The Phoenix metro area, including the surrounding cities of Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale and Chandler, as well as others, has been called the Valley of the Sun for good reason. There are more than 300 days of sunshine every year. The desert climate means warm days and nights where you need only a light jacket. However, the desert isn't all there is. Enjoy a warm desert vacation in Arizona, or take to the high country for winter sports.
Arizona has two ski areas. Flagstaff, the third-largest city in the state, boasts the Arizona Snowbowl. The climate is similar to the Midwest with winter temperatures well below freezing and lots of snow. Take your choice of bed and breakfasts or moderately priced motels. Sunrise Park Resort, the other Arizona skiing spot, has lifts, an onsite hotel, lessons and a restaurant. It's located on an Indian reservation and about 30 miles east of Show Low. There are lots of cabin rentals and a few motels. Drive further east to picturesque Greer and stay in a bed and breakfast or rent a family-owned cabin.
Some stunning golf courses are located in the mountains but aren't open in the winter. If you want to play golf, come down to the Valley of the Sun. There are more than 200 courses; most are public or have made arrangements with the major hotels to offer tee times to guests. Tucson has the Jack Nicklaus-designed La Paloma 27-hole course on the grounds of the resort of the same name. If you didn't bring your clubs, call ahead to see if the course has rentals available.
If horses, campfires and chuck wagons are your idea of the perfect getaway, stay at one of the ranches outside of Phoenix. Rancho de los Caballeros located in Wickenburg offers an Old West experience in a luxurious atmosphere. You won't want to leave, and you won't have to because all meals are included.
The north rim of the Grand Canyon isn't open or accessible in the winter, but the south rim is. There's much less traffic than in the summer, which means fewer people and crowds. You might be able to snag a room at the El Tovar hotel and have a canyon view while you eat breakfast in the dining room. Drive up through Flagstaff to the Canyon, which is about a two-hour drive. Instead of going back the same way, loop around through the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest and the Navajo Nation.
