Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix sits in the south-central portion of Arizona as the state capital and the seat of Maricopa County. With a metro area of roughly five million residents and a city population of approximately 1.6 million, it ranks among the largest cities in the United States. The city has a sprawling, sun-baked character defined by low-slung neighborhoods, palm-lined streets, and wide desert horizons, and it is best known as a year-round warm-weather destination and as a gateway to the red rock country of northern Arizona. The nearest major city of comparable size is Tucson, about 100 miles to the southeast, while Los Angeles lies roughly 370 miles to the west across the California border.

For desert hiking and iconic views, Camelback Mountain rises in the heart of the city and offers two strenuous summit trails, Echo and Cholla, that reward climbers with sweeping views of the Valley of the Sun. The trailheads sit about 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix and are a staple of any visitor's itinerary.

The Desert Botanical Garden, located in Papago Park roughly 15 minutes east of the city center, showcases thousands of species of cacti, succulents, and desert wildflowers along looping paths. Adjacent to it, the Phoenix Zoo occupies the same park and adds a family-friendly draw that runs throughout the cooler months.

About 30 minutes north of Phoenix, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale offers more than 200 miles of marked trails through saguaro-studded hills, making it one of the largest urban preserves in the country. For travelers willing to venture further, the red rock formations around Sedona lie approximately 120 miles to the north, while the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is about 220 miles away, both well within reach for a day trip or overnight excursion.

Phoenix's combination of a major international airport, mild winters, and proximity to some of the most photographed landscapes in the American Southwest makes it a natural base for short-term rentals. Visitors who stay in the city can spend mornings on desert trails or at museums and afternoons sampling the surrounding canyons, forests, and mountain towns, all without straying far from the urban amenities that make the metro area so easy to navigate.