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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - ARIZONA'S URBAN HEART AND AMERICA'S SUNNIEST METROPOLIS!

Phoenix for Free

Some of the best things in life don’t cost a dime. It’s the same in the Phoenix area, so see the highlights.

 



In Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa,Cave Creek and all our surrounding communities, there’s so much to do without spending a dime. All you need is your own two feet!

Hiking – All of our hikes are free, easy to get to, and there are so many, you’ll never be bored. Camelback Mountain, Piestawa Peak, South Mountain and Papago Park are just a few of the options.

Mill Avenue – This street is named after the old flour mill still sitting on the corner, but the rest of the street has shops, restaurants, street performers and more. It’s a great place to stroll around, and is next to ASU.

Japanese Friendship Garden – Flowing streams, a 12-foot waterfall, a koi pond, over 50 plant varieties and an overall serene feeling make this garden an oasis in the city.

Waterfront/Old Town Scottsdale – Walk along the shops, restaurants and park at the Waterfront in Scottsdale along the canal. It links right into Old Town Scottsdale with shops among fountains and courtyards.

First Friday – During the evening on the first Friday of every month, downtown Phoenix opens into the nation’s largest art walk. Street performers, bands and merchants line the closed streets, and galleries, historic homes and shops are open, with new exhibits every month.

Tempe Beach Park – A splash playground, sandy beach, grassy, shaded picnic areas and sports areas make this a great place to enjoy the sunshine with the family or a group of friends.

Scottsdale Art Walk – Every Thursday from 7pm – 9pm, the galleries in Old Town Scottsdale open to showcase their pieces. Western, contemporary, modern and Native American art galleries are sure to please.

Phoenix Fun Facts

According to legend, Phoenix gets its name from Cambridge-educated pioneer Darrell Duppa, who saw the ruins and prehistoric canals of the Hohokam and believed another civilization would rise from the ashes.

  • Phoenix is the United States’ fifth-largest city with a population of nearly 1.5 million.

  • Greater Phoenix (which includes, among others, the cities of Chandler, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe) has a population of nearly 3.8 million and covers 2,000 square miles.

  • Maricopa County—where Greater Phoenix is located—covers 9,127 square miles.

  • Phoenix's elevation is 1,117 feet.

  • Greater Phoenix is located in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, which is widely considered the most ecologically diverse desert in the world.

  • Phoenix averages more than 310 sunny days per year.

  • Phoenix has an average annual rainfall of 7.66 inches, an average annual temperature of 72.6 degrees and an annual high temperature of 85 degrees.

  • Greater Phoenix is home to more than 200 golf courses.

  • 13-15 million people visit Phoenix each year. More than 30 million people visit Arizona each year.

  • Sky Harbor serves more than 42 million passengers a year, ranking among the 10 busiest airports in nation.

  • Phoenix is one of only 13 U.S. cities with franchises in all four major professional sports leagues: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and Phoenix Coyotes (NHL).

  • University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and the site of Super Bowl XLII, is the only stadium in North America with both a retractable fabric roof and a roll-out grass field.

  • The Waste Management Phoenix Open, played each February at the TPC Scottsdale, is the best-attended event on the PGA Tour, averaging more than 500,000 spectators.

  • Greater Phoenix is home to college football’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and Insight Bowl. The inaugural BCS National Championship was played at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007.

  • Greater Phoenix’s major industries are (1) high-tech manufacturing, (2) tourism and (3) construction.

  • Phoenix is home to the largest municipal park in the world. South Mountain Park and Preserve covers more than 16,500 acres and has more than 50 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

  • There are six lakes within a 75-minute drive of Phoenix.

  • Arizona is home to 23 reservations representing 22 different Native American tribes.