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DAY ONE: ARTS AND CULTURE
On the first day, begin in Chandler by having breakfast at the historic San Marcos Golf and Conference Resort which hosted Hollywood stars in the 1930s and 1940s. After breakfast, one can stroll across the street to visit either the Chandler Museum or Arizona Railroad Museum. Drive a short distance south to the Zelma Basha Salmeri Galley of Western American and Native American Art. Next, travel to the Superstition Mountains for a visit to the Goldfield Ghost Town and take the opportunity for a beautiful shot of the Sonoran Desert while having lunch at one of the Old West saloons on site. Next, you should head west to Downtown Mesa to visit the whimsical bronze statues lining Main Street and spend time viewing the contemporary art pieces that fill the newly opened Mesa Arts Center. Around the corner, choices include the Mesa Southwest Museum and the Arizona Museum for Youth. The Sirrine House and Mormon Temple both trace Mesa's roots. Lastly, head to Tempe. First stop should be the ASU Art Museum at Nelson Fine Arts Center to take a look at both the art inside and the beautiful design of the museum outside. Next door is the ASU Ceramics Research Center offering insight into this growing art form. Up Mill Avenue, take in the sights in Papago Park including the Desert Botanical Garden, Hall of Flame and Arizona Historical Society. From Mill Avenue walk along Tempe Town Lake to experience the Tempe Center for the Arts. Watch a Childsplay theater production, dine at the TCA Lounge or see an exhibition at the Gallery. For dinner, head back towards Arizona State University. There are nearly 200 dining options within a two mile radius of campus, with 65 to choose from in the Mill Avenue District alone. Cap off the evening at a performance at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed ASU's Gammage.
DAY TWO: APACHE TRAIL
This full day adventure may start off with a hearty breakfast at your hotel or at one of the many diners that dot Sunny Arizona. After breakfast, begin the journey on this historic, now paved, route into the wilderness. On the way, stop off at the Lost Dutchman Trail for an hour to explore the beauty at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Afterward, continue north to spectacular Canyon Lake for a ride on the Dolly Steamboat. This relaxing cruise provides excellent views of high desert and maybe even a few long horn sheep along the way. Next, go 3 miles to the old west trading post and stagecoach stop known as Tortilla Flat. Fill up on lunch and leave an extra dollar bill to post on the walls, which are already covered by denominations from around the world. After lunch, continue up the switchback road into Fish Creek. This hair raising drive is not for the faint of heart, but is spectacular in beauty. Further up, the road turns to gravel at which point one can turn back for civilization or continue on to the historic Roosevelt Dam. Past the dam, the road eventually links back up to US 60 through the old mining towns of Globe/Miami. If you are hungry for dinner, make sure you stop at one of the authentic, family-owned Mexican restaurants found throughout Globe/Miami. After dinner, head back west on US 60 to Mesa, Chandler and Tempe.
DAY THREE: OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Hiking the well-maintained trails in Sunny Arizona provides easy access to the beautiful desert scenery that makes Arizona famous. Wake up and have a good breakfast to prepare for a great day. Don't forget plenty of water and sun screen to ensure you have a safe and healthy hike. Head east on US 60 just past Apache Junction to the Peralta Trail. For those looking for a challenge, take the 3 hour scenic hike up the trail. The Peralta Trail will lead you through small waterfalls, hidden valleys and, at the end, a spectacular view of Weaver's Needle. For those who want a more 'relaxing stroll', then pick one of the less challenging hikes. Head back for lunch and a stroll through the historical Park of Canals dedicated to the history of the Native Americans who settled here prior to westerners. Next, head just south of Chandler to the Santan Recreation area for a quick hike and views of the southern part of the Valley of the Sun. Take I-10 toward Tempe and explore the Papago Park area. Just north of Downtown Tempe, this park offers outdoor options such as The Phoenix Zoo, hiking trails, biking trails, rappelling (through authorized outfitters) and even a lake. Tempe Town Lake allows visitors opportunities to go kayaking, rowing or pedal boating. The banks of the lake allow for roller blading, jogging, bicycling or simply strolling. To catch a great sunset, head up Hayden Butte known as 'A' Mountain located adjacent to the lake in Downtown Tempe. The 15 minute hike up the mountain provides spectacular views of the sunset, Downtown Phoenix, Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, McDowell Mountains, Four Peaks, Superstition Mountains, the San Tans, South Mountain, the Arizona State University campus and Downtown Tempe. Mill Avenue, at the bottom of the mountain, provides plenty of options for dining under the beautiful Arizona skies.
DAY FOUR: SHOPPING
Break out those credit cards because the Sunny Arizona cities each offer great shopping. After breakfast, visit the outdoor Mesa Market Place Swap Meet in East Mesa for great deals on common and the not-so-common items you may be looking for. For name brand shopping, visit either one of Mesa's regional centers, Superstition Springs Center and Fiesta Mall. You may want to stop off in Downtown Mesa to visit some of the mom 'n pop shops that dot the area. Continue west to Downtown Tempe to explore the shops and boutiques along Mill Avenue. For lunch, head over to Arizona Mills, the state's largest outlet center. Under one roof, one can dine at the Rainforest Café, see an IMAX movie, play virtual reality games at Game Works, and shop at one of more than 160 brand name discount outlets. Next, head over to Tempe Marketplace, thriving with 1.3 million square feet of shopping, dining and entertainment. Tempe Marketplace offers live music every weekend and unrivaled dining experiences such as Cadillac Ranch, Lucille's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, and Maria Maria, a dining concept by renowned guitarist Carlos Santana. Next, head south for a stroll through Historic Downtown Chandler to shop for an unusual bottle of wine or piece of furniture from around the world. Cap off the afternoon and evening with mega shopping at the upscale Chandler Fashion Center. This mall offers the finest of shops including Nordstrom and Banana Republic. Have dinner at one of the plethora of dining options all found at Chandler Fashion Center.
DAY FIVE: SPORTS
Sunny Arizona is a mecca for sports enthusiasts. Depending on the time of year, one can see a Major League baseball game along with great golf and intercollegiate sports. Start the morning at one of the great golf courses that dot the East Valley. Las Sendas is rated as one of the top courses in Arizona. Gold Canyon at the foot of the Superstition Mountains offers spectacular views. The historic San Marcos Golf Course in Chandler was the first grass links course in Arizona and hosted some of early Hollywood's greatest actors during their winter vacations. The ASU Karsten Golf Course in Tempe offers a challenging course right in the middle of the Valley of the Sun. After you have lunch at the clubhouse, head on out to the ballpark. In spring, Mesa hosts the Chicago Cubs at HoHoKam Park while Tempe's Diablo Stadium features the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for exciting Cactus League action. Throughout the year, Arizona State University hosts sporting events including football, basketball, volleyball and several other competitions. Choose one or all to fill your day with sports excitement. Also, Tempe annually hosts the P.F. Chang's Rock 'N Roll Marathon & Half Marathon, the Ford Ironman Arizona and the Insight Bowl. Finish the day off at one of the popular sports bars and breweries that dot the East Valley.
