Arizona is an amazing place. When most people think of Arizona, they think of the desert.

What many people don’t know is that in less than an hour from the Sonoran desert you can be in the mountains. Four Peaks can often times be seen from the Phoenix area with snow on its peaks since it stands over 8,000 feet above sea level.

Arizona is a diverse landscape with many lakes and streams.  It is partial home to one of the largest deserts in the world, but it also is home to one of the largest single stands of Ponderosa pine trees in North America.

Arizona is the home of the largest Indian reservation in the world, a lake with more coastline than California,

and a desert that sits below sea level. Arizona has 14 different tribes of Indians on 26 different reservations and 27 percent of its land is Native American reservation land. Arizona is the only state in the US where the tall Saguaro cactus grow.

Arizona has a forest of trees that were turned to stone.

When I go to Arizona I stay with Arizona Lodging Experts. With Arizona Lodging Experts, I can stay in a private, single family home that I select personally to fit my specific needs. They represent properties throughout the Valley of the Sun or within most of the 17 cities that make up the Phoenix metropolitan area. There just aren’t enough Phoenix Property Management Companies with the diversity of properties like Arizona Lodging Experts.

The 6^th annual ASU Film Festival was going on April 24- April 26^th in Downtown Tempe. It was at the Harkins Valley Art Theatre and it was sold out for both nights. The event showcased the best short films by the students in the film department at ASU. There was a mix of dramas, comedies, and documentaries. The films were so creative and so professionally done. I attend the show every year because my son is a film student at the University. He won 1^st Place last year and 2^nd Place this year. I love seeing him and his friends winning all the awards at the festival. This is a group of young talented people who work hard and truly enjoy their craft.

It is always fun to go to Tempe for the event because the streets are overflowing with people everywhere and it is such a lively event. There are so many great restaurants on Mill Ave. to visit before and after the show. If you are enjoying a Vacation Rental in Scottsdale Arizona, you should certainly visit Tempe in the evening. It is such a bustling town with a lot of nightlife. The daytime is also packed with fun activities around Tempe Town Lake. It is a short drive from Scottsdale and a great addition to your Arizona vacation.

My wife and I went to Arizona Mills this past weekend and enjoyed a day of window shopping and lunch at Johnny Rockets, our favorite burger joint!

As we made our way around the mall, we came upon the Rainforest Café, which is described as a “Wild Place to Shop & Eat”.  We have had lunch at the Rainforest Café twice before and we love the tropical rainforest setting with indigenous creatures all around you, but the best feature in our opinion is the large fish tanks at the entrance and in the dining room. This is a great place to take the kids.

So the next time you are enjoying one of our premier Vacation Rentals in Ph0nix, AZ that you reserved through Arizona Lodging Experts, you can make plans to visit the Rainforest Café and have your own wonderful adventure. If you want to secure your own Scottsdale Arizona vacation, just call the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts at 602-404-2982 and 866-785-2350. They offer premier Arizona home rentals in many areas in the valley of the sun, including Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Desert Botanical Gardens

Make a day of it…the Desert Botanical Gardens are so close to the Phoenix Zoo.  Head to the Zoo early in the morning, enjoy the sights and sounds of the animals and then cruise on over to the incredible flora at the Botanical Gardens.  What is it about Arizona plant life?  Being in the desert the plant life is much different from anywhere else in the nation.  Our long hot summers would kill most other plant life.  Arizona plant life is displayed beautifully at the Botanical Gardens as you will see when you visit there.  You will find volunteers all around who are caring for the plants and will gladly chat with you about the different varieties of cactus and succulents which thrive in the desert climate.

Spring time is the best time to visit.  You can see the new blooms in an array of breathtaking colors on the cactus, trees and shrubs which are indigent to the Arizona desert climates.  On Sundays from Noon – 2pm on the Ullman Terrace you can enjoy live music.

You can also check out the Botanical Gardens on line at www.dbg.org and see all the events that are available.  You can have a guided tour, plan an event or celebration, view the beautiful exhibits, or check out the current list of events.

Current events at the Desert Botanical Gardens:

Through September 24, 2011 you can enjoy nightly flashlight tours of the wonderful gardens.  See the flora and fauna react to the evening darkness.  Every Thursday and Saturday through September 24 at 7pm

September 9, 2011 – 6-8:30 pm -  BIG BUG sculptures tower above the trails of the Botanical Gardens.  This event is for garden fund and patron circle members only.  Enjoy the infestation of David Roger’s Big Bug sculptures.  There are refreshments and music.  Bring along your flashlight … you don’t want to run into one of these life size creatures unprepared.  Reservations required.  You can also purchase a picnic dinner on site while the little ones enjoy creating their own bug drawings or bug tattoos.  What a fun night

September 10, 2011- General Members Opening Night:  David Rogers’ Big Bug Member Preview

September 12, 2011 – January 1, 2012 – Grand Opening viewing of David Rogers’ Big Bugs all created from natural materials.  Come see for yourself…these are grand size creatures.

The FALL CONCERT series in incredible and you should plan in advance.

The 2011 Fall concert series is every Friday from 7pm-9pm and the doors open at 5:30pm.

October 7-- Sonoran Jazz Project (jJazz – Motown

October 14– Domingo Degrazia (Flamenco – Spanish Guitar)

October 21 –Silver Thread Trio featuring the Rosano Brothers (Americana – Gypsy Jazz)

October 28 –Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta (Latin – Mambo)

November 4 –  Crossing 32nd Street Music Ensemble dives into a tribute to the Beatles

November 11– Fuerza Caribe (Salsa)

November 18 –Traveler (Violin)

Fall Festivals at the Gardens include:

October 14-16 – The Fall Plant Sale Festival

This is the time to purchase from the largest arid-adapted plants that are for sale in one location

October 20-23 - The Great Pumpkin Festival

This is the place to find that Perfect Pumpkin for Halloween – bring the kids and let them pick out that perfect Great Pumpkin

October 29-30 – Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

This is a Latin American, Mexican and American Southwest celebration for departed loved ones.  The celebration includes entertainment, story telling, dance and song.   In the Mercado you will find wonderful items for sale such as artwork, delicious pastries and wonderful food.

November 11-13 – Enjoy Chiles and Chocolate (Friday- Sunday 10am-5pm)

The Gardens will be full of spicy and chocolate delights.  Indulge yourself with wonderful treats of the southwest while enjoying your tour of the gardens.

Entertainment is provided by DJ Miguel Ivery.  Enjoy his hot Latin tempo and hot dance routines

The Menu for this wonderful event is:

Station 1: Dorrance Hall

Traditional Chili, Green Chili with Pork, Chicken Mole, Vegetarian Chili, Ghirardelli Chocolate Brownies, Sodas, Bottled water and lemonade.

Station 2: Boppart Courtyard

Fresh roasted chilies, chicken street tacos, both served with chips, red and green salsa

Station 3:  Butterfly Kiosk

Fill up with bean, rice and cheese burritos, green chili pork burritos, tortilla chips and salsa

Enjoy the wonderful music and dance, the incredible food, the amazing gardens and of course the wonderful Arizona desert weather.

Fall 2011 Avant-Garden – Thursday evenings 6pm-8:30pm

Local Arizona talent, food and music will be presented.  This season honors “David Rogers’ Big Bug” exhibit.  This is where you can learn about a different bug each week at the Discovery Station.

October 6 – Hail the Ale “Jon Schmidt” will present his knowledge of beer education.  This is an Oktoberfest inspired gathering with music from the “Bac Cactus Brass Band.

October 13 – In Bloom

Local fashion designers will present their new stylings to the tunes from local band “Covela”

October 27 – A Spirited Evening

Local Jester’z Improv Comedy will perform with local band Banana Gun

November 3 - Stop, Cook and Listen

Did anyone say HERBS, fresh from the garden.  Enjoy the cooking while relaxing under the stars and listening to bluegrass music

November 10 - Toast the Taste

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.  Wei of Chocolate and Fair Trade chocolatiers will present a chocolate array, organic wine tasting, and FourWayFree will perform acoustic pop-rock.

November 17 – Have You Heard

Poetry in the garden…HB and HomeBase Poetry return for an encore performance.

Location: 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ  85008 (in the Papago Park next to the Phoenix Zoo)

480-941-1225 (Monday through Friday)  Recorded Information:  480-941-1217

Hours:  Monday through Sunday year round – 8am to 8pm (7am for members on Wednesday and Sunday)

Admission:  Adults $15, Seniors $13.50, Students (13 to 18 yrs) $7.50, Kids (3 to 12 yrs) $5.00, Kids under 3 yrs are free

Montezumas Castle National Monument

In 1906 Montezuma’s Castle was recognized as a National Monument.  The Sinagua culture,  a native group survived in this area in the cliff dwelling and in huts along the waterways for centuries, long before Columbus discovered the “new world”.  The Verde Valley provided everything they needed to sustain the habitat they lived in.  The public has not been allowed inside the Castle for the past 50 plus years.  This is due mainly to its age and fragility.  Built into a cliff, you will find this 20 room apartment above Beaver Creek. This was not the only structure at that time, however, it is the only one that has survived time.   When you look through the windows you are peeking into America’s past and into the best kept cliff dwelling in the US.  Built by the Sinagua’s  nearly 1,000 years ago it depicts survival and amazing creativity in designing a dwelling to protect them from the blistering desert sun during the day and cool to frigid temperatures at night. At 9am every Sunday Ranger John will guide you through the Montezuma Well which is 11 miles from the Castle. The Well is the result of a collapsed limestone cavern allowing a million plus gallons of water to run through the well daily.  The fresh warm water that continuously flows created an aquatic habitat found nowhere else in the world.  For thousands of years this well has provided an oasis for humans and the local wildlife.   Here you will find animal species you have never seen before. NAU has been researching where the water is coming from and how it maintains its constant and consistent 74 degree temperature.  Somewhere deep in the layers of earth lies the secret of this well.   As you wander through the winding pre-historic dwellings you will find pueblo ruins and an irrigation ditch over 1,000 years old that is still used today by the locals.  In 1933 an excavation crew discovered the Tuzigoot Village, stabilized it and built a museum which holds the Tuzigoot People’s story.  Not a lot is known about the Tuzigoot people.  They were believed to be hunters and traveled along the Verde Valley.  The citadel is said to have possibly house 250 people in its 110 rooms.  The size of the city and the number of people caused them to create solutions to problems and learn how to live together and make good choices to survive.

The Montezuma Castle Visitor Center holds the largest displays of ancient Sinagua artifacts, approximately 23,016 items. They were known for their beautiful textiles and pottery.  You will find the displays incredible.

There is a lot of walking and the summer temperatures are extreme.  Dress appropriately, wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of bottled water to make sure you stay hydrated.  Winter temperatures can range between 14 degrees and 45 degrees, a vast difference from the summer temperatures.

Mailing Address:  Montezuma Castle National Monument, PO Box 219, Camp Verde, Arizona   86322

Visitor Center Phone:  928-567-3322 – Managed by the National Park Services

Park Headquarters Phone:  928-567-5276  Fax:  928-567-3597

Website:  www.nps.gov
Directions:  take the I-17 to exit 289 drive east approximately 1/2 mile to the red traffic light turn left on Montezuma Castle Road.

Hours:  June through August  8am to 5pm;  September through May 7am to 5pm (Closed on Christmas Day)

Montezuma Castle Admission:  Adults 16 and over, $5.00 (good for 7 days) Children under 16 are free

Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments – discounted rate for both together is $8.00 – ask for the pass if you plan to see both parks.  There is no admission fee to visit Montezuma’s Well.

This past Saturday, March 12th, it was 87 degrees here in Phoenix Arizona, so my wife and I decided to visit Desert Ridge Mall. Desert Ridge is less than 10 minutes from our apartment, so getting there was a snap! We decided stop by the Rock Bottom Brewery and have a cold beer before making our way to Fatburger for lunch. It was so nice to sit outside on the patio and enjoy a cold Pilsner beer with my lovely wife Lolis, while watching all the people “out and about” enjoying this amazing warm weather. I imagine all the visitors from out of state that are here enjoying a great rental property in Arizona are happy with this above average weather, especially our Canadian visitors. It has been a cold winter for many people. Many visitors that come to enjoy one of many Arizona home rentals do so because of the weather, so we welcome you with open arms.

After enjoying a few cold beers at Rock Bottom, we did a little window shopping as we past each store on our way to Fatburger. We like Fatburger more than In-N-Out burger, and of course a lot more than McDonalds and Jack in the Box. No comparison. Fatburger has well cook, made to order burgers which have a great flavor and fresh ingredients. I am glad we have a Fatburger so close to home.

If you have plans to enjoy a beautiful Phoenix or Scottsdale rental anytime soon, then contact the experts at Arizona Lodging Experts and they can assist you with your search. ALE “for short” can also help you with restaurant ideas, shopping ideas, you name it! They are the best at what they do and have proven so for over 12 years now. They are one of the only Phoenix Property Management Companies that can boast this.

Fatburger at Deset Ridge Mall

Great Burgers!

The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

One of North America’s largest ancient structures ever built is known as the The Casa Grande Ruins or “Great House”.  The purpose of this structure is historically unknown.  Many have guessed but there is no written document or story stating its purpose or history.

There is evidence that Casa Grande was built by the Sonoran Desert people to create the ability to trade and provide irrigation farming which was in effect for over one thousand years and lasted till 1450.  The Sonoran Desert people left behind no history or written language documenting their existence at Casa Grande.  However in 1694 when Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived he started making journal entries to document his activities and the naming of Casa Grande or “Great House” as it has been known.  As time went by and others arrived in Casa Grande, documentation started to emerge reflecting back on what was seen and what was done. Articles were written by  Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza in 1775 and Brig. General Stephen Watts Kearny in 1846.  These and subsequent written articles started to spur interest in Casa Grande and during the 1860’s the area became so popular and well known that a twenty mile railroad line and and stage coach line ran through casa Grande.  This brought in more and more people and the area grew.  Consequently, as the town grew,  more damages and vandalism was done to the town, which is not uncommon as a town grows.

Archeologists suggest that the Sonoran Desert people are part of an earlier hunting culture.  As the climate became hotter and drier, the wildlife became far more sparse resulting in a difficult place for the people to survive without meat.  The introduction of corn turned them around from hunters to farmers.  Even though the climate was dry and hot they made due by creating irrigation with rivers and mountain run offs to keep the ground productive and the corn growing.  The Desert people, over time created a form  of pottery known as “red-on-buff”.  Much of this is displayed in the museum. Sunday, February 12 and 13, 2011 is the American Indian Music Festival at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.  This is thr third annual festival and it is a celebration of the prehistoric connection and continuity with today’s modern American Indian cultures.  The similarities are demonstrated through dance and music.  Arts and crafts made by the local artisans are available for purchase and this includes authentic American Indian food delicacies. 

1100 W. Ruins Drive

Coolidge, AZ  85228, 

Take Interstate 10 to the Coolidge exit, follow the signs to the park entrance.

Hours:   9am to 5pm every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day (closed) – Managed by the National Park Services

Admission: $5.00 – Adults (16yrs and up); Children under 15 yrs of age – Free; School Groups call ahead to apply for “Educational Fee” waiver; Commercial Tours Groups – $5.00/person unless visitor has a valid “American the Beautiful” pass

Phone:520-723-3172

Website:  www.nps.gov

Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse

Ready to hit the western trail and head out for some adventure, some gold panning, and maybe even a shoot out?  Keep them doggies rolling…rawhide.

Rawhide is closed on Mondays and Tuesday through September and October except for Monday 10/31/2011….booh….HALLOWEEN (5pm-11:30).   Come and check out “Doomtown” and “The Nest” haunted house.  Bring the little ones to “Doomtown’s Kreepy Kidz Zone” where you will find ghosts, pumpkin decorating, bone toss into the Witch’s Cauldron and much, much more….

Rawhide is located in Phoenix just off the I-10 and Wild Horse Pass exit 162.

Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass
5700 West North Loop Road
Chandler, AZ 85226
Phone: 480-502-5600

http://rawhide.com

You don’t need to be Michael J. Fox to go back in time to the days of the Wild Wild West. All you need to do is gather your friends and family and head on over to Rawhide which is one of Arizona’s biggest theme parks.

The scene here is amazing as you will feel like you have stepped into another place and time. The mood is a hospitable western feel that will make you feel like you have stepped into the 1800’s. The Western town of Rawhide has an abundance of attractions and fun experiences for your entire family. Be careful not to get in the middle of the rough riders. If you do you could be caught in the middle of a gun fight right in the middle of Rawhide’s streets.

Attractions:

Gold Panning – You get your own silver colored pan and you can sift through the rocks to see if you are lucky enough to find some flecks of gold.

The  Train – This train ride gives you some time to relax and take in the scenery and you can even catch a glorious sunset in the evening rides.

The Stagecoach – On this ride you will have the opportunity to see the Sonoran Desert as the people of the Wild West did a centuries ago.

The widow maker –  is a bull that is mechanical and will give you a chance to test your bull-riding skills. Be careful because the bull really bucks and kicks.

Burro Rides – This is a great attraction for the kiddos as you put them on and let them take a ride through town just as the people did in the Wild West days. This is for children only as Rawhide follows the labor laws for burros.

The Six Gun Theater and Rawhide Rough Riders – All day long while you are at the park you will witness several live gun shows and stunts performed by the Rough Riders. You will hear many fake gunshots, and see lots of dust and explosions.

Deadman’s Drop – This is a test for the adults to try to conquer the peaks of this high rick

Get Arrested – You can have your picture taken behind bars and have a memorable keepsake photo along with an arrest warrant.

Fake Weddings – If you are waiting for your son-in-law to marry your daughter and you would like to force the issue you can have a fake marriage and even take home a fake wedding certificate and a photograph.

Spirit of the West Theater – This is the area where the Rough Riders show off their roping, riding, and gun twirling specialties.

Shop – If you like to shop you will be pleasantly surprised with all the options available. There are over 15 stores in Rawhide Town.

Dining – You will have several options on how to dine while at Rawhide like in a restaurant western style, cookouts in the desert, sunset dinners, and the portion sizes are bigger than your stomach could ever imagine. There is something for everyone’s taste buds.

Brought to you by Arizona Lodging Experts… one of best Property management companies in Phoenix.