destinations: phoenix

If you have a free hour

The Heard Museum (2301 North Central Avenue, 602-252-8848, heard.org, open daily 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.) has long been the world’s premier institution for Native American art. Its key long-term exhibition, “Home: Native Peoples of the Southwest,” is a great overview of the region’s original inhabitants. The museum’s collections include hundreds of Hopi katsina dolls collected by native son Barry Goldwater, as well as traditional and contemporary art, silver and turquoise jewelry, textiles, pottery and baskets. Daily guided tours last 45 minutes.

If you have a free day

Scottsdale and its environs offer some of the best golf courses in the country. The city hosts the FBR Open, one of the oldest events on the PGA Tour, each January at its Tournament Players Club (17020 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale,
480-585-4334, tpc.com/daily/Scottsdale, winter green fees $249). Desert courses, such as those at The Boulders resort (34631 North Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, 480-488-9028, bouldersclub.com, winter green fee: $165 and up), are set among saguaro cacti and sandy washes. More traditional courses also abound, including several designed by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

If you have a free weekend

Sedona, about two hours away, is famed for its striking red rock formations and cooler-than-Phoenix temperatures. The lunar-like rock outcroppings have evocative names like Coffeepot and Cathedral. Enjoy a lovely hike during the day, followed by a massage and fine dinner at one of the many resorts, such as Enchantment (525 Boynton Canyon Road, 800-826-4180, enchantmentresort.com), located in the pine forest that surrounds the town.