DOG-FRIENDLY PARKS IN GOODYEAR, AZ

Western Phoenix expansion pushed development through this former agricultural town where cotton fields gave way to master-planned communities. The desert landscape is relentlessly flat, with distant mountain views providing the only topographic relief. Extreme summer heat defines the climate—triple digits are routine for four months straight—while mild winters see virtually no precipitation in a region where outdoor activity shifts to early morning and evening during the hottest months.