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| TOP PHOENIX AREA ATTRACTIONS |
| Heard Museum |
| Every major city, and most minor ones, have museums. The Heard Museum is unique, however, not only in the exhibits that are displayed, but the style and grace with which it displays them. I never tire of visiting the Heard Museum, with its more than 32,000 pieces of cultural and fine art. There are permanent exhibits, like the famous Barry Goldwater collection of Kachina Dolls, as well as special exhibit year-round. Some of the special annual events include the World Championship Hoop Dance Contest which is held each February, and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market each March.
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| Chase Field (formerly Bank One Ballpark) |
| Chase Field was the first baseball facility in the world to combine a retractable roof, air conditioning, and a natural turf field. Chase Field's retractable roof can be closed in less than 5 minutes, in case we get one of those rare days of inclement weather. If you are a baseball fan, a visit to this state-of-art facility will be a special treat. There are also trade show, religious events and concerts held at Chase Field. If you aren't that interested in going to a game, or when isn't scheduled when you'll be in town, you can still see it. Just go to lunch or dinner at Friday's Front Row Sports Grill. It is located in the left-field corner of the Ballpark. Friday's Front Row is open 363 days a year from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight. If it is a game day, you have to call them to buy tickets to eat there. Fifty percent of the ticket price is credited to your food and beverage bill. Chase Field is located at 401 E. Jefferson in downtown Phoenix.
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| Desert Botanical Garden |
| The Desert Botanical Garden has one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. It is one of only 44 botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums. At the Desert Botanical Garden you will find 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits. Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the world, there is no finer place to enjoy desert beauty than the Desert Botanical Garden. The Garden is located in Papago Park in Central Phoenix. |
| Scottsdale Art Walk |
| There are more than 100 art galleries in Scottsdale. You can enjoy Scottsdale ArtWalks every Thursday evening, year-round (except Thanksgiving) from 7 - 9 p.m. Each week, Scottsdale Gallery Association members host special exhibits - many with artist receptions - and join together for an informal come-and-go “open house” throughout the district. Casual and eclectic, it’s a great time to visit the galleries and learn about featured artists. Several times per year, the Scottsdale Gallery Association holds Special Event ArtWalks with live music along the streets and special themed events.
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| Boyce Thompson Arboretum |
| The Boyce Thompson Arboretum brings together plants from the Earth's many and varied deserts and dry lands. Approximately 3,200 different desert plants can be found within the arboretum, and most of them can be seen along the 1.5 mile main trail. During wildflower season, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is especially beautiful, displaying all the wonderful colors of the desert. Are you a bird lover? More than 250 species of birds have been recorded at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. |
| Phoenix Zoo |
| The Phoenix Zoo is one of the younger zoos in the country. Not only is it a successful zoo, but it is a privately owned, nonprofit zoo. That means that it operates strictly without any government funding. The Phoenix Zoo is totally supported by donors and private organizations. Recognizing the important role that zoos must play, the Phoenix Zoo has been very active in wildlife conservation programs. The Phoenix Zoo is open every single day of the year, including December 25th. In the summer it is advisable to get there as early as possible, since many animals head for shade and hide during the heat of the day.
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| Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art |
| The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is relatively new in the community, and focuses on modern and contemporary art, architecture and design. There are five galleries that showcasing changing exhibitions and works from the Museum's growing permanent collection. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art features an outdoor sculpture garden. The Museum presents a variety of educational programs and special events for adults and families, including lectures, docent-led tours, workshops and classes.
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| South Mountain Park |
| At over 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park and Preserve often is considered the largest municipal park in the country. There are more than 50 miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. Dobbins Lookout, at 2,330 feet, is the highest point in the park accessible by trail. If you aren't into hiking, biking or riding, you can simply drive to Dobbins Point to get a fantastic view of the Valley of the Sun. It's just over 5 miles from Central Avenue to Dobbins Lookout. |
| Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot |
About one and a half hours north of Phoenix are two National Monuments that are well worth a day trip from the Phoenix area. Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot are managed by the National Park Service, and there is small fee for entry. The museum at Montezuma Castle provides good information, but needs a bit of refurbishment.
The Visitor Center at Tuzigoot, however, is very well done. Both monuments are very interesting, but for the younger crowd Tuzigoot will be the more popular of the two since you can actually walk up, in and around the structure. Hiking is involved unless you stay in the museums, so if that isn't appealing to you, you might have to skip this trip.
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| Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West |
| A few miles northeast of Scottsdale, Arizona there is a living memorial to a great American architect. Nestled in the foothills of the rugged McDowell Mountains and surrounded by the spectacular Sonoran Desert lays a sprawling 600-acre complex called Taliesin West. It was designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Taliesin West today houses The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, The Frank Lloyd Wright Memorial Foundation, and The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. The Taliesin Association of Artists, a group of architects dedicated to the spirit of the founder, is also onsite at Taliesin West. To get the full impact and understanding of the project and the man, I recommend you take the tour.
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| US Airways Center |
US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment facility located in Phoenix. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.
The arena, which is situated down the street from Chase Field, is named after its sponsor, US Airways, under a naming rights arrangement. After America West's merger with US Airways, it was announced that America West Arena would be renamed to US Airways Center on November 14, 2005 with the name change taking place in January 2006.
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| Chase Field |
| Chase Field, also known as The BOB (after its original name, Bank One Ballpark), is a stadium located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is best known as the home of the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks. Starting in 2006, Chase Field also became home to the annual Challenge at Chase, a baseball game between in-state and Pac-10 rivals Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. |
| Cricket Wireless Pavilion |
| The Cricket Wireless Pavilion is an amphitheater located in Phoenix, Arizona USA which seats 8,000 under a pavilion roof and an additional 12,000 on a spacious hillside behind the main stands. It was formerly known as Desert Sky Pavilion, and opened in November 1990 (Billy Joel was the venue's inaugural performer). With a total capacity of 20,000, Cricket Wireless Pavilion's capacity is higher than US Airways Center and Glendale Arena. The amphitheater's season starts in April and closes in October. The lawn at the amphitheater contains several video screens. |
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