Phoenix Phamily Phun

Founded in 1871, Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, situated in the biologically unique Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 1100 feet.

Why would anybody want to start a city in the middle of the desert? The answer is, surprisingly, agriculture. The Salt and Verde Rivers of central Arizona were exploited for large-scale agriculture by Native Americans as early as the 11th century. The area that now encompasses Phoenix was a center of the Hohokam culture, which built large canal systems and a network of towns and villages, whose remains may be viewed in the city to this day. The city's name reflects its status as a city "reborn from the ashes" of the previous settlement.

Due to the warm climate in winter, Phoenix benefits greatly from seasonal tourism and recreation, and has a particularly vibrant golf industry. Other activities include hiking at Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park and many other parks around town, viewing amazing art and architecture in the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley area (including Frank Lloyd Wright works) and checking out one of the area's many professional and semi-professional sports teams.

The Arizona Grand Resort puts one in the midst of one of the most naturally beautiful places in Arizona. Nestled on 164 acres at the base of South Mountain Preserve, the resort serves up stunning perspectives and unique Southwestern touches that make the visit feel naturally grand. The Arizona Grand Golf Course is one of the most challenging golf courses in the Phoenix area. The beautiful par 71, 6,336-yard course features a spectacular island green finishing hole. The Arizona Grand Spa will rejuvenate the mind and body. Whether it is a relaxing massage, cleansing body treatment, or one of the many rejuvenating salon services, spa guests are sure to appreciate all service this spa has to offer. The Arizona Grand Athletic Club offers strength and cardiovascular training equipment and more than 40 aerobics classes every week. The Arizona Grand Oasis Water Park is both welcoming and great fun. One of the nations largest resort water parks, it features an eight-story high tower with three thrilling water slides, gigantic wave pool, relaxing river tubing, wild cat springs for kids, and a 25 person hot tub. The award winning amenities include championship golf, athletic club, spa and salon, six pools, the Oasis - a seven-acre water adventure park, and six unique dining experiences on property. The suites include separate bedrooms with private balcony or patio and separate living rooms with queen sofa bed. An oversized work area with high-speed Internet access offers an atmosphere conductive for work or planning activities for the next day. Suite amenities include: separate living room with pull out queen sofa sleeper, oversized work area with desk, wireless Internet access, minibar, two telephones, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, am/fm clock radio with CD player, and movies. The property charges a 30.00 Resort Fee per room, per day to include 4 daily passes to the Oasis Water Feature, Fitness Center admittance, complimentary valet parking.

Find artistic diversions among greatness inside this downtown museum of art. Permanent displays in this facility include miniature interiors, as well as 20th century art. European, Asian, Spanish, and Western American are some of the other cultural exhibits featured. Interactive, hands-on activities are featured for kids in the new ArtWorks Gallery. Traveling displays are often included in the museum's highlights. Recent exhibits have included works by Norman Rockwell in the Pictures for the American People. See website for complete visitor details.

Recaptured elegance is displayed in homes from the original Phoenix town site. Located within the Heritage & Science Park are eight fully-restored residences listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Included is the Rosson House and Salt River Project's Silva House, a quaint 1900s bungalow. Both offer tours. Also featured is the Stevens House, built in 1901 and now better known as the Arizona Doll & Toy Museum. A farmers market is available seasonally on Thursdays. Credit cards are not accepted.

The Arizona Science Center museum features futuristic architecture by Antoine Predock and attempts to turn learning into fun. Interactive exhibits including All About Me and Fab Lab are cleverly designed to educate and entertain. Experience the night sky or a laser light show under the dome of the Dorrance Planetarium. Attend a film, if you prefer, in the Irene P. Flinn Theater with its five-story-high screen.

Phoenix's early history is this facility's focus. Agricultural beginnings are highlighted as well as lesser-known history of the area. Once a thriving center for ostrich farming, multitudes of feathers were exported. Attesting to this is the large, stuffed ostrich on display here. If you visit in March, attend the Chandler Ostrich Festival, a local event which celebrates this heritage. Exhibits include interactive displays geared toward multi-sensoral learning, such as grinding corn. View an early newspaper press here, kachinas and a rifle collection.

Every day you will find chef/owner Chris Bianco creating his award-winning pizzas at Pizzeria Bianco. Plan to arrive as the doors open to avoid the heavy crowds or put your name on the list and head next door to Bar Bianco for a glass of wine and appetizer as you wait for your table. Before dinner enjoy handmade Buffalo mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. For dinner, choose from a limited selection of wood-fired pizzas, such as the Rosa, made with red onions, pistachios and Asiago cheese.

More than 1,000 years ago the Hohokam built the first irrigation system. This marks Phoenix's lone National Historic Landmark. Exhibited at Pueblo Grande Museum & Cultural Park are the ancient cultures of the prehistoric Hohokam residents who lived, farmed and prospered for centuries. Traverse the actual ruins learning the Hohokam's methods of adobe construction. Public displays include an authentic ball court, irrigation canals and a football field-sized platform mound. A gift shop is located within the museum for your convenience. See website for complete visitation particulars. Cash only.

Revisit the traditional home of the ancient Hohokam and Patayan peoples who left traces of petroglyphs (rock art) in the Hedgpeth Hills. View more than 1,500 of them on a quarter-mile trail. Different interpretations of the designs are explored at the indoor exhibits. Remember to carry your hat, sunscreen, binoculars and plenty of water during your visit. Please check the website for updated timings.

Many shopping facets of downtown Scottsdale encompass a wide swathe, from the enormous Scottsdale Fashion Square at the northwest corner of Camelback and Scottsdale Roads south—to Old Town's Second Street, then east to Drinkwater Boulevard and west to 68th Street. Areas of interest include the distinctive Fifth Avenue, Western-style Old Town and Main Street sectors, which features respected galleries including the Legacy and quaint gift shops like Anthony's. East of Old Town is a grassy area called the Scottsdale Mall, which harbors the Civic Center, Scottsdale Historical Museum and the Museum of Modern Art. Within these areas you will find delightful shops of fine furnishings, Native American jewelry, a performing arts theater, the Scottsdale Symphony and merchants that include Bischoff's Shades of the West. Many merchants here provide Southwestern-style artifacts, fine jewelry, hand-woven rugs and an infinite variety of fine cuisine from Western-style at Cowboy Ciao to Cajun at Callaloo's.

Winner of multiple Wine Spectator "Awards of Excellence," and touted in Gourmet Magazine and the Zagat Guide, this one-of-a-kind wine bar and grill has also garnered praise (and a loyal following) locally. The food is on the cutting edge. Take, for example, the fresh Ahi glazed with lavender-infused grappa or the Prima Pappardelle comrising of flat noodle pasta with rapini, grape tomatoes, fennel, oyster mushrooms, in fennel broth with lemon olive oil and pecorino. Be sure to try the "Chocolate Lottery Torte" just for fun, a dense chocolate base topped with a real lottery ticket.

For more than twenty years, Arizona Desert Tours has been guiding visitors through Arizona's back country. Trained guides will teach you survival techniques while relating the lore of the area. Enjoy the enchanting desert colors and scenery while touring. Services offered are 4x4 tours, cowboy cookouts, horse trail rides, gold panning, rafting, eco tours and corporate team building. Call for reservations or visit website for more information.

Founded in the 20s by Dwight B. and Marie Bartlett Heard, this collection houses tributes to myriad Native American culture and art. At the Heard Museum, permanent displays co-exist among traveling exhibits. Recent expansions include an educational facility called the 'Ullman Learning Center' as well as an indoor and outdoor cafe. Free tours are offered daily. Plenty of parking may be found on the museum grounds. See website for complete visitation particulars.

Towering 1,400 feet, this mountain features the unmistakable shape of a camel's hump. North trailhead offers sheer red cliffs rising 200 feet vertically in some areas, which beckon rock climbers. Facilities are limited at the Echo Canyon Recreation Area with only a trailhead water fountain, an interpretive ramada and trails. Desert wildlife is abundant here; you may see small animals such as snakes, lizards and Harris Antelope Squirrels as well as a variety of birds. Admission is free. See website for trail maps and fact sheet.

If you are in Phoenix and enjoy going on easy treks then Papago Park is the place to be. With its sandstone buttes, trails and slight elevation, it is good for family hiking trips or mountain biking practice. Here you can join the orientation course that will teach you how to navigate with the help of a map and a compass through natural obstacles created by hills, forests and desert. This course happens daily, you can call the ranger office for more information. Log on for more information on hikes and trails.

See more than 20,000 specimens in one of the world's best gardens, the Desert Botanical Gardens. Selected to help save endangered plants, the focus is on native flora, with special emphasis placed on succulents. The cactus collection is world-renowned, with more than 1,300 examples. March through May offers prolific blooming, so plan your trip for these times, and don't forget your hat and sunscreen. If you are visiting in April, be sure not to miss the Annual Dinner on the Desert event.

Spend a relaxing day wandering through the Forest of Uco or the African Trail. Carefully crafted and maintained, the exhibits here are eco-friendly and educational in nature. Younger visitors will thrill to ride a tractor at Harmony Farm and pet live animals in the barnyard. Nearly every conceivable animal resides here, from meerkats to lions and baboons to giraffes. This privately-owned zoo is refuge to thousands of animals. Parking is free, admission into the zoo is USD12 for adults, USD9 for seniors and USD5 for children. Children two and under are admitted free.

Drive through the world's largest park, South Mountain Park Scenic Drive, a spacious 16,500 acres with many lookouts. Fantastic views are offered of Phoenix and the surrounding valley at this no-fee area. Summit Lookout is at 2,330 feet and highlights the enormity of this sprawling desert area. For visitors, the Interpretive Center describes the heritage of the area and includes mining and botanical information. If you prefer an out-of-car experience, hike the trails and see the area's petroglyphs. Bring a lunch and enjoy the park's picnic areas complete with ramadas. Remember your sunscreen, hat and drinking water when visiting Arizona's parks!