Rich in history and culture, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are world renowned for their abundance of exclusive art galleries, opulent resorts, indulgent spas, lush fairways and posh lifestyle.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is expected to lead the nation in percentage population growth over the next 25 years. Phoenix boasts some of the most beautiful homes in the world with such real estate in Paradise Valley, Carefree, Cave Creek, and Scottsdale, where the rich and famous live, dine, and play in the lap of luxury and where families of the affluent grow and prosper. Other communities in the metropolitan area include; Mesa, Anthem, Chandler, Gilbert, Tempe, Peoria, and Surprise and are renowned as great places to raise a family as Phoenix is also a national leader in job growth. The demand for Phoenix real estate will continue to make the area a great place to invest your real estate dollars. For comprehensive information about the Phoenix area real estate market or for a complete MLS search of real estate in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Anthem, Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, Peoria, or Surprise just click on the Real Estate link to the left.

Scottsdale's beautiful surroundings give visitors ample opportunity to enjoy the Sonoran Desert. To aid this, the city has created McDowell Sonoran Preserve, an expanse of land in the McDowell Mountains that will encompass more than 34,000 acres and will form a 57-square-mile refuge for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. Off-road tour companies and other excursions allow exploration of the area as well. Cowboy cookouts, cattle drives and even a "cowboy college" are some of the ways visitors can "feed their inner cowboys," along with visits to the classic Western theme town, Rawhide, and restaurants such as Pinnacle Peak Patio. The area's Native cultures unfold at the Heard Museum North and the Hopi Learning Center at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch.

More than 125 galleries and studios have transformed Scottsdale into a center for artists and art enthusiasts. One of the top art destinations in the U.S., the city attracts world-renowned talent to its galleries, museums and performing arts venues. Museums such as the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Cosanti, Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West and other studios and galleries continue to develop and draw nationally known artists, many of whom call the region home, such as Paolo Soleri, Fritz Scholder and Ed Mell.

Recently named America's Best Place to Live for Golf by the Robb Report, Scottsdale is serious about its fairways, boasting nearly 200 golf courses. With some of the nation's best-known and most challenging courses, the city is a natural for its professional tournaments such as the PGA FBR Open, played each year at the Tournament Players Club of Scottsdale. Award-winning courses, state-of-the-art golf schools and incomparable service have made Scottsdale synonymous with great golf.

Scottsdale's sporting traditions are not limited to the fairways and greens, however. Professional tennis players volley their way through the brackets each year at the Arizona Men's Tennis Championships at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Scottsdale Stadium, in the heart of Old Town, draws fans from around the country to watch Major League Baseball teams as they compete in exhibition games against the San Francisco Giants, who call Scottsdale their home field during spring training season. Since Scottsdale dubs itself "The West's Most Western Town," horses naturally play a big role in the city's sporting events. WestWorld, the city's equestrian and special event facility, is home to the annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Scottsdale also is home to the Arizona Cowboy College, where "city slicker" students can learn firsthand about horsemanship and cattle.

Recognized with top awards in 2003, Scottsdale's legendary resorts continue to push the luxury envelope with three winners of AAA's Five-Diamond designation: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and Marriott's Camelback Inn Resort, Golf Club & Spa. In addition, seven Scottsdale resorts have received the AAA Four-Diamond Award: Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, Inn at Eagle Mountain, The Phoenician, the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, and The Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

Scottsdale resorts also are known for their world-class spas. Specializing in relaxation and renewal, the spas offer a range of treatments and facilities, from Asian-inspired sanctuaries to havens that incorporate Sonoran Desert ingredients into their treatments.

Scottsdale's calendar of events provides year-round entertainment. Whether it's the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction, the Scottsdale Arts Festival or the Scottsdale Culinary Festival, possibilities for fun are endless.

For that vacation memento or gift for a special someone, the shopping venues sprinkled throughout the city are as diverse as the city's visitors. Modeled after a 14th-century Italian village, The Borgata features one-of-a-kind shops and, from November through April, a Friday-night jazz series. Scottsdale Fashion Square boasts more than 225 stores, including Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well as specialty retailers. The quaint Downtown Scottsdale Arts & Shopping Districts blend Western charm with art studios and galleries.

Culinary specialties abound in Scottsdale, which has more than 600 restaurants. Many of these dining establishments are often cited in Gourmet magazine, Food & Wine, Saveur and Bon Appetit, making this city an appetizing delight. And, great new chefs already may be receiving the inspiration they need from the Scottsdale Culinary Institute to make a splash on tomorrow's restaurant scene. After-dinner entertainment is right around the corner, with a visit to a dance club or a jazz and blues venue.

The affluent enclave of Paradise Valley, surrounding Camelback Mountain to the north, adds its own exclusive flair to the area. LON's at The Hermosa Inn woos visitors with its comfortable, casual elegance of the Old West. Its new wine cellar elevates wine tastings and dinners to an elite experience. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain continues to gain accolades as a secluded getaway in its posh environs. The resort's restaurant, elements, continues to garner rave reviews. Food & Wine has listed many of the city's culinary stars on its list of "10 Best New Chefs in America." These include Charles Wiley, executive chef of elements in Sanctuary; Deborah Knight, chef-owner of Mosaic; and Nobuo Fukuda, chef-owner of Sea Saw.