scubish.com: Travel information for Phoenix

Founded in 1871, Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona. At an elevation of 1100 feet, it is situated in the biologically unique Sonoran Desert. With a population of 1,321,045 (2000 census) and anchoring a metro area of 3,251,876, it is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States.

Understand

Why would anybody want to start a city in the middle of a desert? The answer is, surprisingly, agriculture. The Salt and Verde Rivers of central Arizona were exploited for large-scale agriculture by Native Americans as early as the 11th century. The area that now encompasses Phoenix was a center of the Hohokam culture, which built large canal systems and a network of towns and villages, whose remains may be viewed in the city to this day. The city's name reflects its status as a city "reborn from the ashes" of the previous settlement.

Anglo-American settlement of the area commenced in the 1860s, and in 1911 the completion of the first of several large reservoirs in the mountains north and east of Phoenix insured its success as a center for irrigation-based agriculture. Many tens of thousands of acres were planted in citrus and cotton and other crops, and for many years intensive, year-round irrigated agriculture formed the basis of the economy.

Warm and sunny winter weather also ensured a thriving tourism industry, and encouraged many easterners and midwesterners to relocate to Phoenix. High-tech industry began to flourish after World War II, and since that time the growth of Phoenix has been explosive, rising from a population of just 106,818 in 1950 to today's figure of well over 1,300,000.

The Arizona Republic is Phoenix's major daily newspaper. Besides news, it provides detailed community info, including an events calendar.

Get in

By plane
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), serves as a hub for Southwest Airlines and US Airways; is also served by Air Canada, Westjet, British Airways, American Airlines, Midwest Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Great Lakes Aviation.

By train
Due to a dispute among the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Amtrak, passenger train service to Phoenix has been discontinued. Amtrak passengers may disembark at Maricopa, Arizona (25 miles south of Phoenix) and arrange their own travel into the city. No regular shuttle service currently exists.

By car
Interstate 10 from the south and west, and Interstate 17 from the north. US Route 60 is also a major route into Phoenix from the east. The AZ Route 87 comes in from Payson.

By bus

Greyhound Bus Lines, 2115 E. Buckeye Rd., Tel: (602) 389-4200, . This is a large bus terminal adjacent to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

TUFESA Bus Lines, Bus service to/from Mexico.

Get around

Valley Metro. Extensive metropolitan bus system, soon to be supplemented by a light rail system. http://www.valleymetro.org/

Freeways. Extensive network of freeways, most built since 1987. Caution: Heavy construction on some segments and interchanges continues. Check construction schedules and closures in the local media.

Car rental is the most convenient form of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.

Car rental companies include:

Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, .

Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, .

Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, .

Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, .

E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, .

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, .

Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, .

Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, .

See

The touristy core of Phoenix is the Old Town , to the east of Scottsdale Rd between Camelback Rd and Osborn Rd. It's undeniably kitschy, with well over half the shops being gift shops, but fun enough for a browse in a Disneyland-y way. Across the road to the west of Scottsdale Rd is the Scottsdale Art District, chock-a-block with art galleries selling art not just from Phoenix, but all over the world.

Arizona Science Center, 600 E. Washington St., tel: 602-716-2000, . Science and Technology, along with a planetarium.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., tel: 480-941-1225, . Plant life of the Sonoran Desert, and of arid lands around the world.

Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Av., tel: 602-252-8848, . Celebrating Native American cultures and arts, especially those of Arizona and New Mexico.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, 4619 E. Washington Street, tel: (602) 495-0901, . M-Sa 9AM-4:45PM, Su 1PM-4:45PM. The US's only city-operated archaeological site, exploring and interpreting the pre-Columbian Hohokam civilization.

Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Avenue, tel: 602-257-1222 . Tu-Su 10AM-5PM (Th until 9PM). 16,000 artworks with an emphasis on American, Asian, Latin American, and modern and contemporary.

Chase Field, 7th Street and Jefferson, tel: (602) 514-8400, . Formerly known as Bank One Ballpark (The BOB), the home of the National League Arizona Diamondbacks, capacity 49,033, with a retractable roof and air conditioning. You can get really decent tickets for $12.50.

Arizona Science Center, 600 East Washington St., tel: (602) 716-2000, . Hands-on science for kids and grown-ups, modeled on San Francisco's Exploratorium.

Phoenix Symphony, 455 North 3rd Street, tel: (602) 495-1999, . The city's classical and pops orchestra, presenting a 25-week season of concerts.

Arizona Opera, 4600 North 12th Street, (602) 266-7464, . Presenting a season of five grand opera productions, with emphasis on Verdi, Puccini, and Mozart.

Arizona Theatre Company, . Professional theater in downtown Phoenix's Herberger theater complex.

Mesa Arts Center, 1 East Main St., Mesa, tel: (480) 644-6500, . Visit the newly constructed and award winning MAC. Home of contemporary art displays and studios, as well as the Southwest Shakespeare Company and the Mesa Symphony Orchestra.

Desert Storm Hummer Tours, tel: (866) 374-8637, . Since 1995, Desert Storm Hummer has specialized in Sonoran Desert adventures. If you are truly adventurous, experience the dark side of the desert. Night vision tours let you witness desert life after dark!

Learn

Arizona State University, . Located in the eastern suburb of Tempe, with three branch campuses around the Phoenix metro area, ASU is one of the largest public universities in the United States and is noted for its engineering, business, music, and creative writing programs. It's law program is currently ranked around 43 in the nation.

Maricopa Community Colleges, . Largest system of community colleges in the United States, with 10 campuses in the metro Maricopa County area; numerous community and adult education programs.

Phoenix School of Law, . New law school, relatively open admissions policy.

Buy

Time-honored tchotchkes from Phoenix are scorpion bolo ties and saguaro-cactus salt and pepper shakers. Look for them at the various airport gift shops.

Eat

Budget

La Fonda Mexican Food, 1126 N. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe (480) 966-8001. La Fonda is a great restaurant if you're looking for Mexican food. The problem with posting this restaurant in the budget section is that many will instantly assume that the food is mediocre. The food is excellent, and the atmosphere is friendly; good pricing is an added benefit, not a factor.

Guedo's Taco Shop, 71 E. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480) 899-7841. Located in one of the eastern suburbs, Guedo's boasts a fanatical following... and for good reason. It's a simple formula -- superb soft tacos and Mexican beer, served in a hole-in-the-wall place with plenty of character. A salsa bar offers a choice of scratch-made and bottled sauces, ranging from mild to torrid. The cooks may sing Mexican ballads or pop songs while going about their work; your name will be called out when your order is ready. Some locals maintain that they have no interest in going to heaven if it doesn't include Guedo's.

Pete's Fish and Chips, 22 S. Mesa Dr., Mesa (480) 964-7242, . Eight other locations in the Phoenix Valley. Forget the tartar sauce -- "Pete's special sauce" is to die for. Family owned and operated since 1947. Only cash is accepted.

Also look out for many 24-hour Mexican food places -- Filiberto's, Raliberto's and other restaruants offer a burrito the size of your forearm for less than $4.

Mid-range

Los Dos Molinos, 8646 S. Central Ave., (602) 243-9113. Sonoran-style dominates Phoenix-area Mexican cookery, but Los Dos celebrates the cuisine of the Rio Grande Valley -- which means lots of very hot chiles. This long-established and highly regarded restaurant is a must for all true chile-heads. Reservations not accepted.

Matta's, 932 E. Main St., Mesa, (480) 964-7881. The Mexican restaurant on the east side of town since 1953, hosted by the Matta family. Nice atmosphere with strolling mariachis in the evening.

Old Town Tortilla Factory, 6910 E. Main Street, (480)-945-4567, . Modern Southwest cooking with Sonoran touches. Try the Red Chile Pork Chop, with an unlikely but tasty ancho-raspberry sauce. Patio seating, heated in winter, misted in summer. Open 5-11 PM daily, but reservations only accepted for groups of 6 or more, so prepare to wait (preferably in the adjacent tequillaria). $30.

Phoenicia Cafe, 616 S. Forest Ave., Tempe (480) 967-8009, . (From central Phoenix, take AZ 202 -- the Red Mountain Freeway -- east to the Scottsdale Road exit, make a right on Scottsdale Road, which becomes Rural Road once you cross the bridge. Make a right on University Ave., then a right on Forest Ave. The cafe will be on the left just past Sixth Street.) Delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. Relatively small and often packed, esp. while the university nearby is in session. Try the baba ghannouge (eggplant dip) and the baklava, made from scratch. There is also an attached small Middle Eastern grocery that has great prices, especially on spices, Middle Eastern/Mediterranean deli items, and bulk olive oil. Very good service and friendly atmosphere. Restricted hours June to September, call ahead to check. $15.

Splurge

Mastro's Steak House, 8852 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale (480) 585-9500, is actually located in north Scottsdale, but if you're willing to spend the money, you're probably willing to drive as well. Mastro's also has a restaurant in Beverly Hills, with a plethora of well-known visitors that frequent it. Call ahead, as you'll most likely need a reservation.

Eddie V's Edgewater Grill, 20875 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale (480) 538-8468. Eddie V's is very close to Mastro's (about 10 minutes), meaning it's also in Scottsdale. The food is great, and Eddie's has something for everyone, in comparison to the meat-centrism of common steakhouses. (I recommend the Parmesan encrusted sol... mmmmm.) Call ahead for a reservation.

Drink

Casey Moores, 850 S. Ash Ave., Tempe (480) 985-9935. Situated in an older ASU residential neighborhood, this oyster joint serves a plethora of food and brews. $3 draft specials every night. While most nights will be fairly busy, expect weekends to be especially crowded. Popular with young 20-somethings and smartly academic types.

Sleep

Budget

The Lodge at Sun Ridge

HI-Phoenix (The Metcalf House), 1026 North 9th Street, +1 602 254-9803, [http://home.earthlink.net/~phxhostel/. Beds start at $18 per night. Closed during the months of July and August.

Mid-range

AmeriSuites Phoenix North, 10838 N. 25th Ave, +1 602 997-8800. - Located just north of downtown Phoenix and a short distance from the new Glendale Arena and Cardinals Football Stadium.

Embassy Suites Biltmore Hotel, 2630 E. Camelback Rd., +1 602 955-3992. - Next to the Biltmore Fashion Park offering over 70 shops and 14 restaurants. The Phoenix Airport is just eight miles away.

Phoenix Inn Suites, 2310 E Highland Ave, +1 602 956-5221. - All suite accommodations with complimentary breakfast buffet, high speed internet, and 24 hr. business center.

Phoenix Vacation Homes, S.W. Phoenix, +1 480 221-4776. - Condo and Golf House accommodations with all the luxuries of home, 52" Big Screens, Granite Tops, in the Heart of the city. Starting at $150 per night depending on season.

Ramada Plaza Hotel at Phoenix MetroCenter, 12027 N. 28th Drive, +1 602 866-7000, Fax (602) 866-7000. - A 170-room hotel by Phoenix MetroCenter Mall. Features wedding reception packages, conference room floor plans and Phoenix area guide and tours.

Sheraton Crescent Hotel, 2620 W. Dunlap Ave., +1 602 943-8200. - Located in the heart of Phoenix's bustling high-tech commerce corridor and 30 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the Sheraton Crescent Hotel is also close to the MetroCenter Mall, NHL hockey at the Glendale Arena, and baseball spring training at the Peoria Sports Complex.

SpringHill Suites Downtown, 802 E. Van Buren St, 1-602-307-9929, . All-suite hotel with microwave, fridge, free wired/wireless internet in every room. Pool, small gym, free breakfast, free airport shuttle. From $150.

Wyndham Phoenix Hotel, 50 E. Adams St., +1 602 333-0000. - Only a short walk from Phoenix's convention center, shops and restaurants at the Arizona Center and Collier Center, America West Arena, Bank One Ballpark, the Herberger and Orpheum Theaters, Symphony Hall, and the Dodge Theatre.

Splurge

Scottsdale Vacation Homes, Old Town Scottsdale, +1 480 221-4776. - 2 to 3 Bedroom Condo and Golf House accommodations with all the luxuries of home, 52" Big Screens, Granite Tops, Knotty Alder doors, Brazilian Slate Stone tile, in the Heart of the city. Starting at $199 per night depending on season.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale +1 602 585-4848. - The Princess is an excellent hotel/spa for anyone. Pools a plenty, and much to do; swimming, fishing, golf, tennis, or enjoying time at the spa -- you can't go wrong at the Princess. The area that surrounds it is also very nice, in close proximity to Mastro's and Eddie V's restaurants. $200-400.

Pointe South Mountain Resort, 7777 South Pointe Parkway +1 (602) 438-9000 - a luxury resort located in a desert oasis at the base of South Mountain Preserve in Arizona. The family friendly vacation resort features championship golf, athletic club & spa, dining at six restaurants and The Oasis Water Park.

Royal Palms Resort & Spa, 5200 East Camelback Road Phoenix, +1 (602) 840.3610 The resort is situated at the base of Camelback Mountain, between the Biltmore area and downtown Scottsdale, 7 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The luxury resort features 119 rooms in a variety of configurations: casitas, luxury guest rooms, spa suites, and villas. The resort also features a luxury spa, dining options and meeting & event facilities.

Stay safe

Despite being a nice vacation destination, Phoenix does contain a fair amount of violent crime. Some parts of the city should be avoided at night. Downtown is safe during the day, but does have a problem with transients. If visiting downtown at night (such as a Diamondbacks or Suns game), always go with a group. South Phoenix has a gang problem and can be unsafe in some areas (though there is not much to see anyway). Maryvale in the west valley and should be avoided at night unless with family. Most of the suburban areas (Peoria, Glendale, Chandler, Mesa, ect.) are safe at all times, though parts of Avondale can be sketchy. The Sunnyslope area (north central Phoenix) has some issues and should be avoided. The town of Guadalupe is unsafe at night, but is an incredibly interesting hispanic community to visit during the day. Just use common sense and be aware of your surroundings.

Cope

The Phoenix Public Library is available to satisfy your reading jones.

Get out

If you would like to visit areas outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area, you might want to check out Tucson, Las Vegas, or San Diego. For cooler weather, head up to I-17 to Flagstaff or Sedona.

A good option for a day trip, or longer, out of Phoenix is a drive north to Sedona. If you have three days or more, head out to Las Vegas via Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon.

Phoenix most often refers to:

Phoenix (mythology), a mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from the ashes

Phoenix, Arizona, a large city in the United States

Phoenix may also refer to:
Arts, literature, entertainment

Comics

Phoenix (comics), a fictional cosmic entity in the Marvel Comics universe, and the associated characters:

*"Phoenix", an alias of Marvel Comics character Jean Grey

*"Phoenix", an alias of Marvel Comics character Rachel Grey

Phoenix (manga), a manga by Osamu Tezuka (original Japanese title: Hi no Tori)

Films

Phoenix (1998 film), starring Ray Liotta and Anjelica Huston

Television

Phoenix (TV series), a 1992-1993 Australian police drama

The Phoenix (2004 TV series), a MBC Korean drama starring Eric Mun

The Phoenix (1982 TV series), a short-lived American science fiction series starring Judson Scott

Phoenix Television, a Hong Kong based television broadcaster

Phoenix (German TV station)

Phoenix (Star Trek), the name of a fictional spacecraft in the Star Trek universe, as well as the name of a Federation starship in The Wounded (TNG episode)

Phoenix Organization, a semi-scientific, semi-occult group conducting research into near-death experiences in the television series John Doe

Phoenix Nights, a British sitcom

Literature

The Phoenix, a 1999 play written by Morgan Spurlock

de Ave Phoenice, a poem attributed to Lactantius

The Phoenix (Anglo-Saxon), an Old English poem based on de Ave Phoenice

, a 1942 sociological work by H. G. Wells

The Phoenix (novel), a 2000 German historical novel by Henning Boëtius

The Phoenix and the Turtle: an enigmatic poem by William Shakespeare

Phoenix (novel), fantasy novel by Stephen Brust

Magazines and journals

The Phoenix (art journal), edited by James Cooney and Henry Miller

The Phoenix (magazine), an Irish news and satire magazine

Phoenix (classics journal), a Canadian classics journal

Phoenix (literary magazine), a Russian samizdat journal published by Yuri Galanskov

Newspapers

The Phoenix (newspaper), a collective name of alternative weekly newspapers in Boston, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; and Portland, Maine

Loyola Phoenix, a newspaper of Loyola University Chicago

The Phoenix, a student newspaper of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Music

Phoenix (band), a French pop/rock band

Phoenix, or Transsylvania Phoenix, a Romanian band

Phoenix Organs, a maker of electronic organs

Phoenix, the nickname of Dave Farrell, bass guitarist in Linkin Park

Phoenix Radio, a Greek internet radio station

Phoenix (Grand Funk Railroad album), a 1972 album by Grand Funk Railroad

Phoenix (Labelle album), 1975 album by Labelle

Phoenix (Dan Fogelberg album), 1980 album by Dan Fogelberg

Phoenix (Pink Turns Blue album), a 2005 album by Pink Turns Blue

The Phoenix (Lyfe Jennings album), a 2006 album by Lyfe Jennings

Phoenix (Michelle Williams album), a 2007 album by Michelle Williams

"Phoenix", a song on the 2000 Stratovarius album Infinite

"Phoenix", a song on the 2004 The Prodigy album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned

The Days of the Phoenix EP, a 2001 EP released by the band AFI, and also a song on that album

Sports

Phoenix Coyotes, an NHL hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Suns, an NBA basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix Mercury, a WNBA basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix International Raceway, a race track in Phoenix, Arizona

Elon Phoenix, the intercollegiate athletic teams for Elon University

Manchester Phoenix, a British ice hockey club playing in the Elite Ice Hockey League

Wellington Phoenix FC, a football (soccer) club from New Zealand which plays in the Australian A-League

Yorkshire Phoenix, the name for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in one-day games

Phoenix Baia Mare, a defunct football club from Baia Mare, Romania

Phoenix Racing, a NASCAR team owned by James Finch

Phoenix, a sports festival organised by the Recreation Committee of The National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, India

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) Phoenix

Phoenix Cricket Club, a cricket club in Dublin, Ireland

Melbourne Phoenix, an Australian national netball team based in Melbourne, Australia

Video and arcade games

Phoenix Lestrade, a Formula Zero pilot in the F-Zero AX video game and a hidden character in F-Zero GX

Phoenix Rod, a weapon from the Heretic video game universe

Fire Phoenix, a fictional mecha from the Zoids model series, which also features heavily in the related Zoids: Fuzors anime

Phoenix (arcade game), a 1980 arcade game

Phoenix Wright, title character of a lawyer simulation visual novel game.

Astronomy and space exploration

Phoenix (constellation), a minor southern constellation

Phoenix Dwarf Galaxy, a small galaxy

Phoenix (spacecraft), a planned NASA mission to Mars

Phoenix (VTOL spacecraft), American VTOL orbital launch vehicle design study 1982-1988

EADS Phoenix, a proposed unmanned European reusable launch vehicle

Project Phoenix (SETI), a search for extraterrestrial intelligence by listening for radio signals

Biology

Phoenix (plant), genus of trees within the palm family Arecaceae (including the Date Palm)

Companies

Phoenix AG, an industrial company based in Hamburg, Germany producing industrial rubber-based products

Phoenix Motorcars, a California-based company that focuses on developing electric vehicles

Phoenix Natural Gas, a utility company in Northern Ireland

Phoenix Pharmahandel, a pharmaceutical company based in Mannheim, Germany

Phoenix Venture Holdings, a British company

Computing

Phoenix Object Basic, a software-based objective programming language

Phoenix (computer), an IBM mainframe at Cambridge University

Phoenix Technologies, a BIOS manufacturer

Phoenix, former name of the Mozilla Firefox web browser

Phoenix Framework, a codename for Microsoft's upcoming compiler and analysis tools which will form the basis of future versions of Microsoft Visual Studio

Maritime (civil)

Phoenix (boat), the first steamboat to sail the open ocean

Phoenix (ship) or Phenix, a whaling vessel based in Nantucket (1821-1858)

Phoenix (of London), another nineteenth century whaling vessel, based in London and active in the Pacific in the 1820s

Phoenix (ships with this name) Other ships

Military, naval and air forces

AIM-54 Phoenix, a long-range air-to-air missile

HMS Phoenix, the name of fifteen ships in the Royal Navy

Phoenix breakwaters, components of a Mulberry harbour

Phoenix Program, CIA program in Vietnam to neutralize the noncombatant infrastructure of Viet Cong (VCI) cadres

Phoenix (UAV), an unmanned air vehicle operated by the Royal Artillery

Project Phoenix (South Africa), the name of the South African National Defence Force programme to revive its Reserve Force

USS Phoenix, the name of several ships in United States Navy

Mythology

Phoenix (mythology), a mythical bird that dies in flames and is reborn from the ashes

Fenghuang, the Asian phoenix

Phoenix (Iliad), a character in the Iliad, tutor of Achilles and father of Adonis; or a different character in Greek mythology, brother of Europa and Cadmus

People

Joaquin Phoenix (born 1974), American actor

River Phoenix (1970–1993), American actor

Lauren Phoenix

Phoenix, the handle of Nahshon Even-Chaim (born 1971), convicted Australian computer hacker

"The Phoenix", an alias for professional wrestler Jody Fleisch (born 1980)

Simon Phoenix, a fictional character in the film Demolition Man

Places

Phoenix, Mauritius, a town on Mauritius

Phoenix Islands, a sparsely populated island chain in Kiribati

Phoenix Park in Dublin, Ireland

In the United States:

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Illinois

Phoenix, Maryland

Phoenix, New York

Phoenix, Oregon

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Phenix City, Alabama (note spelling)

Other uses

Phénix, a prototype fast breeder nuclear reactor in France

Phoenix Patrol Challenge, the national Scoutcraft competition of Scouting Ireland

Phoenix Project, a Virginia-based nonprofit

Greek phoenix, first modern Greek currency

Bristol Phoenix, a diesel-powered aircraft engine

Phoenix (roller coaster), a roller coaster in Knoebels amusement park in Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Phoenix LRT Station, a Singaporean Light-rail (LRT) station operated by SMRT

University of Phoenix, a university in the United States of America

Phoenix Lights, one of the most witnessed UFO sightings ever

La Fenice or "The Phoenix", a famous opera house in Venice, Italy

Phoenix codes, police radio shorthand

Chrysler Phoenix engine, an upcoming V6 engines family planned at Chrysler for 2010

Pontiac Phoenix, American automobile