Get your bearings
Phoenix unfolds in a grid-like pattern. Numbered streets run north-south. Named streets run east-west.
Camelback, Indian School and
McDowell roads take you from downtown’s
Historic Heritage Square west to
Desert Botanical Garden and
Pueblo Grande Museum and Cultural Park. Northwest of downtown, dramatic desert landscapes unfurl amid the lavish estates of
Paradise Valley, where Camelback Mountain rises. West of downtown,
Scottsdale flaunts sophisticated boutiques, stylish restaurants and luxury spa resorts. Southwest of downtown lies laid-back
Tempe, home to the
Arizona State University. The Valley Metro light rail runs regularly to these outer cities from downtown.
Dining in the Valley of the Sun
On a Phoenix vacation, the word is no two Mexican restaurants are alike. Phoenix is, after all, the birthplace of the
chimichanga. Tackle
spicy chilies in a
restored 19th- century Scottsdale house or dig into
sassy tortillas in a
casual downtown Mexican grill. Along the Scottsdale Waterfront, cassoulet is the order of the day in French bistros or pesto-pepperoni gnocchi in traditional
trattorias. A
cowboy steakhouse is the place for saucy ribs or succulent steaks.
Museums and Wild West culture
Phoenix passionately embraces its Wild West past and desert surroundings. Yucca and cacti dot the rocky paths at the
Desert Botanical Garden, while Hopi kachina dolls peak out at passers-by at the
Heard Museum. Canvases from Diego Rivera and Pablo Picasso vie for space inside the
Phoenix Art Museum. Wander among an ancient adobe village at
Pueblo Grand Museum and Archaeological Park, or mosey down the dusty streets of a
Wild West theme town. Bring a picnic basket for concerts under the stars at the
Scottsdale Center for the Arts, or two-step to a rockin’ country band at a
Scottsdale roadhouse. Luxury living
Choose a resort and pamper yourself on a Phoenix vacation with a stay in a
Spanish colonial deluxe casita with a view of the mountains. Visit the
spa so you can indulge in tantalizing treatments like couples massages. Opt for mouth-watering shrimp-crusted cod on a
rooftop terrace with a red-hued sunset as a backdrop. Play 18 holes on
groomed greens peppered with towering cacti and desert mountain views. Or see it all at once from above on a
scenic airplane tour. Savvy shopping
Shop in style by browsing the
haute couture emporiums and stylish chains that line the
Scottsdale Waterfront. Visit
Old Town Scottsdale‘s 19th-century brick storefronts to pick up Southwest-inspired gifts or Western outfits. A short walk away is
Scottsdale Fashion Square, with its retractable roof. Head downtown to poke around the boutiques and department stores along the
garden courtyards of
Biltmore Fashion Park or hunt for Western gifts at the
Heard Museum Gift Shop or
Faust Gallery.
