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Welcome to Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun! With more than 300 days of sunshine each year and enviable winter temperatures, Phoenix is always an inviting destination.
Located in the valley between three major mountains, the Phoenix area boasts a seemingly endless array of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. And because of the astounding ecological diversity of the Sonoran
Desert, climbing a mountain trail can showcase a wide variety of plant
and animal life from quail and roadrunners to jackrabbits and the
majestic saguaro cacti.
Find your gear at one
of Phoenix's many stores devoted to equipment and clothing suited for
playing in the desert. Or, let a professional guide show off the
desert from a Jeep, Hummer or even from the basket of a hot air balloon. And though Greater Phoenix lies at the heart of the Sonoran Desert,
there are six lakes within an hour's drive of the city: perfect for
boating and other fun on the water.
To get a close look at local plant life while staying in town, take a stroll through the Desert Botanical Garden,
home to one of the finest collections of arid-land plants in the
world. Through May 2009, the Garden will also feature 15 exquisite
glass sculptures by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Both the Garden and
its neighbor, the Phoenix Zoo are located in Papago Park, which is
convenient to downtown Phoenix and also includes hiking trails and a
golf course.
Downtown Phoenix offers an array of museums,
performing arts and fine dining. Wander through art galleries, or
explore the rich Native American and Latino cultures that have helped
to shaped the area. Enjoy a family trip to the Children's Museum of
Phoenix or the Arizona Science Center. Phoenix is home to a many
professional arts organizations: whether your interest is opera,
ballet, symphony or theater, there is always something going on.
There's plenty to explore in the broader Metro Phoenix area, too. In the northeast, Scottsdale features architect Frank Lloyd Wright's desert masterpiece, Taliesin West. Tempe is home to Arizona State University and hosts a wide variety of student performances in the arts as well as plenty of college sports, including the Fiesta Bowl.
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