Tempe: Water, Culture and Architecture

Tempe offers different starting points for planning a stay: time by the water, cultural history, and architecture and art. If you’re looking for a hotel in Tempe, these themes can help you define the purpose of your trip more precisely. The sections below show the specific places and ways to visit associated with each theme.

Tempe Town Lake: Trails and Activities

Tempe Town Lake is in the heart of Tempe and is more than two miles long. It was created by damming a section of the dry Salt River and filling it with water. Its origin gives the lake a clear connection to the city’s landscape. The trails around the lake are open daily from 5 a.m. to midnight; because access hours may change, check the hours before your visit.

At Tempe Beach Park, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and pedal boats are available through Tempe Boat Rental. Rental availability may change. Tempe Beach Park hosts around 40 events each year; the program may also change. The details to check when planning differ: the trails have daily opening hours, while rental options and the event schedule should be checked for your visit. Watercraft rentals and events thus offer two different ways to enjoy the same park.

Hohokam Petroglyphs at Hayden Butte

About 500 Hohokam petroglyphs, created between 750 and 1450 AD, can be found at Hayden Butte Preserve. This time span covers around seven centuries. The Leonard Monti Trail was dedicated in 1994 and climbs the side of Hayden Butte. The rock art represents a period of creation spanning centuries, while the trail adds a later, specific date to the site’s history. The site thus offers both a connection to Hohokam culture and a separate, historically dated account of the trail.

Architecture and Art in Tempe

Tempe also offers specific points of interest for architecture and museum enthusiasts. ASU Gammage was completed in 1964 and is considered Frank Lloyd Wright’s last major architectural work. The ASU Art Museum offers tours that connect everyday visitors with the artworks and exhibitions on display. Eisendrath House is a historic adobe house in the Pueblo Revival style, dating from the 1930s, in Tempe. The examples differ distinctly as visitor experiences: ASU Gammage represents architectural history, the museum tours provide access to the art on display, and Eisendrath House is a historic building whose material and style are specified. Those who take cultural interests into account when choosing a destination can weigh architectural history, museum tours, and historic building styles.

Let the interests guiding your stay guide your choice.

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