Paradise Valley

Paradise Valley, Arizona is a town of million dollar homes and interesting attractions located only 2.5 miles from Scottsdale, 9.8 miles from Phoenix and 9.7 miles from Mesa. The town itself is 15.5 square miles surrounded by the Mummy and Camelback Mountains and the Piestewa Peak. Its luxurious resorts make it a top tourist destination. Hot Air Expeditions in Paradise Valley can arrange hot air balloon rides. There are amusement parks, concerts, an Electronic Music Festival, Human Nature Dance Theater, etc. Very unusual sights to see are Cosanti and Arcosanti which were created by award-winning architect Paolo Soleri, who will have an open celebration of his 90th birthday on June 21, 2009 at Cosanti (his residence, studio, gallery and has a performance area in beautifully landscaped courtyards). Cosanti also has the original environmental "Earth House" (partially underground to help moderate the high temperatures) among its structures of mostly poured concrete over shaped earthen molds with the earth removed. Arcosanti is an experimental town with workshops in the Arizona desert which will eventually have 5,000 residents living in only 25 acres of a large land preserve, also with large solar greenhouses.Bronze and wind bell foundries and studios' proceeds have built both Cosanti and Arcosanti.