The desert usually isn’t the typical hot spot vacationers want to visit, but one trip to Phoenix, Ariz., will have you kissed by the cactus lovebug. It definitely gave me a big smacker!
Being a New York native, I have a bad habit of comparing every city I visit to the Big Apple, and Phoenix was no exception. To be honest, I had convinced myself that Phoenix was going to be just a dusty desert outpost. Boy, was I wrong.
Like a desert oasis, palm tree-studded Phoenix, the U.S.’s fifth largest city, flaunts clear, sunny, blue skies almost all year long.
The state of Arizona in and of itself is a wonderfully picturesque plot of earth, and one of the few places in the country that has four distinctly different climate zones. Phoenix is situated in the southern portion of central Arizona in the heart of the Sonora Desert. It’s a metropolitan paradise with activities to please any taste. You can enjoy upscale shopping and dining in the city’s Biltmore district or view the latest exhibits at the Phoenix Art Museum. Nature lovers can check out the offerings in Papago Park like the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens, or you can bicycle or hike winding mountain trails like those on Camelback Mountain.
The city nurtures a booming urban art scene, and enthusiasts can experience local talent for free during the monthly “First Friday” art crawl. You can visit galleries, purchase works from street vendors, and take pleasure in various performance exhibitions like fire dancing and body painting. There’s even a free shuttle service to get you to and from all the art action.
For you sports fans, Phoenix is home of the Arizona Cardinals, the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Coyotes. Make sure to plan your trip when your favorite team is in town!
There’s something truly enchanting and exciting about the desert and Phoenix is a great central location to begin your exploration of the “Valley of the Sun.” Start with Tempe, a laid-back city located just southeast of Phoenix and home of Arizona State University.
Visitors can paddle-boat on Tempe Town Lake, enjoy the shopping and nightlife of Mill Avenue, or visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gammage Theatre. College sports fans can catch an ASU Sun Devils game. Make sure to stop by Four Peaks Brewery for a local, hand-crafted beer and delicious gastro-pub eats while you’re in Tempe.
Heading further east to Mesa, if you find yourself in the Phoenix valley during the sweltering summer months, you can cool off from the desert heat by tubing down the Salt River. Tubing the lazy river is a great day trip, but make sure to pack a visor, sunscreen and plenty of drinking water.
Are you hungry for some local fare while you’re in Mesa? Stop by Asi Es My Tierra for a cozy, at-home Mexican experience. This hole-in-the-wall eatery prepares authentic family recipes. Prices are reasonable, so try as much as you can – especially the mahi-mahi fish tacos.
The Phoenix valley is surrounded by spectacular mountain ranges, and I particularly love the Superstition Mountains. Nestled roughly 50 miles east of Phoenix, the Superstitions boast the majestic Tonto National Forest – the fifth largest forest in the U.S. Enjoy the natural desert flora of giant Saguaro cactus, agave, cholla, ocotillo, prickly pear cactus and more.
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| Prickly pears, a desert mainstay, smell like Fruit Loops when they're ripe. |
The fruit of many desert cacti smell fragrantly sweet, and some – such as the well-known prickly pear- are edible. For a uniquely desert delectable, make sure to buy a jar or two of locally made cactus fruit jam or preserve.
A few words of advice: don’t touch any desert plants. Keep in mind that most indigenous desert plants – including the fruit – have sharp, spiny needles and thorns that inflict pain just as much as they inspire beauty.
Deep inside Tonto National Forest you’ll find sparkling Canyon Lake with 950 surface acres and 28 miles of shoreline for fishing, swimming, camping, jet-skiing and boating fun. This beautiful desert reservoir is open year-round.
Overall, Phoenix is a desert rose. Whether you’re in downtown Phoenix or in the outer reaches of the valley, the beauty and allure of the American Southwest is sure to captivate you.
For more information about Phoenix, vacation information and Phoenix Valley travel destinations visit www.arizonaguide.com, www.phoenix.gov, www.visitphoenix.com, fs.usda.gov/tonto, and www.saltrivertubing.com
