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Phoenix
While it boasts some of the most unique, breathtaking scenery in the country, Phoenix, Arizona, offers plenty to see and do outside of its majestic mountains and panoramic desert. Now the fifth largest city in the country, Phoenix's attractions include amusement parks, professional sporting events, golf and live entertainment.
For information on Phoenix, visit AccessPhoenix.com.
Desert Botanical Garden
See the desert come alive before your eyes when you visit the Desert Botanical Garden. These 150 acres contain more than 4,000 different species of cacti, succulents, trees and flowers. A stroll along the half-mile-long "Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert" trail is a fascinating lesson in the many adaptations that plants, animals and people have made to desert living.
Mystery Castle
In many ways, life in the desert is all about adapting. Case in point: The Mystery Castle. This curious dwelling was hand-built from desert rocks, railroad refuse and anything else its builder could get his hands on. Chock-full of oddities that will fascinate everyone in the family, the castle has 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces, 90 bottle-glass portholes, a downstairs grotto, a floating cantilever stairway and a roll-away bed with a mining railcar as its frame.
Phoenix Zoo
The animals that live on and under the desert rocks of Arizona are as unique as the shifting sands they call home. To see other types of creatures in an equally diverse array of habitats, check out the Phoenix Zoo. Five designated trails wind through 125 fascinating acres, which has replicas of such habitats as an African savanna and a tropical rain forest. Meerkats, warthogs, desert bighorn sheep and endangered Arabian oryx are among the unusual sights.
Superstition Mountains
As you travel up the Superstition Highway through Tempe and Mesa, you'll eventually arrive at Apache Junction, home to the massive Superstition Mountain heaves. However, in the mountains majesty lies a mystery: Are the mountains home to the Lost Dutchman Mine? Explore the mystery in this magical part of the desert.
Hot-Air Ballooning over the Desert
Anyone who has ever tried it will tell you that floating above the desert in a Hot Air balloon is a truly special experience. Accompanied by a peaceful silence, you'll be carried on the wind as you get a unique perspective of the desert hundreds of feet below. Your vantage point may even allow you to spot elusive desert creatures in their natural habitat.
Castles 'N' Coasters
For the golf enthusiast, Phoenix is all you can ask for. Even for those whose golf passion revolves around the miniature kind. Castles 'N' Coasters offers a relaxing, fun atmosphere for those seeking a hole-in-one, or simply a good time with friends and family.
Island of Big Surf
Just when you thought the East and West coasts were the only places you could go to see the ocean, you'll discover Island of Big Surf 2.5-acre ocean oasis in the middle of the desert. Island of Big Surf is a great place to cool down while having a blast. Spend your time swimming, or even surfing, in the wet wonder of the desert.
Rancho El Dorado Golf Community
Rancho El Dorado is a 1,600-acre community with plans for an 18-hole golf course, schools, parks and 5,500 homes. This community is conveniently situated near the new Phoenix Amtrak location and Harrah's Ak-Chin, and is just minutes away from the charming town of historic Maricopa.
For more information, visit www.thedukegolf.com.
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