ARIZONA
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Chinle |
Hopi |
Lake Powell |
Mesa |
Phoenix |
Sedona |
Tucson |
Williams |
Window Rock |
NEWS
There's Lots to Do in Phoenix -- Including the Heard Museum's Latest Events
Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America
A Dozen Free Things to Do in Northern Arizona
Want to have some fun on a budget? There is no better time than now to explore Northern Arizona doing things that don't break the bank. Take your family, friends or enjoy some time alone exploring any or all of the 12 unique activities listed below. Experience historic towns, mountains, lakes, forests, culture, and the spectacular scenery that surrounds the communities of Williams, Page/Lake Powell, the Navajo Nation, and the Hopi Mesas. Just a few hours away from Phoenix, Northern Arizona offers dozens of free things to do. One website connects them all: www.ArizonaRocks.com
Chinle
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
One of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes of North America; the cultural resources of Canyon de Chelly include distinctive architecture, artifacts, and rock art - all remarkably preserved. Canyon de Chelly also sustains a living community of Navajo people, who are connected to a landscape of great historical and spiritual significance. Visitor Center is open daily 9am-5pm, closed Christmas. North & South Rim Drives and White House Trail remain open all year. For information 928-674-5500 www.DiscoverNavajo.com
Hopi
Dinosaur Tracks
-- Get up close and personal with dinosaur tracks that were left millions of years ago. Several different types of dinosaurs are represented by their tracks at this site. The hike is fairly easy and mostly flat; it winds around several stone spires and past hundreds of tracks. There are usually Native American guides at the parking area who are willing to guide you around the site and tell you the legends and science behind the tracks. Located near Tuba City and the Hopi Village of Moenkopi. Get directions from the Moenkopi Legacy Inn. www.ExperienceHopi.com
Homolovi Ruins State Park
-- Over 300 Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites are preserved at Homolovi. The park is located just over a mile north of Winslow, Arizona and features historical exhibits, interpretive programs, bird-watching, and hiking. Two of the seven Homolovi ruins are open to visitors. Homolovi II was occupied between 1330 and 1400 AD, and has about 1200 rooms. Archaeologists believe that the inhabitants were trading cotton for pottery with the inhabitants of the Hopi Mesas. This ruin also features three large rectangular plazas and about forty kivas (underground ceremonial chambers). Petroglyphs may be seen along certain sections of a nearby trail (Tsu'vo). ($5 Park entry fee per car...almost free!). azstateparks.com/
Hopi Window Shopping
-- You may be tempted to buy a special remembrance of a visit to the Hopi Villages, but stopping in the stores along state route 264 is a great way to meet and visit with Hopi artists. Basket makers, Kachina carvers, silversmiths...some of the most distinctive Native American art in the west is on display. A great place to begin is in the TUUVI Travel Center stores across the street from the brand new Moenkopi Legacy Inn. www.ExperienceHopi.com
For more information on these communities visit www.arizonarocks.com where you will find information on lodging, additional things to do, day trips, weather, calendar of events and much more.
LAKE POWELL
Horseshoe Bend Overlook
One of the most spectacular views in the west awaits at the end of an easy ≤ mile hike. The trail leads to an overlook where, far below (straight down), the swirling waters of the Colorado River make a complete horseshoe turn around an enormous free standing sandstone butte. Bring your camera! Just 2 miles south of Page on U.S. Hwy. 89, look for an unpaved road that leads to a parking area to the west near mile marker 545. www.pagelakepowelltourism.com
Hanging Gardens Lake Powell's Hanging Gardens
- is east of Glen Canyon Bridge, the trailhead is located 500 yards off Hwy. 89. Hanging gardens are spring-fed colonies of plants clinging to the vertical wall of a cliff. They are often formed in alcoves or "glens" where conditions are cooler than that of the surrounding desert. Lake Powell's Hanging Gardens may be the most unusual form of spring-supported plant community life found on the Colorado Plateau.www.nps.gov/glca/naturescience/hanginggardens.htm
Hike & Bike the Mesa Rim --
Take in the incredible views as you circumnavigate the community of Page situated on a mesa overlooking Lake Powell. Rimview Trail is an approximately 9.75 mile loop that offers wonderful views of Lake Powell, Tower Butte, and Navajo Mountain. To the south is the Colorado Plateau, stretching as far as the eyes can see. In fact, most of the land seen from here belongs to the Navajo Nation. To the west are the Vermilion Cliffs-known for their distinctive red-purple hue.
Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas Houseboat Rentals
Go hassle-free on a houseboat vacation with new free VIP Concierge Service, including groceries and equipment loaded ahead of time and boats fueled up and ready to go upon your arrival with a new program. All you have to do is arrive at Lake Powell, step aboard with your friends or family, and with the cupboards already stocked, water skis and inner tubes ready, and the fuel tanks full, leave the experienced employee assist you with anchoring, and off you’ll go for a trip of a lifetime. Lake Powell concessionaire ARAMARK has introduced its Concierge Service for those who rent an Admiral Class (59-foot) houseboat from Wahweap Marina this summer. So, where is this Lake Powell? — it’s located on the border of Utah and Arizona in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area between the Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks to the west, and Arches and Canyonlands National Parks to the east. It is the second largest man-made lake in the US, boasting more than 90 major red rock canyons and nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline.
Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas provides houseboat and powerboat rentals, lodging on the lake, and tours to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. More information about Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas can be found at www.lakepowell.com.
MESA
Mesa has lots going on.
Much as the spring season brings renewal and rebirth from the winter chills, Mesa is unveiling new arrivals and renovations this season. Located in the Valley of the Sun, just minutes from Phoenix and Scottsdale, Mesa has long been revered as a warm haven offering premier accommodations, golf and an enviable location boasting a close proximity to Tonto National Forest and Arizona’s vast Sonoran Desert. Read on for more news about upcoming attractions, new resort and restaurant announcements, exclusively Mesa events and more.
What to See & Do
Chester's Harley Davidson
Chester’s Harley Davidson is the largest Harley-Davidson dealership in Arizona. Chester’s includes a sales facility for pre-owned bikes, a “training range” for the Rider’s Edge education program, additional parking, a multi-functional outdoor canopy, grilling area, customer lounge with amenities including pool table, and a doggie park. The administration and warehouse building houses a classroom for the Rider’s Edge programs and a meeting room for the East Valley H.O.G. chapter. The additional outdoor facilities make it convenient for large meetings and events giving them access to a loading dock where a sound stage can be set up with plenty of spectator area for outdoor concerts and events. For more information on Chester’s Harley Davidson, visit www.chestershd.com.
Two New Family Fun Centers Open at Mesa Riverview
Mesa Riverview has two new youth-oriented facilities. Kids who are bouncing off the walls and full of energy will love Jump & Shout Play Center. Giant inflatables and climbing gyms fill this 10,000 square foot facility. Kids can play for hours, while parents relax in the lounge complete with televisions and a café. Howie’s Game Shack is bringing a new way for Xbox and PC gamers to play. The social gaming center is the nation’s largest arena for gamers to come together interactively. Open everyday, the center includes sound chairs, state-of-the-art gaming PCs, high-definition LCD displays, world premier game releases and tournaments. Howie’s lets families play together in a fun environment making for a more social gaming experience. The center also has pizza and snacks available to enjoy between games. For more information about Jump & Shout, visit www.JumpandShout.com or call 480-834-7529. For more information about Howie’s Game Shack, visit www.howies.com or call 480-248-2447.
Ranger-Guided Full Moon Hikes Offered at Area State Parks Near Mesa
Visitors to Mesa can experience the natural beauty of Usery Pass and Lost Dutchman State Park. This season, the parks are offering ranger-guided full moon hikes where visitors can experience the sights and sounds of the Sonoran Desert under the light of the moon. The parks are also presenting stargazing nights where visitors can learn about the solar system from experts. Usery Pass, at the western end of the Goldfield Mountains, will feature a “Stargazing for Everyone” series in which experts will tell stories and teach park visitors about the moon, stars, planets and galaxies while viewing the sky through a telescope. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs and snacks for their own comfort throughout the two-hour program. Lost Dutchman State Park, located along the Apache Trail at the base of the Superstition Mountains, is offering similar programs. During the week of the full moon, a ranger will lead guided hikes throughout the park taking visitors throughout the trails. On select Fridays each month, astronomer Bill Dellinges hosts astronomy sessions with state-of-the-art gear to teach visitors about Arizona’s night sky. The hikes and information sessions are free with the purchase of park admission.
For more information on Usery Pass, visit www.maricopa.gov/parks; and for information on Lost Dutchman State Park, visit www.azstateparks.com. For media information on Usery Pass, contact, 602-506-2930.
Mesa Astronomy Nights at New MCC Planetarium
Mesa Community College is home to Arizona’s newest planetarium. Arizona is known the world over as offering some of the best night sky viewing and boasting two observatories and earning kudos for the discovery of former planet Pluto. Though located on the city’s community college campus, visitors can view the night sky and explore the universe and solar system for free in the new planetarium on the rooftop observation deck. As part of the Astronomy Nights program (check calendar for dates), the planetarium runs shows that take place every half hour from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with telescope viewing from the observation deck beginning at 7:00 p.m. MCC’s planetarium opened in September 2008, making it the city’s first planetarium and the state’s seventh. The planetarium is located inside the Physical Science Building on MCC’s Southern and Dobson Campus. For more event information, visit MCC’s event calendar at www.alumniconnections.com.
Fans Celebrate Baseball History at Mesa's Interactive Exhibit
Mesa Historical Museum’s Play Ball: the Cactus League Experience, which opened in January, kicked off the beginning of Arizona’s spring training season. The interactive and educational exhibit celebrates the long and colorful history of professional baseball in Arizona treating visitors to stories of the players, teams and ballparks. Exhibit features include a “knothole” fence, sky mural, two-player Wii video baseball game, souvenir, concession and ticket booths as well as baseball trivia, all packed with history gathered from across the state and the country. Baseball fans and history buffs alike can set their sights on never-before-seen items gathered from private collections of Arizonans who knew the likes of Ted Williams, Sandy Koufax and Willie McCovey. A majority of the exhibit is displayed in a completely remodeled and redesigned museum space. Extensive research and collecting is on-going for the exhibit which involves members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and a committee of civic leaders.
Mesa Historical Museum is located just up the street from Hohokam Stadium where the Chicago Cubs train each March. For more information, visit www.PlayBallExperience.com.
Massage Heights Studio Brings Soothing Services
For visitors to Mesa wanting a luxury spa experience without the luxury price tag, look no further than Massage Heights. Now offered in the Phoenix region, the national chain provides pampering massages at affordable prices. Located just west of upscale shopping village Dana Park, Massage Heights offers visitors a serene spa-like atmosphere and a chance for traveling guests to rest and relax. Massage services start at $39 for a 50-minute massage treatment with optional add-ons. All types of massage are offered including therapeutic, sports, deep tissue, Swedish and maternity massage and all treatments include guest’s choice of aromatherapy. Those guests traveling for a business trip or vacation, or even those staying for the winter, can opt to purchase a membership with discounts offered for multiple massage services each month. Exclusive to Massage Heights, guests can add an Elevation to their treatment which is a choice of hot stone massage, a soothing peppermint foot scrub or a cold stone/hot towel facial. Massage Heights therapists are highly trained with a majority of therapists having worked in the Arizona spa and resort community. In addition, Massage Heights will work directly with area hotels on providing mobile massage services for convention attendees or tour groups wanting to add a touch of spa to their busy itinerary. For more information, visit www.massageheights.com/wildflower.
Farmers Market Boasts More than Just Produce - Arizona Originals Abound
Visitors wanting to stock the hotel’s mini-fridge with fresh goods or take home a one-of-a-kind Arizona original product will want to plan a stop at downtown Mesa’s Community Farmers Market. Held each Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., guests can enjoy the benefits of locally grown, pesticide free and highly nutritious fruits and vegetables in addition to a plethora of handmade lotions and soaps, craft products, jewelry, pottery and clothing. Local purveyors also showcase culinary products that are must purchases from Arizona-grown oregano, rosemary and other spices to apple butter, desert honey, and baked goods.
Located on Center Street just in front of the Mesa Convention Center, Mesa’s Farmers Market is free to enter and also provides free parking. Cash and credit cards are accepted. For more information, call 623-848-1234 or visit www.ArizonaFarmersMarkets.com.
Where to Stay
Downtown's Historic Drew Building Becomes Brand New Loft Hotel
Built in the 1920s, Downtown Mesa’s historic Drew building is entering a new era completely restored to become the city’s only loft hotel. The Lofts at the Drew features nine exclusive studios and one-bedroom suites. Each loft is individually decorated with brand new furnishings and includes a full kitchen, 10-foot ceilings, plasma screen TV’s and beautiful original maple floors. The lofts are all themed with décor to match from the Sonoma studio reminiscent of California’s wine country and the Manhattan Studio decked out like an Upper Eastside New York apartment, to the Americana featuring shades of red, white and blue and country-style furnishings. The Lofts at the Drew offer a complimentary business center and laundry room for guest use and visitors can utilize the space-saving storage closet for extended stays. Other amenities include wireless internet, free parking and all-day access to a recreation center on the main floor, which will feature a small gym, billiards table, couches and television. One of the best attributes is the proximity to popular downtown attractions including Mesa Arts Center, Arizona Museum of Natural History, numerous cafes and restaurants as well as boutiques along Main Street. For more information, contact 480-969-1454 or visit www.drewlofts.com.
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT
Country Star Toby Keith Opens Eatery & Bar at Mesa Riverview
Mesa Riverview, a 250-acre retail and tourism development, has welcomed the opening of Country music superstar Toby Keith’s restaurant, I Love This Bar & Grill. The 650-seat restaurant is the first to open in the state and only the fourth location to open nationwide. It has an 80-foot guitar bar and feature live concerts, dancing, drinks and a full menu of American favorites. Signature features at the destination restaurant, situated east of Arizona’s only Bass Pro Shops, include Toby Keith memorabilia including signed guitars, platinum records and clothing, “Redneck Loveseats”, and the Toby Keith shop featuring special BBQ rubs and sauces based on recipes from the singer himself. The restaurant will also have ample meeting space for small groups. The menu emphasizes home-style cooking from Toby’s very own Chicken Fried Steak and Country Gravy recipe to a wide variety of menu items including rotisserie chicken, meatloaf, Cowboy Caviar (black eyed peas), ‘freedom fries’ and a variety of sandwiches. For more information, visit www.TobyKeithsBar.com.
Pizza Fusion, the National's Greenest Restaurant Opens in Mesa
Pizza Fusion, recognized as the pioneer in environmentally-friendly restaurant service, opened its doors in December making it Mesa’s first LEED and organic certified restaurant. Pizza Fusion’s unique oval sized gourmet pizzas are not the only thing that sets them apart from your local pizzeria; it’s the fact that everything they serve is 100% organic. Patrons have the option to build their own pizza or order a one of the specialty pies on the menu including the Seattle, topped with freshly chopped plum tomatoes, red onions, fresh basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil accented with a light amount of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses; or the Shrimp & Pesto, topped with wild caught Key West shrimp, pesto sauce, parmesan, light mozzarella, and oregano. The menu also includes gluten-free pizza and vegan and vegetarian options. Pizza Fusion gained their LEED certification by designing, constructing and operating their restaurant in order to reduce their negative environmental impact and improve the health and well-being of their customers and the surrounding community. Some of the core practices Pizza Fusion upholds include using hybrid delivery cars, giving discounts to customers who return their used pizza boxes for recycling, serving food in containers made from 100% corn starch instead of plastic, using only spudware utensils made from potatoes that biodegrade in 50 days, using seat cushions made from soybean oil instead of petroleum based foam and using ceiling panels made from 74% recycled aluminum cans and 24% post industrial materials. Pizza Fusion also teaches kids about the importance of eating organic and recycling every third Thursday of the month. Currently, the restaurant has opened 16 franchises in 8 states since it first launched in 2006. For more information, visit www.pizzafusion.com.
"Urban marketplace" With a Rich History Serves Up Great Food
In neighboring Gilbert, visitors are clamoring to get a taste of Liberty Market, the newest downtown addition blending wholesome American and modern décor. Liberty Market, located in the Heritage District, reopened its doors in October after undergoing renovations to revamp the 1935 building. The menu features fresh salads, sandwiches and wood-fired pizzas. Popular dishes include the grilled bread pudding with espresso-maple syrup, homemade apricot scones and the many egg scrambles. Liberty’s fresh produce comes straight from Agritopia, owner Joe Johnston’s 12-acre urban farm located just down the road. The signature Liberty Bowl, filled with roasted meatballs, marinara sauce and topped with Romano cheese, is a hearty dish sure to please comfort food lovers. The wood-fired pizzas are cooked to perfection in the Renato oven. Liberty Market is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features a retail marketplace and traditional espresso bar. Liberty is Johnston’s third restaurant in Gilbert. For more information, visit www.libertymarket.com or call 480-892-1900.
Salty Senorita’s Manicure and Margarita
Make it a girl’s night out at Salty Senorita on Thursdays for Margaritas and Manicures. Stop in for some pampering from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and get a salon style manicure paired with your favorite margarita for only $12. Choose from seven specialty margaritas including favorites like ‘The Devil Wears Strawberry’, The Cocoa Channel, or the Bubble Bath. Be sure to complement your margarita with one of the sizzling Mexican dishes sure to excite your palate. Favorites include sizzling street tacos, bubbling cheese enchiladas and tableside guacamole. Salty’s, seven time winner of “Best Margarita in Phoenix” from Citysearch.com, gives visitors an urban take on the Mexican cantina. For more information, contact 480-632-8226 or visit www.saltysenorita.com/.
Islamorada Fish Company - A Taste & Feel of the Florida Keys
Local residents and visitors to the Mesa area will soon discover what it’s like to dine in an ocean-front restaurant in south Florida.
The Islamorada (eye-lah-muh-rah-duh) Fish Company, located inside the hugely popular Bass Pro Shops store located at Mesa Riverview, a new 240-acre retail, entertainment, auto mall and office center development, offers a unique dining experience not found anywhere else in Arizona.
The name Islamorada was given by early inhabitants of the Florida Keys and means “Island Home.” Throughout the 11,090 square-foot restaurant you will be amazed at the attention to detail. Upon entering the restaurant from the store there is an awesome vaulted ceiling 22 feet above with beautiful box beam trusses and ornate fish themed chandeliers. A large hand painted mural is located above the 32’ long, 13,000 gallon saltwater aquarium which is raised 4’ above the store and is visible from 360 degrees. The aquarium is home to scores of colorful, tropical fish. Trophy saltwater fish mounts hang from the walls, antiques and old pictures along with painted murals add to the relaxed dining mood.
In addition to the large dining room that will accommodate 180, there is a private dining room for 12 for more intimate gatherings. The bar lounge area is trimmed out with rich mahogany paneled wood wainscoting and will accommodate 35.
An outside dining patio seats 80 and overlooks beautiful desert landscapes.
The large dining area features a stone fireplace that is adjacent to the outside seating area. The only thing missing is the sandy beach and ocean waves outside your window.
As you would expect, Islamorada Fish Company features shrimp, lobster, oysters, crab, clams, mussels, mahi mahi, grouper, calamari, tuna, trout, and even fried catfish. Wild game offerings will include elk, buffalo, alligator, and venison. Traditional steak, pork chops and chicken dishes and sandwiches make this much more than a seafood restaurant.
You can enter the restaurant both from the outside as well as from the inside of the Bass Pro Shops store. “The fact that our visitors to Bass Pro Shops have a tendency to shop and browse for long periods of time--because there is so much to see and do--the idea was to give them a place to sit and relax and enjoy some of the finest seafood and service available anywhere! ” said General Manager Robert Thelen. “We are very excited about bringing the Islamorada Fish Company restaurant to the Mesa community. Besides the fresh fish that will be flown in daily and other local favorites, the ambience of the Florida keys will offer people a truly unique dining experience not usually found in this area.”
With a toll-free call at 1-800-258-2559 or a series of mouse clicks on www.fishcompany.com , you can also order Islamorada Fish Company’s fresh stone crabs, Key West shrimp, Florida lobster and several varieties of fish by the pound or by the piece and have it delivered anywhere in United States. All orders are shipped direct from the Florida Keys and guaranteed to arrive fresh and cold at your doorstep. They’ll even send you free recipes and other information on how to prepare your order.
About Islamorada Fish Company
Islamorada Fish Company began in 1948 as a marina snack bar in the Florida Keys offering the freshest fish possible, at a reasonable price, to individuals in the Keys. A full-service restaurant was added in 1994. Since then, IFC restaurants have opened in other Bass Pro Shops stores in 10 states across America with seven more states added by the end of this year.
For restaurant locations, to see a complete menu or for more information go to www.fishcompany.com
Bass Pro Shops First Southwest Location
Midday heat shimmers off the arid landscape as gila monsters, gopher snakes, and horned lizards scamper and glide across the sand seeking relief under Palo Verdes, Soaptree Yuccas, Mesquite trees and California fan palms. Rows of Saguaro cactus stand like sentinels across the desert providing respite to bats and insects and homes to birds like Gila woodpeckers and the Golden Flicker. Bright yellow Arizona poppies, red-orange Desert Paintbrush and purple-pink Sand Verbena wink like jewels amongst crevices and rocks.
Like an oasis in the desert, a 30’ tall waterfall bounces and splashes along native sandstone rocks that could be the nearby White Mountains. Sunlight catches the silver flash and quick splash of bass breaking the turquoise water chasing insects that got too close. An adjacent canyon pool is chilled with fresh water and reflects the colors of rainbow trout and the beautiful and rare Apache trout.
Animals from the Arizona Fox to Javelina, mountain lion to Sandhill cranes, Coues deer and Desert Big Horn pause to refresh themselves and take a drink all the while keeping a watchful eye out.
You might be somewhere in the Sonoran Desert that comprises most of southwestern Arizona, or you just might be in the new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Mesa. Part museum, part art gallery, part antique store, part aquarium, part education, conservation and entertainment center, the 170,125-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World also just happens to be a retail store. Besides offering all the sights and sounds of Arizona outdoor adventures the store offers all the equipment, gear and apparel you will need to enjoy them.
This newest Bass Pro Shops, the company’s first in the Southwest, is located at Mesa Riverview, a 240-acre retail, entertainment, auto mall and office center development located south of Loop 202 and east of Loop 101 in northwest Mesa.
The entire store is a tribute to Arizona’s desert landscapes, its lesser-known pine-covered forests like Rim Country and the White Mountains and the cobalt-blue waters of Lake Powell. Like other Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World retail locations, the Mesa store takes on the flavor and atmosphere of the region in which it is located. Using over 3,500 area artifacts, antiques, pictures, mounts and memorabilia the store becomes a living museum of the hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies of Arizona and its people. Renowned muralists work with store designers to recreate the surrounding area and authenticate the outdoor experience.
The store building itself is constructed predominantly of aged and textured stucco with prominent features in native stone, copper, logs and simulated clay roofing. Shoppers access the store by walking past a native recreation of arid mountain habitat with the relaxing, cooling effect of running water where demonstrations and education will occur just outside the White River Fly Shop.
Massive log and rock work frame the Grand Entrance where inside, knotty pine wood timber and chink walls and vaulted post and beam construction ceiling make up the front lobby. Adding to the lodge-like feel, a fire crackles in the large stone fireplace in the lobby that is complete with overstuffed leather furniture and museum-quality wildlife mounts.
Giant, exquisitely crafted outdoor themed chandeliers, made by Bass Pro Shops own artisans, hang throughout the store. State record wildlife mounts are displayed alongside local historical prints depicting early Arizona residents enjoying sporting adventures.
A special feature unique to the Mesa Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is the pictorial and memento tribute to Arizona native Jack O’Connor. As the longtime firearms editor for OUTDOOR LIFE magazine, O'Connor hunted and collected trophies throughout the world, and introduced millions of readers to hunting and firearms.
Considered the jewel of the store’s features is the nearly 24,000 gallon sandstone aquarium. This one-of-a-kind attraction showcases fish that Arizona sportsmen and women love to catch. The rock structure allows climbers and want-to-be climbers to try out the latest gear as they scale the 30’ climbing wall. Museum-quality wildlife dioramas are located throughout the store.
Visitors have the area’s largest array of freshwater rods, reels and fishing accessories, all hand-picked and specially selected for the area, to choose from. If your outdoor adventures take you to the coast, there is also a full display of saltwater fishing gear.
The White River Fly Shop, which anchors the corner of the Bass Pro Shops development, is a log and sandstone structure reminiscent of the rustic, hand hewn architecture of the national parks and Grand Canyon. It features antique and collectible fly fishing memorabilia, and offers a vast selection of the latest in fly fishing clothing and gear. Experts will continue the art of hand-tying flies on site and assist customers in making the perfect selection.
Hunting department cabinets are adorned with hand-carved animals and World Class record deer mounts grace the walls. Customers will find an equally impressive array of hunting clothing and gear. The archery department offers a bow set-up shop and a 25-yard live archery range is perfect for testing that new bow or sharpening necessary archery skills.
Should your adventures take you across the world or you, you will be interested in the Fine Gun and Trophy Room. This 2,400 square-foot addition features guns from the 1800’s to the present for sale and viewing. You can also see great museum quality African game mounts like the Cape Buffalo.
More than a hunting and fishing store, visitors will also find items perfect for camping, hiking, outdoor cooking, bird watching and golf. The state-of-the-art golf department offers everything to perfect your game including a swing analyzer, a putting green and a resident pro to offer you tips and demonstrate techniques.
Besides the technical clothing, Bass Pro Shops also carries an outstanding line of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, from names like Columbia, RedHead, Woolrich, Bob Timberlake, World Wide Sportsman and many more. An expanded footwear department offers both rugged and casual shoes.
A gift and nature center offers a variety of items from artwork to lamps, to bird feeders and furniture, home decorating items and gifts for the holidays. Cooking accessories include cookbooks, spices, grills and jerky making items.
The store also features an 11,090-square-foot Islamorada Fish Company restaurant that will allow visitors a chance to experience a taste of the Florida Keys with menu selections showcasing bold flavors of seafood dishes, great steaks, hickory-fired rotisserie chicken and exotic appetizers.
A marine and boat center displays a full range of boats from Tracker Marine--the world’s largest manufacturer of fishing boats. From big water boats to small fishing, canoeing and even kayaking, customers will find exactly what they need to have fun on the water with selections from Tracker, Nitro, Tahoe, Sun Tracker, Kenner and more. An on-site, state-of-the-art boat service center with 4 service bays will also be available for customers’ convenience for boat rigging.
Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World has hired associates from the Mesa area that have a passion for the outdoors so customers will be assured of getting local skilled, knowledgeable assistance with questions and selections. The store will also offer free Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families that will help maximize outdoor fun by teaching new skills and improving existing ones.
For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, visit www.basspro.come. To request a free Bass Pro Shops catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.
PHOENIX
What to See & Do
Phoenix Location: 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $10 adults; $9 for seniors (55+); $5 for students with a valid student ID; $3 for children (6-12);
Children under 6, Heard Museum members and Americans Indians receive free admission.
Information: Call 602.252.8848 or visit www.heard.org
Heard Museum West - Surprise
Heard Museum West includes two exhibition galleries, a classroom and the world-class Heard Museum Shop.
HEARD MUSEUM · PHOENIX
The Heard Museum features 10 exhibit galleries, the original Heard Museum Shop, the Berlin Gallery of the Heard Museum Shop featuring outstanding fine art, lush outdoor courtyards and walkways, multiple gardens and the Café at the Heard. Stop in for a fast snack or drink at the Coffee Cantina or browse our selection at Books & More. Enjoy daily public guided tours at noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
EXHIBITS AT HEARD MUSEUM PHOENIX
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· Navajo Textiles: 100+ Years of Weaving (through January 8, 2012)
· Something Old, Something New, Nothing Borrowed: Recent Acquisitions From the Heard Museum Collection (through February 12, 2012)
· The Art of Ceremony: American Indian Painting of the 20th Century (through March 16, 2012)
· Retha Walden Gambaro: Attitudes of Prayer (through May 13, 2012)
· HOME: Native People in the Southwest (ongoing)
· Around the World: The Heard Museum Collection (ongoing)
· History & Collections of the Heard Museum (ongoing)
· Every Picture Tells a Story (ongoing)
· Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience (ongoing)
· We Are! Arizona’s First People (ongoing)
All programs included with museum admission unless otherwise noted.
Heard Museum · Phoenix
Location: 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, every day except December 25
Cost: $15 adults, $13.50 for seniors (65+), $7.50 for students with a valid student ID, $7.50 for children
(6-12). Children under 6, Heard Museum members and American Indians receive free admission.
Information: Call 602.252.8848 or visit <http://www.heard.org/>heard.org
Heard Museum (Scottsdale)
Heard Museum North Scottsdale opened a new facility at the Summit at Scottsdale in June 2007. The space features two exhibition galleries, an interpretive garden with sculpture, a Heard Museum Shop and the Arcadia Farms at the Heard Museum North Café.
Events at the Heard Museum Scottsdale
Heard Museum North Scottsdale Opens New Exhibit -- Illustrious: American Indian Artists, Books and Illustrations.
Illustrious: American Indian Artists‚ Books and Illustrations, will showcase established and emerging artists who are making innovative and sometimes unconventional art with books.
American Indian illustrators have made art to accompany books and other media for more than a century. Artists‚ books are one-of-a-kind or small edition works of art that explore the boundaries of printed and bound books. The combination of American Indian picture and word based on personal experience and cultural heritage create imaginative narratives.
Artists‚ books by Frank Lapena, Wintu-Nomtipom, Brian Miller, Mohawk and Fritz Scholder, Luiseño --along with original illustrations by Michael Lacapa, Apache, Mary Morez, Navajo, and Pablita Velarde, Santa Clara and many other works will be on display. Work by local artists Michael Chiago, Tohono O‚odham, Jacob Medders, Mechoopda, and Dallin Maybee, Seneca/Arapaho, are also featured in the exhibition.
WHERE: Heard Museum North Scottsdale
The Summit at Scottsdale
32633 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Ariz.
COST: Adults: $5, Seniors (65+): $4, Students: $2, Under 6 years: free, American Indians: free, Heard Museum Members: free. Second Sunday of the month: free for Arizona residents with ID.
INFO: Call 480.488.9817 or visit heard.org/north for information.
Resort News
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel
was selected for Arizona’s Most Admired Companies Awards (MAC). The program carefully makes its selection by considering workplace culture, leadership excellence, corporate and social responsibility, and customer opinion, all of which the Sheraton excelled in.
Arizona Biltmore’s
blockbuster Hollywood-themed festival, “Hollywood & Wine,” offers a summer of nonstop concerts, activities and events – some for adults, most for the entire family, and some extraordinary special features just for kids like the Splash Cinema and the Imagination Emporium. For the adults, enjoy wine tastings and wine dinners featuring celebrity winemakers, including wines by Francis Ford Coppola, Dan Aykroyd and Paul Newman; Inside the Chef's Studio, which welcomes celebrity chefs and cookbook authors to teach classes and share their secrets for culinary success; or Late Night TV in Hollywood presenting shows offering a wide range of live entertainment, from comedians and stupid pet tricks to great bands on stage.
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort
Named a 2011 Gold Tee winner by Meetings & Conventions magazine that placed the resort among elite groups earning top honors for their onsite facilities. This highly coveted award is given annually to outstanding golf and meeting properties worldwide. Winners of the Gold Tee Award were nominated and selected by readers of M&C based on their overall excellence. Seventy-eight properties earned enough votes to win the Gold Tee Award in 2011.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
at Troon North promises poolside relaxation, sunrise hikes to Pinnacle Peak, starry nights, and above all – indulgent getaways with superb value. While staying at the resort, families can enjoy the complimentary Kids for All Seasons program, open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., for guests 5-12 years old. Families also can choose from a weekly calendar of events at the resort, including offerings such as stargazing, family hikes and “Pajama Jam,” where children enjoy pizza and a movie and parents can enjoy a night out in Talavera or Crescent Moon.
Joie de Vivre Hotels
the West Coast-based company known for its fun, whimsical boutique hotels, will introduce its first property outside of California in Greater Phoenix this fall. The Drinkwater, the 195-room hotel is currently being reimaged to showcase the colorful, vibrant spirit of the Southwest by Peter Stamberg and Paul Areriat of Stambeg Areriat Architecture. The Drinkwater takes its name from its location and entrance on Drinkwater Boulevard, which in turn was named for Scottsdale’s former mayor, Herb Drinkwater.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
is an AAA Five-Diamond resort for the entire family. DINING
The Ritz-Carlton
Phoenix is heating up the kitchen with the new chef's passion for creating meals that make memories. Inspired by his Portuguese roots, Chef Toevs has built a platform of strong goals for The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix’s Food and Beverage department, starting with bistro 24 and the hotel’s banquet menus. He plans to enliven bistro 24 with his innovative approach to New American Regional Cuisine. His meals will include a collection of elements from different regions of the United States that are not typically prepared together, rather than only southwest-focused dishes.
Where to Eat
Bombay Spice Grill and Wine
has launched a new completely vegan menu featuring the fresh, modern flavors of the restaurant’s inspired style of Indian cuisine. While Bombay Spice has featured a variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options on its menu since it’s inception in 2009, the restaurants' new separate vegan menu offers a comprehensive selection of fresh, heart-healthy and inspired Indian dishes featuring tasty vegan proteins prepared without any dairy, ghee or butter. The new vegan menu includes popular Bombay Spice appetizers like Seared Eggplant, or Seared Tofu, a Bombay Spice signature, dusted with fresh herbs and spices, Vegetable Samosa, two crispy baked turnovers stuffed with spiced potatoes, peas and cumin, and Lentil Cake Towers, warm lentil cakes topped with onion and tomatoes.
Quiessence
your favorite farmhouse restaurant is back . Grab a few “quick bites” this month by indulging in their seasonal butternut squash, Maya’s Yard-Long beans, eggplants, Heirloom tomatoes and Galia melons.
CITY NEWS
The PHX Sky Train™ is scheduled to reach all terminals nearly 6 years earlier than planned. Stage 1 of the PHX Sky Train™ will open in 2013, running between the regional METRO Light Rail system, Sky Harbor’s East Economy Parking and Terminal 4. A continuation to the other terminals and the Rental Car Center was not scheduled to open until 2020. Recently, the Phoenix City Council approved connecting the train with all terminals by early 2015, nearly six years earlier than planned. The extension to the remaining terminals is referred to as Stage 1a. The Stage 2 extension to the Rental Car Center is still scheduled for late 2020.
METRO light rail can take advantage of an innovative system that utilizes solar power and the company’s downtown district cooling system to provide air conditioning to the seating areas of the popular 3rd Street/Washington METRO light rail station. NRG Energy Inc. launched this “cool” system that will operate annually May through September.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has demonstrated its commitment to safety by receiving the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Award. Sky Harbor also received its sixth consecutive perfect FAA certification safety inspection, a thorough check done every year by the FAA to ensure the safety and condition on the airport.
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau | 400 E Van Buren Street STE 600 Phoenix, AZ 85004 | 602-254-6500
SPA
Golden Door® Spa at The Boulders Resort
has added a new summer workshop to its menu: The Golden Door Summer Wellness series which includes: (2) Fitness Classes, Lunch in the Golden Door Spa Café, including tax and gratuity, Lecture (Workshop), and 25% discount on spa services on the day of the workshop (does not include salon services.) The cost is $99/session. Afternoon Workshops, taught by certified Nutritionist Karen include themes like Weight Management Strategies, Taming the Drama in Your Life and Beyond Memory Enhancement.
Spa and Salon at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Enjoy a Tantalizing Tangerine treatment for the ultimate summer refresher. This treatment combines the scents of tangerine and pomegranate for an invigorating, perfect-for-summer massage and scrub combination. This 80-minute service is offered for the price of a regular 50-minute service, or $165.
SEDONA
Orchards Inn Completes Renovation
Orchards Inn, one of Sedona’s hilltop hotels in the heart of Uptown, recently underwent a complete facelift. The inn, which is best known for unparalleled views of Sedona’s famous Red Rocks, now offers the latest contemporary amenities sure to please any traveler.
Orchards Inn has been updated inside and out to truly give this classic property an upscale contemporary feel. However, the stunning Red-Rock views still remain Orchard Inn’s most distinguishing feature. Oversized framed mirrors, strategically placed to reflect these spectacular views, are the most impressive new addition to the guestrooms. These mirrors invite the majesty of Sedona’s natural surrounding into every freshly updated room. Travelers can also take in these awesome views from the privacy of their balconies or patios which directly face Sedona's Red Rocks and the valley.
Guestrooms have been fully upgraded, from the custom designed dark oak furniture and beds with leather upholstered headboards to new carpeting and bathroom fixtures. Other recent additions include flat screen televisions, new luxurious bedding and individual climate controls in each room. Additional amenities include complimentary locally ground coffee and local and regional newspapers available daily in the lobby. The exterior of the hotel has also been enhanced to reflect the beauty of its environment. Decorative red and brown rocks line the pathways while indigenous plants add subtle elements of natural beauty.
Sedona’s natural wonders such as Snoopy Rock and Cathedral Rock dominate the view from Orchards Inn’s sundeck. Guest can enjoy the hotel’s pool, hot tub and plenty of comfortable new lounge chairs amidst one of the most beautiful natural settings in the world. As the sun sets, guests are invited to stay on the sundeck to enjoy Sedona’s unspoiled night sky.
Orchards Inn’s amazing location and commitment to quality and service remain unchanged. Orchards Inn is centrally located, walking distance from the shopping and dining area of Uptown Sedona and minutes away from Tlaquepaque Arts Village and the scenic Oak Creek.
The friendly Orchards Inn staff are always happy to help guests plan a sightseeing or Jeep tour or recommend their favorite Southwest dish at the hotel’s popular restaurant, The Orchards Bar and Grill. Front desk staff can even secure reservations at the nearby contemporary Hundred Rox Restaurant at the Amara Resort and Spa, or at the ultra-romantic L’Auberge Restaurant on Oak Creek at L’Auberge de Sedona.
Wintertime in Sedona is Perfect for a Vacation & Spa
The Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa has been awarded AAA's Four Diamond Rating and is one of Arizona's Best. To obtain the AAA Four Diamond rating, hotels must have refined and stylish surroundings and an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. More than 50,000 establishments throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean are inspected each year and yet, of those, only three percent of the lodgings are recipients of the Four Diamond Award.
Centrally located, Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa is minutes from Uptown Sedona, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village and Gallery Row. Sedona Rouge is also the ideal home base for exploring Sedona’s world of outdoor adventures where 1.8 million acres of the adjacent Coconino National Forest offer unlimited opportunities.
Each of Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa’s 77 richly appointed guest rooms, suites and spa rooms have been designed in the spirit of Andalusian luxury, with dramatic colors and richly textured fabrics. Rooms are appointed with custom king or double queen beds, goose down feather duvets, a chaise lounge, ornate desk and Syrian chest. Additional amenities include 32” LCD flat screen televisions and spacious walk-in showers with overhead rain-shower sprays. Many rooms feature vaulted ceilings, fireplaces and balconies with delicate ironwork from Tunisia. Complimentary wireless and high-speed Internet access are available throughout the property.
Additional amenities include the lavish Spa at Sedona Rouge, set apart from the main hotel, where guests can create their own custom treatments from cutting edge modalities in a luxurious setting.
Reds is Sedona Rouge’s cosmopolitan American bistro and bar known equally for its gourmet cuisine as for its delicious comfort foods. The extensive wine list features new and old world wines that will please the most discriminating of palates. Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa offers conference and event planners 4,400 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities, including a fully appointed executive boardroom, a 2,000 square foot conference room, and a raised observation deck offering stunning Red Rock views, that can accommodate receptions of up to 50 people.
Additional event spaces, such as the Terrace and the Column Garden, have been designed as private oases for smaller gatherings, from business mixers to family parties, enhanced by dramatic vistas of brilliantly sunlit Red Rock outcroppings and lush green canyons. An executive chef and banquet and catering staffs are available to prepare full course breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa is located at 2250 West Highway 89A in Sedona, Arizona. The hotel can be reached by calling 928-203-4111 or toll free at (866) 312-4111. E-mail inquiries can be sent to info@sedonarouge.com. Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa or check web site www.sedonarouge.com.
TUCSON
More soon
WILLIAMS
What to See & Do
Stroll the Mother Road
-- Take a walking tour along the historic district in Williams and step back in time. See Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum, Twisters and the Route 66 Place (with a real working soda fountain), Wild West Junction, and much more. Pick up the Historical Walking Tour map at the Williams & Forest Service Visitor Center located in the original train depot right on the Mother Road. www.WilliamsChamber.com
Lava Caves Williams
is located in a gigantic volcano field and one of its most interesting features is a lava cave. This mile-long lava cave was formed roughly 700,000 years ago from a volcanic vent in nearby Hart Prairie. While hiking in the lava cave you are able to see first hand how it was formed by the small wave-like undulations on the floor to the stone icicles hanging from the ceiling. The Lava Caves are located northeast of Williams off I-40 at exit #185. Take the frontage west to FR171 and follow the signs. www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/peaks/lava-river-cave.shtml
Take the High Road
In addition to being The Gateway to the Grand Canyon®, Williams is a mountain town. The Bill Williams Mountain Top Drive is noted as "one of the finest scenic drives in Arizona". Just head out of town on Fourth Street and suddenly you are in the Ponderosa Pine Forest climbing high above the town of Williams. The forest road is passenger car friendly and hiking and biking trails are abundant. Pick up your map or Guidebook at the Williams and Kaibab National Forest Visitor Center. Picnic along the way and enjoy the gorgeous trees & sites to explore.
WINDOW ROCK
Navajo Nation Zoological & Botanical Park
Navajo Nation Zoological & Botanical Park -- Is the only tribally owned zoo in the country that has had indigenous wild animals since 1962. Here animals reside in truly natural habitats surrounded by native vegetation and rock scenery. Most animals here are native to the Navajo Nation and a part of the zoo's dedication to exhibit animals and plants important to the history and culture of the Navajo people. Free admission Mon.-Sat. 10am-5pm, closed Sundays and holidays. 928-871-6574 www.navajozoo.org
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
The oldest continuously operating trading post on the Navajo Nation. Purchased by John Lorenzo Hubbell in 1878, this historic spot on Navajo Nation supplied new things to the Navajo years ago. Now operated by Western National Parks Association, a non-profit co-operating Association they carry-on the trading business the Hubbell family established. Open in the summer 8am-6pm daily and in the winter 8am-5pm daily, closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day. Located on state highway 264 between Window Rock and the Hopi Villages. For information call 928-755-3475 www.nps.gov/hutr