When you are looking for sunshine, scenery, sightseeing and sports with a southwestern flair head for Phoenix. On the banks of the Salt River, Phoenix is located in the heart of the vast Sonoran Desert surrounded on three sides by dramatic snow-capped mountains. It is the capital of Arizona and the fifth largest city in the U.S.
As early as 300 BC, Hohokam Native Americans constructed elaborate pueblos and complex canal irrigation systems in the Phoenix area. When Mother Nature forced the tribe to abandon their desert farmlands, the area remained virtually deserted until settlers arrived in the 1860s. Using the Hohokam canals and pueblo concepts to develop their settlement, these early settlers chose the name Phoenix to honor the ancient tribe. Greek and Egyptian myths associate Phoenix with the sun god and a magnificent bird that according to legends rose from its own ashes.
Today, Greater Phoenix has evolved from a farming settlement to modern metropolis sprawling over 2,000 square miles. Each year more than 13 million business and leisure travelers come to Phoenix. The Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ranks in the top ten busiest airports in the U.S. Although Phoenix ground transportation is readily available, getting around Phoenix and taking advantage of its proximity for nearby day trips requires a car. Phoenix rental cars are available from most national agencies on-site at the airport and along Sky Harbor Circle.
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