PHOENIX
Area: Arizona
Country: United States of America


Location:
In the SW United States, in the S-central part of Arizona State. 285 mls SE of Las Vegas, 217 mls S of Grand Canyon, 117 mls NW of Tucson. 4 mls from Sky Harbor International Airport.

Telephone code from UK:
1 602

Website:
http://www.arizonatourism.com/cities/phoenix/

Position:
Surrounded by mountains on 3 sides, the sprawling metropolitan area of Phoenix lies on flat ground and encompasses almost 2,000 sq mls at an altitude of 1,092 ft.

Description:
A modern, rapidly growing city in the hot, sunny desert, Phoenix emerged after World War II with the advent of air conditioning. The city itself measures roughly 6» by 4 mls, and, like most other US cities, is ringed by suburbs. In the 1980s, the former seedy downtown area found new life. While most of the building was of a commercial nature, efforts were made to preserve historic structures and create an arts district. The city is somewhat quiet by our standards and people tend to head for particular shopping centres, hopping on buses from one to another, leaving in-between areas fairly deserted. In general, Phoenix has a friendly feel, but venture a few blocks W from Central Ave and you'll soon drift into poorer, less appealing territory. With the exception of 3-digit summers, the weather is enjoyable, sunny and dry (apart from those muggy days after a summer storm).

Suitability:
Middle to upmarket, appealing to couples of all ages. Not much on offer for children; better option for families is to stay in the suburbs and travel in for the day. Popular with British and Americans, and well adapted for business travellers.

Accommodation:
50,000 guest rooms in resort, ranging from 5-star luxury to more modest choices, spread around a wide area. Those summer visitors who can handle the 100 ?F (plus) temperatures can often enjoy rates reduced by as much as 70%.

Shopping:
Impressive selection; plentiful malls include downtown's stunning state-of-the-art Arizona Center and Metrocenter, one of the state's largest shopping centres, with 250 establishments. Hundreds of shops and boutiques _ with specialities encompassing Western clothing, Native American crafts (especially jewellery) and Southwestern furniture _ are scattered about the metropolitan area. Lively weekend flea markets are located in both the E and W ends of the city.

Entertainments:
Daytime: river floats, horseback and jeep desert tours, mountain hikes, hot-air balloon rides, gliding and sky-diving. Golfing enthusiasts will head for the world-class courses, including those in neighbouring Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Phoenix Zoo. Botanical gardens. Heard Museum for Native American artefacts and fine art. The Phoenix Art Museum includes exhibits of American, European, Asian and Latin American art. The State Capitol Museum. Museums specialising in Native American culture. Spectator-sport lovers will want to catch the Suns basketball team at the spectacular America West Arena or the Arizona Cardinals American football team at Sun Devil Stadium. Because metropolitan Phoenix is so sprawling, a car is the best way to explore the many outlying sights and attractions, such as the Superstition Mountains, Apache Trail and Tempe _ home of the University of Arizona and occasional Super Bowl. Nightlife: opera, symphony, ballet and theatre performances make for a lively cultural scene downtown most of the year. Country music is popular and Phoenix is a great town for jazz. Stand-up comedy, murder mystery theatre with audience participation and karaoke.

Eating:
Dozens of fine restaurants ranging from elegant grill rooms to casual cowboy-style outdoor barbecues. Also Southwestern, Caribbean, Mexican, European and Far Eastern specialities. A wide selection of establishments makes dining on a modest budget fairly easy. The usual selection of fast-food options can also be found.

Public-transport:
Comprehensive "Metro" bus service stops at every crossroads N_S/E_W throughout the centre and outskirts; more frequent services operate up and down Central Ave (the city's main street). Transfer tickets cost extra and are valid for 2» hrs, enabling you to hop on and off with ease.

Local-excursions:
Apache Trail and Hoover Dam (long day); cowboy activities (type and length vary); Native American venues (length varies); Grand Canyon (long day, by car, train and/or air); Scottsdale and Valley of the Sun (half day); Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon (long day).