Tranquil Rooms Surrounding Elegant Courtyard in North Phoenix

Greater Phoenix is set in the Sonoran Desert’s northeastern corner, and the desert has a way of making itself felt in every aspect of life here. At the InnPlace Hotel Phoenix North, it's evident in everything from the slender, towering palm trees at the front entrance to the guest-room artwork depicting rugged outdoor scenes. There's even a kind of oasis at the hotel; its elegantly lit courtyard leads to a multitiered garden abounding with flowers and verdant foliage.

The guest rooms have a soothing sand-colored palette that also reminds you of the city's saguaro-cactus-dotted surroundings. In-room amenities include individual climate control, complimentary WiFi, and tumbleweed loofahs.

In the morning, the breakfast buffet spread features scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, and danishes. The onsite Copper Creek Bar & Grill serves an appetizer for guests, as well as hearty lunch and dinner fare such as wraps and burgers. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, so instead of the appetizer, guests can watch an on-demand movie ($10 limit).

Phoenix: Bustling Metropolis and Native American Culture Surrounded by Desert

The InnPlace is situated in North Phoenix. Phoenix enjoys about 300 days of sunshine a year, which has helped it to balloon into the sixth-largest city by population in the United States. It's also 1 of only 12 US cities with at least four major sports teams: the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), the Phoenix Suns (NBA), the Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), and the Phoenix Coyotes (NHL).

Though the topography of the Phoenix area is all desert, it's by no means desolate. Camelback Mountain is a designated city park area with scenic trails that wind past boulders and red-sandstone formations; climb to the very top for a view of the entire city. Or hit the themed trails at the Desert Botanical Garden filled with southwestern flora such as huge Sonoran cacti and other moisture-hoarding succulents. Either way, plan hikes in the early morning or twilight hours to catch the most stunning sunlit views and stay cool.

For an in-depth look at the cultures of Arizona’s indigenous population, browse the 12 exhibition galleries and sculpture garden at the Heard Museum.The collection’s nearly 40,000 pieces of art range from 500 Hopi katsina dolls to a full-size Pueblo oven. In nearby Scottsdale, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West was the renowned prairie-style architect’s winter home as well as a campus for his architecture school.

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