Phoenix 2009 Official Visitors Guide - (Page 18) R E C R E AT I O N & A DV E N T U R E GREATER PHOENIX ITINERARIES When is the best time to visit Greater Phoenix? That’s a tough question. Our near-perpetual sunny weather and broad spectrum of cultural and recreational activities make Phoenix the epitome of a year-round vacation destination.The choice is really up to you, and these suggested seasonal itineraries can help you make it. GPCVB SPRING Spring brings baseball and blooming wildflowers to the Sonoran Desert. Daytime temperatures hover in the 70s and 80s— superb conditions for a ballgame, golf outing or mountain hike—and mild, clear evenings are perfect for patio dining. Morning:Take a hike Wherever you’re staying in Greater Phoenix, you’re not far from a mountain trail.And in spring, don’t be surprised to encounter green slopes speckled with yellow, orange and purple wildflowers. Camelback Mountain, the signature landmark around which several resorts are clustered, is home to the Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon.These trails are short but strenuous, and both reward hikers with fantastic views. Phoenix Mountain Park gives rise to Piestewa Peak; its summit trail is a favorite of hikers and trail runners alike. The more secluded Quartz Ridge Trail is a good place to see spring blooms and desert wildlife. South Mountain Park & Preserve, the nation’s largest municipal park, is crisscrossed with 50 miles of trails.A paved road winds to the summit, so cyclists and non-hikers can also enjoy the spring panorama of blooming saguaros and Mexican gold poppies. Spring Training game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium SUMMER Summer is the season of opportunity in Greater Phoenix. Luxury resorts offer their lowest rates of the year, and it’s easy to get a tee time at a championship golf course. Summer is also a great season for strolling museums and fashion centers. Afternoon: See a ballgame Cactus League baseball is a rite of spring in Greater Phoenix, which is the Spring Training home of 11 major league teams (with three more located nearby in Tucson). Cactus League games are played at sundrenched ballparks every day in March, and tickets are eminently affordable—from about $5 for lawn seating to $25 for a perch behind home plate. Morning: Get some culture No trip to Greater Phoenix is complete without a visit to the Heard Museum, one of the world’s largest repositories of Native American art. Here you’ll learn about the history of Arizona’s 22 tribes, see an unparalleled collection of Hopi kachina dolls, and get the chance to buy a meaningful souvenir at the Heard Museum Shop. Evening: Hit the town Nights in the desert mean big, starry skies and pleasant temperatures, so don’t be shy 18 OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE Dive-in movies at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa (877) CALL-PHX COURTESY OF SHERATON WILD HORSE PASS RESORT & SPA about stepping out of your comfort zone and into ours. Dance to soul or salsa in downtown Phoenix, hang with the college crowd in Tempe’s Mill Avenue District, or look your best for Scottsdale’s famous club scene.
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