#8 Valley of the Sun, Arizona

  Valley of the Sun, Arizona

As the name implies, you can expect to see a lot of sunshine in this region, which includes Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale and Sun City. The valley buzzes with ancient mysteries, spectacular desert colors and family fun year round.

The southwestern Native American culture – defined largely by the Hohokam civilization, which built amazing canals and villages and then mysteriously disappeared around 1450 A.D. – is alive and well today in the Valley of the Sun. At the Heard Museum North in Scottsdale, you can see exhibits documenting the modern Pima and Tohono O'Odham tribes, both believed to be Hohokam descendents. And at Apache Junction, you can explore the century-old mystery of the Lost Dutchman gold mine… is there still gold stashed in the Superstition Mountains?

And Sonoran Desert denizens know how to beat the heat: The world’s tallest fountain is in Fountain Hills, not to mention the many “splash pads” and full water parks in the valley. Many of these water rides are contained in huge amusement parks with roller coasters and world-class mini golf. And speaking of golf, there are nearly 200 courses here, most of them featuring the uniquely beautiful desert golf. The local culture has embraced the sport, and there are plenty of places to learn as well as to challenge yourself.