Kathleen Bryant - Moon Phoenix, Scottsdale & Sedona

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KATHLEEN BRYANT

The only constant is change. This saying attributed to Heraclitus could easily be the motto of Phoenix, an energetic city that reinvents itself every decade or so. Phoenix, Scottsdale, and surrounding communitiestogether known as the Valley of the Sunmake up one of the countrys fastest growing metro areas, enticing new residents with abundant sunshine, mountain vistas, and a resort lifestyle.

This desert playground boasts more than 200 golf courses, countless swimming pools, and miles of hiking and biking trails. Skyscrapers mark its status as the Southwests commercial center, yet its mountains, not architecture, that truly define the skyline. The McDowells, Superstitions, and other ranges encircle the Valley of the Sun, and the distinctive outline of Camelback stands a thousand feet above seas of red-tiled roofs and emerald green resorts.

While growth may be the citys lifeblood, the Sonoran Desert is its soul. The deserts twice-yearly rain pattern supports a surprisingly lush assortment of plants and animals, including the iconic saguaro cactus. Many species that have adapted to cope with local conditions are found nowhere else in the world.

Humans, too, have learned to conform to desert living. Hohokam farmers who settled here 1,500 years ago relied on a complex system of canals, and the advent of air-conditioning set the stage for the citys post-WWII boom. In this metropolis of four million residents, cacti, coyotes, and lizards coexist with people.

Blend the exotic landscape with welcome winter sunshine and colorful cultural traditions, and you have a place where even locals live like theyre on vacation, hiking before work or enjoying a late-night swim, booking their weekends with festivals or visits to the high country. Follow their lead: Taste the best Sonoran-style cuisine this side of the Mexican border. Enjoy Scottsdales two favorite pastimesshopping and nightlife. Discover centuries-old Native American traditions. Venture north to the red-rock monoliths of Sedona and the leafy oasis of Oak Creek Canyon.

Just remember to leave plenty of time to kick back on the patio and watch a desert sunset. Change may be constant, but the desert endures, an ever-present reminder of antiquity and graceespecially as the mountains turn purple and swatches of orange, vermilion, and magenta streak across a darkening sky.

The Sonoran Deserts brilliant light and warmth permeate every aspect of Arizonas state capital, now the sixth-largest city in the country. With approximately 300 days of sunshine annually, its possible to dine alfresco, play golf, or hike year-round. The jagged mountains that surround the Valley of the Sun are prime spots to explore the areas diverse desert landscape. For urban delights, visit downtown Phoenix and the college town of Tempe, where youll find fascinating museums, cultural attractions, and popular restaurants.

Phoenixs best-known suburb calls itself The Wests Most Western Town, but Scottsdales is a modern West, blending chic resorts, restaurants, and nightspots with desert golf courses and eclectic boutiques selling cowboy boots, trendy brands, and luxury goods. The citys galleries support the countrys third-largest art market, and its five-star spas are among the finest in the world. Scottsdales commitment to the arts harks back to the 1930s, when architect Frank Lloyd Wright established his winter home and design incubator at Taliesin West.

Phoenix Museum of History	golf course in Scottsdale	prickly pear cactus in Sedona

Oak Creek Canyon

Heard Museum, Phoenix

THREE DAYS: Visit Phoenix and Scottsdale.

FIVE DAYS: Add Sedona.

ONE WEEK: Add Jerome, Montezuma Castle, and Oak Creek Canyon.

Sedona

Its easy to understand why Sedona is called Red Rock Country. Its monumental sandstone formations and intricate spirescolored in shades of buff, gold, maroon, and orangelure travelers and outdoor lovers. Explore on a Jeep tour or hike along miles of forest trails, then be pampered at a luxury inn or resort. Browse charming galleries, visit the stunning Chapel of the Holy Cross, and take a scenic drive through the green oasis of Oak Creek Canyon. Visit neighboring