Welcome to Phoenix, Arizona, known as the Valley of the Sun. Nestling in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the Valley is in a truly spectacular location, surrounded by rugged mountains on all sides. The Phoenix metropolitan area, a vibrant and rapidly growing metropolis, includes the cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, and Mesa. It attracts an amazing 12 million visitors a year who come for its warm climate, top-rated spas, resorts, and almost 200 golf courses. It's no surprise that Phoenix / Scottsdale has been called America's best place to live for golf.

With near-perfect weather, Phoenix is the ideal playground for a vacation. You'll find everything from world-class resorts and fine dining to exhilarating adventure, trendy shopping, modern nightlife and fascinating culture. Be sure that you plan ahead for your Phoenix vacation. You can use this website to book your hotel online, reserve a table at one of the best Phoenix restaurants, reserve tickets for a concert or a game at one of the fine arenas in Phoenix, or rent a car.

Attraction Guide for Phoenix / Scottsdale, AZ

Though the summers can be hot in Phoenix, for much of the year the temperate climate is ideal for vacations. Mild weather conditions tempt many to try air sports like soaring over the landscape in a hot-air balloon or in a glider.

Explore the dynamic and diverse heritage of the Phoenix area, from the Native American tribes like the Hohokam and Anasazi that maintain strong local traditions, and the Hispanic art and architecture with its Spanish and Mexican origins, to the relics of the old Wild West.

Downtown Scottsdale is a popular and trendy entertainment and shopping center, while all the major professional sports leagues have Phoenix teams. There are also plenty of vacation resorts with opportunities for golfing, hiking, and other activities, or if you prefer you can take a jeep tour out into the Sonoran Desert. The mountain lakes near Phoenix are popular too, while the reservations are full of casinos, greyhound tracks, and horse tracks.

Phoenix Attraction Guide:

Phoenix Zoo: The largest privately owned zoo in the country, the fascinating Phoenix Zoo contains more than 1300 exotic animals, and a special Arizona Trail focuses on animals and plants of the American Southwest.

Desert Botanical Garden: The Desert Botanical Gardens have the world's largest collection of desert plants, and the butterfly collection is amazing as well. There are fantastic concerts too on Friday nights.

Arizona Science Center: Wondering how to entertain the kids? Just take them to the Arizona Science Center and they will have the time of their lives. You can easily spend a whole day here.

America West Arena: The America West Arena is Phoenix's main arena, home to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Phoenix Coyotes, and the Arizona Rattlers, and it is also used for concerts and other events.

Chase Field: A state-of-the-art stadium seating 60,000 people, Chase Field is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Wildlife World Zoo: The Wildlife World Zoo boasts Arizona's largest collection of exotic animals, including tigers, lions, antelope, and zebras, all in spacious habitats.

Heard Museum: If you want to learn about Native American art and culture you should head straight for the Heard Museum and enjoy its fascinating exhibits, great live performances, and its large gift shop.

Camelback Mountain: Many people come to Phoenix for the hiking, and Camelback Mountain, right in the center of Phoenix, is a good place to start - if you are an experienced hiker, that is. It takes just one hour to reach the top, and once you get there the view of Phoenix is awesome.

Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa: Known as "the Jewel of the Desert," the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa is a paradise of beautiful gardens and Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architecture.