Sunny Arizona is the perfect blend of the beautiful Sonoran Desert and the excitement of three bustling urban tourism destinations: Chandler, Mesa and Tempe.  Located on the east side of the Phoenix metropolitan area, these cities provide unmatched access to superb golf courses, Broadway shows, desert exploration, Cactus League Spring Training, hundreds of dining experiences, nightlife and some of the Southwest's best shopping venues.

There are so many activities in Sunny Arizona, your memories and souvenirs could fill an extra suitcase or two. And, with warm temperatures on the rise in Arizona and most of the country ready to thaw out, now is the time to begin planning the much anticipated summer road trip! The fast approaching summer season is also the best time of year to take advantage of great rates and deals from Mesa, Tempe and Chandler area hotels and resorts, as well as earn savings on attractions and activities.

Sunny Arizona is promoted exclusively to AAA/CAA members. For more information on the offerings listed below, or to arrange an individual press trip to Sunny Arizona, please contact Toni Smith at the Tempe Convention & Visitors Bureau: toni@tempecvb.comor 800-283-6734.

Topics included below:
STORY IDEA OF THE MONTH: Family Fun in Sunny AZ
Water Parks for the Whole Family
Arts & Culture in Chandler, Mesa and Tempe
Sunny Arizona Updates
- Centerpoint Condominiums
- Downtown Mesa: A Square Mile of Unique Style Awaits
- San Marcos Commons
- Ostriches on Parade
Upcoming Events in Sunny Arizona

STORY IDEA OF THE MONTH: Family Fun in Sunny AZ

Water Parks for the Whole Family:

Big Surf - During the summer months Big Surf in Tempe is one of the coolest places to be. Big Surf, America’s original water park, offers a full mix of rides for the entire family. Kids and adults alike will love thrilling speed slides like Hurricane Falls and the little ones can splash around at Captain Cooks Landing.

At Golfland/Sunsplash, families will encounter an oasis of water activities. Families can play video games or laser tag in King Ben’s Castle, play miniature golf, ride bumper boats, splash in multiple waterslides and pools, coast down the Endless River and more.

The Hamilton Aquatic Center, one of the most popular water parks in Chandler, features zero-depth entry, an SCS Interactive water feature, water vortex, current river, two water slides, eight-lane competition pool and two one-meter diving boards.

Arts & Culture:

Mesa Museums – Mesa boasts the Arizona Museum for Youth, the state’s only museum dedicated to children and art exploration, and the Arizona Museum of Natural History featuring Dinosaur Mountain - the largest permanent dinosaur exhibit west of the Mississippi River. At Arizona Museum for Youth, visitors looking for air-conditioned fun can take young ones to ArtVille, an interactive learning environment designed with the unique requirements of those under five years of age.

Tempe Center for the Arts and the ASU Art Museum - The new Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) is located on the shoer of Tempe Town Lake. Childsplay, Arizona’s professional theatre company for young audiences is the primary resident company at TCA. Childsplay offers a series of productions annually – perfect for parents who want to be entertained while introducing their children to theatre. Cited in "Art in America" as "the single most impressive venue for contemporary art in Arizona," the ASU Art Museum explores the art and its impact on individuals and society.  Its programs and collections emphasize the art of Latin America, including an outstanding collection of contemporary work from Cuba. In July each year, the museum hosts a "Family Fun Day," featuring interactive activites for children that coincide with a current museum exhibit.

Chandler Center for the Arts and The Vision Gallery - The Chandler Center for the Arts is a premier cultural resource that focuses on leading, advocating and advancing arts and culture in the greater Chandler area. As a shared facility with the Chandler School District, the Chandler Center for the Arts provides local, national and international performances. Families can also visit The Vision Gallery, a nonprofit fine arts gallery operating in Chandler’s Historic Downtown. The gallery features artworks by over 300 local and national artists and an arts educational program for children, Vision Kidz, offering free art workshops to children in the East Valley.

Sunny Arizona Updates:

Centerpoint Condominiums - This fall, Avenue Communities, LLC will be opening 20,000 square feet of dining delight in the ground level of the Centerpoint Condominiums in the Mill Avenue District in Tempe.  Fare offerings will include a unique Kitchen-Market-Caffe concept and signature Italian restaurant, named Trattoria M, in partnership with locally renowned Chef Michael DeMaria. Adjacent to both concepts will be the wine-making facility PūrVine, in conjunction with Signorello Vineyards in Napa Valley, Calif. The Kitchen-Market-Caffe will offer a gourmet deli, an “old-world market-style” bakery, a coffee barista, a Gelateria, everyday food staples and a florist shop stocked daily with fresh bouquets.  For more information visit Chef Michael’s Web site at www.michaelscateringusa.com, and the Centerpoint Condominiums Web site at www.centerpointaz.com.


Downtown Mesa: A Square Mile of Unique Style Awaits
Like most downtowns, the character and true feel of a city can be felt in the epicenter of its founding. That’s just the perspective you can gain when visiting Downtown Mesa, the original square mile townsite where streets are named after the city’s original settlers and still wide from when farmers had to turn around their oxen carts in the late 1800s. Today, Downtown Mesa is a thriving hub of business, government, culture, arts, recreation and entertainment – not to mention a hotbed of activity for tourists. Guests can meander down Main Street and find loads of unique shops, creative boutiques, diverse restaurants, and visit two award-winning museums within steps of each other. New to downtown is a series of events called “Friday Night Out”. Held the second Friday evening of each month, merchants stay open until 10 p.m. and offer live entertainment, special deals and sales, as well as themed activities. One month you’ll find classic cars cruising up and down Main Street, the next you’ll find princesses offering face painting and tea parties on the street. During this monthly outing, the Mesa Arts Center hosts free outdoor entertainment on their 7-acre campus and free admission to Mesa Contemporary Arts, the five-gallery visual arts complex. Outside vendors and artists align both sides of Main Street offering must-have items for tourists and residents alike.

San Marcos Commons - Located within downtown Chandler's historic district, The Villas at San Marcos Commons is a quaint residential community comprised of 79 townhomes with Spanish Colonial-style architecture. Varying between two and three stories with private two-car garages, the homes allow buyers flexibility with floor plans, which range from 1,300 to 2,000 square feet. The community is within walking distance to the city’s treasured art district, family-owned restaurants and unique shops. San Marcos Commons is a $100 million, 15-acre mixed-use development and one of the first in downtown Chandler to pioneer the area’s shift toward urban living. Additional project phases will add office and retail space within the community. For more information, visit www.sanmarcoscommons.com.


Ostriches on Parade - In celebration of the 20th Annual Ostrich Festival, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce and the City of Chandler Arts Commission have partnered together to bring this public art project to downtown Chandler. Each bird is 78" tall and is made of fiberglass. The Arts commission selected artists and matched them with participating Chandler companies and organizations for the creative design concept for each piece. The birds will be on display through May 2008. For more information about the Ostriches on Parade, please call the Chandler Chamber of Commerce at 480-963-4571 or the Chandler Arts Commission at 480-917-6859.

Upcoming Events in Sunny Arizona:


ASU Gammage Performances:
For ticket information, visit www.asugammage.comor call 480-965-3434.

Upcoming shows at ASU Gammage include:
·         Sweeney Todd – April 15-20, 2008
·         The Wedding Singer – May 20-25, 2008
·         High School Musical – June 24-29,2008


Childsplay Performance at the Tempe Center for the Arts:
For ticket information, please call 480-350-2822 or visit www.childsplayaz.org/tca.

·         Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day       May 3 – 25, 2008
·         In My Grandmother’s Purse                           June 7 – 14, 2008 (tickets $18)
·         The Went-Away River Comes Home              June 15 – 22, 2008 (tickets $18)

 

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre Performances:
For tickets and information call 480-325-6700 or visit www.broadwaypalmwest.com.

·         Hello Dolly                                      Feb. 14 – April 15
·         Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story           April 10 – June 7
·         Disney's Mulan Jr.                            April 25 – June 6
·         Oliver!                                             June 12 – July 26
·         Alice in Wonderland                         June 22 – July 25


Chandler ArtWalk
Chandler, First Wednesday of Each Month. Admission is Free.
480-855-3539
www.downtownchandler.org


Chandler Jazz Festival
Chandler, April 4-6, 2008
480-782-2735
www.chandleraz.gov/jazz


Sculptures in the Streets
Through April 5 in Downtown Mesa. Admission is free.
480-890-2613
www.downtownmesa.com.


El Tour de Phoenix
April 5, distance bike race, East Mesa
For registration information call 520-745-2033
www.pbaa.com


Rotary River Rally and The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta
Tempe Town Lake, April 18-19
480-905-5944
www.rotaryriverrally.com


My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge
Tempe Beach Park, April 26
www.salsachallenge.com


Cinco de Mayo Celebration featuring the Chihuahua Races
Historic Downtown Chandler Library Plaza, May 3, 2008
480-895-0440

Beach Blast Anniversary Party
Chandler, May 16-18, 2008
480-792-6927
www.kokopelliwinery.com


Ostriches on Parade
Through May in Historic Downtown Chandler. Admission is free.
480-963.4571 or 480-917-6859


Kokopelli's BBQ & Blues Picnic
Chandler, June 6-8, 2008
480-792-6927
www.kokopelliwinery.com


4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Chandler
Each year the Chandler Lions Club holds the Chandler Old Fashioned 4th of July Independence Day Celebration.  Many activities surround the event including live music, Kid’s Carnival, food and of course, a fabulous display of Fireworks. Admission is free.
www.visitChandler.com


4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Tempe
An afternoon and evening celebration on Tempe Town Lake - Tempe presents the best fireworks show in the Valley from the Mill Avenue bridge. Live music, children‘s games and delicious fare will be surrounding the event. Admission is free.
www.tempe4th.com


Latin Rhythms Festival
Chandler, July 18-20, 2008
480-792-6927
www.kokopelliwinery.com