Guide to Phoenix and the Surrounding Area

The Greater Phoenix area is sometimes called “The Valley of the Sun.” It is shaped like a bowl with a floor surrounded by mountains. This comes as a big shock to Easterners who are expecting the terrain to be flat and without vegetation. Rather, the area is blessed with unrivaled scenery and distinct desert vegetation, which makes it very picturesque. The area boasts of having more than 320 days of sunshine each year.

As is typical of the Sonoran Desert, the daytime temperature reaches its peak at about 3 p.m. In late January, temperatures in the 70s can be expected, but be aware that the temperature may drop into the 50s when the sun goes down. Most people will say that the weather is pretty near perfect at this time of year. Because of its low humidity, it is conducive to outdoor activities and sports year round Ð which is why many snowbirds come from cold climates such as Minnesota or Montana. Even in January, most restaurants have the capacity to serve customers outdoors, if that is the preference.

Greater Phoenix
The map below provides an overview of the Greater Phoenix area. Most people will arrive by airplane at the Sky Harbor Airport, which is flanked on the west by 24th Street and on the east by 44th Street.

Pointe Tapatio Cliffs Peak Resort 11111 North 7th Street Phoenix, Arizona 85020 1-800-Hiltons or 1-800-445-8667 Sky Harbor International Airport 3400 East Sky Harbor Boulevard Phoenix, Arizona 85034 (602) 273-3300

The City of Phoenix
Visitors to Phoenix typically find it easy to navigate around the area as Phoenix was created on a grid pattern. Central Avenue divides the city, north and south. To the east you will find numbered streets. To the west you will find avenues. It is important to clearly understand whether the address is, for example, on 7th Street or 7th Avenue. As a practical matter, most of the major attractions, restaurants, museums and places to visit are located to the east of Central, which is to say on the street side of the map.

The north/south divisions of the city have a few predominant streets which are helpful to know when navigating the area. These include Central, 24th Street, 44th Street (which later on becomes Tatum), and Scottsdale Road.

The east/west divisions have colorful names. In downtown Phoenix, they take the names of U.S. Presidents. A few streets farther north stand out, including Thomas Road, Camelback Road, Lincoln Drive (which becomes Glendale Avenue), Doubletree Ranch Road, Shea Boulevard, Cactus Road, Greenway Road, and Frank Lloyd Wright, which becomes Bell Road.

Paradise Valley
Located northeast of the airport, Scottsdale is one of the most beautiful areas of Phoenix and home to many fine restaurants and attractions.

Also located in Paradise Valley is the geographic epicenter of Phoenix - Camelback Mountain, which resembles a camel’s head and back. Camelback Road runs east and west to the south of this mountain, and Lincoln runs east and west on the north side of this huge rock.

The area also is home to many fine mountain parks that are closed to development, but open to hiking and enjoyment by the public, as well as the nearby Tonto National Forest.

Generally speaking, the area is booming. Arizona is second only to Nevada in terms of population growth. Chandler, Mesa, North Scottsdale and Glendale - which is where the Glendale Arena, home to the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes, and Cardinals Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals are located Ð are all showing rapid increases. Phoenix has replaced Philadelphia as the 6th largest city in the nation and before long, is slated to become number four.

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