About Phoenix
As the capital of Arizona, a state that offers snow capped mountain peaks, blue water lakes, forests and plains, Phoenix is an international hub of 1.3 million residents located in the Sonoran Desert. Visit the Phoenix metro area any time of year and you'll find lots to see, do and enjoy. With more than 325 days of sunshine every year we can almost promise a blue sky day. But Phoenix is more than just great weather. Phoenix is a diverse community with an energy all its own.
The Valley is also a tremendous venue for business or pleasure. With more than three dozen luxurious resorts many including luxury spas, Phoenix is ideal for a relaxing vacation or a business trip with a few perks built in. Our unrivaled shopping and dining, and dynamic nightlife all add up to make Phoenix a place that once you visit, you may never want to leave.
Commuting on the Light Rail
Commuting has now become easier than ever with the recent construction of the Valley Metro Light Rail. With a stop only a block away from the school and many other stops all over the Phoenix Metropolitan area, students living almost anywhere can ride the Light Rail. It’s a fun and affordable way to travel and beat the traffic.
http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail/
What to Do Outdoors
Not many cities offer adventure within the city limits like Phoenix. Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, the Papago Buttes and South Mountain offer outdoor lovers miles of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as up close encounters with our unique native wildlife and vegetation. If hiking and biking aren't your fancy, there's always desert jeep tours, horseback riding, hot air ballooning-the sky literally is the limit. And if you’re willing to take a short drive outside of Phoenix, several lakes and even skiing in Flagstaff or Sunrise are within a few hours reach.
Arts and Culture
From celebrating the regions Native American heritage to reveling in our present ethnic diversity, the Phoenix Metro Area is a region brimming with culture. Tour any one of a hundred different museums and galleries including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Heard Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art or enjoy a theater performance. The performing Arts season in the Valley is diverse and alive and public art is everywhere.
Professional Sports
If you love sports, then Phoenix is Nirvana. Phoenix Suns basketball, Arizona Cardinals football, Arizona Diamondbacks baseball, Phoenix Coyotes Hockey means sports in Phoenix is year round. Let's not forget the most attended event on the PGA Tour, the FBR Open.
For the Golfer
And then there's golf. The Phoenix Metro Area is known for its world class courses-there are over 200 in the Valley. With courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Gary Panks, Arnold Palmer to name a few, players can test their prowess on the links and enjoy the scenic beauty that is part of the Valley of the Sun.
Weather
Weather Phoenix gets only 7.66 inches of rain per year and has an average high temperature of 85 degrees. The average low is 59 degrees, so temperatures cool quickly in the evening, particularly in the spring, fall and winter. Although things warm up in the summer, the low desert humidity makes for a favorable heat index when compared to cities in the Midwest, Southeast and other parts of the country.
| Month | Avg. Degrees (°F) | Rainfall in Inches |
| January | 53 | 0.8 |
| February | 57 | 0.7 |
| March | 62 | 0.9 |
| April | 69 | 0.2 |
| May | 78 | 0.1 |
| June | 88 | 0.1 |
| July | 93 | 0.8 |
| August | 91 | 1.0 |
| September | 85 | 0.7 |
| October | 74 | 0.6 |
| November | 61 | 0.6 |
| December | 54 | 0.6 |
