Phoenix

A sun-drenched city in the Sonoran Desert, with the Desert Botanical Garden, the Musical Instrument Museum and Wright's Taliesin West, plus scenic drives to the Superstition Mountains and the Apache Trail to the east.

Phoenix, the capital of Arizona, sits in the Salt River Valley of the Sonoran Desert. Together with Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and other cities, it forms the "Valley of the Sun," a metro area of about 5 million people that enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. The city breaks down into four areas. Downtown and along Central Avenue are the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, Heritage Square and the Roosevelt Row arts district, all linked by light rail. To the east, Papago Park gathers the Desert Botanical Garden, the zoo and Hole-in-the-Rock, making a good half-day trip. Scottsdale has its Old West–style Old Town, Wright's World Heritage–listed Taliesin West and countless resorts and golf courses, while the Musical Instrument Museum in the north is worth half a day. Hikers can take on Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak, or drive up South Mountain for night views. About an hour east are the Superstition Mountains and the Apache Trail, where Goldfield Ghost Town, Lost Dutchman State Park, Canyon Lake and the hamlet of Tortilla Flat make a great day's drive; to the southeast lie Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Casa Grande Ruins. The best time to visit is November–April, with daytime highs in the 20s °C and desert blooms in spring. From June to September, daytime temperatures often top 43°C — start hikes at dawn and carry plenty of water — and July–September also brings monsoon thunderstorms. Getting there: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is about 10 minutes from downtown, connected by light rail and the free PHX Sky Train. The metro area is vast, so a rental car is recommended outside downtown. Allow 3–4 days, with possible extensions north to Sedona (about 2 hours) and the Grand Canyon, or south to Tucson.

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