Arizona Highways
Outdoors Magazine - inspired by Arizona's unique outdoor experience, rich history, and diverse culture.

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Apache Jct * Buckeye * Carefree * Casa Grande * Chandler * Camp Verde * Eloy * Fountain Hills * Glendale * Gold Canyon * Goodyear * Grand Canyon NP * Litchfield Park * Maricopa * Mesa * Paradise Valley * Payson * Peoria * Petrified Forest NP * Prescott * Scottsdale * Sedona * Sun City * Surprise * Tempe * Tolleson * Wickenburg *

MainTour Phoenix Arizona Vacation Guide covers the area of Maricopa and Pinal Counties in Central Arizona. This includes the principal cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Casa Grande.

Best Tours

Downtown Phoenix
Visit great sites such as the State Capitol Museum, Heritage & Science Park, Hall of Fame, Mining and Minerals Museum and BankOne Ballpark.

Scottsdale
Premier resort community just minute northeast of Phoenix. See 100's of shops, art galleries, golf resorts. Special attracitons include Rawhide and McCormick Railroad Park.

Lake Havasu
Popular destination made famous in 1963 when industrialist Robert P. McCulloch purchased the legendary London Bridge and had it shipped here brick by brick.

Grand Canyon National Park
Visit the number one attraction of Arizona - Over 3 million years in the making, a mile deep and five miles wide

Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Boating, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, watersports center

Arizona State University
Home to Museum and cultural events as well as the Sun Devil's NCAA athletic programs.

Arizona State Capitol Museum
This four-story building served as both territorial capitol when completed in 1900 and as state capitol after statehood came in 1912. The capitol itself is now utilized exclusively as a museum, and serves over 60,000 visitors each year, including over 30,000 school children. More than 20 exhibits tell Arizona's story from territorial days to the present.

MainTour Scottsdale Golf Tour
Our special feature profiles great vacation packages to the most exciting Golf Resorts in the Arizona Desert. Courses, weblinks, lessons, tournaments, pro shops and more.

Central Arizona Special Interest

For more info about vacation opportunities see the MainTour Arizona Vacation Guide - special features include:

• Religious Organizations and Landmarks
• Military Posts - Historic and Active
• Colleges & Universities - including University of Arizona and Pima Community College
• Regional Employment Listings
• Travel Store - Books, Video, Travel Guides, Gifts, etc.
• Transportation - Airports, Airlines, Car Rentals, Busses
• Medical Centers

Phoenix

Phoenix is the state capital and largest city in Arizona. Founded in 1864, it was little more than a farm town until the 1930's when it began to win a reputation as a popular winter resort town with many dude ranches.

The hottest city outside of the Middle East, daytime temperatures reach well past 100F during the summer months. Its metropolitan area (including Scottsdale, Mesa, and Tempe) help make it the tenth largest city in the US.

Phoenix area code is 602.

Tour Downtown Phoenix

Major attractions in and around downtown and the civic center:

• Heard Museum - Phoenix Downtown
  22 E. Monte Vista Rd (Mon-Sat 10AM-5PM / Sun 12PM-5PM)
  Excellent displays of quality Native American crafts and arts - including Navajo rugs and Hopi kachina dolls. Outdoor gardens are also a great collection of desert flora and fauna.

• Phoenix Art Musuem - Great collection of Western Art.

• Arizona State Capitol - Free Tours - Famous for its sparkling copper dome.

• Big Surf Water Park - 947-7873
  1500 N McClintock Ave, Summer hours 8AM-6PM.
  Features 5 ft wavemaker machine, multistorey waterslides and giant freshwater lagoon.

• America West Arena -
  Home to the following sporting venues:
  • Arizona Rattlers Pro Arena Football [Jun-Aug]
  • Arizona Sandsharks Pro Indoor Soccer [Jun-Aug]
  • Phoenix Coyotes NHL Hockey [Oct-Apr]
  • Phoenix Suns NBA Basketball [Oct-Mar]
• Tour Southern California Travel and Vacation Guide -
  For more info on the Greater Los Angeles and San Diego Area
  Attractions, beaches, mountains, deserts, resorts, activities.

  Tour Taliesin West

  • Taliesin West Design Studio
    Cactus Street and 108th St. 860-2700.

    Taliesin West is the winter work studio of world famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright who worked here for more than 25 years prior to his death in 1959. Today it is an architecture school. Public tours are available.

  • Arcosanti: Cosanti Foundation - 948-6145
    6433 Doubletree Rd in Paradise Valley. Community that focuses on Arcology - the proper blend of architecture and ecology. Also hosts popular outdoor concerts.

  Tour Mesa

  About the only significant landmark in this community on the eastside of Phoenix, is the Mormon Temple - built in 1912 and is designed after the style of ancient american temples. Its gardens features native vegitation and are open to the public.

  Tour Superstition Mountains

  The main route thru Superstition Mountains is Hwy-88, "The Apache Trail". This location is very popular on summer weekends and the trail begins only 10 miles east of downtown of Phoenix. Main Attractions:

  • Tonto National Monument - Cliff dwelling ruins from a large pueblo built in the entrance to three distintive caves by the Salado Indians in the mid-fourteenth century.

  • Salt River Canyon - The Apache Trail leads to many campgrounds and picnic spots as it follows the Salt River through the hills.

  Tour Aravaipa Canyon and Points East

  Rated as one of the most scenic spots in the state, Aravaipa Canyon is located 46 miles south of the copper-mining town of Globe. This wilderness area has many side canyons and abundant desert wildlife.

  For info - Bureau of Land Management, 428-4040.

  • Gila County Historical Museum 425-5736
    1330 N. Broad St, Globe, AZ;
    Open Sat & Sun, 10AM-5PM during Summer.
    Free Admission. Home to Apache Days celebration on the third weekend of October. Native Americans from many tribes come together for a three-day street fair.

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
340 North 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004;
Location: Adjacent to Arizona Center and Van Buren St
The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel is at the heart of Phoenix's development and renewal. Conveniently located in the center of the city, our Phoenix hotel is adjacent to the Phoenix Convention Center and just five miles from the Sky Harbor International Airport. This grand 31-story hotel redefines the city's skyline with its cloudlike white rooftop that turns stunningly translucent at night.

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Ritz-Carlton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
2401 East Camelback Road, Phoenix, AZ 85016;
Location: Near Biltmore Country Club and Fashion Park
Set against the beauty of true Arizona landscape in the heart of the city, you will find the true premier luxury resort of Phoenix. This elegant luxury hotel in Phoenix features well appointed guest rooms and suites, exceptional dining options, beautiful outdoor areas and much, much more.

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