places to go…things to do

Arizona

For the complete low down on visiting Arizona, find the travel information you need for national parks, tourist attractions, hotels, hiking trails, rafting and much more at the official state tourism site at http://www.arizonaguide.com/ or, http://www.go-arizona.com/.

Phoenix and surrounding area, including the weather http://www.go-arizona.com/Phoenix/Weather/

Tempe

General things to do in Tempe: Tempe from soup to nuts, shopping to sailing. http://www.tempecvb.com/things-to-do/Default.aspx

Mill Ave and Tempe Town Lake The Mill Avenue District is a 24-hour kind of place, offering more than 100 restaurants, nightclubs and retail shops. http://www.downtowntempe.com/

Arts & Culture: http://www.tempecvb.com/things-to-do/Arts-And-Culture.aspx

Scottsdale

http://www.experiencescottsdale.com/

Known for its “high end” lifestyle, Scottsdale offers restaurants, shopping, and pleasant walks in its old town along with a host of other luxuries.

favorite sites nearby

Desert Botanical Garden

http://www.dbg.org/index.php

Nestled amid the red buttes of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. One of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums, this one-of-a-kind museum showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits and is home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species.

Phoenix Zoo

http://www.phoenixzoo.org/

Voted one of the nation’s top five zoos for kids, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Zoo is one of America's most successful, privately-owned, nonprofit zoological parks. The Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals including 200 endangered species and participates in 37 Species Survival Plans to breed and maintain endangered species populations in captivity.

Arizona Science Center

www.azscience.org/

The Arizona Science Center is focused on inspiring, educating, and entertaining people about science. The Center is located in Heritage and Science Park in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Home to over 350 permanent hands-on exhibits, the Center is able to provide their 400,000 annual visitors with interactive experiences.

Heard Museum

http://www.heard.org/

Since its founding by Dwight and Maie Heard in 1929, the Heard Museum has become recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, its educational programming and its festivals. Dedicated to the sensitive and accurate portrayal of Native arts and cultures, the Heard is an institution that successfully combines the stories of American Indian people from a personal perspective with the beauty of art.

ASU Art Museum

http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/

Named "the single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona" by Art in America magazine, the ASU Art Museum is an integral part of the ASU Herberger College of the Arts at Arizona State University. The inventive ASU Art Museum serves a diverse community of artists and audiences through innovative programming that is interdisciplinary, educational and relevant to life today.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesan West

http://www.franklloydwright.org/t_west.html

Taliesin West was architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959 at the age of 92. Taliesin West is "the main campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture" it houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and is open to the public for tours.

recreation and fitness

ASU Student Recreation Center: http://src.asu.edu/Facility

Guest passes are available to non-SRC members whenever the building is open. The cost is $10 per entry, per guest. Individuals may pay by cash, check or credit card at the access counter. Guests that wish to pay by Visa or MasterCard may do so 8am - 5pm Mon - Fri only. Guests must be 16 years of age or older with a valid state issued I.D. card. The SRC is located at the south end of Palm Walk off Apache Blvd.

Golfing: for information on golf courses in the Phoenix area, tee times, and costs, see: http://azcentral.golfnow.com/

Hiking: Thousands of acres of the Phoenix mountain and desert preserves offer everything from busy, arduous summit climbs to secluded, meandering valley walks. Trails are open 365 days a year.

http://phoenix.gov/parks/hikemain.html