There's nothing better than nearly perfect weather 300 days a year and plenty of things to do. There is a tremendous variety of outdoor activities in the greater Phoenix area to take advantage of. With year round mild temperatures, the Sun Valley's great outdoors has become a way of life.
Baseball
For spectators you can watch major league baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacksat play in April in the new downtown Bank One Ballpark. The Cactus League brings several teams for baseball training in the Springtime.
Basketball
If Basketball is your sport to watch you can catch the the Phoenix Suns' at the America West Arena, downtown. Part of the new WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury play beginning the end of June. On the college scene are the Arizona State University's Sun Devils.
Cycling
Cycling in the greater Phoenix area is one of the hottest pastimes going. There are extensive bike trails throughout the surrounding parks and communitites. Join one of the local cycling clubs for interesting trips and instant friends.
Football
Phoenix is home of the Fiesta Bowl. As one of the five college football games in the country, you can take in a month of events topped off with a magnificent parade. Arizona State University's Sun Devils offers college football too!
Soccer
Watch the Arizona Sandsharksplay in the Continental Indoor Soccor League during the summer months at the America West Arena.
Hockey
You'll definitely cool down watching the NHL Phoenix Coyotes play hockey at the America West Arena.
Racing
There's a lot of racing going on in the Phoenix area! Horse racing at one of the Southwest's premier racing facilities is at Turf Paradise starting in the month of September.
Spectators can enjoy year-round greyhound racing at the Phoenix Greyhound Park.Relax in a glass-enclosed, temperature-controlled grandstand that provides a great view of the action.
Auto Racing enthusiasts can take in the excitement at the Phoenix International Raceway. Two events you won't want to miss is the Copper World Classic and NASCAR stock car races.
Golf
Golf is big in Arizona and Phoenix is home of the PGA Phoenix Open. The Tournament Player Club adjacent to the Scottsdals Princess Resort offers excellent viewing. Other professional golf tournaments in Sun Valley are the LPGA Turquoise Classic, the Legends Classic, The Tradition, and the Anderson Consulting World Championship of Golf.
There are over 150 golf courses in the Sun Valley. Some are rated the best in the country. Check out local directories for all of the too many listings available!
Tennis
Watch center court at the Franklin Templeton Tennis Classic held at the Scottsdale Princess Resort. Other tennis tournaments to watch are the Open Tennis Championships and a Nabisco Grand Prix event.
Tennis is one of America's favorite outdoor sports.You'll find over a thousand tennis courts throughout the greater Phoenix area.
Soaring and Ballooning
For those wanting a thrilling experience, take a glider ride over the desert and mountains on a clear warm Arizona day. Equally enjoyable is a hot air balloon ride gently drifting across the Valley at sunrise or sunset.
Horseback Riding
One of the best ways to enjoy the Arizona desert countryside is on horseback. Horse rentals and guided trail rides can be arranged through numerous stables.
Wet Recreation
You'll have a wet and wild time at Phoenix's Big Surf, Waterworld Safari and Golfland/Sunsplash.
The Kiwanis Recreation Center offers a year-round indoor heated wave pool with a giant water slide.
Parks
Phoenix and the surrounding communities offers beautifully maintained municipal parks too numerous to mention. The City of Phoenix also maintains serene mountain parks.A sampling of some of the unique parks of special interest are: South Mountain Park/Preserve, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and the Margaret T. Hance Park.
At Papago Parkin the city of Phoenix you can enjoy the Botanical gardens, the zoo, museums, and a golf course. Tempe Papago Park is another city park offering a place to picnic and relax.
Other parks featuring wildlife are:Out of Africa Wildlife Parkand Wildlife World Zoo.
Sahuaro Ranch Historic Park features more than eighty acres of gardens and roaming peacocks.
State Parks
From swimming, fishing, and boating to camping and picknicking, and from pre-historic Indian writings and century-old military posts to beautiful desert scenery Arizona State Parks features it all.
There are too many state parks to list but here are some worth visiting:
Fort Verde State Historical Park
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Jerome State Historic Park
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Lost Dutchman State Park
Catalina State Park
Picacho Peak State Park
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Slide Rock State Park
Roper Lake State Park
Painted Rocks State Park
Lyman State Park
Patagonia State Park
Alamo Lake State Park
For More Park Information, contact:
Arizona State Parks 602-542-4174
National Parks
The Grand Canyon located in the northern part of Arizona is one of the seven wonders of the world. You'll appreciate it's breathtaking vistas as well as over 14.6 million acres of national forests, parks and recreation areas in Arizona.
Listed below are just some of the many national historic sites, forests and recreational areas.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Navajo National Monument
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Petrified Forest National Park
Pipe Spring National Monument
Saguaro National Monument
Sunset Crater National Monument
Tonto National Monument
Tumacacori National Monument
Tuzigoot National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Wupatki National Monument
For more information, contact the:
US National Park Service
602-640-5250
.
