Any particular reason why you want to be between Tucson and Phoenix?
Keep in mind that the only major town in that area is Casa Grande and they get horrific dust storms because of all the cotton farming in the area. We were in one in December and driving it's the scariest thing you'll ever encounter. Semis plow right into one another and other vehicles.
There are plenty of resorts in the greater Phoenix area and Tucson. I don't think I'd zero in on Phoenix itself but there's Mesa and Apache Junction to look at and they're all connected. The Phoenix area is huge but it's very easy to get around and there's so much to do there. Tucson is much smaller and a more laid-back western town.
