Phoenix 2009 Official Visitors Guide - (Page 19) Nearby is one of the Southwest’s best fine-art museums.The Phoenix Art Museum specializes in 20th century Western and European masterpieces, and its grassy sculpture garden is a peaceful urban oasis for reading and relaxing. Both museums offer artful café dining and are located on the METRO light rail line. Afternoon: Chill out Lounging or swimming in an immaculate resort pool is one of Greater Phoenix’s coolest summer joys. Some pools have infinity edges and amazing views; others have kidpleasing water slides and lazy rivers; and nearly all have comfortable cabanas and poolside food-and-beverage service. KERRICK JAMES Hot-air ballooning Afternoon: Expand your horizons Greater Phoenix gives you ample opportunities to experience culture and sunshine at the same time, thanks to several outdoor museum experiences. Desert Botanical Garden is a plant lover’s paradise, with 50 acres of succulents and endangered species from around the world. From late September to early November the garden’s butterfly pavilion is aflutter with the amazing monarch butterfly migration. Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park preserves the ruins of Phoenix’s first inhabitants, the Hohokam Indians. Here you can see petroglyphs, explore the ruins of a 1,500-year-old village and learn about the Hohokam’s legendary canal system. At Taliesin West you can tour the winter home of America’s most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. He designed this sprawling desert wonder, which now serves as a school of architecture. Evening: Shop big Shopping is a serious sport here. From fashionable malls to chic boutiques to charming antique shops, Greater Phoenix harbors a spectrum of retail experiences few cities in North America can match. See page 24 for details about districts and destinations. If you’re traveling with children, you might want to reward their patience at the mall with a dive-in movie. Many resorts set aside summer nights for poolside screenings that come complete with fluffy towels and warm popcorn. thousand cars on display. If you don’t have $5 million to drop on a rare Shelby Cobra, don’t worry—gawkers are welcome. P.F. Chang’s Rock ’n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and 1⁄2 Marathon (Jan. 18) is a favorite of first-time and veteran marathoners alike. Runners (more than 30,000 of them) enjoy mild weather, a flat course and nearly nonstop live music from more than 50 bands lining the race route. Afternoon: Break out the clubs A good walk is rarely spoiled in Greater Phoenix, even in the middle of winter.You can choose from more than 200 courses here, but no golfer should leave without testing his or her game on a true desert layout. COURTESY OF DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN/ADAM RODRIGUEZ FALL If you’re a sports fan, autumn is a prime time to visit Greater Phoenix. The Arizona Diamondbacks wrap up the MLB regular season in September, just as the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes put on their pads. In October, the Phoenix Suns begin their near-perennial march to the NBA playoffs, and a month later NASCAR thunders into town. Evening: Eat out (literally) When picking a dinner destination, consider a dining room with a view. Many restaurants feature open-air patios where you can soak up the pleasant fall weather, watch a postcard-perfect sunset or dine beneath a starry desert sky. Morning: Seek adventure Hot-air balloon and off-road tours can give you a rush and change your perspective all at once. Whether you soar peacefully above it or rumble to its most remote regions, the world’s most biologically diverse desert comes alive in the care of a personable and knowledgeable guide. Las Noches de las Luminarias WINTER You don’t have to shovel sunshine, which is one of the reasons residents of snowblanketed locales love to escape to Greater Phoenix during the depths of winter. Expect daytime highs to flirt with 70 degrees, and pack at least one pair of shorts. Evening: Follow the light You’ve probably seen luminarias before— they’re those little, luminous paper bags that were once used to guide Southwesterners to Midnight Mass. But you’ve never seen luminarias in a setting quite like “Las Noches de las Luminarias.” During this annual spectacle at Desert Botanical Garden, softly glowing luminarias line every path that snakes through a 50-acre outdoor museum of cactuses and exotic desert plants. Live music, catered cuisine, and plenty of hot cider and cocoa complete this classic Phoenix holiday experience. OFFICIAL VISITORS GUIDE ENJOY GREATER PHOENIX v With more than 300 days of annual sunshine, Phoenix offers a climate that’s just about perfect for every activity. Get inspired at VISITPHOENIX.COM. VISITPHOENIX.COM Morning: Live the dream If you’ve ever fantasized about buying an exotic car or completing a marathon, Phoenix in January is the place for you. The Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction (Jan. 11–18) is the most prestigious automobile auction in the world, with more than a 19 http://www.VISITPHOENIX.COM http://www.VISITPHOENIX.COM
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