Weather and Conference Attire in October
Greater Phoenix basks in sunshine during 85 percent of the daylight hours‚ more often than any other
major metropolitan area in the United States. The average high in October is 87 degrees (30.9 Celsius),
with lows of 59 degrees (15.0 Celsius.). We suggest a sweater or light jacket for meeting rooms and
evening events.
Fun Facts about Phoenix and Arizona
Did You Know That...






Spanish Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, was the first European to explore Arizona. He entered
the area in 1539 in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold.
Arizona has the largest Native American population of any state. More than 14 tribes are
represented on 20 reservations.
Arizona has more parks and national monuments than any other state, more mountains than
Switzerland, and more golf courses than Scotland.
State attractions include the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, Hoover
Dam, Lake Mead, and Fort Apache.
Phoenix, Arizona is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. with population of 1.4 million.
One-fourth of the entire state is covered by forest growth. It is the largest unbroken Ponderosa
pine forest in America.
Explore Phoenix
Unique Attractions






For a uniquely Southwestern experience, stroll through the Desert Botanical Garden
http://www.dbg.org/ to see desert plants, or visit the Heard Museum http://www.heard.org/
for Native American art and culture.
The Phoenix Zoo http://phoenixzoo.org/ is one of the top-rated in the country, and the native
animals section includes snakes, javelina and coyotes.
The Arizona State Fair is held every October in Phoenix, Arizona. It features fantastic rides,
exhibits, concerts and other events.
If you are looking for an authentic Western adventure, think about booking a horseback riding
tour http://www.cavecreekoutfitters.com/ through the beautiful Sonoran Desert.
Fans of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright will want to visit his famous Taliesin West.
http://www.franklloydwright.org/about/TaliesinWestTours.html Wright began building this
desert masterpiece in 1937 as his personal winter home, studio, and architectural campus.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the complex and the surrounding desert.
Saba's http://www.sabas.com/ has been outfitting Arizonan's with western wear for over 85
years. It's the place to shop for a pair of authentic cowboy boots!


A comfortable and inviting shopping experience awaits you at Metrocenter. With more than 125
retailers, eateries and department stores and a 12 screen Harkins Theater, Metrocenter has much
to offer. The Metrocenter is proud to be the new home of the Phoenix Conservatory of Music,
bringing the enrichment of music to enthusiasts of all ages. http://www.metrocentermall.com/
Phoenix is known for its outdoor markets and the Phoenix Park Swap
http://www.americanparknswap.com/ is one of the biggest, featuring more than 1,200 bargain
outlets, covered walkways, and entertainment. Enjoy authentic ethnic fare while you shop for
bargains.
Explore Arizona
The Grand Canyon
Perhaps the most spectacular of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. A four hour’s drive from
Phoenix, plan at least a day for a leisurely explore of the South Rim. Where to go and what to see in the
Grand Canyon area? Catch the sunset at the Hermit’s Rest view point, stop at Moran point, and
Grandview. It doesn’t matter where you end up! The Grand Canyon is beautiful from any aspect! Be
sure to see the El Tovar hotel and the Hopi House gift shop. For the adventuresome, a trip to the
bottom of the Grand Canyon may be in order. Guided journeys are available on foot or by pack-mule.
If you are planning the hike, please prepare carefully and read the park’s guide! While the South Rim is
open year round, weather permitting; the less frequently visited North Rim is open only seasonally
from May to October. Please visit our links page for a link to the Grand Canyon National Park
http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm.
Sedona
Drive the switchbacks down into breathtaking Oak Creek Canyon and stop at Slide Rock about 8 miles
north of Sedona! This is a great place to play and hike. Slide down the natural rockslide and splash and
swim in many of the natural swimming holes. Sedona is about a 2 hour drive from Pheonix. Nearby
Sedona are the beautiful Red Rocks State Park, Montezuma Castle National Monument cliff dwellings,
and the almost ghost and mining town of Jerome. http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/index.aspx
Hopi Mesas
Step back in time when you explore the three Hopi mesas that have been the home of the Hopi for over
800 years. Visit The Hopi Cultural Center http://www.hopiculturalcenter.com/ to learn more about
these remarkable people. Perhaps best known for their beautifully carved Kachina dolls, these people
are also renown for their beautiful basketry, pottery, and silver overlay jewelry. The Hopi Mesas
welcome visitors, but are sometimes closed or restricted during sacred religious ceremonies throughout
the year. Photography is also restricted in regard to some areas and events.
Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki National Monument
Visit the haunting ruins mysteriously abandoned 700 years ago by the people the Puebloans call their
ancestors. Famine, drought, war, conquest? Where these people went and why are questions that
remain unanswered even today. Were they forced to the cliffs for defense, their dwellings still
remaining in nearby Walnut Canyon? Walk along the trails that snake these ruins. Close your eyes and
listen to the sounds of the past. The trail provides its users with a self-guided informative tour. The
park offers hiking trails for its visitors to explore the geology of Sunset Crater Volcano, the pueblos of
Wupatki, and the scenic Painted Desert landscape. http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm
Monument Valley
When you think of the Native Southwest, images of these lonely monoliths do not linger far behind. A
geological marvel and a tribute to the patient hand of time. The first monuments are less than 6 hours
away from the Phoenix. Most people drive along through the valley, stopping often to take
photographs or simply marvel at the beauty, but there are hiking trails also to be explored. This is an
experience unique to the Southwest! http://navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Here in this canyon lies a multi-cultural history that spans almost two thousand years. From the early
“Basketmaker” cultures of 350 AD to its present day inhabitants its mysteries ring like a silent echo
along the high canyon walls. All can view the majesty of the dwellings perched high in the cliffs,
accessible to the ancients only by carved footholds and rudimentary ladders. Canyon De Chelly is
about 6 hours from Phoenix. There are hiking trails, tours, exhibits, and horseback riding available. The
visitor’s center is open year-round. http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm
Petrified Forest
A stone oasis in the Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest is littered with the stone relics of the forest that
once stood here 225 million years ago! The excellent Rainbow Forest Museum is the place to begin.
Learn about the history the forest, the amazing dinosaurs and early flora and fauna that once roamed
this vast area. Then set off on an adventure hike of your own. The Petrified Forest is about 4 hours from
Phoenix. http://www.nps.gov/pefo/index.htm
Flagstaff
Thomas F. McMillan from Tennessee was one of the first settlers in the area. In the summer of 1876,
McMillan led a group of Eastern pilgrims here. The legend goes that he cut a pine tree to use as a staff
for the American Flag for a Fourth of July celebration and left it standing thereafter. The staff became a
trail marker and when, in 1881, a post office and a tiny tent camp were erected, the settlers agreed to
name the area "Flag Staff." The name stuck. Now, over a hundred years later, the city has much to offer.
Flagstaff is about 2 and one half hours from Phoenix. Visit Flagstaff's arboretum, Lowell observatory,
or the Museum of Northern Arizona. Ski birds visiting during the winter can enjoy the Snowbowl Ski
Area. http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/