycles and off-road vehicles. 7105 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, 602-888-3583, fourtillfour.com 

Most Creative OHV Excursions
Stellar Adventures

Consider this the off-road iteration of the high-brow/low-brow ideal – a rugged desert ride paired with a culinary experience at a Valley restaurant. Themed tours include Gravel & Grapes, an outing that concludes at Postino; Wheels & Whiskey, which brings you to O.H.S.O.; and Backroads & BBQ, which culminates with a meal at perennial BOV winner Frasher’s. 602-402-0584, stellaradventures.com

Best (Adult) Playground
Recess

This aptly named indoor-outdoor bar and restaurant invites guests to work off their calories with super-sized yard games – some nostalgic and familiar like tetherball and four square; others not so much (anyone heard of mölkky?). It’s like The Yard, but even more yard-y. 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, 480-256-8093, recessaz.com

Best Adult-Beverage Activity
LDV Wine Tasting Room Classes

Discover the art of wine and cheese pairings while tasting award-winning wines, including a master charcuterie class where each participant enjoys a glass of LDV vino and creates a charcuterie board to savor onsite or take home. Another class immerses you in a wine aromatherapy session to expand your wine knowledge and awareness. 7134 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, 480-664-4822, ldvwinery.com 

Best Date Night Idea
Moonlight Horseback Rides at MacDonald’s Ranch

For four nights prior to every full moon, this family-owned ranch offers a guided canter through a lunar-lit desert. Saddle up at the stables, then follow your wrangler past glowing creosote and silhouetted saguaros. It’s eerie, romantic and uniquely Arizona. From $142/person, 26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-585-0239, macdonaldsranch.com 

Best Old-School Way to Gamble Away Your Paycheck
Bingo at the Italian American Club

Phoenix, prepare your daubers and get out your cash. It’s time to play bingo. There’s nothing fancy about the Sunnyslope-adjacent Italian American Club – and that’s how we like it. Just plenty of space for multiple cards, good fries, plenty of wine and friendly callers. Call ahead for hours. 7509 N. 12th St., Phoenix, 602-975-8294, azaiclub.com