In the heart of Southwestern America stunning sunsets unfold over a hot desert landscape in Maricopa County, home to the flourishing cultural cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale. These desert cities may be built on land of sand, cacti, and sun, but their cultural and commercial influence continues to grow. With a yearlong average high of eighty-five degrees and more than 325 days of sunshine per year, as well as paramount shopping outlets, coffeehouses, museums, nightclubs, golf courses, restaurants, and spas, it is no wonder Phoenix is the hottest city in the county. Take a tour of the county here. "Valley of the Sun" is home to some of the finest cultural experiences in the southwest. The performing arts are of great importance in Phoenix and can be enjoyed at the Phoenix Symphony Hall, home of Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona, and the Spanish-Baroque styled Orpheum Theatre, the only enduring example of theatre palace architecture in Phoenix. View Phoenix Symphony here. Mainstream national music acts perform concerts at the United States Airways Center and Dodge Theatre in Phoenix.
For fine arts lovers, the Phoenix Art Museum is an inviting choice, along with the Heard Museum, which exhibits Native American culture and art. Cooling off during hot summer afternoons is essential in Phoenix; therefore, a visit to one of the area’s water parks is a necessary, as well as amusing experience. Phoenix’s outdoors come alive at South Mountain Park, referred to as the country’s largest municipal park, with dramatic desert sunsets and miles of hiking and horseback riding trails and other Outdoor fun. For indoor leisure, the desert sky mall and nearby Glendale’s Arrowhead Town Center Mall offer premier dining and shopping. Phoenix Mexican restaurants throughout the area feature some of the world’s finest chili-spiced, southwestern dishes, including chimichangas, tortillas, burros, Spanish rice and beans, and enchiladas.
Located a half-hour east from Phoenix, contemporary sophistication meets deep-seated southwestern culture in Scottsdale, one of the nation’s fastest growing locales. The arts, fashion, and golf are Scottsdale’s biggest claims to fame. The city is also home to a noteworthy presence of upscale restaurants, hotels, lounges, and bars that create the perfect nightlife atmosphere. As a premier golf and resort city, Scottsdale attracts thousands every year to its nearly two-hundred area golf courses. The city’s distinguished Tournament Players Club course is the location of the most popular event on the PGA tour, the FBR Open. Scottsdale is also known as a highly-regarded locale in today’s art world. Downtown Scottsdale welcomes the public to its impressive Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, art studios, and galleries that express historic southwestern culture as well as contemporary creativity. The fine arts are also celebrated during the annual Scottsdale Arts Festival and Thursday’s Scottsdale Artwalk display. Serving as the fashion capital of the west, Scottsdale fashion week attracts designers from around the world every November. Scottsdale’s malls, upscale retail outlets, and chic boutiques offer the best fashions in the southwest. With more than 500 specialty shops and top brand name clothing stores, some of the most popular shopping areas in Scottsdale include the Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Fashion Square , and the Borgata of Scottsdale.
While affluent malls, art galleries, restaurants, and golf courses make Scottsdale a top resort destination, the area is also well-complimented by scenic outdoor activities and authentic cultural events. Northern Scottsdale offers mountainous areas ideal for hiking and rock climbing. The area also boasts some of the most majestic scenery in Arizona and a real taste of southwestern American culture. The El Pedregal is a pueblo-themed outdoor mall that offers a mix of contemporary, high-end and traditional southwestern shopping, dining, and entertainment. A local favorite cultural event in Scottsdale is the Scottsdale Para Del Sol rodeo and parade, which exhibits the area’s close ties with the old west.
Maricopa County is provided with public transportation by Valley Metro buses and Rideshare program. The METRO Light Rail opened in 2008, but is still being developed. Several freeways and highways also run throughout the county connecting desert towns to the city of Phoenix.
