Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
One Arizona Center 400 E. Van Buren #600
Phoenix, AZ 85004
(602) 254-6500
Population
983403
Time Zone
Mtn. Standard
Latitude/Longitude
33.43° /-112.09°
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HIGH: 79
LOW: 49
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On the northern edge of the Sonoran Desert, the modern desert city of Phoenix sprawls across the Valley of the Sun. Together with neighboring communities Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona's capital owes its existence to modern techniques of irrigation and air conditioning. Today it has become a center of high-tech manufacturing, tourism, and year-round resort and retirement living.
Phoenix AZ Hotels
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Papago Park on the city's eastern flank offers a terrific way to familiarize yourself with Phoenix's arid surroundings. Here, the 145-acre Desert Botanical Garden gives a comprehensive look at the wonderous and sometimes strange plants, including the "upside down" boojum tree, that populate the Sonoran Desert. The park is also the home of the Phoenix Zoo where you can view animals from the Southwest and similar regions of Africa. Adjacent to Papago Park, the Hall of Flame Fire Museum presents an exceptional collection of historic fire engines and other firefighting paraphrenalia.
As the seat of government, Phoenix is the home of the Arizona State Capitol. A working museum, the building has been restored to its appearance in 1912, the year that Arizona became the 48th state.
The Heard Museum, set in a Spanish mission-style building, is dedicated to the preservation of Southwest American Indian culture. The Heard, which also has branch museums in Scottsdale and Surprise, is internationally famous for its collections of Kachina dolls, rugs, jewelry, pottery, baskets, and paintings. The nearby Phoenix Art Museum also offers an impressive collection with its breadth of art from a variety of ages and cultures from around the world.
Adjacent to the expansive Phoenix Convention Center downtown, Heritage & Science Park on Copper Square is the site of several worthwhile attractions: exhibits at the Arizona Science Center cover such diverse topics as water, the brain, and building a desert home; the Phoenix Museum of History depicts pioneer and Indian days; and historic Heritage Square preserves the few remaining examples of the city's early residential development, most notably Rosson House, a restored Victorian mansion.
Other downtown museums include the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park and the Arizona Mineral and Mining Museum. On the city's far north, 25 historic buildings have been assembled at the Pioneer Living History Museum. During fall and winter, the village setting is the site of stage shows and melodramas.
The performing arts are especially easy to access in Phoenix with its central downtown theatre district. Top-quality modern and classical drama struts the boards at the Herberger Theater Center. The modern Dodge Theatre offers the touring stars of pop, rock, country, and Latino music. After undergoing years of restoration, the historic Orpheum Theatre now serves as a multipurpose performance venue. Nearby, Symphony Hall is home to the city's symphony, opera and ballet companies.
Professional sports are also thriving in Phoenix, and also in the central city core. The Arizona Diamondbacks play baseball at Chase Field, an enclosed stadium with retractable dome. At US Airways Center, you'll find the Suns of the NBA, the Mercury of the WNBA, the Roadrunners of the ECHL, and the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. Out in suburban Glendale, the Cardinals of the National Football League play at University of Phoenix Stadium, which opened in 2006, while the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes and the Arizona Sting of the National Lacrosse League play across the street at Jobing.com Arena. Racing fans can enjoy NASCAR action at Phoenix International Raceway, the pounding hooves of Thoroughbreds at Turf Paradise, and fast dogs at Phoenix Greyhound Park.
For family fun, youngsters can splash to to their hearts content at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe, or explore the recreated Old West at Rawhide Western Town in Chandler.
Frank Lloyd Wright's experimental community, Taliesin West, built in 1937, stands in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains in Scottsdale. Special tours go behind the scenes of this still-functioning school. Of course the desert is likely to bring out the offbeat in everybody. Near South Mountain, the eccentric Mystery Castle, has 18 rooms, a chapel, and a cantilevered staircase. It was built by hand by Boyce Luther Gulley who used anything he found in the surrounding desert — from buggies to bottles to bedsprings.
Two huge mountain parks within the metropolitan area offer easy access to nature. With more than 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park lays claim to the title of the world's largest municipal park. Preserving a scenic area of canyons and desert, the rugged park is ideal for nature walks, hiking, and photography. On the city's north, Phoenix Mountains Park has picnicking areas and a trail to the summit of Piestewa Peak where the view of the Valley of the Sun can take your breath away.
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