Phoenix, the nation’s fifth-largest city, boasts Sonoran desert vistas, 300 days of sunshine a year, world-class spas and resorts, and every manner of outdoor sports and recreation. But the Valley of the Sun has also become a cultural and gastronomic powerhouse in recent years, with a rich blend of Latin, Spanish and local influences that make it well worth a visit now that the heat of summer has diminished. (www.visitphoenix.com)

SEE: The internationally acclaimed Heard Museum is known for its singular Native American art collection. The Phoenix Art Museum has more than 16,000 works from the 15th through 20th centuries. More than two dozen theater groups call greater Phoenix home, including The Herberger Theater Center and The Phoenix Theatre, the nation’s longest-running community theater.

STAY: The venerable Arizona Biltmore retains its landmark grandeur (its consulting architect was Frank Lloyd Wright) and for 78 years has been the city’s premier sophisticated destination. Today’s Biltmore boasts updated suites, eight swimming pools and elegant amenities and dining. A younger vibe is found at Hotel Valley Ho, a former Hollywood haunt, now with a sleek spa and other modern trappings.

DINE: Nationally ranked chefs have put Phoenix on the gastronomic map. Vincent Guerithault’s Vincent’s on Camelback is a bastion of new Southwestern cuisine with a classic French twist. Douglas Rodriguez’ Deseo delivers Nuevo Latino. Robert McGrath’s Roaring Fork Restaurant features award-winning local fare. At the Hotel Valley Ho, Charles Wiley serves up contemporary American dishes at Café ZuZu. For more casual dining, downtown’s Copper Square has more than 95 restaurants and bars.

SHOP: Upscale malls abound—Biltmore Fashion Park, Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Fashion Square among them—but go off the beaten path for unique buys. Old Towne and Catlin Court in Glendale have more than 80 antique stores and specialty shops; original Southwestern art can be found in the galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale’s Old Town; and Mill Avenue in Tempe features local boutiques.

INSIDER’S TIP: The Desert Botanical Garden has the world’s largest collection of desert plants, South Mountain Park, at 20,000 acres, is the largest municipal park in the world, and Pueblo Grande is a historic Native American cultural site. All are within the Phoenix city limits.

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