Amtrak Vacations

Things are different in the desert. The sky is bigger. The stars are brighter. The sunsets stop you in your tracks.

It’s a feeling that can’t be conjured, landscaped or kindled with twinkling bulbs. John Ford knew that. So did Frank Lloyd Wright. Come to Greater Phoenix and you’ll understand, too.

America’s fifth-largest city still has real cowboys and rugged mountains and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. Phoenix is the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and its history is a testament to the spirit of puebloans, ranchers, miners and visionaries.

Projected against this rich backdrop is a panorama of urban sophistication: Resorts and spas that drop jaws and soothe souls. Stadiums and arenas worthy of the world’s biggest sports spectacles. Restaurants with inspired cuisine and inspiring patio views. Golf courses that beckon players the year round. Shopping centers as stylish and eclectic as the fashions they house.

Sunshine and Sonoran Desert. It means you can do things here you couldn’t dream of doing anywhere else.

Our mountains are in the city, so you can hike the 50 miles of trails at South Mountain, chase the legend of the Lost Dutchman in the Superstitions, see the city from Piestawa Peak, or hike our famous natural landmark, Camelback Mountain, with a red-rock profile seen throughout the city.

You can also experience the great outdoors from shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park, Kierland Commons or the Waterfront, the boutiques in historic homes in downtown Phoenix, or the vintage home and garden shops on 7th Avenue.

Want a little “wild” with your West? Chase the legend of the Lost Dutchman in the Superstition Mountains, or take a guided tour of the world’s lushest desert on a horse or in a hot-air balloon.

When the sun gives way to the stars, there are many areas for nightlife. Head to see-and-be-seen Scottsdale, hang with the college crowd on Mill Avenue or stroll a First Friday Art Walk in downtown Phoenix.

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