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Peoria is a growing city of about 190,000 people in the northwest Phoenix area, stretching from its small Old Town near Grand Avenue up into the desert foothills around Lake Pleasant. It was founded in the 1880s by settlers from Peoria, Illinois, who named their new farm town after home, and it has since become a favorite of families and baseball fans.
Every spring the Peoria Sports Complex hosts the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners for spring training, and the surrounding P83 district fills with restaurants and bars on game days. Old Town Peoria keeps a historic main street with the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, and the city's parks, including Rio Vista Community Park with its pond and trails, are busy year round.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park, on the city's northern edge, is one of the largest lakes in the Phoenix area, popular for boating, paddleboarding, fishing and camping, with saguaro-covered hills all around. The Challenger Space Center offers hands-on space exhibits for kids, and the desert trails of the West Valley begin just minutes from town.
The Peoria Sports Complex opened in 1994 as the first spring training site in Arizona shared by two Major League teams, the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. Games run in February and March, with lawn seating beyond the outfield. Buy tickets early for weekend games.
The P83 Entertainment District surrounds the Peoria Sports Complex near 83rd Avenue and Bell Road, with restaurants, sports bars, a cinema and shops. It is busiest during spring training and on weekend evenings. Many visitors eat here before or after a game, since parking is shared.
Arizona Broadway Theatre is a dinner theater in Peoria that stages full Broadway musicals with professional casts. Tickets can include a plated dinner served before the show in the theater. Shows often sell out around the holidays, so book ahead and arrive early for the meal.
The Peoria Center for the Performing Arts is a modern theater in Old Town Peoria, home to the Theater Works company. It stages musicals, plays and youth productions on two stages throughout the year. It is a short walk to restaurants on Washington Street for dinner before a show.
Lake Pleasant Regional Park in northern Peoria surrounds a large desert reservoir formed by Waddell Dam. It is popular for boating, fishing, jet skiing, paddling and camping, with marinas and boat rentals. Summer days are very hot, so go early in the morning and bring a lot of water.
Old Town Peoria is the historic center of the city around Washington Street and 83rd Avenue, with older buildings, local restaurants, a park and the performing arts center. The town was named by early settlers from Peoria, Illinois. It hosts community festivals and events through the year.
The Peoria Arizona Historical Society Museum in Old Town displays photographs, tools and household items from the city's farming and settlement days. Volunteers share stories of early families and the growth of the community. It has limited opening hours, so check the schedule before you go.
Rio Vista Community Park is a large city park with a fishing pond, sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas and a recreation center. Walking paths circle the pond, and the park connects to trails along the Skunk Creek corridor. It is busiest on weekend mornings with families and sports games.
Pioneer Community Park is one of Peoria's largest parks, with lighted sports fields, playgrounds, a dog park, walking paths and picnic ramadas. It is a popular spot for youth sports tournaments and family outings. Evening visits are more comfortable in summer when the heat eases.
The Challenger Space Center in Peoria is a science education center honoring the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Visitors can see space exhibits and join simulated space missions in a mock mission control and spacecraft. Mission programs need reservations, so book them in advance.
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