Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, in the Valley of the Sun, a place famed for its posh resorts, even posher golf courses and brilliant nightlife. But most people visit for the astonishing year-round heat. This place is seriously, extremely HOT and it's America's sunniest city. The skies are enormous. The sunsets are breathtaking. The stars in the night sky are incredibly big and bright. This is a world of huge cacti, real cowboys and rugged mountains.
It might be a state of pine forests and arid deserts, but Arizona has more boats per capita than any state.
Expect urban sophistication. Beautiful resorts and spas, fabulous restaurants, golf courses, international shopping. The Grand Canyon is on your doorstep, there are 200 or more top golf courses and the massive 20,000 acre South Mountain Park and Preserve offers 50 miles of trails for bikes, hikers and horse riders.
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See the desert come alive with carpets of wild flowers and flowering cacti
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Treat yourself to a session in one of the city's excellent spas
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Get your glad rags on for a night out on the town
Take in the natural wonders of the desert, experience excellent shopping, grab some live music, dance the night away or enjoy live stand-up comedy. Phoenix has something for everyone.
Tempe is home to World of Beer, with hundreds of beers from around the world, and the Gammage Auditorium with its Broadway shows, musicals and plays. Visit the Heard Museum of American Indian Art and History. Enjoy Phoenix zoo. Fall in love with the extraordinary Desert Botanical Garden. Then treat yourself to these.
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The Hall of Flame Fire Museum - The National Historical Fire Foundation's museum dedicated to the preserving old firefighting equipment from around the world
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Visit the awesome Grand Canyon, 10 miles wide, a mile deep and 277 miles long
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Lose yourself in the wonderful, world-class Phoenix Art Museum
Travel to the fascinating Pueblo Grande Ruin and Irrigation Sites, dating back to pre-Columbian times. Then have a night out at the internationally-rated Rhythm Room for excellent live roots and blues music.
This is the ideal location for finding out more about Native Indians. Arizona contains 23 Indian reservations covering 19 million acres, owned by 200,000 people spread across 14 tribes.
With annual temperatures averaging 85 degrees, Phoenix is lovely all year round. Out in the desert it gets hotter, averaging 90 degrees, and there's less than 8 inches of rain a year. The extremely dry heat, not the least bit sticky, makes it perfect for hiking and other exciting outdoor activities. And here's a cool tip – Summer is the best time to find top hotel and resort bargains. Phoenix is a city of museums, and they're excellent. Taliesin West, the old home of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The Fleischer Museum, full of gorgeous American Impressionist paintings. The fascinating Arizona Science Center, Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park, a feast of Native American exhibits, plus the Musical Instrument Museum, AKA MIM.
Experience original Victorian splendour and much more at Heritage Square, dating back to the late 1800s and one of the original city blocks, with the beautifully restored Rosson House Museum a jewel in its crown. Love retail therapy? Head for Paradise Valley Mall, a shopping centre containing a whopping 130 shops, many of which are international brands. Then relax in Encanto Park, 222 acres of greenery and natural loveliness including smart picnic areas, a beautiful lagoon, boat house, swimming pool, nature trail, amusement park, fishing and - of course - a couple of good golf courses.