With a population of just more than 200,000 people, this small city is known for its nightlife, as well as its wealthy, artsy community. Scottsdale is on the Salt River, and is home to many high-end restaurants, hotels and art galleries. Scottsdale is also a big golfing city, with more than 170 golf courses, and the Phoenix Open Golf Tournament is held in the city annually. Scottsdale is about 12 miles from Phoenix, or about a 20-minute drive.
Surrounded by five mountain ranges, Tucson is in a Sonoran Desert valley and is bordered by recreation areas such as the Coronado National Forest and Catalina State Park. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, climbing, biking and other outdoor activities in these parks and throughout the mountains. Metropolitan Tucson is denser, with a population of over 1 million. A good portion of the population is made up of University of Arizona students and employees, and there are many university events and sports that visitors can enjoy. Tucson also offers many things one would find in a big city, such as museums, countless restaurants, spas and shopping. Tucson is about 120 miles away from Phoenix, or a little more than a two-hour drive.
Just more than 200 miles from Phoenix, the Grand Canyon is about a four-hour drive for a day trip. Vehicle entrance into the park is $25 for the whole group, or $12 per person for those entering on foot or by bike. Known as one of the wonders of the world, the canyon is both a spectacle and a place to river raft, hike and horseback ride. Parking is easy for day-trippers.
This smaller city is home to just over 50,000 people and is about 140 miles from Phoenix, or a 2.5-hour drive. Flagstaff is not far from Grand Canyon National Park and is known as a quaint, historic town from the time of the pioneers. Visitors can visit the local museums and historic homes or get out of the city a bit to explore its natural surroundings at Mount Elden. Flagstaff is also home to the Arizona Snowbowl, one of only 3 ski resorts in the state. This town is also known for its connection to the Native American culture, with many museums, art galleries, and specialty stores dedicated to it.
This lake is actually a reservoir formed by the Coronado River. It has become known as a Spring Break destination for college students and younger visitors. This is especially true in the summer, when visitors rent boats for parties during the day and then flood the nightclubs in the evening. Just more than 180 miles from Phoenix, this party town is about a 3-and-a-half-hour drive from Phoenix. For those with calmer interests, the city is home to about 56,000 people and offers many shops, restaurants and galleries.
