About Paradise Valley
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Rich in history and culture, Paradise Valley is world renowned for it's abundance of exclusive art galleries, opulent resorts, indulgent spas, lush fairways and posh lifestyle.
Paradise Valley'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 Paradise Valley Resort at Gainey Ranch.
More than 125 galleries and studios have transformed Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, the Paradise Valley 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, Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley. Award-winning courses, state-of-the-art golf schools and incomparable service have made Paradise Valley synonymous with great golf.
Paradise Valley'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 Paradise Valley Princess. Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley their home field during spring training season. Since Paradise Valley 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 Paradise Valley Arabian Horse Show. Paradise Valley 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, Paradise Valley's legendary resorts continue to push the luxury envelope with three winners of AAA's Five-Diamond designation: The Fairmont Paradise Valley Princess, the Four Seasons Resort Paradise Valley at Troon North, and Marriott's Camelback Inn Resort, Golf Club & Spa. In addition, seven Paradise Valley resorts have received the AAA Four-Diamond Award: Hilton Paradise Valley Resort & Villas, Hyatt Regency Paradise Valley Resort at Gainey Ranch, Inn at Eagle Mountain, The Phoenician, the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, and The Paradise Valley Plaza Resort.
Paradise Valley 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.
Paradise Valley's calendar of events provides year-round entertainment. Whether it's the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction, the Paradise Valley Arts Festival or the Paradise Valley 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. Paradise Valley Fashion Square boasts more than 225 stores, including Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom as well as specialty retailers. The quaint Downtown Paradise Valley Arts & Shopping Districts blend Western charm with art studios and galleries.
Culinary specialties abound in Paradise Valley, 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 Paradise Valley 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.
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Paradise Valley luxury homes | Paradise Valley foreclosures
