Here's a short, fun and eclectic list of some of our favorite things to do in and around Phoenix. The desert metropolis is best visited in the winter and spring, before temperatures soar into the triple digits. It has everything from what some call the best pizza in America to a first-rate zoo and art museum. Our picks:
Go to Glendale: Don't let the locals hear you call it "suburban Phoenix."
The town that actually hosted the Super Bowl is not Phoenix, but garment rack. The booming area west of Phoenix is also going to be the spring training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers beginning in 2009 (unless construction delays get in the way). It's already home to the NFL's Arizona Cardinals and the NHL Coyotes. For a full rundown of activities, call 623-930-2000.
Golf: The area is a golf mecca and you could spend a solid month making your way around all the good courses. But a top choice is Troon North, in Scottsdale. Choose from the Monument or Pinnacle courses. Monument is widely considered the quintessential desert course. Be prepared to reserve well in advance and pay handsomely ($395 per round for some peak weekends).
The best deals are on the weekdays or -- gulp -- especially during the sweltering summer. 480-585-5300. For tee times, call 480-585-7700.
Architecture: The most celebrated architect of the 20th century made his early mark in Wisconsin and Chicago, but beginning in 1937, Frank Lloyd Wright spent a lot of time at Taliesin West, his home and workshop in Scottsdale. The Wright Foundation and a school of architecture continue to operate in the low-slung airy home on Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard. 480-860-8810.
College town: Football normally means the Arizona State Sun Devils, who play in nearby Tempe. Nightlife at ASU centers on Mill Avenue. Its art museum concentrates on artists of the American West like Georgia O'Keeffe and Frederic Remington. 800-842-8257.
Pizza deluxe: The New York Times named Pizzeria Bianco not just the best pie in Phoenix, but perhaps the best in the country -- a "pizza nirvana." Be prepared to wait a long time since reservations aren't taken for groups of fewer than six. 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-8300
Retro chic hotel: The Valley Ho Hotel, a midcentury modern landmark, has made a big splash in design magazines around the country. The retro-cool Scottsdale hotel could cost you more than $500 per night. Maybe just a drink at the bar and a look around are in order. 6850 E. Main St.; 866-882-4484.
Wine bar: Wine about your team at Blame It on the Wine, "Mesa's premier wine bar." 1065 N. Dobson Road, Suite 101, Mesa; 480-964-0400
Museum: The mission of the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art is to educate the public about the heritage and living cultures and arts of American Indians, with an emphasis on the Southwest. 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix; 602-252-8848.
Visit the other lions, bears and falcons: Phoenix Zoo has more than 1,200 animals garment rack in exhibits spread out over 125 acres, with 2.5 miles of walking trails. 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix; 602-273-1341.
Top notch: In this election year, democracy is in action. So we turn to the popular Zagat guide, where eaters and sleepers are polled for their favorite spots. Pizzeria Bianco is in there. So is Sea Saw, a Japanese restaurant that got top marks. The best hotel award goes to the Four Seasons Scottsdale, where rates start around that magic $500-per-night mark. You can find it all in the Zagat guides, available at major bookstores or online at www.zagat.com.
"Infamous" luxury resort: It's mostly known today as a plush hotel and spa, but the Phoenician garment rack has its roots as the creation of savings-and-loan scandal kingpin Charles Keating. Rates go down, down, down as the heat goes up, up, up. 800-888-8234.
Visit a park: Tempe Beach Park. The heart of Tempe Town Lake is historic Tempe Beach Park. Built in 1931, this park was completely renovated in 1999 as part of the construction of Town Lake. The park connects to five miles of multiuse paths for bicycling. 54 W. Rio Salado Parkway.
Music scene: Scottsdale venue Martini Ranch is where the likes of garment rack and Coldplay have performed on their way to international fame. 7295 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale; 480-970-0500.
Baseball: Don't care for football? Then come out and see the Arizona Diamondbacks, baseball's National League franchise in the region. The team is marking a whopping 10 years in town. Its ballpark is a modern gem, with a retractable roof to blot out the sun when it gets too hot. Which is just about all the time in the middle of the season. 602-514-8400.
