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Phoenix Travel Guide
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| Phoenix |
| Phoenix
is a truly modern city -- it didn't really boom until after
World War II. Nonetheless, mixed among the office towers and
the abundance of resorts, spas and restaurants are museums
dedicated to pre-Columbian, Native American and pioneer history.
The explosive, sprawling growth of the metropolitan area --
which includes Glendale, Mesa, Scottsdale and
Tempe -- is due in part to its attractive desert
location (cacti and mountains are never far from view) and
in part to the city's refusal to respect the limitations a
desert imposes. Visitors may be surprised by the air pollution
all the development has generated. The heat, however, should
not be a shock. It is the desert, after all, and temperatures
routinely top 100 F/38 C in summer and can reach the 90s F/32-37
C even in late spring and early fall. Despite the smog and
heat, people go to Phoenix for year-round outdoor activities,
as the area is home to hundreds of golf courses. Plus, most
days are cloudless, even if the sun is a bit less brilliant
than in decades past. |
| Phoenix
Travels & Tours |
Cirque du Soleil - Varekai
Deep
within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary
world---a world where something else is possible. A world
called Varekai.From the sky falls a solitary young man,
and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows
of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by
fantastical creatures, this young man sets off on an adventure
both absurd and extraordinary. On this day at the edge of
time, in this place of all possibilities, begins an inspired
incantation to life rediscovered.The word varekai means
"wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies
the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to
the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition,
and to the infinite passion of those whose quest
Arizona Center
Located
in downtown Phoenix, this park-like shopping center is highly
accessible to major sporting events. "A marketplace
with class" accurately describes the Center. More than
50 unique shops and restaurants fill any shopper's urge
to splurge. Tables are located outdoors for dining al fresco
in a comfortable atmosphere. Sundown takes on the feel of
a street party, Southwestern style. Catch a movie at the
AMC theaters, shop at exclusive stores and then grab a bite
to eat at Lombardi's or A League of Our Own. If you prefer
sports, the sports bar features 50 big-screen TVs to catch
all the action.
Arizona Science Center
This
museum features futuristic architecture by Antoine Predock
and attempts to turn learning into fun. Interactive exhibits
including All About Me and Fab Lab are cleverly designed
to educate and entertain. Experience the night sky or a
laser light show under the dome of the Dorrance Planetarium.
Attend a film, if you prefer, in the Irene P. Flinn Theater
with its five-story-high screen.
Bank One Ballpark
Downtown
Phoenix's newest sports fixture is this immense masterpiece
of engineering. Home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the facility
seats more than 49,000 guests. It features a retractable
roof that exposes the natural turf to sunlight. During the
intense heat of the summers here, this air-conditioned ballpark
cools down the heated competition. Other highlights of the
building include a 385 square-foot pool and spa that can
be reserved for private parties. Year-round tours are available
and last a little more than an hour.
Phoenix Zoo (The)
Spend
a relaxing day wandering through the Forest of Uco or the
African Trail. Carefully crafted and maintained, the exhibits
here are eco-friendly and educational in nature. Younger
visitors will thrill to ride a tractor at Harmony Farm and
pet live animals in the barnyard. Nearly every conceivable
animal resides here, from meerkats to lions and baboons
to giraffes. This privately-owned zoo is refuge to thousands
of animals.
Desert Botanical Gardens
See
more than 20,000 specimens in one of the world's best gardens.
Selected to help save endangered plants, the focus is on
native flora, with special emphasis placed on succulents.
The cactus collection is world-renowned, with more than
1,300 examples. March through May offers prolific blooming,
so plan your trip for these times, and don't forget your
hat and sunscreen.
Great Arizona Annual Beer Festival
Bring
your ID and join beer lovers for this annual festival celebrating
that aromatic golden liquid. Last held at the Arizona Center
in central Phoenix, nearly 80 local and regional microbreweries
were represented. Chosen imports and non-alcoholic drinks
were also featured. Various artists also provide entertainment
including Cadillac Angles and Stone Bogart.
Biltmore Fashion Park
Arizona's
world-class shopping experience is found at this destination
mall near the Biltmore Resort. Setting this facility aside
from the mundane is the exquisite garden, which is utilitarian
as well as beautiful. Culinary herbs, grown in the garden,
are harvested and utilized by chefs from Biltmore's award-winning
restaurants. Renowned names such as Neiman Marcus, Gucci
and Sak's Fifth Avenue are cornerstones of this center.
Fine eating establishments include Christopher's Fermier
Brasserie and Ayako of Tokyo.
Phoenix Art Museum
Find
artistic diversions among greatness inside this downtown
museum of art. Permanent displays in this facility include
miniature interiors, as well as 20th century art. European,
Asian, Spanish, and Western American are some of the other
cultural exhibits featured. Interactive, hands-on activities
are featured for kids in the new ArtWorks Gallery. Traveling
displays are often included in the museum's highlights.
Recent exhibits have included works by Norman Rockwell in
the Pictures for the American People
Copper Square
Action
in Phoenix centers in this full square-mile area. During
the day, check out the Museo Chicano, Patriots Square Park
and the Phoenix Museum of History. At night, enjoy dinner
and dancing or a movie at the Arizona Center, Alice Cooperstown
and Networks, an upscale club adjacent to the Hyatt Regency.
Catch a game at Bank One Ballpark, or attend a special event
at the Civic Plaza, America West Arena or Symphony Hall.
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| Nature
and Adventure |
| Phoenix
is best in the cooler months, October-April, when warm,
sunny afternoons (mid-60s to mid-80s F/high teens to high
20s C) give way to nights that cool off considerably. Occasional
rain showers and thunderstorms occur during the winter,
but snow is unknown in these parts. There are long stretches
with little rain.
If you visit in summer, be prepared for heat -- very hot
heat: Temperatures above 100 F/38 C are common June-September,
though the low humidity makes it a bit more tolerable. Mid
July-mid August, things get worse as the usually dry air
turns muggy. Be wary of sudden dust storms and downpours
in summer.
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