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.

This is a great time of year to come to the valley and enjoy an Scottsdale Arizona vacation. There is an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy, especially if you are into fitness and outdoor fun. Many of our vacation rentals in Scottsdale Arizona are close to the miles of bike trails. They go from North Scottsdale through the greenbelt all the way to Tempe Town Lake. You can walk, bike, or run for miles through beautiful parks in Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix. Go to www.scottsdaleaz.gov to look for bike paths or other Scottsdale activities. There are many art fairs and outdoor festivals going on this time of year including several farmer’s markets. The weather is spectacular with warm temperatures and sunny, blue skies almost every day. There are a lot of people out and about enjoying fun in the sun in Scottsdale.

There are 15 major league baseball teams that enjoy their spring training in the valley. These games bring an abundance of winter visitors to Arizona who are seeking to experience an Arizona vacation while staying in Scottsdale Vaction Home Rentals. The Arizona Cactus league gives fans the opportunity to preview the teams and watch the games while availing themselves to our gorgeous weather. For general Cactus League information you can contact www.cactusleague.com. Guests can experience the more intimate stadiums at lower prices and even get to meet some of the players and grab some autographs. All the teams and stadiums are in Maricopa County so none are very far away. The new stadium in Scottsdale is already experiencing record setting attendance. You can contact them for ticket information at www.saltriverfields.com.  It is always a good idea to find Arizona home rentals early because they sell out very quickly before the season begins. The easiest and best selection of rentals in Arizona is found by contacting Arizona Lodging Experts.

Celebrity Fight Night Charity Event

The star studded charity event in the valley on March 19^th is one of the nation’s most elite fundraisers in the country. They raise more that $65 million for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center This year’s event features musical performances by rockers Matchbox Twenty and singer Kelly Clarkson, along with country singer Lee Greenwood, rocker Bret Michaels and “America’s Got Talent” finalist Jackie Evancho. Country music superstar Reba McEntire serves as emcee, and comedians Billy Crystal and Sinbad also perform. Kevin Costner and his band, Modern West, provide the after-party entertainment. Also attending the event are this year’s recipients of the Muhammad Ali Celebrity Fight Night awards: actress Halle Berry, GoDaddy CEO Bob Parsons, former NBA and NFL owner Red McCombs and LPGA Champion Cristie Kerr.

If you are in town on a Scottsdale Arizona vacation, it would be a great charity event to attend. There is a dinner with live music and lots of celebrities. The event is at the JW Marriott in Desert Ridge. It is very close to most of our Scottsdale Arizona vacation rentals. It is alot of fun and a great cause.

JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa

5350 E. Marriott Drive Phoenix, AZ, 85054

PHONE: 602-956-1121

March 19, 2011

www.celebrityfightnight.org www.jwdesertridgeresort.com

PRICE: $1500 – $5000 : $1,500-$5,000

The Body Worlds exhibit is back again at the Arizona Science Center. I saw the exhibit last year and it was fascinating, educating, and simply spectacular. This year they are adding information about the human brain in addition to how the body works. They use real human bodies that people have donated after their death. The bodies have been preserved through a remarkable process called Plastination. You actually view bodies in various motions and positions. You can see everything that is beneath the skin. The aim of the show is to educate the public on what diseases and bad health practices can do to the interior of your body. It is interesting and educational for all ages and certainly a unique experience.

It is a great activity if you are on an Arizona Vacation and have never been to the Arizona Science center. If you are renting a home in Scottsdale it is about a 20-30 minute drive to the downtown area and certainly worth the trip. It’s not too far of a drive from our Phoenix Vacation Home Rentals either. You can contact them for pricing and times at http://www.azscience.org/

We  enjoy going to dinner and walking around Kierland in the evening. We went to the Westin Kierland Resort for some wine and appetizers before we headed out to dinner. The view in the back was spectacular with the rolling green golf course and mountain views. There was a bagpipe player wearing a kilt and making fabulous music. The best part of our happy hour experience was hanging out around the fire pit with all the winter visitors staying at the hotel. They were all here for a Scottsdale Arizona vacation and they were having a great time. There was a couple from Nashville, one from Chicago, and another one from Minnesota. They were so excited to be in Scottsdale and away from all the cold and crummy weather that they left behind. They were so surprised that we could actually live in such a wonderful place and they were practically in awe of us because of it. We told them about all the best places to visit and eat at while vacationing in Scottsdale. It made us appreciate and remember why we packed up our family 15 years ago and moved to Arizona. It feels like a vacation sometimes even though we live here.

The Arizona Science Center

There are so many different things to do in Arizona…from the outdoors to museums we have it all.  You can view vintage Kachina dolls, go  camping, or ride down the river.  The climate in Phoenix allows you to do just about anything.   The old west is everywhere in Arizona.  From legendary Tombstone and the OK Corral to the Desert Botanical Gardens.  Museums galore.  The Phoenix Zoo and the Botanical Gardens make a great start and can take up the entire day and fortunately they are just minutes apart. They are a must see while at Phoenix vacation rentals.   Many of the museums below are within minutes of each other.

If you plan your trip by city you can take in a lot of scenery rather than spending the day driving from one place to another.  The downtown Phoenix area is a good place to start.  The Arizona Science Center, a four story building, opened in 1997 and cost approximately $47million dollars to build.  You will find over 350 galleries that display geology, human physiology, transportation, physical forces, applied science and of course computer technology.    The 350 galleries are all hands on experiences.

You can sit in an airplane simulator and cruise the skies, have a wheel chair race or design your very own sand dunes.  The kids will enjoy the Fab Lab.  You can make and launch paper airplanes, or climb a rope with a pulley.  In the planetarium , which has the largest dome in the West, you can view “The Arizona Sky”, laser light shows dancing to rock music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The theater is named after Iren P. Flinn and houses a five story screen.  The shows vary and change depending on what is going on in the world.  Past shows included “Whales”, “To Be an Astronaut” and “The Great American West”.  There is a food court and a gift shop called Awesome Atom’s where  you can find some pretty nifty games, books and other interesting items.

The Science Center is open from 10am – 5pm daily except for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  Children three and under are free.  Adults $6.50, Senior citizens and children 4 to 12 are $4.50.  Tickets to the IWERKS Theater are  separate,  but can be combined with the above admission for an entire day of science, exploration and fun.

There are art walks and other free events in Old Town Scottsdale every Thursday night. The festivities are in the Scottsdale Arts District and go from 7-9pm.There are dozens of art galleries that are open and the streets are filled with music, munchies, and more. It is a free event hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association and the City of Scottsdale.If you are a winter visitor and are having a Scottsdale Arizona Vacation, it is a fun activity. It is great to walk around in the early evening throughout the galleries, meeting the artists,  sharing the wine, and enjoying our great weather. It is all free and very entertaining.

Directions to ArtWalk:

• Located along Main Street and Marshall Way in Scottsdale Downtown
• Between Fifth Avenue on the north and Main Street on the south
• Between Scottsdale Civic Center on the east, and Goldwater Boulevard on the west.

Sedona Arizona Film Festival

If you are enjoying a Scottsdale Arizona Vacation, it is a short road trip up north to Sedona. It is gorgeous with the backdrop of the red rocks and breathtaking views. The 17^th Annual Sedona International Film Festival will be  going on Feb. 20-27^th. It features the best independent films from around the world .The scenery is stunning and there will be lots of celebrities and parties through out the week. It offers 145 full-length features, shorts, documentaries, animated films, foreign films, student films, and diverse workshops. It will be a great time for all our winter visitors that are renting vacation rentals in Scottsdale, Arizona weather you are a movie buff or just want to catch a glimpse of the many celebrities around town. You can call 928-282-1177  or email sedonafilmfestival.com for more information.

People visiting Arizona always ask me where natives like to vacation. I usually visit places in the West but decided to do something different this year. There are many great vacation destinations driving distance from Scottsdale. I just returned from a fabulous 9-day trip to the Bahamas. I stayed at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. It was beautiful and the beaches were so crystal clear. There were so many fun water activities and incredible food. The only problem that I had was that I was cold most of the time. It was very tropical there and extremely windy. The weather changed so quickly there and it was cloudy a lot. I am used to the weather in Scottsdale with blue skies and warm temperatures most of the time. I guess I am very spoiled with our great Arizona weather. Many of the people I met were from colder climates and thought it was quite warm. The only time I warmed up officially is when I returned to sunny Arizona.

 When you are ready to book your next vacation, call Arizona Lodging Experts. It is the best Scottsdale property management company in the Valley of the Sun. They have the best Arizona home rentals and are a pleasure to deal with. The weather here in Arizona is the best in the country and there is so much to do for entertainment.