Planted firmly in the Salt River Valley, or "Valley of the Sun", Phoenix, Arizona is surrounded by a series of stunning desert mountain ranges, including South Mountain Park, the largest metropolitan park on Earth.
Called “Hoozdo” in the Navajo language, meaning “this place is hot,” Phoenix, also has some of the highest seasonal temperatures anywhere in the world.
Appropriately named from the mythological bird that rose from the smoldering ashes of it predecessors, Phoenix was first settled in 1867 by industrious farmers who brought forth the bounty of the fertile, but dry land via a canal from the nearby Salt River.
Today’s Phoenix is the pride of Arizona, a leading tourist destination, and the sixth largest U.S. city by population. With its captivating desert surroundings, and nearly 300 days of warm weather each year enabling a variety of year round outdoor activities – from hiking and Jeep tours to horseback riding and hot air balloon adventures - Phoenix has become a perennial “hot-spot” for residents and tourists alike.