Phoenix, Arizona had for long been seen as nothing but a desert town, with images of cacti and cowboys reinforcing the image. But now, this town has skyrocketed up on the tourist popularity scale with nature-lovers hailing the town as the gateway to paradise and adventurers and explorers finding their Mecca in the area’s enchantingly beautiful and diverse landscape.

It’s not just those with a love for the great outdoors who are finding in Arizona their dream destination. Even vacationers seeking an exciting getaway, which includes dates with Arizona’s rich history and culture; trysts with nature’s attractions; and easy accessibility to a diverse range of exceptional shopping, dining, and nightlife establishments, are finding Phoenix to be the perfect place to base their vacation in Arizona.

Must-Sees:

There is much to be seen in Arizona and especially in Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States. With attractions ranging from museums, national monuments, and botanical gardens to family-friendly attractions such as the Enchanted Island, Phoenix offers something for everyone. Some of the most popular attractions that find a place in the itinerary of almost every vacationer in Phoenix, Arizona include:

• Desert Botanical Garden
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Enchanted Island
• Heard Museum
• Phoenix Zoo

Vacationers in Phoenix, Arizona can also enjoy daytrips to Arizona’s old mining towns such as Scottsdale, Tombstone, Jerome, Sedona, and Tlaquepaque.

Recreational Activities:

Visitors as well as the residents of Phoenix, Arizona have one thing in common – a love for the great outdoors, which is satisfied by the ample opportunities offered by the region’s scenic and rugged landscape. Though Phoenix is a major metropolitan area, you are never far from the majestic creations of nature. You can explore them in leisure by indulging in numerous recreational activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, hand-gliding, hot-air ballooning, tennis, and even whitewater rafting. Though the Sonoran Desert is teeming with nature trails and areas that offer adventure at its best, there are some areas that have been specially designated for recreation and are popular with our guests.

• Echo Canyon Trail and Recreation Area in Papago Park
• South Mountain Park
• Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona
• McDowell Mountain Regional Park
• Phoenix Mountain Preserve
• Superstition Wilderness
• South Mountain Park
• White Tank Mountain Regional Park
• Upper Salt River – for whitewater rafting

Golfing in Phoenix, Arizona:

While nature lovers and the adventurous sort have much to savor in the Phoenix area, avid golfers will also find their slice of paradise here. This amazing region is home to as many as 200 golf courses, which when complemented by over 320 days of brilliant sunshine makes this entire region the ultimate destination for a golfing getaway. You can enjoy 48 golf courses within a 10-mile area of the town home and one golf course that you just cannot forget to check out on is the 18-hole par-71 Lookout Mountain Golf Club course at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort.

With golf courses ranging from municipality courses to the beautifully landscaped and challenging courses set in the opulent settings of the resorts, you have a plethora of golf courses to choose from. Irrespective of how skilled you are at golf, whether you have just stepped into the field or are a professional golfer with numerous accolades in your cap, you will find a golf course that offers enough challenges to make your golf vacation in Phoenix a success.

Some of the most popular golf courses that you will find in the Phoenix Area include:

•  Lookout Mountain Golf Club, Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort
•  Papago Golf Course
•  Legacy Golf Course
•  Arizona Biltmore Resort – Links Course
•  Raven Golf Club at South Mountain
•  Club West Golf Club
•  Ahwatukee Country Club
•  Bellair Golf Course

Note: Guests are advised to book their tee timings in advance especially if visiting Phoenix during the winter months.

Upcoming Events:

Add that extra spice to your vacation in Phoenix, Arizona by planning your getaway to coincide with the zest-filled festivals and events held in the region through the year. The citizens of Phoenix believe in celebrating life and its many amazing moments with cultural events, culinary fests, festivals to celebrate and honor nature’s creations, and much more. Some of the major events, which you can enjoy include:

• West of Western Culinary Festival, Phoenix
• Phoenix Film Festival, Phoenix
• Festival of the West, Rawhide
• Arizona Renaissance Festival
• Annual Arizona State Fair, Phoenix
• Las Noches de las Luminaries, Phoenix
• Phoenix Symphony’s New Year’s Eve
• Sunday A’Fair Festival

Dining in Phoenix:

The dining and nightlife in Phoenix is as diverse and exciting as the amazing range of recreational activities and attractions offered by the region. Whether you are vacationing with your family or are on a romantic getaway, at Phoenix, you will find the perfect dining and nightlife spots to make your getaway special.

The Phoenix dining scene features all kinds of cuisines – right from Continental, American, Italian, and Mexican to the local southwestern delicacies. If it is French cuisine that your taste buds crave, then the best place to head would be the Coup des Tartes, a BYOB (Bring your Own Wine Bottle). Housed in a farmhouse and with just 14 tables, this restaurant in Phoenix offers a unique, personalized experience and is perfect for romantic dinners. Reservations are highly recommended.

Another popular eatery, especially with families, is the Old Spaghetti Factory. The Havana Cafe and the Mediterranean House are the other hot favorites with the locals as well as visitors in Phoenix. For a Five-Star dining experience, the Different Pointe of View, one of the four restaurants of the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, is the ideal option. Its innovative cuisine, complemented by an amazing view of the Arizona skyline and exceptional sunset views, ensures that your night out is nothing less than perfect.

Nightlife in Phoenix:

Exciting nightlife in Phoenix, Arizona and nearby Scottsdale includes the Lounge at T.Cook’s and the Sports City Grill & the Sky Lounge. For those who love to dance through the night, Phoenix offers dance clubs such as the Hard Rock Cafe and the Myst and the Ballroom in nearby Scottsdale.

Commuting to and from Phoenix, Arizona:

The scenic beauty of Phoenix, Arizona is not far and it can be experienced easily by booking a flight to the Sky Harbor International Airport. From the airport, our Phoenix condo and townhouse are just a short 15-20 minute ride away and can be easily reached by cab or taking the SuperShuttle, a 24-hr van service that provides ground transportation from the airport to the resorts, hotels, and vacation homes in Phoenix.

The best way to commute within Phoenix is by car, which can be rented from the car rental companies in the area or from the airport.

Phoenix Area Info and Attractions

American Southwest -- Arizona Guide

This site is by far the most comprehensive Arizona travel site that I have found. There are many tours, areas of interest and pictures, pictures, pictures! Check out the cliff dwellings, lakes, and canyons.

CitySearch Phoenix

Great site for finding local area attractions and restaurants.

Golf Guide USA -- Phoenix

This site explains itself. If you like golf, this is the site for you!

City of Tombstone

Billed as "The town too tough to die", this place is an absolute tourist trap but it is worth seeing at least once. Here is where the famous "Gunfight at the OK Corral" happened.

Copper Queen Hotel

If you go to Tombstone, drive a little bit farther south and you will find the old mining town of Bisbee. Bisbee has a large art community and many shops to explore. If you stay the night, try the Copper Queen Hotel. It's very old, very nice and some say, Very Haunted"! We stayed there and didn't hear a thing.

Arizona Central

This is the main newspaper in Arizona. Great for keeping up on what's happening in the local and outlying areas.

GORP

This links to a tour operating company that will create custom tours for you or book you into a regularly scheduled tour. They emphasize Eco and Educational Tours and have guides that speak many different languages.

Grand Canyon Railway

If you are going to visit the Grand Canyon on your trip, you might want to try this method. Pick up the train in Williams, AZ and travel round trip by rail.

Grand Canyon Airlines

If rail isn't your cup of tea and you want a larger scale look at the sights in the canyon area, try flying.

Grand Canyon Tour Company

Another Grand Canyon tour operator.

CASSI Tours

Yet another Grand Canyon tour operator.

Sedona, Arizona

While in Arizona, if you have the time, you really should go up to Red Rock country and take in Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. It is absolutely beautiful!

Sedona's Best

More info on the Sedona area.

Jerome, Arizona

A real neat old mining town. Worth a look see and not to far from Sedona.

Tlaquepaque

This place is right next door to Sedona but you would think you had been transported to "Old Mexico". The town is called Tlaquepaque (ta-la-ca-pa-key) and is has many art shops and restaurants.

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