At least it's close to some great country.
I'll grant you that one.
I was there two years ago, on business, for about three months (Mar, Apr, May). Weather was awesome for outdoor activities.
They provided me with a rental car the entire time.
When I turned that car back in, they probably looked at the odometer and sold it!
I was gone nearly every day after work (hiking in the Superstitions was a favorite after work activity, or climbing Picacho Peak), and practically every weekend, from the Mexican border (literally shaking hands across the low fence with a friendly elderly Mexican rancher, me on my side, him on his side), to Tucson, to Sedona, to Flagstaff, to the Grand Canyon (had to be a tourist at least one day; couldn't be that close and not at least stop), and up into southern Utah (Bryce Canyon, etc).
You're right, there is some great country not far in most directions. Ironically, I did very little, recreation-wise, right in and around Phoenix though. I put a TON of miles on that car!
