Fountain Hills

A fountain may be what this city is most famous for, but it's the surrounding community that gives Fountain Hills life. Sitting just along the border of Scottsdale, northeast of the more-developed portion of metropolitan Phoenix, outdoor wandering is encouraged here. Some cities have a clock that chimes on the hour – Fountain Hills has a fountain (the fourth-tallest in the world) that shoots water 562 feet in the air for 15 minutes on the hour. But there’s much more than that. Jump in on a docent-led art walk around the city – you’ll see a large collection of sculptures on public display as the docent explains how each piece was created, as well as the background of each artist. Meander some more in the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden, where a half-mile trail weaves you past 29 desert plants, interesting rock formations, wildlife, and the abandoned P-Bar Ranch campsite.