Encanto Park: Phoenix's Central Park

One of the oldest parks in the Phoenix area is also one of the most fun of the city parks to visit. Nestled smack dab in the middle of Phoenix at 15th Avenue and Thomas Road, this park is a great way to spend a day with your friends or your sweetheart alike. The easiest way to reach the park is to either take the 7th Avenue exit from the I-10 freeway and go north to Thomas, then go West a half mile down Thomas Road to 15th Ave, then take 15th south until you see the parking lot. Although it is not nearly as large, Encanto Park would easily qualify as a smaller version of New York's Central Park, with the added bonus of very few, if any Yankee fans lounging around.

One of my favorite things about Encanto Park is the fact that you have plenty of options on what do with your day. If you have an Arizona Urban Fishing license, you can spend the day wandering the shores of the lake that weaves through the park. You'll find a decent amount of bass, sunfish, and carp throughout the lake, and seasonal stockings of trout in the winter and catfish throughout the summer. If fishing is not your thing, there are plenty of picnic areas, as well as large areas of grass to play a game of catch in, or just lay down under a tree with a good book.

The thing that sets Encanto apart from all of the other Phoenix area parks is the fact that you can rent paddle boats and go for a ride all around the park. The lake that goes throughout the park is not just a large lake, there are lots of small canals and offshoots that offer a much more interesting trip than simply paddling your boat around a big circular lake. The paddle boat rental is fairly cheap running only $8 for two people and a half hour, and $12 for a full hour. I recommend purchasing a full hour because a half hour is not quite enough time to make it all the way around the park, an hour will give you breathing room.

Finally, if you've got kids, or you're still a kid at heart, make sure you pay a visit to Enchanted Island right in the middle of the park. Enchanted Island is like a miniature carnival that runs year round on the island created in the middle of the lake. You'll find carnival games and rides for the kids, as well as an arcade with many old classics arcades. The prices of some of the rides are a bit much in my opinion, but I the train ride around the island is worth the $3 per person.

Overall, Encanto Park in Phoenix is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon, toss in some fishing or a few hours on Enchanted Island, and you can easily spend an entire day for about $30 for a couple. The paddle boats are a great way to kick back with your friends, or float slowly around the park with your special someone. No matter who you are, you will find something that you enjoy in Phoenix's Central Park.