About Vacation Rentals in Valley of the Sun

The metropolitan area of Phoenix is called the Valley of the Sun. And that's no wonder when you realize that sunshine graces the area on an average of 325 days a year. The Valley of the Sun includes the city of Phoenix, much of Maricopa County, Pinal County, and small portion of Yavapai County, as well the area around Mesa and Scottsdale. Museums, live theater, art galleries, and historical sights blend with hardcore outdoor excitement in the form of hiking, golfing, and tennis.

Phoenix, in the Valley of the Sun, has a Native American and Wild West heritage. The Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum displays examples of the gold and copper early settlers sought, as well as dinosaur fossils, and the tools used to excavate them. The Heard Museum also provides valuable insights into the history of the Valley of the Sun. The Crossroads Gallery also has an excellent display of Native American art for guests at the Phoenix Vacation Homes.

The city of Scottsdale is a few miles east of Phoenix in the Valley of the Sun. Considered the artistic center of Arizona, Scottsdale features the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and Museum of Contemporary Art. This all-encompassing arts center has two buildings dedicated to galleries for modern art, an 800-seat performing arts theater, a cinema, and an outdoor amphitheater. The collection includes some 1,500 objects, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, works on paper, mixed media installations, and architectural renderings. Scottsdale is also known for its impressive resorts.

Mesa is Arizona's third largest city, situated in the Valley of the Sun. This city of nearly half a million people also has a rich natural heritage. The Mesa Southwest Museum is like stepping into a time travel machine. One of the exhibits is The Tunnel of Time that displays meteorites and exhibits about the universe. Dinosaur Mountain has full-sized, lifelike critters. The museum also depicts life in the surrounding Sonora Desert. The Valley of the Sun also features over 200 golf courses that offers stunning vistas of the desert while also presenting a tough test of golfing skill.