USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHWEST” ARIZONA

 ARIZONA: THE GRAND CANYON STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Make the most of your travel experiences. Taking a cruise is a great way to see many different places when you travel. Cruises offer many activities and things to do while on the ship, while offering you the opportunity to explore different locations each time you arrive at a port. Travel is a great opportunity to learn more things. Time spent abroad helps you understand and appreciate diverse cultures. In addition, it encourages an acceptance and tolerance of ways of life that differ from your own. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

PHOENIX “VALLEY OF THE SUN”

Phoenix History

It isn't obviously apparent, but the history of Phoenix is rather lengthy. First through the door were the Hohokams, a Native American people who settled the arid landscape 25,000 years ago.

They built a large network of canals, designed to help with irrigation and allow for the planting of crops. But their success did not last, with the Hohokams eventually forced out by both floods and drought by 1450.

In their place came the O'odham and Sobaipuri peoples, although thanks to their nomadic lifestyle, it would be another three centuries before another permanent settlement sprang up.

This came courtesy of a prospector called Swilling who explored the area and set up home at the foot of the White Tank Mountains in 1867. Incorporated as a city in 1881, it swiftly grew and, by the turn of the 20th century, boasted rail links and its own newspaper.

Growing rapidly in the early years of the 20th century, Phoenix became a popular destination for tuberculosis sufferers thanks to the hot, dry climate that provided the only cure for the disease the period had to offer. It also became capital of Arizona in 1912 and it got its own airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor, in 1929.

Although WWI passed it by, WWII proved the making of the city, with Phoenix responsible for the manufacture and distribution of weapons and other military supplies. It also housed a prisoner-of-war camp which saw an escape attempt towards the end of the war when a group of prisoners broke out and attempted to flee to Mexico via the Salt River - not realizing it had been dry for decades.

In the post-war years, Phoenix boomed - largely as a result of the veterans stationed there during the conflict and who returned in their droves once it was over. It also developed a reputation for prowess in the tech industry, attracting Motorola among any others, and built on that by branching out into tourism. Today, it is the sixth largest city in the US and still one of the most popular with tourists and retirees alike.

Did you know?
- In 1997, a mysterious light formation appeared over the city. These "Phoenix Lights" UFO sightings became an American pop-culture phenomenon. 
- Architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Phoenix in 1867. 
- The first use of rubberized asphalt was in Phoenix in 1960.

Things to do in Phoenix

Activities

Hot air balloon rides

Locals will tell you that the best way to see Phoenix and the outlying Arizona landscape is from the basket of a hot air balloon, and there are plenty of companies in the city that can provide you with your ideal trip. Dawn flights, Champagne tours and mountain excursions can all take place a few hundred feet above the earth. Several of the companies will arrange to pick up from your local hotel as well, and if you book an all day expedition, lunch is generally provided.

Hot Air Expeditions
Website: www.hotairexpeditions.com

Gold panning

Follow in the footsteps of the original prospectors and take to the hills on a gold panning expedition. The Weaver Mountains are a two-hour drive from Phoenix and were the location of several large finds by early settlers. Tour companies will show you the ropes and then send you off to search for your fortune. You'll learn how to pan the rivers, try your hand at sluicing, and make use of modern metal detectors in your hunt for the precious metal.

Arizona Gold Adventures
Website: www.arizonagoldadventures.com

Arizona Desert Tours
Website: www.azdeserttours.com

Golf

Golf is a popular sport in Phoenix and it boasts nine courses. The most popular is Stone Creek Golf Club because it hosts the city's international events and competitions. Most courses offer short range practice courses and driving ranges alongside their traditional 18-hole standard courses, and there are lessons available for adults and children who aren't quite up to speed. If you're not there to play, then the courses host spectator events regularly throughout the golfing season. Some clubs have additional facilities for guests, including award-winning restaurants and spa treatments.

The Boulders
Website: www.theboulders.com

Dude Ranches

Arizona is the ultimate destination to experience the cowboy lifestyle and there are a number of dude ranches offering the chance to do just that. Spend a day or a week on a working ranch, driving cattle, learning how to rope steer and take wagon rides. Adventures can include camping out overnight or staying in western saloon towns, and they are geared towards providing a full-on western experience. Some tour companies provide touches of luxury, and fly you into the desert by helicopter instead of bus.

Grand Canyon Ranch
Website: www.grandcanyonranch.com

Tanque Verde Ranch
Website: www.tanqueverderanch.com

 

Shopping in Phoenix

While retail therapy isn't generally what visitors travel to Phoenix to enjoy, the city certainly isn't short on shopping. Outlets range from trendy boutiques to fun shopping malls, catering for all budgets. Visitors won't have difficulty finding local products to buy here as the city's native American heritage is clear to see in the many smaller gift shops or independent boutiques.

Key Areas

Visitors can enjoy a flavor of Asia at the Chinese Cultural Centre (668 N 44th Street), where ornaments and rugs are sold alongside traditional Chinese food and plants. Traditional Wild West cowboy attire is sold at Saba's Western Wear (3965 N Brown Avenue) and for an eclectic range of antiques, Willow Antiques (133 W McDowell Rd) is a popular venue. Art lovers in Phoenix make their way to downtown Scottsdale, where galleries are in abundance.

Markets

Phoenix is packed with market places, from flea markets to local farmers markets. For the freshest produce in the city, the Sprouts Farmers Market (8040 N 19th Avenue), is the best place to visit. For a market with a difference, the Phoenix Park n' Swap (3801 E Washington Street) is a fleamarket selling everything from souvenirs and gifts, to canaries and bicycles. Children's fairground rides operate here and food vendors are on site all day.

Shopping Centers

Phoenix offers a variety of shopping centers, such as the Biltmore Fashion Park (24th Street), home to popular shops and department stores. For other fashion and homeware outlets, Kierland Commons (Scottsdale Road) is a vast complex with plenty of recognizable stores selling the latest trends, books, toiletries and other items.

Shopping Times

Store hours vary in Phoenix. In general, they are open between Monday to Saturday 0900 – 1800. Some places do open on Sundays, although many do not. Visitors should be aware that most shops close on public holidays.

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

You know you live in Phoenix when the cold-water faucet is hotter than the hot-water faucet.

~Local saying

  Travel to experience memories that will last a lifetime!