Area description continued:
Phoenix's greatest attraction is the land that surrounds it: a vast expanse of untamed desert. As the state capital, Phoenix is as modern as any American metropolis, with an active arts scene and a brisk economy. Downtown Phoenix is primarily a government and financial center, with little to tempt the traveler except for the state capitol, a few museums and a score of galleries. Population: Metropolitan: 1,116,075 Scottsdale not only attracts wellheeled retirees from all across the country but also offers attractions geared to providing harmless fun to families of all ages. However above all else two things seem to matter in Scottsdale: this town on Phoenix's urban fringe is a shoppers' paradise; it's not just an oasis but a Mecca, a shrine to capitalist consumption, but shopping is just a pastime and minor sport compared to GOLF. Population: 215,100 Flight times: Chicago 4.5 hrs, London 10 hrs, N.Y. 5 hrs, Los Angles 1 hr, Miami 4.6 hrs, Mexico City 3 hrs WEATHER From September through April, Phoenix enjoys