Nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, the stylish Phoenix-Scottsdale area offers top art galleries, hundreds of golf courses, posh shopping, pro sports events, and fashionable resorts and spas that let you luxuriate in aloe vera body wraps, warm-stone therapies and other treatments, many grounded in Native American traditions. Scottsdale is also internationally recognized as a destination for art collectors, with some of the most diverse collections in the nation. Funky, eclectic Tempe is home to Arizona State University and located near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and spring training stadiums, as well as the dining, galleries, and shopping of Scottsdale.

Weather and Geography

The metropolitan Phoenix area, home to more than three million residents, is located in a desert valley known as the Valley of the Sun. The climate is generally warm and dry. Summer daytime temperatures average in the low 100 degrees, and winter temperatures average about 60-70ºF with cool nights. The most popular time to visit is November through April. To beat the crowds, consider planning your visit in the summer or early fall.

Quick Facts

• World-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed several Phoenix-area landmarks, including Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium, and Taliesin West – Wright’s former residence, which now houses a architectural training program and is open to the public for visits.



• The Phoenix area’s warm, dry climate provides ample opportunities for nature lovers to get outdoors and enjoy golf, horseback riding, hiking, or swimming.

Expert Travel Tips

• Try your game at one of more than 250 golf courses in the Valley of the Sun.



• Go to a spring training game and see one of your favorite Cactus League teams in action.



• Eat at a local Mexican restaurant, like Carolina’s, known for its wonderful homemade tortillas, in downtown Phoenix.



• Shop ‘til you drop at the elegant shops of Phoenix’s Biltmore Fashion Park, the Borgata of Scottsdale, or Scottsdale Fashion Square.



• Visit the Heard Museum in downtown Phoenix and take in an internationally acclaimed, comprehensive collection of art and artifacts from regional Native American tribes.