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      Arizona State Capitol, Phoenix

      From the Capitol, head back to Central Avenue and an even better museum:

      3. Heard Museum. Founded in 1929 by Dwight Heard, a rancher turned newspaper publisher, the museum has grown exponentially over the years, and is widely considered to house one of the world’s finest collections of Native American art and artifacts.

      From the Heard, follow Central Avenue north about 4.5 miles to Glendale Avenue. At Glendale, turn right, and head for:

      4. Piestewa Peak Park (formerly Squaw Peak Park). A beautiful winding road takes you through an exceptionally lovely slice of natural desert, right in the middle of town. There’s a trailhead here for an extremely popular hike to the top of the 2,600-foot peak. Parking is limited, so be prepared to wait for a space, or to park far away and walk. If it’s too crowded, no worries, it’s still worth driving in, because the drive back out offers stunning views, all the way across the city to South Mountain.

      Leaving the park, turn left on Lincoln Drive and travel 3.5 miles east, past the beautiful grounds of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel and golf course, to Tatum Boulevard. At Tatum, turn right and decide whether to end your day with a serious hike, or with a series of more touristy experiences. If you’re a hiker, head to:

      5. Echo Canyon Recreation Area. From the parking lot just off Tatum and McDonald Drive, you can pick up a trail to the top of Camelback Mountain, the hump-shaped granite-and-sandstone behemoth looming above you, one of Phoenix’s most prominent landmarks. Fair warning: Parking can be even more challenging than at Piestewa Peak. The hike is rated strenuous, so don’t underestimate it. The payoff at the summit: some really great views, and marvelous photo opportunities.

      For a less heart-racing but equally authentic Phoenix experience, take 44th Street south to:

      6. Papago Park. This 1,500-acre park is home to the Phoenix Zoo, the Desert Botanical Garden, a great public golf course, and some wonderful rock formations, including the famous Hole in the Rock, a large eroded chamber that passes all the way through a sandstone hill—another great photo opportunity.

      Leaving Papago Park, take Galvin Parkway southwest to Van Buren. A mile or so west and a block south, on Washington Street, you’ll find the:

      7. Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park. This interesting ruin and display of artifacts tells the story of the Native American people who first settled the Salt River valley, some 2,000 years ago. These people, known as the Hohokam, built a sophisticated system of canals to shunt river water to their fields. In the late 1800s, long after the Hohokam were gone, European and American settlers co-opted the ancient irrigation system and enlarged it. That canal system still functions to this day.

      There are many options for lodging in the Phoenix area. For a historic hotel, consider the Hotel San Carlos, an elegant downtown hotel that once hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart. For a first-class resort, consider the Arizona Biltmore. Built in 1929, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and host to every U.S. president from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush, the Biltmore is the epitome of class.

      Scenic Side Trip 5

      Willcox to Benson

      via Fort Bowie, Chiricahua National Monument, Douglas, Bisbee, and Tombstone

      211 miles, 5 hours 45 minutes for drive time, more for optional routes, stops, and sightseeing

      A Copper Queen trumps a Silver King in the town too tough to die

      From Willcox to Benson on Interstate 10 is a distance of just 35 miles:

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