| |
Guide to Phoenix, USA - Arizona
|
Click to go to Flight Prices for Phoenix
|
PhoenixA metropolis in the heart of the Arizona desert, Phoenix has lived up to its title well. It sees searing heat throughout the summer and adjoining months, but Phoenix stays alive and true to position as the busiest and most influential southwestern city in the US. With a superb arts sector, and an economy that has weathered many a struggle, is a testament to the American dream albeit a hot one. It may be difficult to find a city in the middle of desert land to be beautiful, but Phoenix is quite unique, yet youd hardly expect anything different. It is Arizonas state capital after all, and whether youre shooting over to a museum in a taxicab, or taking a stroll through the citys botanical garden, Phoenix offers a very satisfying experience.
When to go:
Spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit Phoenix, simply because the streets are not cooking then. The sun is not beating down all day; youll enjoy warm temperatures with the occasional rainy day, and you get to see more festivals than you would during the other seasons. Summer is out of the question. Daily temperatures consistently peak at/above 110F (43C), and rainfall is at its highest, with unexpected downpours equitable to monsoons. Winter is nice, and youll get more breezes than at any other time of year, but it also sees the least number of cultural events.
Getting there and around:
Sky Harbor International Airport is the premier flight center of the southwest. Its within close proximity to the city (5km/3mi), and has everything you need in terms of goods and services. Whether youre looking for a pick-me-up at a caf, last-minute-booking a hotel room, or arranging for a car rental, Sky Harbor International has it all. To get into the city, you have three options: Valley Metro buses, shuttle buses, or taxis. Taxis are the most expensive, and the buses run to a few choice destinations downtown (shuttles travel to the least number of locations). If youve got a lot of luggage, consider a taxi. If not, opt to save a few pennies and board a Valley Metro bus.
Transportation around Phoenix follows the same sort of idea. There are train services, though stops are few within the citys limits. Your best bet is to ride the Valley Metro system during the day, and, if youre planning on making it fun night, use a city taxi to get back to your hotel. Walking is not out of the question either; a number of the citys sights, including a few museums and galleries, are within walking distance of each other.
Attractions:
The Arizona Science Center is your one stop science shop in Phoenix (well, its not quite so much a shops as an interactive museum though there is a gift shop!). Here youll come across more than 350 exhibits you can work with for your own educational enjoyment. There are experiments going on all day, ranging from weather calculations to physics demonstrations. The Science Center holds a great theatre where films are shown periodically throughout the day, and a planetarium where, in addition to star viewings, you can see a laser light show accompanied by the sounds of Pink Floyd.
Phoenixs Desert Botanical Garden is one of the most interesting places you may ever visit. Laid out on a vast expanse of land (145 acres to be exact), the Garden thrives in color throughout much of the year even in summer, when most irrigated land in desert conditions would prove futile for plantings and/or growth. Thousands of species are on display, and the flowers are in full bloom between March and May.
|
|
|
