To be fair to Phoenix, one can't look simply at what's within its city borders. This metropolis actually spans 22 cities, including tony Scottsdale, snowbird favorite Mesa, and Glendale, home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team. The region's main visitor attraction is golf, with approximately 200 courses throughout the metro area.

Phoenix is the cosmopolitan center as well as the state capital, with a lot of downtown cultural landmarks, including Heard Museum, which is all Native American artifacts and art. Opening April 24, 2010, and highly anticipated by locals is the Musical Instrument Museum. Downtown hosts weekly First Fridays. Phoenix is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Baseball team and the Phoenix Suns NBA team. Baseball spring training games take place throughout the Phoenix metro area. Mesa has a lot of interesting attractions, including the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet and the Mesa Arts Center—a mixed arts complex with on-site galleries and an outdoor plaza performance space. Mesa's also within convenient proximity of the famous Apache Trail. For designer shopping, beautiful blond people, and "see-and-be-seen" nightlife, Scottsdale is the spot.