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Phoenix Travel Guide

Inside ScoopFrom Phoenix Locals

Phoenix with Kids: A Perfect Family Day

Alamy My family of five loves spending time in Phoenix. The kids are...Read More
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48 Hours in Phoenix
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Phoenix OVERVIEW
As the capital of the Grand Canyon State, Phoenix knows how to make a lasting impression on travelers, and it’s an ideal launching point for exploring the “beautiful wasteland” of Arizona. The city fully earns its reputation for oppressive heat and urban sprawl. But it suffers unfairly for being a mega city that happens to be surrounded on all sides by natural splendor: Nature-loving author Edward Abbey once described it as an “oasis of ugliness in the midst of a beautiful wasteland.” The landscape of sun-glinted rock, big blue sky and cartoonlike cactuses is a revelation—especially for those from colder climes. And the friendliness of Phoenix's residents—the Phoenicians, of course—belies its status as America’s fifth-largest city. Like the best American metropolises, Phoenix is a city where it’s easy to migrate between high culture and low. You can cocoon yourself within the grounds of a palm-canopied resort by day, then seek out cheap cerveza and Mexican grub and by night; conversely, ...See More you can check into a budget motel (or even a mountain-shrouded campground), then sally forth to sip cocktails with the buff and busty crowd. Hundreds of miles of public trails share desert terrain with luxury golf courses and spas. Native American museums display sacred art and artifacts, and Native American casinos showcase slot machines and card games. The city may suffer from a multiple-personality disorder, but it’s an agreeable one: Phoenix is less pretentious than L.A., more charismatic than Las Vegas. And despite Arizona's crackdown on undocumented residents (don't forget to pack your ID, especially if you have a tan), the state’s capital is intricately shaped by Hispanic culture.See Less
BEST IN Phoenix TRAVEL
from our Editors
  • Clarendon Hotel & Suites
  • noca Chadwick Fowler
  • Clarendon Hotel & SuitesThe Clarendon is really Central Phoenix’s only boutique hotel, and its quirky style isn’t for everybody. But if you dig...
  • nocaNamed for its north-of-Camelback location, noca is a darling of critics and local foodies. In 2009 it was a James Beard...
  • Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)Metropolitan Phoenix’s newest museum opened in spring 2010, billing itself as the first in the world dedicated to the...
  • AOL Travel Editors test hundreds of travel experiences at all price points. See their recommendations and make the most of your trip...
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