Come Experience a Rare Desert Delight: Phoenix, Arizona
In history, Phoenix began as a city when a Civil War veteran, Jack Swilling, traveled west to find wealth during the 1850s. Swilling came to an abandoned river valley that consisted of ruins from Hohokam. He recognized the area as having great potential for farming and oversaw the development of several canals. Meanwhile, a small community was started that same year approximately four miles from the abandoned city. The community was first called Pumpkinville, and then it was called Swilling's Mill, Helling Mill, Mill City, and finally its more modern name, East Phoenix. The name was changed to just plain "Phoenix" later on, and the city was incorporated in May 1881 with a population of about 2,500. Phoenix was chosen as the capital of Arizona in 1912 due to its central location.
The arid climate in Phoenix offers very hot summers and mild winters. June through early September is usually the hottest period with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F many days. March is usually the wettest month of the year while June is the driest. During the monsoon season, thunderstorms often occur with the potential for strong winds and/or large hail. The area rarely has snow.
Touring Phoenix
Phoenix offers a little of everything - from performing arts venues to museums as well as sports and family outings. Visitors can plan their schedule from day to day and always have plenty of activities on the itinerary. Those who love performing arts should check out the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera, the Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, or the Phoenix Symphony Hall. Downtown Phoenix has two main concert venues: the Dodge Theater and the US Airways Center. There's also the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.
Museums in the area provide great indoor sight-seeing for the hottest months of the year. One of the most popular is the Heard Museum (http://www.heard.org), located north of the downtown area. This museum features collections of Native American art as well as interesting festivals and educational programs. It contains more than 40,000 items including the Hopi kachina dolls, a Navajo hogan, the Mareen Allen Nichols Collection, and much more.
The Phoenix Art Museum features more than 17,000 works of art, with influences from Western American art, European culture, contemporary art, American, Asian art, and Latin American art. There are also fashion design exhibits and the Thorne Miniature Rooms to explore. At the Phoenix Museum of History, visitors travel back through time while gazing at pottery, photos, Victorian architecture, special exhibits, and more. If traveling with kids, the Arizona Science Center provides hands-on exhibits, a giant five-story theater, travel exhibits, a planetarium, and live demonstrations.
Other museums in Phoenix or nearby are the Phoenix Police Museum, the Rosson House Historic Museum, the Shemer Art Center & Museum, the Wells Fargo History Museum, the Arizona Capitol Museum, the Arizona Doll & Toy Museum, the Arizona Museum for Youth (Mesa), and the Bead Museum (Glendale).
Outdoor Adventures in Phoenix
For those who are anxious to get outdoors, there's another side to Phoenix. Breathtaking scenery, cacti, jackrabbits, roadrunners, coyotes - all these and more are found in the spirit-enhancing Sonoran Desert. There are three main mountains and a wide variety of plant and animal life. Visitors can go biking, hiking, or even tour the many mountain trails on horseback. There are seven beautiful lakes within just a short drive of the city where water recreation can provide a cool retreat on hot summer days. Arizona Outdoor Fun offers rentals for canoes, kayaks, fishing boats, ski boats, jet skis, pontoon boats, and more. Or, for tubing adventures, there is Arizona's Salt River Tubing & Recreation for the Lower Salt River rapids in the Tonto National Forest.
Other outdoor water adventure venues include Forever Resorts Houseboat Rentals, the Hook-Up Outfitters (Peoria), Pleasant Harbor Marina (Peoria), or the Saquaro Lake Ranch Resort (Mesa).
Professional guides are available to tour the desert terrain by horse, by hot air balloon, by a road tour, or by a Jeep or Hummer.
Family Fun in Phoenix
Families will find plenty to enjoy during their Phoenix visit. There's the Enchanted Island Amusement Park (http://www.enchantedisland.com) featuring plenty of rides for the little ones. Some of the rides include the C.P. Huntington Train, the Encanto Carousel, the Dragon Wagon, the Mini Enterprise, the Bumper Boats, and the Parachute Tower. There are also games, pedal boats, and canoes for the whole family to enjoy. Families can take a break for lunch in the lovely 7.5-acre picnic area and may enjoy a buffet style meal.
At the F1 Race Factory, kids can enjoy rock climbing, go karts, billiards, and more. In Apache Junction at the Goldfield Ghost Town & Mine Tours, the family can tour a historic ghost town with mine tours, gold panning, a museum, a narrow-gauge railroad, a saloon, and specialty shops. At Golfland-Sunsplash, families can have a ball with mini-golf, arcade games, laser tag, a Wave Pool, and the Master Blaster Water Coaster. Then, they can relax in the Lazy River.
The Phoenix Zoo (http://www.phoenixzoo.org/) features more than 1,300 animals and five scenic trails. There are indoor and outdoor venues for group events, and activities include animal encounters, boat rentals, biking, keeper talks, and amazing exhibits such as Monkey Village.
Another zoo to visit is the Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park, Arizona. It has the state's largest collection of exotic animals such as Lory parrots and giraffes. It also features an African Safari Train Ride and much more.
Other family attractions include Waterworld Safari (Phoenix), Verde Canyon Railroad (Clarkdale), Stuffington Bear Factory (Phoenix), Tempe Paintball (Tempe), Rock Springs Cafe (Black Canyon City), Mystery Castle (Phoenix), Out of Africa Wildlife Park (Campe Verde), and Big Surf (Tempe).
#h2 Relaxation in Phoenix
Visitors can set aside a day of self-indulgence and pampering whether on a romantic holiday for two or a family vacation. Phoenix is known for its many spas, warm-stone therapies, aloe vera body wraps, and Sonoran Desert aromatherapy exfoliations. Some of the popular spas are the Alvadora Spa, the Willow Stream Spa, the Spa at the Four Seasons Resort (Scottsdale), the Boulders Resort and Golden Door Spa, and the Centre for Well-Being at the Phoenician.
Phoenix also delights visitors with fine dining, many shopping venues, lovely accommodations, wineries, a busy nightlife, and much more. This lively desert treasure far surpasses one's imagination.