Anthem is a planned community in Maricopa County, Arizona, and a census-designated place in New River.
The community was developed in 1999 by Del Webb in the foothills around 30 miles outside downtown Phoenix.
Various publications have labeled it as one of the best places to raise a family, thanks to its year-round activities promoting a healthy family relationship.
Set against the beautiful Daisy Mountains, Anthem is a bustling community with amenities fit for every family member.
It features an Olympic-size swimming pool, a waterpark, a recreation area with fishing lakes, multiple playing courts, and a 14,000-square-foot skate park.
This bustling community also houses hip shopping spots, family-owned restaurants, and hiking and biking trails.
Here are the best things to do in Anthem, Arizona:
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Located on North Gavilan Peak Parkway is the Anthem Veterans Memorial.
The memorial is dedicated to the men and women of the US Armed Forces who paid the ultimate price in the service of their country.
Renee Palmer-Jones designed it with five white pillars representing the five military branches.
They are arranged according to the order of precedence mandated by the Department of Defense: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The five pillars of the Anthem Veterans Memorial have ascending heights, each with an elliptical hole that slants pointing to the Great Seal printed on the ground.
Every Veterans Day, the sun’s rays pass through the slant and shine a spotlight on the seal at exactly 11:11 am Mountain Standard Time.
Located on North Gavilan Peak Parkway is Daisy Mountain Railroad.
The amusement park ride is a 24-inch gauge railroad in Anthem Community Park.
The 2,800 feet of track has a modified dog bone design that runs through the park and has a loop on both ends.
It passes the tiered seating area and goes up a sloping hill, then winds through a tunnel, passing by the skateboard ramps and soccer field.
Before stopping at the loading platform, the fishing lakes and snakes pass around the children’s playground.
The ride lasts ten to 15 minutes, taking kids and kids at heart for a park tour.
Ride aboard the Daisy Mountain Railroad and see the beautiful landscaping of the community park.
Located on West Anthem Way # D115 is a sports bar, Legends Bar & Grill.
The family-owned and operated bar offers classic pub favorites, including sandwiches, burgers, finger food, and draft beers.
The grill has ample seating in booths and stools at the bar.
Flat-screen TVs are scattered around the restaurant, where you can catch a game of your favorite sports team while having some grub and beers.
Legends Bar & Grill has some mean jumbo chicken wings fried to perfection and tossed in your sauce of choice.
You should also try the Anthem Burger with a half-pounder patty on toasty brioche buns.
If you don’t like taking bites of the burger between points, go for the sliders.
Located on West Anthem Club Drive is Anthem Golf & Country Club.
The golf club boasts a par-72, 7373-yard tour-level golf course set in the foothills of Black Mountain.
The 18-hole course has lush greens and well-manicured trees, making playing even more enjoyable.
With an elevation of 2,600 feet, players get picturesque mountain sceneries and views of beautiful houses dotting Anthem’s terrain.
Each hole has five sets of tees, challenging players of all skill levels.
If you want to warm up before taking on the main course, go to the club’s short game area or one of the practice putting greens.
Anthem Golf & Country Club hosts tournaments, so head to the course to watch games.
Located on North 41st Drive, Suite B100, is the non-profit Musical Theatre of Anthem.
Founded in 2008 by Jackie and Jeff Hammond, MTA aims to develop the youth in performing arts by holding workshops, auditions, and staging shows.
Kids as young as six are welcome to attend the theatre’s workshops and, eventually, star in one of its productions.
Watching one of the musicals staged by MTA is one way of supporting the organization.
Catch local productions of well-loved Disney classics like Winnie the Pooh and Pinocchio and Broadway musicals like Little Women at the Musical Theatre of Anthem.
Located on North Daisy Mountain Drive is the wine bar named L’Entrata.
Founded by the husband-and-wife tandem of Jay and Maria Toupin, the bar’s name translates to “the entrance,” which perfectly sums up its mission of introducing world-class wines to Anthem and beyond.
The family-owned and operated wine bar has ample indoor and outdoor seating and a wide selection of wine pairings.
As Washington state natives, Jay and Maria have a vineyard in Walla Walla named Va Piano Vineyards, where they grow the grapes used to produce their wines.
The vineyard produces sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and rose.
Aside from the usual charcuterie board, L’Entrata also offers sandwiches, bread, and pastries to go with your glass of wine.
Located on North Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem Community Park is an 80-acre park that offers various recreational activities for every family member.
Kids can enjoy the slides at Adventure Park and try not to get wet at the Splash Pad.
Four catch-and-release lakes are well-stocked with catfish, bluegill, and Arizona Bass.
For adrenaline-seekers, you can join local skaters at the skate park and try on the obstacles; you can also watch some high-flying action on the sidelines.
Anthem Community Park has several basketball, volleyball, and pickleball courts that players can reserve.
The park also has a walking trail for a quiet afternoon stroll.
Located on West Anthem Way, suite C-137 is Two Brothers Kitchen.
The restaurant is a breakfast spot serving classic American grubs, including omelets, burgers, and sandwiches.
Two Brothers Kitchen prides itself on using only organic meats free of antibiotics and hormones.
Their deli meats are free of preservatives and artificial ingredients and don’t contain nitrates or nitrites, so you’re assured of a healthy meal every time.
Try their Eggs Benedict, made from cage-free eggs topped with a rich hollandaise sauce and served with diced potatoes or hash browns.
You also tried the buttermilk pancakes and French toast that you can order gluten-free for an additional fee.
For burger lovers, they use eight-ounce Black Angus patties guaranteed free from antibiotics and hormones.
Located on West Anthem Way #104 is pizzeria Gio’s Pizza.
The family-owned and operated pizza parlor serves authentic Italian/Sicilian New York-style pizzas, calzones, and stuffed pies.
Grab a slice or two of the Napolitana and Bianca Neve pizzas or the classic Margherita topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, crushed tomatoes, and basil leaves.
For pasta lovers, try the lasagna made fresh to order or the famous chicken parmigiana served with juicy breaded chicken.
Don’t miss Gio’s Pizza’s stuffed Focaccia Pie topped with crushed tomato, mozzarella, garlic, parmesan, and olive oil.
You can never go wrong with the chocolate chip cannoli or a slice of tiramisu for dessert.
If you’re craving authentic Mexican food, visit Tortas Chano on North Daisy Mountain Drive.
The family-owned and operated eatery was founded by friends Roger Amaya and Maria Estrada in the late 1990s.
Together with their extended families, the two developed a menu of authentic Mexican dishes they grew up eating.
Thanks to its homemade tortilla, it appeared on the Food Network show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives.
Tortas Chano offers ala cart or combo meals satisfying Mexican food cravings.
One of their best-sellers is the Al Pastor Tacos, generously filled with juicy slices of marinated red chile pork.
Another must-try is the hefty Chimichanga Burrito filled with either beef or chicken.
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Just a six-minute drive from Anthem is the Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum on West Pioneer Road in Phoenix, Arizona.
Throughout the 90-acre property are historical buildings from all over Arizona, some dating as far back as the 1880s and some built in the early 1900s.
The Pioneer Arizona Foundation, Inc. founded the museum to protect the state’s heritage buildings from land developers.
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It was officially opened in 1969 with 30 buildings on site.
Ten were original and relocated to the museum, while 15 were reconstructed.
Two of the most prominent buildings at the Arizona Living History Museum are the 1890s Sears House or the Victorian House and the childhood home of Senator Henry Fountain Ashurst.
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Around an 18-minute drive from Anthem is the Cave Creek Memorial Arena on North 28th St, Cave Creek.
The arena hosts the annual Cave Creek Rodeo Days to round out the weeklong celebration of the town’s Western Heritage.
Action-packed rodeo performances, dances, a parade, Mutton Bustin’, and a golf tournament are held throughout the three-day festivity.
The centerpiece events are the PRCA Rodeo Performances, where professional rodeo cowboys compete in several events.
If you are around town during the last week of March, catch the Cave Creek Rodeo Days.
Take a four-minute drive from Anthem to reach the Desert Wolf Tours on West Opportunity Way STE 116, Phoenix.
The tour operator conducts ATV rides through Arizona’s desert using TOMCARs, unlike your usual ATV or UTV.
A TOMCAR is made and designed primarily for military application.
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It is also built with heavy-duty materials that can survive even the most challenging terrains.
The tours typically last three to four hours, conducted by trained guides that will take you around Black Canyon.
Desert Wolf Tours also offers machine gun adventures, where you can live out your military dreams and learn to shoot machine guns in the middle of the desert.
Red Rock Adventure Jeep Rentals is on West Fernwood Drive, Phoenix, eleven minutes from Anthem.
The family-owned and operated company offers ATV rentals for those who want to explore Sedona, Broken Arrow Trail, or the Grand Canyon.
Strategically located a few minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, the rental service has a fleet of modern ATVs and performance cars that can level up your desert experience.
Its fleet includes Jeep Wranglers, Overland Jeep Rigs, Overland Trucks, and 4-Seat SXS, all with powerful engines that can maneuver through the roughest terrains.
Red Rock Adventure Jeep Rentals also has travel trailers if you want to travel with the whole family and utility trailers if you take the SXS out for the weekend.
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Twenty minutes outside Anthem is Cave Creek Trail Rides on North 32nd Street, Cave Creek, Arizona.
First opened in 1999, the tour company has offered guided horseback rides for over two decades.
The trail rides explore the beautiful Sonoran Desert and the surrounding Cave Creek Mining town.
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Cave Creek Trail Rides offers beginner horseback riding lessons to more rugged rides for experienced riders.
Book a sunset ride for scenic views of the desert, or go on the Historic Clay Mine Ride.
Anthem is the perfect escape for families seeking a break from the city.
The community’s mission of promoting healthy family relationships is evident in the family-friendly parks and family-owned restaurants within its borders.
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