About City

Phoenix is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona, and anchor of a sprawling, multicity metropolitan area known as the Valley of the Sun. The area is known for high-end resorts, Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses and vibrant nightclubs, but the city's biggest attraction may be the sunshine and winter warmth.

The city has numerous performing arts venues, most of which are located in and around downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale. The Phoenix Symphony Hall is home to the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona. The Arizona Opera company also has intimate performances at its new Arizona Opera Center, which opened in March 2013. Another venue is the Orpheum Theatre, which is home to the Phoenix Opera, formerly known as the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera. Ballet Arizona, in addition to the Symphony Hall, also has performances at the Orpheum Theater as well at the Dorrance Theater. Concerts also regularly make stops in the area. The largest downtown performing art venue is the Herberger Theater Center, which houses three performance spaces and is home to two resident companies, the Arizona Theatre Company and the Centre Dance Ensemble. Three other groups also use the facility: Valley Youth Theatre, iTheatre Collaborative and Actors Theater.

Public education in the Phoenix area is provided by 29 school districts. There are 21 elementary school districts, which contain over 215 elementary schools, and they are paired with 4 high school districts, which have a total of 31 high schools serving Phoenix. Three of the high school districts only partially serve Phoenix. With over 27,000 students, and spread over 220 square miles, The Phoenix Union High School District is one of the largest high school districts in the country, containing 16 schools and nearly 3,000 employees. In addition there are 4 unified districts, which cover grades K-12, which add an additional 58 elementary schools and 4 high schools to Phoenix's educational system. Of those four, only the Paradise Valley district completely serves Phoenix. Phoenix is also served by an expanding number of charter schools, with over 30 currently operating in the city.

Phoenix is served by Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, one of the ten busiest airports in the United States, serving over 110,000 people on over 1000 flights per day. The airport is centrally located in the metro area near several major freeway interchanges east of downtown Phoenix. The airport serves more than 100 cities with non-stop flights.

Nearly perfect year-round weather and several impeccably designed championship courses have made Phoenix one of the world's top golf destinations. But there's more to this mild-mannered metropolis than pristine greens and tee times. The greater Phoenix area also offers an array of impressive cultural attractions. Visit the internationally renowned Heard Museum for an in-depth look at Native American history or peruse the fine collection at the Phoenix Museum of Art. Enjoy a ballet performance at the ornate Orpheum Theater, or catch a Broadway show at the state-of-the-art Dodge. In addition to golf, the city offers numerous outdoor activities including rock climbing, hot-air ballooning, desert jeep tours and more. Family-friendly attractions, first-rate shopping, dining and entertainment, and spectacular recreational activities make Phoenix a must-see destination.

Attractions & Landmarks

• Desert Botanical Garden.
• Phoenix Zoo.
• Grand Canyon.
• Castles n Coasters.
• Heard Museum.
• Arizona Science Center.
• Chase Field.
• Papago Park.
• Hall of Flame Fire Museum.
• Hole in the Rock.
• Pueblo Grande Ruin.
• Grand Canyon.
• Phoenix Art Museum.
• Arizona State Capitol.
• Rosson House.
• Talking Stick Resort Arena.
• Comerica Theatre.