Phoenix City Information

Before it acquired its firebird affiliation, Phoenix was known in the Navajo language as Hoozdo. Translation: "This place is hot!" While the Navajo were referring to the area's desert temperatures, the description suits the mythologically named city in other ways--Phoenix is one of the country's hottest destinations for work and play.
Lying on the periphery of the Sonoran Desert, home of the native saguaro cactus, the Valley of the Sun's natural landscape can be harsh and unforgiving. Yet it's also hauntingly beautiful, with expanses of exotic desert vegetation, breathtaking mountains and bright rock mesas in shades of orange, red and yellow. Cultivated neighborhoods are just as lush--oases carved from stark desert. Palm and citrus trees thrive on golf courses, fuchsia bougainvillea blooms on mailboxes and walls of pink oleander line the roads.
But the landscape isn't all that's scorchingly spectacular. You'll find a vivacious, lively arts scene in metropolitan Phoenix. Visit the Heard Museum for its renowned Native American exhibits or inspect masterpieces at the Phoenix Museum of Art. Enjoy a symphony or catch a Broadway show at the city's world-class venues. And of course, you must visit one of those spas that everyone's talking about.
Phoenix is the thriving capital of Arizona. Countless suburbs, sprawling shopping centers and rambling ranch-style homes retain a Western look, while high-rise office buildings stand as gleaming symbols of Eastern influence. Spanish Colonial and Native American pueblo architecture add color and variety.
The city displays enthusiasm and pride in the many athletic and cultural activities it supports. The arts are pursued at excellent theaters, numerous museums, and lectures at colleges and universities. The Civic Plaza downtown houses a state-of-the-art convention center and a symphony hall. Greyhound races, horse races, golf tournaments and rodeos add to the city's entertainment scene.
Phoenix is an agricultural, industrial and service center. Cotton as well as dates, olives, citrus and other subtropical fruits and vegetables are grown in the area. The dry climate and natural beauty have attracted companies in the fields of electronics, high-tech research and development, communications and aerospace; tourism also is big business, with an increasing number of visitors enjoying the city's quality of life.