Despite a population running to the millions, Phoenix and Scottsdale still occasionally like to present themselves as grown-up Wild West cow towns. But since there are more Ford Mustangs than wild mustangs around these parts, you'll have to get out of town way before sundown if you want a taste of the Old West. Scattered around the valley are a handful of Hollywood-style cow towns that are basically just tourist traps, but, hey, if you've got the kids along, you owe it to them to visit at least one of these places.

Cave Creek, founded as a gold-mining camp in the 1870s, is the last of the valley towns that still has some semblance of Wild West character, but this is rapidly fading as area real-estate prices skyrocket and Scottsdale's population center moves ever northward. Still, you'll see several steakhouses, saloons, and shops selling Western and Native American crafts and antiques. The main family attraction is a place called Frontier Town, which is right on Cave Creek Road in the center of town. It's a sort of mock cow town that is home to the Black Mountain Brewing Company, which brews Cave Creek Chili Beer. You can try this fiery beer at The Original Crazy Ed's Satisfied Frog Saloon & Restaurant, located here in Frontier Town. To learn more about the history of this area, stop in at the Cave Creek Museum, at Skyline Drive and Basin Road (tel. 480/488-2764). It's open from October to May, Wednesday through Sunday from 1 to 4:30pm; admission is by donation.