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Hot Air Expeditions charges about $179 to $199 (U.S.) per person, depending on the time of day you go out. The price includes a certificate, Champagne and a gourmet meal.

The average flight covers about eight kilometres. If winds aloft are moving at 16 km/h, you will cover almost that much ground. If winds are slow, the pilot may spend more of the flight close to the surface, and you may only go three or four kilometres, says Hot Air Expeditions pilot Craig Kennedy, who has now left the company.

Over the course of a flight, passengers in the Phoenix area can often be treated to altitudes exceeding 1,500 metres, Kennedy says.

Phoenix has more parks and preserves than any other major city in the United States, with hundreds of kilometres of trails to choose from.

Postino East Wine Cafe (postinowinecafe.com) is a wine café with almost 40 unique wines.

Royal Palms Resort and Spa (royalpalmshotel.com) is at the foot of the majestic Camelback Mountain. The estate’s history dates back to 1929 and its 119 guest rooms reflect regal Spanish Colonial architecture. There are Tuscan-style gardens and the Alvadora Spa.

Cacti are used to make unique items in Phoenix. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (fairmont.com/scottsdale/spa) has a spa with Desert Salt Scrub, Jojoba Prickly Pear sugar scrub and Hacienda Retreat body polish.

Drink up the desert in a fresh juice or iced hibiscus blossom tea at Flower Child (iamaflowerchild.com). Its goal is to serve “healthy food for a happy world.” The vegan caesar salad with organic tofu is delicious.

For more details on Phoenix, go to visitphoenix.com.