Getting kind of off topic, just curious (as someone who has visited all the cities on your list as well as SF and lived in another five cities): what is the soul of Phoenix? My impression (from an admittedly short trip) was that of a souless wasteland where people moved from ACed building to ACed building by ACed car. It was like the outdoors was a minefield or something.

Not saying my impression was right. Maybe there are limits on what can be gleaned from a trip, as suggested by the parent.