Arizona 2008 Official State Visitor's Guide - (Page 42) Phoenix and Central Arizona T oday, Greater Phoenix, also known as the Valley of the Sun, spills brazenly beyond the neat perimeters of Gulley’s arch. It’s become a vast, diverse Sonoran Desert metropolis in central Arizona of more than 3 million people, some 2,000 square miles and dozens of unique cities and towns. If you’ve never been here before, you might find this urban region’s sheer size daunting, but the best way to get to know the metro area is to divvy it up into sections, as if framed by that old arch, and to spend time soaking up those very different local atmospheres. Phoenix Gulley’s landmark home, now called Mystery Castle and open for public tours, anchors one section of Phoenix, the state’s largest city and its capital. But visitors shouldn’t be too quick to characterize Mystery Castle’s desert funkiness as the typical Phoenix experience. The city is a huge mix. Try throwing in some worldclass arts, big-league sports, the great outdoors, diverse neighborhoods and sophisticated urban pleasures to get more of the proper Phoenix perspective. Straddling the banks of Salt River and marked by desert mountains, Phoenix has radiated outward from its downtown core. Get to know Phoenix by exploring its downtown, also known as Copper Square, which has regained its energy in recent years with new cultural, sports, commercial and public facilities taking root. Most recently, the opening of a downtown campus for Arizona State University is bringing young people to the city’s center, and the new light rail system will make zipping around easier. Start with downtown museums. Phoenix Art Museum, fresh from a $50 million expansion, now has more room for blockbuster exhibits and its own varied permanent collection. The Heard Museum You Are Here US Airways Center, Phoenix ©AOT Shopping, Kierland Commons ©AOT Tempe Town Lake, Tempe ©HPMG 42 • A r i z o n A o f f i c i A l S tAt e V i S i t o r ’ S G u i d e
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