Situated within a day's drive of the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Sedona, Lake Havasu, Southern California and many other major cities and attractions, Phoenix is the ideal spot for those seeking to capture the best of the Southwest.

Put the Desert Botanical Garden at the top of your list of must-see Phoenix attractions. Boasting one of the world's finest collections of desert plants, many of them rare, threatened or endangered, this garden is 50 acres of Phoenix family entertainment.

In Phoenix, family fun is also educational. Check out the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, a museum and park that is dedicated to expanding knowledge of prehistory through collecting and displaying materials from the archaeological digs at Pueblo Grande and ethnographic material from the area.

Pick up some culture at the internationally acclaimed Heard Museum, one of the best places to experience the myriad cultures and art of Native Americans of the Southwest. The Arizona Science Center is another great Phoenix family attraction, with more than 300 interactive exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations and traveling exhibitions.

Get into the spirit of the Old West with the Rawhide Wild West Town. Kids and adults alike will enjoy gunfights, stuntmen and stage coach rides at this popular Phoenix attraction.

When you need to cool down from the desert heat, have some wet and wild family fun, Phoenix style, at Golfland Sunsplash, located just a few miles away in Mesa. With two action-packed family entertainment centers in one convenient location, this Phoenix family attraction has everything from water slides and miniature golf to laser tag and video arcades.

For a more adventurous experience in the water, Salt River Tubing & Recreation offers you "chills and thrills" while tubing through the recreational paradise that is the Salt River. While you're at it, take a jeep or hiking tour with Apache Trail Tours & Superstition Mountain Adventures. Surround yourself with spectacular desert scenery on this tour that was featured on the Discovery Channel special Incredible Arizona.

For more adult fun, Phoenix is a haven for gaming fans. Check out the Gila River Gaming Facilities, with 675 slot machines and a 500-seat Bingo arena. If that isn't enough to hold your attention, check out Casino Arizona in nearby Scottsdale. While there, enjoy one of their six distinct restaurants, where you can find something for every taste, from steak, to seafood, to sandwiches and burgers.

Enjoy the majestic desert scenery with a few rounds of golf at Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale or play where the PGA Tour professionals play at the Stadium Course at the TPC Scottsdale Golf Club.