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Cancun, Mexico

A- Overview:
Cancún has 200-plus days of sun a year and a temperature that averages 80F. With these statistics, it isn’t hard to understand why it is Mexico’s top tourist destination. Located on the tip of the Yucatan peninsula, its beaches are unparalleled, broad expanses of gleaming white sand stretched out beside the clear blue-green waters of the Caribbean.

Over 700 years ago, Cancún was home to the great Mayan civilization. Today, this exotic paradise joins the ancient past to the present as one of the world’s most modern and exciting resort areas.

A wide range of restaurants, vivacious night life, a variety of shopping opportunities, and the overall tropical atmosphere draw over two million visitors a year.

The hotel zone, which is what most tourists think of as Cancún, is a fourteen mile long, thin island shaped like a “7.” To the North is the Caribbean Sea with wide open beaches and strong waves. To the west the shore is buffeted by Isla Mujeres (Isle of Women), causing calmer waters. To the south, between the island and the mainland is the Nichupte Lagoon which is perfect for all water sports. It is this island that was created specifically for its present purpose, as the ideal vacation destination in a totally natural tropical setting accompanied by all the amenities of life in the 21st century.

Mainland Cancún has a much different ambience than the hotel zone, because it is an area of permanent residence for some 450,000 people. It offers markets instead of malls, and street vendors and outdoor cafes rather than air-conditioned restaurants. Downtown Cancún has little of the glamor of the hotel zone, but is a fast growing and interesting city to visit.

Visitors who are nostalgic for their home cities will be comforted to know that the developers of Cancún included businesses such as Outback Steakhouse, Dunkin’ Donuts, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, McDonalds, WalMart and Blockbuster.

The whole family is welcome and appreciated in Cancún. Much thought and preparation has gone into developing attractions that will be of interest to family members of all ages. AquaWorld is one such facility. It offers wave runners, water skiing, windsurfing, catamarans, paddle boats, sailboats, kayaks, floats and boogie boards. There is even a sub sea explorer craft with large glass windows built into the sides for underwater viewing of fish, coral formations, turtles, and other marine life. There is no excuse not to have fun! Children will also enjoy time spent at Xcaret, the waterside theme park.

The Cancún Convention Center is the site of a variety of performing arts events, as well as displays of paintings and sculpture. Cancún has a wide choice of nighttime entertainment. Most of the hotels on the island have discos where dancing continues through the night into the early morning hours. Ballet Folklórico de Mexico performs nightly at the Continental Villas Plaza Hotel. Latin music is performed live at several clubs and attracts people of all ages. Rock ‘n roll oldies bring crowds of dancers to Planet Hollywood and the Hard Rock Café. Comedy acts and romantic dinner cruises round out the nighttime offerings.

Holidays and fiestas provide additional reasons to celebrate the beauty and joy of time spent in Cancún. In the church plaza, intricate dances passed down from family to family since ancient times, continue for hours. Dancers dress in symbolic costumes of vivid colors. Some villages even offer a bullfight as part of the festivities. However, in the Yucatan, both the bull and the matador are required to end the contest unharmed. Live music accompanies the performance. In the end, the bull is untied and returns to his rural home.

There is never a season of the year that isn’t just the right time to step back from life’s hectic pace and visit Cancún. A world apart awaits the visitor to this majestic land of incomparable beauty.

B- City Information:
Population:
400,000

Location:
In the State of Quintana Roo, off the northeastern end of the Yucatan peninsula, directly south of New Orleans. Approximately 1.5 hours flying time from Miami.

Elevation:
16 feet

Area:
Cancún city is located on the northeastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula and is essentially a service town for the resort area of Cancún situated on L-shaped Cancún Island (13 miles [21 km] long by 0.25 mile [400 m] across). The resort area of Cancún (also called the Zona Hotelera [“Hotel Zone”]) is linked by a causeway to Cancún city.

Languages:
Spanish and Mayan, but English is spoken in most areas. The original inhabitants of this part of Mexico were Mayan and although Spanish is the official language, most of the indigenous population still speaks their native tongue. In the past few years, people from all parts of the world have settled here, giving this region a cosmopolitan atmosphere. It is fairly easy to encounter English, German, Italian and French- speaking people, especially in hotels and in larger towns.

Time Zone:
Central Standard year round. The time is one hour behind that of New York City. When it is 11:00am in New York City; it is 10:00am in Cancún.

Weather:
Cancún is warm year round, but the steady sea breeze tempers the heat. There is outdoor swimming all year. Rainfall is evenly distributed over the twelve months. The chance of hurricanes is greater in September and October. The sun reflected from the water is intense, so it is important to come prepared with sunblock. Most visitors wear shorts and T-shirts. A sweater is useful for air conditioned places and for the occasional cool winter day.

Average Temperatures (In Fahrenheit):
High Low
January – March 84F 67F
April – June 89F 73F
July – September 90F 76F
October – December 87F 69F

Tourist Assistance:
Secretariat of Tourism
91-800-90392

Consulates:
United States Of America 830272
Plaza Caracol II # 2 3rd Floor 832296
Canada 833360
Plaza Caracol II 3rd Floor #L330 833361

Currency:
New Peso, Old Peso, U.S.Dollar

Banks and Currency Exchange Facilities:
US Dollars are easily exchanged into pesos in banks, major hotels, airports and exchange houses. Mexican banks are open from 9 am to 2:30 pm weekdays only. Most credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels and travel agencies. Major purchases are best made with a credit card. You automatically receive the bank rate of exchange, which is higher than the rates given in town or at the hotels.

US Dollars and Mexican Pesos: In Cancún,. The US dollar is widely accepted, however, most prices are quoted in Mexican pesos. Usually, any price that has a decimal sign is in pesos. Pesos can also be indicated by a price like “N$35”. The N stands for “new pesos”. If you see a bill with a high value, in the thousands or millions, that is “old pesos” and you have to drop three zeros from the number to get the true value.

Exchange Rates:
If no exchange rate is posted, the usual rate is 8 pesos to the US dollar. Any posted rate will be lower than this.

Credit and Bank Cards:
Before you go, check with your credit card company to get their exchange rate for Mexican pesos. You may find that plastic is more economical than cash for some purchases. However, small stores might charge an extra 10% for credit card sales, so you will need some cash. Cash advances and ATM withdrawals typically come in pesos. Major ATM cards work at ATMs at the big banks such as Banamex .Banks advertise their closing hour as 5 PM during the week.

Documentation:
Visitors to Mexico need a valid passport or must present an original birth certificate and photo ID. Minors traveling alone; with one parent; or with a relative or friend who is not their parent need notarized consent from parent(s). In addition, visitors must carry a Mexican Tourist Permit, which is issued free of charge after proof of citizenship upon arrival. This permit must be given to officials upon departure. If you lose your Tourist Permit while in Cancún, you can obtain a copy or permission to leave the country from the Immigration office located downtown.

Departure Tax:
is approximately US $17. Be prepared with US cash for this. Change may not be available. Children under 2 years are exempt.

Customs Regulations:
After passing through immigration, you must claim your luggage and pass through Customs. You must present a Customs form, which will be given to you at check-in before you leave the US or during your flight. You will be asked to press a button at a sort of traffic light: Green means go, red means your baggage will be briefly searched. Questions can be directed to the Customs office at the Cancún Airport at (52-98) 86-00-73.

Church Services:
Roman Catholic
Cristo Ray Church,15 Margaritas Street, Downtown Cancún
Daily Messes: 7A.M. and 7 P.M. Saturday: 7P.M.
Sundays: 8A.M., 11 A.M., 5P.M., 6:30 P.M., and 8 P.M.
840513.

Hotel Zone Masses
Cancún Baptist Fellowship, Hyatt Hotel each Sunday 10:00am
Hotel Camino Real , 10 P.M.
Continental Villas Plaza, Sunday 12 P.M.
Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, Sunday 10:30 A.M.
Presidente-Intercontinental, Saturday 6:30 P.M.
Sheraton, Sunday 10: A.M.
Chapel next to Plaza Nautilus, Sunday 10 A.M.

Presbyterian
Puerto del Cielo Church, 15 Crisantemos St. Downtown Cancún.
Sunday services: 10:45 A.M., 6:30 P.M.
842362

Episcopal
Marriott Casa Magna, Hotel Zone
Sunday services: 10 A.M. in English
852000

Electricity: The standard current in the hotels in Mexico is 110 volts AC. European travelers should bring a converter or check their electric devices in advance.

Telephones & Fax:
For local directory inquiries dial 847612.

From North America to Cancún:
Dial 011 (int’l access code) + 52 (Mexico’s country code) + 98 (Cancún’s area code) + the local number.

From Cancún, calling within North America:
Dial 00+1+area code+local number. Many US long-distance phone companies have access numbers that you must dial in order to use your phone card, usually through the Mexican telephone company public phones, Ladatel. Calls may be less expensive than direct-dialed calls from your hotel room. (Check your hotel surcharges before calling.)

Using Tel/Mex public telephones:
If you are calling within Mexico, you can pay for the call in cash or call collect. International calls are collect only at some casetas. The service charges may apply whether or not you connect and there might be an extra charge for information or any other service involving the international operator. Only use official TelMex phone booths for long distance calls, as all others charge very high fees, so high that the government is now removing the phones. The non TelMex phones usually have a little ad on them urging you to call collect, decorated with an American flag. Don’t be misled by the ad.. use Telmex.

Ladatel
The least expensive way of paying for an international call is to buy a Ladatel card at one of the locations that sell them, such as the newsstand in front of the post office. These come in amounts from 30 pesos up. You put the card into a slot in a Ladatel public phone and direct-dial the number. The amount of credit you have left will appear on the display and be updated when you connect. The charges are automatically deducted from the card.

Credit Card Calls:
– Some credit cards will also work in Ladatel phones, including Master Charge and Visa International.

Fax:
You can send faxes from the post office or from any Caseta de Larga Distancia. The two most convenient locations are:
[1] Downtown next to Lavandería Alborada on Nader.
[2] Mercado 28, near Farmacia YZA.

Computel:
Downtown – Av. Tulum just past main bus terminal.
Hotel Zone – Coral Negro Market, Plaza Kukulcán, 2nd level. Fast, efficient fax service.
A one-page fax to the United States will cost about $3.35 in this computerized telephone and fax service.

Internet:
Public internet service is available in all major hotels at rates of about $10 an hour. There are also many Internet cafés in the Hotel Zone and Downtown. Hotel Zone malls with Internet service include Plaza Caracol, Plaza Kukulcán and Maya Fair, but there are many other locations.. Service in downtown Cancún ranges from $1.50 to $5 an hour.

National Holidays:
Jan 1 – New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)
Feb 5 – Constitution Day
Mar 21 – Birthday of Benito Juárez, Mexican president and national hero
Holy Week – (Semana Santa) Good Friday through Easter Sunday
May 1 – Labor Day (Día del Trabajo) with workers’ parades
May 5 – Battle of Puebla commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862
Sept 1 – The president of Mexico delivers the annual State of the Nation address
Sept 16 – Independence Day
Oct 12 – Day of the Race (Dia de la Raza) Columbus Day
Nov 1-2 – The Day of the Dead
Nov 20 – Revolution Day: Anniversary of the 1910 Mexican Revolution
Dec 12 – Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadelupe
Dec 25 – Christmas Day

Emergency:
Local Police 841913/ 842342
Fire Department 841202
Highway Police (Federal) 841542/ 841107
State Police 841171
Federal Police 887291

Business Hours:
Most stores are open from 10 am to 10 pm daily in the Hotel Zone. Stores downtown may close between 2 pm and 4 pm for the traditional “siesta” and on Sundays.

Hospitals: Mexico has a nationalized healthcare system and almost every town and city has either a national hospital or medical clinic. Most hotel have a 24-hour doctor on call. No vaccinations are need to enter Mexico from the US or Canada. Below is a list of local hospitals and clinics.

Hospital Americano
84-61333/84-6068 (24-hours)
15 Viento Street, SM4

Red Cross
84-1616 (24-hours)
Yaxchilan Avenue, SM21

Total Assist
84-1092, 84-8116 (24-hours)
5 Claveles Street, SM22

Social Security Hospital
887274 /887354

General Hospital
842967/ 842666

Public rest rooms:
Restrooms are difficult to find in most places. You are expected to supply your own toilet paper.

Children:
Many resorts, hotels, and beachfront villas have many activities especially for families with children.

How to get around:
A counter at the airport exit sells tickets for buses (called colectivos), which cost about $8. The buses are air-conditioned and sell soft drinks and beer on board. You can also take a government-subsidized cab. The driver will accept the taxi vouchers sold at stands inside or just outside the airport.
Car Rentals:
Major rental car companies operate from the airport and some hotels. You must be 25 years old, hold a driver’s license and major credit card. Road signs are in Spanish.

Public Transportation:

Tips and Taxes
In cases where the gratuity is not included or provided for, 15% is the accepted amount. Most items sold in Mexico have a “value added tax” or sales tax of 10% that is additional to the posted price. In Spanish, it is called IVA. You will see it itemized separately on your receipt. City buses and taxi vans run through the hotel zone and downtown. Localurban bus companies service the hotel zone. They stop by all hotels during the day.

Taxis
Taxi Union 886992

Local Bus Service:
The bus system in Cancún is very convenient and inexpensive. The fare is 3 pesos. It is much better to pay in pesos because, according to some travelers, if you pay with US money the fare is $1, and no change is given.

Ferries and Boats
The ferry for foot passengers runs to Isla Mujeres departs Puerto Juarez, just north of downtown Cancún, eight times a day in both directions.
The Caribbean Express and the Caribbean Miss (tel. 987/70254 or 987/70253), both air-conditioned cruisers with bar service, make several 30-minute crossings daily from Puerto Juárez, just north of Cancún, to Isla Mujeres, a small island resort offshore. Boats run from 7:30am – 7:30pm at approximately 30-minute intervals; the fare is under $4 per person.
There are three passenger ferries that leave at 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10, 10:30, and 11:30 AM, and on the half hour from 12:30 to 7:30 PM; the schedule varies depending on the season, so check the times posted at the dock. The one-way fare is only about $1.50 and the trip takes 45 minutes.

Airports:
Cancún International Airport – Phone 870088 Airport is 9 miles southwest of the heart of Cancún City, 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the southernmost point of the hotel zone.
Shuttle (tel. 98/83448), runs directly from the Playa Tortugas dock in Cancún’s hotel zone to the airport at least four times a day and costs about $15 round-trip.

Marriage while in Cancún:
Due to Cancún’s popularity as a honeymoon destination, most major hotels are happy to arrange a wedding for a visitng couple, and will likely have a wedding coordinator on-site, or be able to refer you to a local company that provides those services. The legal requirements for marriage in Cancún are as follows:
(1) Certified copies of both parties’ birth certificates or valid passport
(2) Blood tests from their doctors taken within 15 days of their wedding date; tests for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV
(3) A copy of their tourist permits or visas if required for entry
(4) Four witnesses
(5) If previously married, the parties will need to show the divorce decree or a certified copy of spouse’s death certificate, if widowed.

C- Attractions/Things To Do:
D- Family Fun Attractions:
E- Events & Entertainment:

Tempe, Arizona

A- Overview:
Home of Arizona State University and Sky Harbor Airport, Tempe is located in the southern part of the Phoenix metropolitan area and is bordered by Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler.

Tempe is the state’s seventh largest city. Access to Tempe is easy from just about any direction via the Loop 101, 202, US 60, I-10 and the Hohokam Expressway. The City of Tempe, Arizona offers more than 330 days a year of sunshine to its residents and visitors, and annual rainfall amounts to only 7.36 inches a year.

The first stop for many is legendary Arizona Mills, the vast indoor shopping mall with an emphasis on tasteful decoration, reasonable prices, and top quality merchandise. One of the main hang-out and night-life spots is nearby Mill Avenue, but there are a number of other places in the surrounding area that contribute to a memorable visit to the area.

In 1865, the U.S. Army arrived at the eastern end of the Salt River Valley and established Fort McDowell. More pioneers arrived, including Wickenburg entrepreneur Jack Swilling, who directed the renovation of the Hohokam canals, and Charles Trumbull Hayden, who built a flour mill and began a ferry service across the Salt River.

“Hayden’s Ferry,” as the city was called then, was also the name of the only vehicle across the Rio Salado. The town grew slowly and was renamed the City of “Tempe” Arizona (Tem-PEE) by an English traveler who compared the area to the beautiful Vale of Tempe in Greece.

In 1886, the Arizona Territorial Normal School welcomed its first class of 31 students in the building known today as Old Main on Arizona State University’s campus.

A growth spurt over the past twenty years has resulted in the development of industrial parks and planned communities in all directions. Arizona State University’s main campus, adjacent to downtown Tempe, educates students from all 50 states and more than 120 countries. ASU is known as leading Research institution. The presence of its enthusiastic faculty and students has contributed to the success of the numerous local theaters, galleries, and cultural centers in Tempe. The ASU campus even houses the State Arboretum that is open to the public. The Law Library (said to be second only to Harvard’s ) is designed to look like an open book. Gammage Auditorium is well known as Frank Lloyd Wright’s last public structure design.

Over the past two decades, Tempe has been a top choice for visitors seeking Arizona vacations. The downtown area has been made pedestrian friendly. Shady brick sidewalks, turn of the century buildings, historic landmarks, a wide variety of restaurants and popular night spots, ASU, “A” mountain and Tempe Town Lake all make downtown Tempe a place recognized for its for dining, shopping, sightseeing, and nightlife.

Families enjoy the Tempe Beach Park Splash Playground and the pedal boats on Tempe Town Lake. Visitors can see a Broadway show, visit a fine art museum, explore hiking and biking trails. It’s all there and so conveniently located! Just about everything in Tempe can be found in a one mile radius. The only decisions to be made are what to see and do first and how soon it will be possible to return to this lively and thoroughly enjoyable city.

B- City Information:
Population: 158,625.

Area: 40.2 square miles

Elevation: 1,159 feet

Location: Maricopa County, Arizona

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time. Daylight saving time is not observed. In the summer, therefore, the time coincides with Pacific Time.

Average Temperatures:

Month
High
Low

January
65F
38F

February
69F
41F

March
74F
45F

April
84F
52F

May
93F
60F

June
101F
68F

July
105F
77F

August
102F
76F

September
98F
70F

October
88F
57F

November
75F
45F

December
66F
38F

National Holidays:

New Year’s Day Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President’s Day 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day last Mon. in May

Independence Day July 4

Labor Day 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dec. 24 and 25

New Year’s Eve Dec. 31

Local Seasons:

The peak season in Phoenix is in the winter when people throughout the country escape the cold and come to enjoy the warm temperatures and low humidity of this desert city. Whether it’s golf, sitting at the pool, strolling through town, dining at the many fine restaurants, or just enjoying the scenery, this is an ideal time for a visit. Temperatures during the day can reach the 70s F and at night drop to the 40s F, offering the opportunity for outdoor activities during the day, and cooler sleeping temperatures at night. Spring is quite pleasant as temperatures rise and humidity drops to less than 20%. Fall is very similar in temperature. Summers are very warm, with the high temperatures during the day often reaching well over 100 F. There is virtually no humidity, so the effect of the higher temperatures is not as pronounced as in more humid parts of the US. Summer temperatures drop to the mid 70’s F at night.

How to Get There:

By Air

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

3400 Sky Harbor Blvd.

Phoenix AZ 85034

602-273-8880

Located 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix and from Tempe, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport lies at the heart of the southwestern United States. There are hundreds of nonstop and connecting flights from points around the globe each day. The airport is served by many of the national and international airlines as well as certain regional carriers.

Ground Transportation:

Most of the major car rental companies, as well as taxi and limousine service is available at the Phoenix Airport.

By Car:

The city is accessible via Interstate 10 from the west (Los Angeles) and southeast (Tucson) and Interstate 17 from the north (Flagstaff)

By Train:

Amtrak

Sky Harbor Airport

G.A.I.T. desk in each terminal

Phoenix, AZ 85034

800-USA-RAIL

This is a stop for Amtrak Thruway connecting bus service only. Amtrak trains do not stop in Phoenix.

By Bus:

Greyhound

2115 E Buckeye Rd.

Phoenix AZ 85034

602-389-4200

How to Get Around:

The easiest and most convenient way to get around is by either personal or rental car. Other services are available:

Valley Metro – bus system

602-253-5000

Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH)

Bus service within the downtown Phoenix area.

Free Local Area Shuttle Service (FLASH)

Provides service around a loop for Arizona State University in Tempe.

C- Attractions/Things To Do:
Arizona Mills Mall
5000 Arizona Mills Circle,

Tempe, Arizona 85282

480-491-7300

10a.m.-9:30p.m. Mon.-Sat.,11a.m.-7p.m. Sun.

The vast expanse of attractively appointed Arizona Mills provides a most gratifying shopping experience featuring the best names in manufacturers’ and retail outlets, including Last Call from Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet, and Kenneth Cole, New York. Numerous boutiques and specialty shops are nestled among the larger department stores. Entertainment venues include Harkins Luxury 24 Cinemas, an IMAX Theatre, and various themed restaurants.

Arizona Historical Society Museum
Papago Park 1300 N. College Ave

Tempe, Arizona 85281

480-929-0292

Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 1 – 4 p.m.

Admission charged, free for children under 12

This museum, at the headquarters of the Arizona Historical Society, focuses its well-designed exhibits on the history of central Arizona from the time of prehistoric Hohokam to today. An interesting permanent exhibit features life-size statues of everyday people from Arizona’s past (a Mexican miner, a Chinese laborer, etc). Quotes relate their individual stories, while props reveal what items they might have traveled with during their days in the desert.

Big Surf

1500 N Mcclintock Dr
Tempe, AZ 85281

480-947-7873

Hours Vary by season

The surf’s way up in Tempe when you dive into the two-million-gallon wave pool at Big Surf. The facility offers multiple activities that appeal to all ages. Multiple water slides including eight at the Kool Kids Zone keep the action going without overcrowding. For a day of fun in the sun and waves, be prepared with enthusiasm and lots of sunscreen. It’s hard to leave!

ASU Karsten Golf Course

1125 East Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85281

480-921-8070

Dawn to dusk, hours vary according to season

Greens fees, including cart, vary according to season.

This par 72 Pete Dye-designed public course is fashioned in a Scottish links style. Tees range from 4,760 yards on the forward tees to 7,058 on the professional. Throughout the course railroad ties, bunkers and hidden greens create a challenge. The #7 hole is reported to be the most likely place to get a birdie. Collared shirts with sleeves and hemmed Bermuda-length shorts are required. Amenities include the Trophy Room Restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, a practice range, putting green and short game area.

Arizona State University Art Museum

1001 South Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85297

480-965-2787

10am-9pm Tue; 10am-5pm Wed-Sat; 1pm-5pm Sun; closed Mon

Fine collections are housed in this museum, which is located in the Nelson Fine Arts Center on ASU’s campus. Spend the afternoon in an art-appreciation spree and gaze at works by American and Latin artists. You will view fine prints and contemporary art forms. Artists on display include Georgia O’Keeffe, Deborah Butterfield, Philip C. Moulthrop and James McNeill Whistler. Permanent and rotating exhibits are on display six days a week for self-touring. An on-site museum store offers interesting souvenirs. Admission to the museum is free, however donations are appreciated.

Tempe Historical Museum

809 East Southern Ave

Tempe, AZ 85282

480-350-5100

10am-5pm Mon-Thu; 10am-5pm Sat; 1pm-5pm Sun; closed Fri & holidays

The site for this museum was completed in 1991, in what was once the 36,000 square-foot Tempe Public Library. An 8,000-square foot exhibit gallery focuses on the preservation and interpretation of Tempe’s history. Also operated by the museum is the Petersen House Museum, a Queen Anne Victorian house which showcases Tempe’s daily life at the turn of the century. Permanent and changing exhibits and educational programs address Tempe’s history from a state and national perspective. Admission is free.

Arboretum at ASU

Tempe, AZ 85201-5112

Phone: (480)965-8137

Admission is free. Open everyday

ASU’s Arboretum is Arizona’s largest public urban arboretum. Inside the Tempe campus, visitors can view collections of palms, deciduous trees, fruit-bearing trees, conifers, evergreen trees, desert trees, cacti, succulents and specialty garden displays. Arboretum walking guides are available at the ASU Visitors Center, Apache Boulevard and Rural Road.

Casino Arizona at Salt River

101 & McKellips

Scottsdale, AZ

Casino Arizona at Talking Stick

101 & Indian Bend

Scottsdale, AZ 85271

Phone: (877)724-4687

Just a few minutes drive from Tempe, each casino offers slots, blackjack, poker, keno and OTB/racebook. The larger, Casino Arizona at Salt River, is Arizona’s newest and largest gaming, dining and entertainment destination. Within its spacious interior, guests will find a cabaret-style showroom, a piano lounge, a lively sports bar and seven restaurants with everything from casual snacks to intimate fine dining. The casino also houses an outstanding cultural exhibit of Native American arts and crafts.

Four Peaks Brewing Company

1340 E. 8th Street

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)303-9967

Arizona largest brewery is located in a turn of the century brick warehouse with award winning food and hand-crafted ales.

Gameworks
5000 Arizona Mills Circle

Tempe, AZ 85282

480-839-4263

11am-midnight Mon-Thu; 11am-1am Fri; 10am-1am Sat; 10am-midnight Sun

This huge multilevel game complex inside the Arizona Mills Mall offers state-of-the-art games. Try interactive, virtual reality games that allow what the player does in reality to happen simultaneously on the big screen with animated characters.

D- Family Fun Attractions:
ASU Mars Space Flight Facility

Department of Geological Sciences

Tempe, AZ 85287-6305

Phone: (480)965-1790

Open 8:00am – 5:00pm Monday – Friday.

The facility supports the Thermal Emission Spectrometer experiment that was sent aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft when it launched in November 1996. The Mars facility has a visitor area with displays about Mars and a television tuned to NASA TV.

ASU Planetarium

Arizona State University

Bateman Physical Sciences Center

Tempe, AZ 85287-1504

Phone: (480)965-6891

Open Tues. and Thurs., 6:30 p.m.

Sept.-Nov. and Feb.-April. Shows last approximately 30 to 50 minutes. Weather permitting; viewing though ASU telescopes follows each show. Reservations are required for all evening shows.

Center for Meteorite Studies at ASU

Bateman Physical Sciences Center C-139

Tempe, AZ 85287-2504

Phone: (480)965-6511

Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30am – 4pm.

The center has one of the world’s largest university-based meteorite collections, with specimens representing over 1,500 separate falls. The collection is actively used for space-oriented research by scientists at ASU and throughout the world.

Fiddlesticks Tempe

1155 W. Elliott Rd.

Tempe, AZ 85284

Phone: (480)961-0800

Located one mile east of the I-10 and Elliot. Speedy go-karts; wet n’ wild bumper boats; award-winning, lighted driving range; batting cages; video arcade and mini-golf provide great family fun.

Splash Playground

Tempe Beach Park

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)350-8625

Open mid-April through September, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This one-acre park teaches how a drop of rain ends up either in the ocean or becomes part of the city water supply.

Tempe Town Lake

Mill Ave. & Rio Salado Pkwy.

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)350-8625

Tempe Town Lake, located adjacent to Downtown Tempe, provides a 2-mile recreational haven for kayaking, sailing, rowing, jogging, skating or picnicking.

E- Events & Entertainment:
New Year’s Eve

Tempe Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party

Mill Avenue District

Tempe, Arizona

Named one of the top ten places in the nation to ring in the New Year by USA Today, the Tempe Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Block Party is packed with excitement and fun for the entire family!

Early January

Annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl

Sun Devil Stadium

120 South Ash Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-350-0900

Tempe will host the Big 12 Championship vs. PAC-10 Championship.

Mid January

Rock N Roll AZ Marathon and 1/2 Marathon

Tempe, Arizona

The annual P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and 1/2 Marathon covers running two really fast courses and hosts 60 live bands.

March

Spring Training Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Tempe Diablo Stadium

2200 West Alameda Drive

Tempe, Arizona

480-350-5205

End of March-Beginning of April

Tempe Spring Festival of the Arts

Mill Avenue District

Tempe, Arizona

480-921-2300

Ranked among the Top 20 art festivals in the nation,it has received the Pinnacle Award from the International Festival and Events Association. The event attracts nearly 250,000 visitors to downtown Tempe over the course of a 3-day period.

Early April

Tempe Music Festival

Tempe Beach Park

Tempe, Arizona

The Annual Circle K Tempe Music Festival is held at Tempe Beach Park and features more than 30 regional and national acts on 3 stages, interactive displays, extreme sports demonstrations and much more!

Early May

AVP Tempe Open

Tempe Beach Park

Tempe, Arizona

AVP comes to Tempe Beach Park! Featuring Volleyball’s hottest venue and athletes. Watch as teams battle it out in Arizona’s unique beach.

Mid November

New Times 10K Race

Mill Avenue

Tempe, Arizona

When this event was inaugurated in 1976 by Dr. Art Mollen, the goal was to provide a community event that celebrates fitness and physical well-being. Now it is the 13th largest 10K race in the United States!

Late November-Early December

APS Fantasy of Lights

Mill Avenue District

Tempe, Arizona

Celebrate the holiday season with Tempe as the Mill Avenue District is transformed into a winter wonderland!

End of November/Early December

Tempe Fall Festival of the Arts

Mill Avenue District

Tempe Arizona

480-921-2300

Arts and Entertainment

Edna Vihel Center For the Arts

(480) 350-5287

3340 S Rural Rd

Tempe, AZ 85282

The Tempe Symphony Orchestra is sponsored jointly by the city of Tempe and

the Arizona State University School of Music. Performances are held at the Edna Vihel Center for the Arts.

ASU’s Gammage Auditorium

Arizona State University

Box 870105

Tempe, AZ 85287-0105

Phone: (480)965-5062

A Frank Lloyd Wright designed masterpiece that is acoustically perfect , the Gammage presents everything from theater to music to dance. Offerings include nationally touring Broadway hits, celebrity acts and multicultural programs, both contemporary and classical.

Childsplay

132 E. 6th Street

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)350-8101

Arizona’s award-winning professional theatre company for young audiences and families, performing in venues around the state, including the Tempe Performing Arts Center.

Evelyn Smith Music Theatre

ASU School of Music

Box 870405

Tempe, AZ 85287-0405

Phone: (480)965-8863

This 500-seat theatre is home to Lyric Opera Theatre’s musicals and operas.

Sports

Sun Devil Stadium

located on the campus of Arizona State University

in downtown Tempe between First and Fifth streets and Rural and Mill avenues

602-379-0102

The Cardinals, founded in 1898 and a charter member of the National Football League, hold the distinction of being the oldest continuously run professional football franchise in the nation. A new stadium is under construction, and the Cardinals plan to relocate to nearby Glendale sometime in 2006.

Phoenix Rock (Climbing) Gym

1353 E. University Dr.

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)921-8322

Rolling Hills Golf Course

1415 N. Mill Ave.

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone: (480)350-5275

Tempe Diablo Stadium

2200 W. Alameda Dr.

Tempe, AZ 85282

Phone: (480)350-5265

Tempe Sports Complex

8401 S. Hardy Dr.

Tempe, AZ 85284

Phone: (480)350-5200

Wells Fargo Arena

ASU Campus

Tempe, AZ 85287-4505

Phoenix, Arizona

A- Overview:
Glittering like a jewel under the bright Southwestern sun, the dazzling surroundings and the eight months of nearly perfect weather in Phoenix have drawn people to this fascinating Arizona city. It is easy to understand why Phoenix was chosen as the capital of Arizona, Phoenix is an ideal travel destination. It is known for its warm temperatures and low humidity. Lying on flat desert and surrounded by mountains and green irrigated fields, it is a resort, convention, and government center as well as a thriving industrial area.

By day, the sun fairly sparkles, and as evening nears the sunsets splash purple and blazing orange across the vast horizon. It is because of these wondrous sights that Phoenix’s metro area is called the Valley of the Sun. This once sleepy agricultural town is now increasingly active and constantly expanding.

Residents have no qualms about driving 200 miles for a picnic or a swim, and visitors should be prepared to follow their example by securing a rental car in order to get around. There is so much to see and do that you will want to explore in all directions. The highway system is easy to understand and to follow. Even if you don’t venture beyond the downtown area, you will find a surprising energy and level of activity amid the buildings at Van Buren and Third streets in the newly restored and renovated Copper Square area. If you have not visited downtown Phoenix for awhile, the winning combination of quality restaurants, museums, shops, and nightclubs will surely exceed your expectations.

The area’s awesome beauty, from the top of nearby South Mountain to the distinctive Camelback Mountain, eclipses any manmade building. As you stroll through the desert you will be surprised by the abundance of blooming vegetation, and moved by the grandeur of rolling hills that are criss-crossed by hiking trails.

The sun shines all day; the nights are pleasantly cool. There are so many activities and attractions to enjoy while visiting Phoenix. As a vacation spot it pleases both the sophisticated traveler and the casual vacationer.

B- City Information:
Population: 1,321,154

Elevation: 1072 feet above sea level

Land Area: 474.9 square miles

Location: Located in the central part of Arizona, transected by Interstate 10 from the west and south and Interstate 17 from the north

Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (when it’s noon in Phoenix, it’s 11am in Los Angeles and 2pm in New York City). Phoenix does not observe Daylight Saving Time, so these time comparisons vary by an hour from the end of April through the end of October.

Average Temperatures:

Month
High
Low

January
66F
41F

February
70F
44F

March
75F
48F

April
83F
54F

May
92F
63F

June
101F
70F

July
103F
77F

August
102F
77F

September
97F
70F

October
87F
59F

November
74F
47F

December
66F
41F

Local Seasons:

Holidays Observed

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President’s Day, 3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day, last Mon. in May

Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Dec. 24 and 25

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

How to Get There:

By Air

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

3400 Sky Harbor Blvd.

Phoenix AZ 85034

602-273-8880

Located 10 minutes from downtown Phoenix and less than 30 minutes from Scottsdale, the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport lies at the heart of the southwestern United States. There are hundreds of nonstop and connecting flights from points around the globe each day. The airport is served by many of the national and international airlines as well as certain regional carriers.

Scottsdale Airport

15000 N. Airport Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-312-2321

Located close to Scottsdale, this regional airport is an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers, seeking close proximity to world class resorts, hotels, restaurants, golf courses, and corporate centers, with an average of 360 VFR days yearly.

Ground Transportation:

Most of the major car rental companies, as well as taxi and limousine service is available at the Phoenix Airport. Limited services available at the Scottsdale Airport.

By Car:

The city is accessible via Interstate 10 from the west (Los Angeles) and southeast (Tucson) and Interstate 17 from the north (Flagstaff)

By Train:

Amtrak

3400 East Sky Harbor Blvd.
G.A.I.T. desk in each terminal
Phoenix, AZ 85034

800-USA-RAIL

This is a stop for Amtrak Thruway connecting bus service. only. Amtrak trains do not stop in Phoenix.

By Bus:

Greyhound

2115 E Buckeye Rd.
Phoenix AZ 85034

602-389-4200

How to Get Around:

The easiest and most convenient way to get around is by either personal or rental car. Other services are available:

Valley Metro – bus system

602-253-5000

Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH)

Bus service within the downtown area

Free Local Area Shuttle Service (FLASH)

Provides service around a loop for Arizona State University

C- Attractions/Things To Do:
Arizona Center
400 E. Van Buren Street between Third and Fifths Street
(602) 949-4353 (602) 271-4000
Shopping, dining, and entertainment are what make the Arizona Center a “must see” downtown marketplace. Shopping is made simple at the marketplace with over 50 specialty shops and carts. Each of the nine-full service restaurants feature al fresco dining. After sunset, popular nightclubs offer country/western dancing, sing-along piano bar, and a sports bar with more than 50 big screen TV’s. For maximum comfort the state’s largest computerized misting system, keeps the temperature 10 degrees cooler throughout the Arizona Center.

Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion
2121 N. 83rd Avenue
(602) 254-7200
Designed specifically for musical performances, the facility has hosted most of the nation’s top entertainers as well as some of the best outdoor concerts. On a summer night, patrons can come out to enjoy the entertainment comfortably with a specially designed cooling system that combines air conditioning with fans. Come out with your towels and lawn chairs and groove to the music.

Camelback Mountain
Echo Canyon Recreation
Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Phoenix
(602) 256-3220
Distinguished by its sheer red cliffs, the Camelback Mountain and Echo Canyon Recreation area is the city’s most prominent landmark. This 75.8-acre park featuring the Praying Monk Rock formation and the famed camel’s silhouette, is a popular area for hiking and climbing. Rising 1,300 feet to the summit the Echo Canyon Trail reverberates the majestic beauty found within the Sonoran Desert. While making your way along the trails, you will encounter some of the most colorful plants and vivid wildlife to inhabit this region.

The Herberger Theater Center
222 E. Monroe St.
(602) 254-7399
(602) 252-8497 Reservations
Ticket Office Hours:
Monday- Friday 10am to 6 pm
Saturday noon to 6pm
And one hour prior to center performances
Located in downtown Phoenix, The Herberger Theater Center divided into two theaters, one seating 815, the other holding 350. Whether your agenda includes the theater or the ballet, the Herberger Theater Center’s Center Stage is the home to the Arizona Theatre Company, and Ballet Arizona. Stage West, the center’s second theater, provides a more intimate performance with the likes of Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Arizona Theatre Company, Childsplay and Centre Dance Ensemble. Also a variety of visiting dance troupes, orchestras and plays are presented year-round. The Hereberger Theater Center caters to young and old, always bringing the stage alive with each of its performances.

Patriots Square Park
Washington Street and Central Avenue
(602) 262-4627
The heart of downtown is adorned with two and a half acres of bountiful grass, shade providing trees and benches, a performing arts stage, and food kiosks. This area comprises Patriots Square Park, a popular site for city celebrations as well as quaint lunches in the park. In addition to the aesthetic appeal of Patriots Square Park, it serves as a cover for a large underground parking garage

Phoenix Symphony Hall and Terrace
225 E. Adams Street
(602) 262-6225
The Phoenix Symphony Hall and Symphony Hall Terrace are home to the Phoenix Symphony and the Arizona Opera. Symphony Hall has hosted innumerable Theatre and musical events. It is at Symphony hall where top performers and touring shows perform. While a variety of festivals and specials events grace the outside Symphony Terrace.

Pueblo Grand Museum and Cultural Park
4613 E. Washington Street
(602) 495- 0901
Hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00 am- 4:45 pm, Sunday 1:00- 4:45 pm
The Pueblo Grand Museum and Cultural Park is the only National Historic Landmark in the city of Phoenix. This is the kind of place that appeals to everyone in that it is not only a museum, but also a Native -American archaeological site. This archaeology site includes a Hohokam culture ruin. The ruin was once the site of a thriving indigenous chief city. After learning of their ingenuity in adapting to desert life, the site draws on a feeling of mystery as to why a civilization of superb farmers would abandon their home.

Ak-Chin Him-Dak (Eco-Museum)
46875 N. EcoMuseum, Phoenix
(602) 568-9487
Located 40 miles south of downtown Phoenix, the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Museum is known as the “museum with out walls”. Assembled by the Ak-Chin tribe the museum stands a part from most in that the tribal members themselves have been the ones to conduct excavations, catalogue artifacts, and document their own oral history.

America West Arena
201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix
(602) 379-7800
Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Coyotes, the Arizona Rattlers, Phoenix Mercury, and the Arizona Sandsharks all call America West Arena home. The one million square-foot, 20,000-seat multipurpose America West Arena hosts more than 180 events a year. This sports / concert arena electrifies Phoenix by bringing enthusiasm and excitement downtown.

Botanical Desert Gardens
1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
(602) 941-1217
Hours: October – April, 8am to 8pm daily
May-September, 7am to 8pm daily
Closed on Christmas Day
Housing half of all the variety of cactus in the world, the Desert Botanical Garden includes 150 acres of plants from the world’s deserts. Founded 1937, this non-profit museum illustrates the beauty of over a thousand plant species adapted for the arid landscape. Sponsoring programs in research, plant conservation, and environmental education the garden emphasizes harmony with the desert by displaying not only vivacious plant life, but by also incorporating exhibits that depict the relationship between modern day cities and the desert. Self-guided nature walk, public lectures, Cactus Show.

Encanto Park & Recreation Area
2605 N. 15th Avenue, Phoenix
(602) 261-8994
Prices: Free
Spanning over 220-acres, Encanto Park is the city’s largest flatland park. Offering a perfect spot for family cookouts, Encanto Park facilities includes picnic areas, a lagoon, boat house, swimming pool, nature trail, urban fishing, two golf courses, softball diamonds, basketball – tennis courts, and the KiddieLand/Enchanted Island Amusement Park. Visitors can rent canoes and paddle boats and joining the fish and ducks out on the lagoon or toss a Frisbee throughout the park’s grassy areas. A perfect place to relax and spend a weekend having fun in the sun.

Heard Museum
22 E. Monte Vista Road, Phoenix
(602) 252-8844
Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 to 5:00
Sun 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Closed Major Holidays
In 1929 Dwight B. and Mai Bartlett Heard founded The Heard Museum as a private, non-profit museum to house their personal collection of artifacts and art. The focus of the museum resides on the cultures of the Southwest. Tracing the history of the region from 15,000BC to the present, it includes everything from prehistoric to contemporary. The museum’s best-known collection features a large number of Hopi Kachina Dolls. The appreciation and respect for the arts and lifestyles of Southwest Native American culture is promoted as the evolving philosophy of the Heard. Especially oriented toward children, the museum has a hands-on exhibit called “Old Ways, New Ways”, which focuses on the Southwest Zuni, Northwest Coast Tsimshiam and the Great Plains Kiowa. The Heard museum holds over 32,000 ethnographic objects and contemporary work of art, 10 galleries, a new auditorium, education center, and an indoor/outdoor cafe.

Historic Heritage Square
113 N. Sixth and Monroe Street
(602) 262-5071 or (602) 262-5029
Arizona Doll & Toy Museum (602) 253-9337
Farmer’s Market – Open every Thursday from late October through May 20, 10am-2pm.
Heritage Square represents the Victorian root from which Phoenix originated in the 1860’s. A Victorian complex in the heart of downtown. Heritage Square is a refreshing site among the relatively young city. Historical city park has eight turn-of-the-century houses, including the restored 1895 Victorian Rosson House. . The Farmer’s Market presenting everything from fresh produce to other fine goods, fills the street of the square every Thursday. The available guided walking tours will wind you through the historical buildings, museums, restaurants and gift shops that encompass the remaining residential structures from the original townsite of Phoenix.

Mystery Castle
800 E. Mineral Road
(602) 268-1581
Hours: Thursday-Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm
Over a period of 18 years, one man built this 8,000 square-foot stone and sand castle. Constructed by Boyce Luther Gulley for his daughter, Mary Lou the castle features 18 furnished rooms with Southwestern Antiques, 13 fireplaces, a cantilevered stairway, parapets, many charming little nooks and crannies and a chapel. Visit the castle and be prepared to be whisked away into a Southwestern fairytale.

Orpheum Theatre
203 W. Adams St.
(602) 252-9678 or (602) 994-2787
Hours: Daily
Children under age two free, if not occupying a seat.
Built in 1929, this elaborate Spanish Baroque style remains as the last historic theater in downtown Phoenix. Although it retains its original architectural and historical identity, renovations have transformed the theater into a technically-modern events venue. The Orpheum’s stage is filled with an array of performing groups, from local, regional and national touring productions to performance companies and nonprofit performing arts group.

Papago Park / Hole-In-The-Rock
Galvin Parkway and Van Buren Street
(602) 256-3220
Papago Park facilities include lagoon, desert hills and rugged mountains, a golf course, museums, picnic areas, fishing, and hiking. The Hole-In-The-Rock landmark is a great hit with the kids. Papago Park serves as a great place to sit back, relax and enjoy the sites that surround you.

Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Avenue
(602) 257-1222
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday-Friday 10:00 am- 9:00pm
Saturday-Sunday 10:00am – 5:00pm
The Phoenix Art Museum is credited as being the largest visual arts museum in the Southwest. This museum specializes in contemporary Southwestern art, but also has other collections that cover North American art in general, sculpture, photography, 14th century fashion and decorative objects, exhibition of Renaissance work, the famous Throne Miniature Rooms historic interiors. The museum has expanded from its traditional exhibitions, and now offers a wide range of exhibitions throughout its 65,000 square feet of gallery space. Tours Available.

Phoenix Zoo
455 N. Galvin Parkway
(602) 273-1341
Hours: May 1 through Labor Day : 7:30am – 4:00pm
Winter Hours: 9am – 5pm
Take a leisurely drive through desert rock formation to the Phoenix Zoo, located in a section of the Papago Park. So, after a picnic in the park, come and visit the thousands of wild beasts, and endangered animals that roam here. A 125 acre zoo is home to more than 1,300 mammals, birds, and reptiles. The zoo features rare Sumatran tigers, Tropical Flights Aviary, African Savannah, Arizona Trail exhibit, all with native animals in naturalistic exhibitions. Plan to spend the entire day visiting the zoo’s exhibits. From the children’s petting zoo to the zoo’s exhibit of things that go “boo!” in the Sonoran Desert night, there isn’t one exhibit worth missing!

D- Family Fun Attractions:
Ak-Chin Him-Dak (Eco-Museum)
46875 N. EcoMuseum, Phoenix
(602) 568-9487
Located 40 miles south of downtown Phoenix, the Ak-Chin Him-Dak Museum is known as the “museum with out walls”. Assembled by the Ak-Chin tribe the museum stands a part from most in that the tribal members themselves have been the ones to conduct excavations, catalogue artifacts, and document their own oral history.

Botanical Desert Gardens
1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
(602) 941-1217
Hours: October – April, 8am to 8pm daily
May-September, 7am to 8pm daily
Closed on Christmas Day Housing half of all the variety of cactus in the world, the Desert Botanical Garden includes 150 acres of plants from the world’s deserts. Founded 1937, this non-profit museum illustrates the beauty of over a thousand plant species adapted for the arid landscape. Sponsoring programs in research, plant conservation, and environmental education the garden emphasizes harmony with the desert by displaying not only vivacious plant life, but by also incorporating exhibits that depict the relationship between modern day cities and the desert. Self-guided nature walk, public lectures, Cactus Show.

E- Events & Entertainment:
Events & Entertainment

January

P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon & Half Marathon

Held in early January

Location: Both the marathon and ½ marathon will start in downtown Phoenix at Wesley Bolin Plaza and will finish in Tempe, between ASU’s Sun Devil and Sun Angel Stadiums.

800-311-1255

What better way to get started on that New Year’s resolution to improve your health, or perhaps that personal best time… participate in a running tour of Greater Phoenix and experience fun in the sun and music on the course at one of Arizona’s biggest road races.

Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts Annual Car Show
Held in mid – late January

Location: Tubac Golf resort

520-885-6630

See more than 500 collector cars, trucks and motorcycles! The show also features family fun activities, food, raffles & live radio broadcast.

Maricopa County Home and Garden Show
Held in mid January

602-485-1691
One of Arizona’s largest Home Shows features a professional landscape competition with numerous landscape companies showcasing spectacular landscape displays. The event is sponsored by Horticultural Frontiers Landscape & Design, at the Landscaper’s Boulevard.

February

Matsuri-A Festival of Japan
Held in late February
Location: Monroe 5th-7th Street-Phoenix
602-262-5029
Annual Cultural Event

March

Annual Voices Take Flight
Held in early March

Location: Phoenix First Assembly
Join the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services for in an afternoon of song featuring the United States Coast Guard Academy Cadet Choir, the Arizona Choir from the University of Arizona. Each of these groups of young people performs individually, then join together to perform a rousing finale of God Bless America – raising their voices to celebrate music and support the military, particularly veterans many of whom have been stricken with incurable neurological diseases. Voices Take Flight is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of incurable neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – a fatal neurological disease that inordinately affects our Gulf War Veterans.

Pioneer Village Annual Bridal Fair
Held in early March

Location: Pioneer Living History Village

623-465-1952
With its picturesque romantic sunsets, 1880’s white wedding chapel, the white gazebo surrounded by mountains and the 1800’s Opera House, Pioneer Village has become a popular location to hold a Bridal Fair.

The Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market
Held in early March

Heard Museum
602-252-8840

Call for additional information

Aloha Festival
Held in mid March

Location: Heritage & Science Park

480-967-7366

Admission Free

The Arizona Aloha Festival provides fun activities, demonstrations and displays to round out the island experience.

The American Tenors- Annual Endowment Benefit
Held in mid March

Location: Chandler Center for the Arts

480-782-2680

The Chandler Center for the Arts represents a culmination of the unique cooperative efforts between the Chandler Unified School District and the City of Chandler.

October

Rainbow Festival

Held in early October

Location: Heritage & Science Park
602-252-6284

Call for additional information
Annual Festival

November

Annual Sedona Red Rock Fantasy

Held mid November – early January

Location: Los Abrigados Resort & Spa

928-282-1777

Nestled within the world-renowned red rocks of Sedona, Red Rock Fantasy is a festival of more than a million lights providing a man-made marvel within the scenic beauty that has drawn visitors for the past one hundred years. Boasting forty-one displays created by families from the Southwest, the festival promises never-before-seen marvels of light that leave children in wonderment and move adult minds to enjoy the holidays as they did when they were young. It is a magic that can bring cartoon favorites to life, challenge children to scavenger hunts within the displays, or illuminate a 25′ swan in dazzling, blue moonlight. That is the magic that has made Red Rock Fantasy a favorite among Arizonans and visitors to the state alike.

Entertainment

Actors Theatre of Phoenix

112 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004

602-253-6701

Call for performance schedule

A professional theatre company in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Presenting New York quality productions at the city’s premier arts venue – classics, contemporary and musicals.

Arizona Opera Company

4600 N. 12th St.

Phoenix, AZ 85014
877-639-0188

Call for performance schedule
Arizona Opera is the only professional producer of grand opera in the state. The company produces five operas annually in its home cities of Phoenix and Tucson.

Arizona Theatre Company

502 W. Roosevelt St.

Phoenix, AZ 85003
602- 256-6995

Call for performance schedule

The Arizona Theatre Company is one of the state’s leading professional theatre, performing six productions at the Temple of Music and Art in Tucson and at the Herberger Theater Center.

ASU Public Events at Gammage Auditorium

1200 S Forest Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281
480-965-5062

Call for performance schedule

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Gammage seats 3,000 and presents a year-round season of nationally touring Broadway musicals, plus much more.

Ballet Arizona

3645 E. Indian School Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85018
602-381-0184

Ballet Arizona is one of the Southwest’s premier professional ballet companies. Performances are held at The Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix and at various locations throughout the state.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

5247 E. Brown Rd.

Mesa, AZ 85205
888-504-7256
This 500-seat, year-round, professional dinner theater presents full-length Broadway musicals and comedies combined with a savory buffet meal to create a dinner-and-show package that is exception.

Dodge Theatre

400 W. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85001
602-379-2800

It is completely different and is a state-of-the-art entertainment venue designed specifically for concerts, Broadway and family stage shows, boxing and conventions.

Herberger Theatre Center

222 E. Monroe

Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-252-8497

The Herberger Theater Center is a two-stage complex featuring year-round music, drama and dance performances presented by four resident professional performing companies.

Phoenix Symphony

455 N. 3rd St.

Phoenix, AZ 85004
800-776-9080

Call for performance schedule
One of Arizona’s largest performing arts groups presents classics, pops, family, chamber concerts and special events.

Phoenix Theatre

100 E. McDowell Rd.

Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-889-5284
Phoenix Theatre, founded in 1920, is one of the oldest theatre companies in Arizona, and one of the oldest continuously operating arts groups in the country. The theatre is known for producing, and redefining.

Valley Youth Theatre

525 N. 1st St.

Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-253-8188
Valley Youth Theatre has state-of-the-art technical capabilities in its 202-seat proscenium-style theater.

Sports

Arizona Cardinals

Phoenix, AZ 85001

Professional Football – NFL

800-999-1402

Season runs September – January

Call for schedule

Arizona Diamondbacks

Phoenix, AZ 85001

Professional Baseball – MLB
602-514-8400

Season runs April – October
Hit a home run with by arranging an outing to beautiful Bank One Ballpark to enjoy exciting Arizona Diamondbacks baseball.

Phoenix Coyotes

Professional Hockey – NHL

ALLTEL Ice Den

9375 E. Bell Rd.

Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480- 473-5600

Call for schedule
Games played at America West Arena.

Phoenix Suns

Professional Basketball – NBA

201 E. Jefferson St.

Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-379-7900

Season runs October – April, call for schedule
Phoenix’s own National Basketball Association team plays at America West Arena.