Do you know what the nation's largest municipal park is? NYCs Central Park you say? Not even close. How about the largest city park in the WORLD? Why, boys and girls, it's right here in Phoenix.
South Mt. Park is a great place to hike. If you've never been you simply must go. Most visitors head to the summit for the views but I prefer following the trails along the washes, where you find lusher vegetation and often wildlife such as rabbits and birds. Oh, and rattlesnakes...
My kids' favorite South Mt. hike is the politically incorrectly-named Fat Man's Pass. To get there, take the Hidden Valley trail on the eastern side of the Buena Vista parking area. After about 1.5 miles of hiking you will come to a sign post, and directly past that you'll see the Pass. True to its name, the passage narrows to about one foot wide at its tightest section. Think of it as a test of just how closely you've stuck to those New Year's resolutions...