Fun Things to Do in the Area
"Phoenix" was named by an English traveler who visited America many years ago and claimed to have a vision while walking through modern-day Arizona. As he traversed the ruins of an ancient Hohokam Indian village, he perceived a great city growing up from the dust of that village much like the mythological Phoenix, an Egyptian bird said to have immolated itself after living in the desert for 500 years, later to rise anew from its own ashes. In modern Phoenix, this vision manifests itself as a major metropolitan area covering 400 square miles and offering a plethora of activities to appeal to every person and every interest. Bring the family and stay for a vacation you won't forget! The many offerings of this "Valley of the Sun" include:
 Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving - The world's largest driver training facility features individual and corporate programs with 200 race-prepared vehicles and personalized in-car instruction. 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler, (800) 842-RACE. www.bondurant.com.
Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak - Hike Camelback Mountain, the best-known feature of the Phoenix skyline and the city's highest point. It's an irresistible lure to hard-core hikers, fitness fanatics and tantalized tourists. For those who are looking for a less intensive hiking experience, try Piestewa Peak approaching from Tatum Access Area.
Desert Storm Hummer Tours - Watch the Sonoran Desert roll by from inside a 7,000-pound Humvee. The company offers half-day Hummer Tours and were named one of the Top 100 Adventures in America by National Geographic Adventure Magazine. 15525 N. 83rd Way, Scottsdale, (866) DSHUMER. www.dshummer.com.
Dolly Steamboat - The Dolly is a double-decked sternwheeler that carries 160 passengers and departs daily, offering close views of the multi-hued canyon walls and lakefront wild life. You're sure to see ducks and shore birds, and if you're lucky, Bighorn sheep that reside in the back canyons. The Dolly winds its way through a series of connected canyons revealing extraordinary scenery. Apache Junction, (480) 827-9144. www.dollysteamboat.com.
Fighter Combat International - Fly with real military fighter pilots in real aircraft. 5865 South Sossaman Rd., Mesa, (866) FLY-HARD. www.fightercombat.com.
Firebird International Raceway - Drivers with a car in good condition can race against each other or police cars, complete with lights and sirens, down the same track the National Hot Rod Association stars use. 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler, (602) 268-0200. www.firebirdraceway.com.
Flying E Dude Ranch - Picture this! It's you, in your blue jeans, all saddled up ready to ride and check cattle for newborn calves on wide open rangeland over rolling desert hills. You could now be a guest at the Flying E, a dude and cattle ranch where informality comes as naturally as a summer rain, and guests become one big family. 2801 W. Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, (928) 684-2690. www.flyingeranch.com.
Goldfield Ghost Town - Walk down Main Street, explore the many shops and buildings, tour through the mine, visit the Superstition Mountain/Lost Dutchman Museum, pan for gold, take a narrow gauge train ride or witness an old west gun fight. 4650 N. Mammoth Mine Road, Goldfield (480) 983-0333. www.goldfieldghosttown.com.
Gondola Ride at the Hyatt Regency Resort at Gainey Ranch - Be whisked away on a gondola ride. Your gondolier will serenade you with sweet Italian love ballads, as the water below playfully laps at the underside of the gondola. 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, (480) 991-3388. www.scottsdale.hyatt.com.
 Grand Canyon Railway - The historic Grand Canyon Railway provides rail service between its depot in Williams and the depot at Grand Canyon Village inside Grand Canyon National Park. Travel to and from the Canyon in meticulously restored coaches dating back to the late 1800's. 233 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams, (800)
THE-TRAIN. www.thetrain.com.
Phoenix Zoo - The Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,200 animals. It offers an exciting array of animal exhibits, unique special events, educational programs and outdoor recreational activities for people of all ages. 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, (602) 273-1341. www.phoenixzoo.org.
Ponderosa Stables and South Mountain Stables - Ride a horse on 40 miles of trails covering 18,500 acres in South Mountain Park.The park is renowned as the largest municipal park in the world. 10215 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, (602) 268-1261. www.arizona-horses.com.
Taliesin West - Nestled in the foothills of the rugged McDowell Mountains and surrounded by the spectacular Sonoran Desert, lies a sprawling 600-acre complex called Taliesin West. It was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. The buildings and the landscape at Taliesin West compliment each other. They coexist in perfect harmony—form and color, beauty and grace, nature and science are all blended. 12621 Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale, (480) 860-8810. www.franklloydwright.org.
Unicorn Balloon Company - You'll experience the beauty of the desert landscape and the rugged peaks of the Arizona mountains, as well as intimate views of wildlife in the desert below. Complimentary champagne, juice and muffins are a continuing tradition, and your balloon trip concludes with the traditional champagne toast and the gift of a flight certificate. The company can accommodate your needs whether it's just a morning getaway for two or multiple days of ballooning for a large group. Scottsdale, (800) 755-0935. www.unicornballoon.com.
Visit a Spa
 If you like to be pampered like a movie star and eat julienne shredded carrots and watercress, these are the places for you:
The Spa at Gainey Village - 25 luxurious treatment rooms, innovative services and desert-inspired botanicals impressed Self magazine enough to name The Spa at Gainey Village number one. 7477 East Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale, (480) 609-6980. www.dmbclubs.com/the_spa/htdocs.
The Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician Resort - The Centre indulges you completely with more than 70 extraordinary spa services and treatments to choose from. Highly personalized programs offer the opportunity to enjoy a spa experience with your family, a companion or simply on your own. Services are scheduled individually or are tailored to fit a customized regimen designed by The Centre's staff of certified professionals. 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, (800) 843-2392. www.centreforwellbeing.com.
The Spa at Camelback Inn - The Spa opened its doors recently after a complete $8 million renovation with a new design and a full compliment of spa offerings. The renovation includes a new state-of-the-art fitness center, 32 treatment rooms, spa pool and Scottsdale's only spa restaurant, Sprouts. 5402 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, (800) 922-2635. www.camelbackspa.com.
Visit a Phoenix Museum
 Arts and cultural activities abound in Phoenix with more than 20 museums in the metro area and numerous performing arts groups including:
Heard Museum - The foremost showcase of Native American art and culture in the United States, the Heard Museum reveals the cultures of tribes in the region through exhibits, demonstrations, live performances and displays the work of contemporary Native American artists. Artists demonstrate their work during the week and musicians perform on most weekends. 2301 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, (602) 252-8848. www.heard.org.
Phoenix Art Museum - One of the largest art museums in the Southwest, the museum houses a permanent collection of some 16,000 works of art spanning the centuries which includes a "Please Touch" children's gallery. 1625 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, (602) 257-1880. www.phxart.org.
Pueblo Grande Museum - These 1,000 year-old ruins from a Native American village and the artifacts unearthed from the area tell a fascinating story of the lives of the inhabitants. Hands-on activities, hikes and tours enhance the learning experience. 4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, (602) 495-0900.
Golf
 The Valley of the Sun - The Valley of the Sun, with close to 370 courses, makes a legitimate claim to being the golf capital of the world. You could actually play a different course every day of the year and still have a few left to visit. These picturesque golf courses helped earn Greater Phoenix the title of "Golf Capital of the World" from the National Golf Foundation. Scottsdale is at the epicenter of the Valley's golf map, and traveling golfers will be delighted to find one of the most impressive arrays of high-end daily fee and resort courses in the world.
Troon North, Grayhawk, Wildfire, Kierland and the Boulders provide championship golf and luxury accommodations, while properties like We-Ko-Pa, Sun Ridge Canyon, and Eagle Mountain stand alone as must-play courses.
To the south and west, Phoenix is home to some of Arizona's most venerable, traditional resorts, including the Camelback Inn and the Phoenician (site of last year's NAHC Annual Meeting Golf Tournament) is a championship course surrounded by canyon, desert and an oasis. The Aguila Golf Course in south Phoenix was designed by renowned Arizona architect Gary Panks, and Superstition Springs Golf Club in Mesa is popular with the locals.
Shopping
There are many wonderful shopping centers in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan area. Two of them are truly extraordinary, the Biltmore Fashion Park at the intersection of 24th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix, and the Fashion Square Mall at Camelback Road and Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.
Both of these shopping centers offer a broad array of stores selling high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices. Among the anchor stores found in these locations are Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's, Dillard's, Robinson-May, Bloomingdales and Nordstrom. The closest major shopping center to the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas is Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall.
Those who prefer doing their shopping at an outlet mall will love Arizona Mills located at the intersection of I-10 and West Baseline Road in Tempe, Arizona. Among the stores to be found there include Nordstrom Rack, Off-Fifth, Armani Exchange, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Adidas and Nike Factory Store, Tahari, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfinger, Escada, Burberry and Versace.
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