Whenever people come from one place to another place, there are always some surprises. I know there are still some people who think that when they come to Phoenix, they'll see lots of dusty trails, tumbling tumbleweeds, cowboys and Indians, people wearing cowboy boots and cowboy hats, and sand dunes. Well, we have some of those things, but that's not really what the metro Phoenix area is all about. Lest you come with the wrong idea, here are ten things that you won't find in Phoenix.
1 - Potholes
Our roads are in great condition in the greater Phoenix area. Highways are constantly being built and improved to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. Rubberized asphalt has made travel on many of our highways quieter and even smoother than before. So you won't find that your car needs an alignment every time you go out for a drive. There are two problems, though, with keeping our streets and highways in great condition: (a) there are always road restrictions all over town, and (b) better roads mean that people drive faster and more aggressively.
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Smooth Roads in Phoenix
Call 511 For Road Restrictions
Driving in Phoenix
2 - Historic Landmarks
The greater Phoenix area is relatively new. You won't find historic battlegrounds here like you find at Gettysburg, or in the South. You won't find 500-year-old castles here. Some of our homes that are considered historic are only 50 or 60 years old. As a territory, Phoenix didn't become the capitol until 1889, and Arizona became a state in 1912. What you will find here is a great deal of history about our native ancestors.
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Museums
Native Americans
3 - Taxicabs
Of course there are cab companies here, and you can call dispatch to get one. It just isn't like New York or San Francisco here, where you can walk out into the street in the business district and hail a cab. Also, remember that although there is a city center in Phoenix, it is rather small compared to other major U.S. cities, and both our business and leisure activities are spread out around about 9,000 square miles. Rent a car. Cabs get pretty expensive here.
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Maps and Transportation
4 - Walking Downtown
Well, yes, of course you can walk downtown, and there are organizations forever working on making downtown Phoenix an attraction. There are definitely downtown destinations: the Herberger Theatre, Symphony Hall, a Phoenix Suns Game at the US Airways Center, an Arizona Diamondbacks game at Chase Field, the Arizona Science Center, festivals at Heritage Square, the Arizona Center and more. But it isn't a walking place. It's more of a go-park-do-leave sort of place. This isn't only in downtown Phoenix, by the way. Except for a couple of ArtWalks and the zoos and gardens, this is just not a walking town. It's too spread out.
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Festivals and Events
Phoenix Suns
Arizona Diamondbacks
Phoenix Zoo
First Friday ArtWalk
5 - Skyscrapers
You will not be impressed by the skyscrapers as you fly in over downtown Phoenix. The tallest building here is 40 stories tall. Downtown Phoenix is in the flight path for Sky Harbor International Airport. As a matter of fact, Sky Harbor is only five minutes from downtown Phoenix, which makes it much more convenient than some major cities that have airports an hour or more away. Other cities and towns in the Greater Phoenix area don't allow tall buildings either.
Suggested Reading
Sky Harbor International Airport
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10 Things You Won't Find in Phoenix: Numbers 1 through 5
10 Things You Won't Find in Phoenix: Numbers 6 through 10
