Looking for a warm location for a long winter weekend, taking advantage of the low air fares. I'm not much of a beach person, preferring urban centers with museums, clubs, shopping, restaurants, etc. Ideally without a car. Would Phoenix be a possibility? The only time I've been in that area we were staying in Scottsdale and went in to meet friends for dinner. What I saw of Phoenix, it seemed like a gigantic suburb without a central core. Is that the case?

There is not much to do in Phoenix outside of shopping. To me Scottsadale is fine for the high price tennis and golf crowd but a bit dull.

Phoenix would not be the ideal spot for you, if for no other reason than you say you won't have access to a car!

Ken,

I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Scottsdale at the end of August. I too did not have a car. The hotel was just across the road from Old Town Scottsdale, with shopping, dining and a museum and arts centre. The very large Scottsdale Fashion Square mall with 200(?)+ shops was about a 10 minute walk ( hot when the outside tempreature is 110 degrees but should be fine in winter.

Having said that , a car does sound a good idea to get around the area.

I can't imagine a trip to Phoenix without a car. It's a virtual must.
For a winter getaway, best things about PHX are lack of rain, temps in the 60's typically in late Dec-Jan, plenty of local hiking, golfing, drive trips, adequate restaurants, great resorts, decent shopping.
Easy to spend a long weekend there without feeling bored.
Downtown PHX is NOT the place to be, though.
East PHX and Scottsdale are the main choices.
(BTW, there's no such thing as a "Phoenixer". Obviously the above poster is either practicing obtuse humor or doesn't know that locals are called Phoenicians).