America’s sixth-largest city still has real cowboys and rugged mountains and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. Phoenix is the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and its history is a testament to the spirit of Puebloans, ranchers, miners and visionaries.

Projected against this rich backdrop is a panorama of urban sophistication: Resorts and spas that drop jaws and soothe souls. Stadiums and arenas worthy of the world’s biggest sports spectacles. Restaurants with inspired cuisine and inspiring patio views. Golf courses that beckon players the year round. Shopping centers as stylish and eclectic as the fashions they house.

Don’t forget Scottsdale, located in the beautiful Sonoran Desert, bordered by Phoenix to the west and the McDowell Mountains on the east.

Scottsdale is annually rated among the nation’s most desirable communities to live, to visit, and to conduct business. Scottsdale’s vibrant downtown is considered the finest urban center in Arizona.  Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, in the city’s northern reaches, is the largest urban wilderness area in the United States and features more than 60 miles of trails through diverse and scenic desert terrain.

VisitPhoenix and Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau offer a variety of recreation and leisure activities in the area.