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Desert Botanical Garden vs Mystery Castle
Both are rated very highly by writers. On balance, Desert Botanical Garden scores significantly higher than Mystery Castle. Desert Botanical Garden is ranked #2 in Phoenix with approval from 8 reviews such as Michelin Guide, Fodor's and Lonely Planet.
Desert Botanical Garden
Fodor's
Concierge
Lonely Planet
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
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1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
From $0 /night
Fodor's
"Opened in 1939 to conserve and showcase the ecology of the desert, these 150 acres contain more than 4,000 different species of cacti, succulents, trees, and flowers."
Full review
Concierge
"This is one of the best gardens you will ever see, possibly because it's so full of local plants."
Lonely Planet
Top Choice
"This inspirational garden is a refreshing place to reconnect with nature and it offers a great introduction to desert plant life."
Full review
Travel + Leisure
"Any delusions that the Sonoran Desert is a lifeless dustbowl will be swept away by this 50,000-plus collection of colorful plants, from hundreds of cacti, including the iconic saguaro."
Full review
Michelin Guide
0 Stars
"With more than 20,000 desert plants, this unique garden has won awards for environmental education."
Full review
Mystery Castle
Fodor's
Lonely Planet
Afar Magazine
Where
Atlas Obscura
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800 East Mineral Road, Phoenix, AZ 85040
From $0 /night
Fodor's
"At the foot of South Mountain lies a curious dwelling built from desert rocks by Boyce Gulley, who came to Arizona to cure his tuberculosis."
Full review
Lonely Planet
"Equal parts Mexican hacienda, Native American cliff dwelling and psychedelic sand castle, the 18-room Mystery Castle was constructed in the 1930s and ’40s by Boyce Luther Gulley."
Full review
i
Call ahead to make sure it’s open at all.
Afar Magazine
"A visit to the castle is one that’s truly unmatched, and leaves you in awe of the precious sentiment that went into its construction."
Full review
Where
"An 8,000-square-foot folk architecture castle in the foothills of South Mountain, with 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces and scores of there’s-a-story-here antiques, craftworks and found objects."
Full review
Atlas Obscura
"A self-built castle made by a mysterious man. "
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