Arbor Medical Partners Pediatrics

They call Phoenix “The Valley of the Sun” for a reason. More than 19 million people visit the metropolitan area each year to enjoy the weather, shop ’til they drop, and savor the food at fabulous restaurants. For many, one of the top reasons to move to Phoenix is to escape the snow and cold temperatures. With around 300 sunny days a year, it’s easy to see the bright side of things when living in Phoenix. Sure, temps are at least 100 degrees for a third of the year, but it’s a dry heat. Donate your coats, stock up on sunblock, and ensure you don’t have leather seats in your car.

Phoenix’s sunny weather and mountainous desert terrain are ideal for hiking, mountain biking, cycling, fishing, rock climbing, tubing, and horseback riding. Living in Phoenix means enjoying more than 180 parks, 41,000 acres of desert and mountain preserves, and more than 200 miles of trails. In your downtime, you can play Frisbee and have a picnic in one of the largest municipal parks in the nation, South Mountain Park and Preserve. Drive through Phoenix Mountains Preserve on State Route 51 or climb Camelback Mountain. Watch the sunrise at Hole-in-the-Rock at Papago Park or enjoy cooling off at one of the many local water parks or floating down the Salt River.

Living in Phoenix means you get everything—from ballet and the symphony to plays and musical theater. Phoenix is rich in culture. Get your taste of Phoenix culture at the Arizona Opera Company, Ballet Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Gammage Auditorium, and Ak-Chin Pavilion (the best outdoor performance center). Scottsdale, a part of Phoenix, has an “Old Town” area filled with art galleries and design boutiques.