Make this the summer of pseudo-staycations. With airfares soaring, a quick two-hour drive to the Phoenix area is all you need for a change of scene with plenty of shopping, art and night life.
And because it's oh so hot, you'll enjoy a host of dining and drinking deals. So where to start?
The Valley of the Sun is a big place, with nearly 4 million people sprawled across more than 2,000 square miles.
It's one of only 13 U.S. metro areas to have four major professional sports teams - hockey, baseball, football and basketball. It's long been known for its shopping and is emerging as a hotbed of culture - really - with attractions such as the new Musical Instrument Museum.
We focused on downtown Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale.
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By the numbers
6
Lakes within a 75-minute drive of Phoenix.
200
Golf courses located in the Phoenix metro area.
1,117
Phoenix's elevation in feet.
16,500
Acres in South Mountain Park and Preserve - the largest municipal park in the world. The park has more than 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.
1.5 million
Phoenix residents.
4 million
People who live in Maricopa County, according to most recent U.S. Census data.
Source: Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
