Phoenix, the capital city of Arizona, is known for desert heat and mild winters, and as a popular retirement destination in the Sonoran Desert. While these features do exist, there is much more to Phoenix. Like much of the southwest, Phoenix is cultural melting pot mixing Mexican, American, and American Indian cultures. English is the primary language of the region, but Spanish is spoken throughout Phoenix as well.

Phoenix is also an excellent starting point for visiting the rest of Arizona. Arizona’s major airport is located here, which makes it the first and last city on many journeys here. From Phoenix, you are just a short drive from Sedona as well as a variety of canyons, mountains, and parks. For the road warrior, it is about four hours to Grand Canyon National Park.

Learn about American Indian culture and art, particularly local tribes like the Navajo, at the Heard Museum. While many of the exhibits are adult-oriented, most older kids will enjoy the art. There is also an interactive children’s exhibit where kids can learn to weave their own baskets and make their own jewelry.

The zoo in Phoenix has a focus on local animals and animals from other desert climates (with a few exceptions). The zoo is known for its giant Galapagos tortoise, baboon colony, and monkey exhibit. Adjacent to the zoo, you’ll find the Desert Botanical Garden. The garden has over 20,000 desert plants on display as well as several interactive exhibits.

While the center of Phoenix has a suburban bordering on urban feeling, as soon as you look beyond your immediate surroundings, you will realize you’ve been dropped into a fascinating landscape. The city is mostly flat except for the Phoenix Mountains and the South Mountains. Phoenix is ringed by four additional mountain ranges: McDowell, White Tank, Sierra Estrella, and Superstition. Camelback Mountain is a local favorite for climbing as its strenuous but not overwhelming and affords excellent views.

See the desert on horseback by reserving a lesson, a guided ride, or a horse from any of the stables just outside the city center. Horse enthusiasts are everywhere in this part of the country so finding a good guide to take you on a ride should be easy.

Golf is also extremely popular in Phoenix. While you won’t get into the desert landscape of the region, you can take advantage of the warm winters in Phoenix by booking a tee time at one or more of the over 200 golf courses in Phoenix.

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