My Dog is Air Freight

Image source: http://humor.beecy.net/animals/halloween-dogs/airplane-dog.jpg

Guest post By Rob W.

My Dog is Air Freight?

When my job offered me an opportunity to transfer to Phoenix, one of my primary concerns was my dog, Buster. While I was very excited about moving, Buster is ten years old and perhaps not as enthusiastic about change. I was worried about how he would adjust. And I didn’t love the idea of thinking of him as air freight. I knew his arthritis would probably benefit from the warmer weather because we were living in New York at the time; when it got cold or rainy Buster would get very stiff. At 45 pounds he was too big to bring as a carry-on, so he would need to fly as air freight.

The first thing I did was consult with my veterinarian to see if Buster was healthy enough to travel. After the exam, the doctor assured me that Buster was up to the flight. We made sure that all his vaccinations were in order, which is very important when traveling with an animal. Some airlines may not allow pets to travel if you cannot provide proof of vaccinations.

Next, I purchased an appropriate-sized crate. It needed to be big enough for him to stand up, turn around, and lie down in comfortably. I also purchased a bowl that attaches onto the crate door. I put a comfortable bed inside. For the next few weeks, I gave Buster treats to eat inside his crate. He quickly learned that the crate was a safe, happy place to be.

When I was ready to book our flight, I found out that the airline I had booked for our flight had specific weather restrictions when traveling with pets. If it were too hot or too cold at the departing or arriving airport, Buster would not be able to travel. This is because he might be outside on the tarmac for a while as they load the plane. I had to pick a date carefully and hope that Mother Nature would cooperate!

About a week before we were to leave, Buster went back to the veterinarian to get a health certificate. This document certified that Buster was healthy enough to travel, and it’s required for transporting pets across state lines. My vet also gave me copies of all Buster’s medical records, because we’d need to find a new vet in Arizona.

I made copies of Buster’s vet records and health certificate, and also laminated an information sheet about him. The sheet told how old Buster was and said that he was friendly, in case any staff needed to remove him from the crate at either of the airports. It also had a picture of us together in case there was any question about his ownership. I taped this securely to the top of his crate.

On the way to the airport I purchased some ice to put in Buster’s water cup. The airline told me that if I filled it with water, when he’s being moved into the airplane it would most likely spill. The ice melts slowly, so it wouldn’t turn to water until Buster was loaded into the cargo hold. I was very nervous, but when I boarded the flight a stewardess brought me a slip of paper that said, “I’m on board, too!” That helped me relax, knowing that Buster made it onto the flight without any problems.

Once we got to the Phoenix airport, I went to the baggage department and Buster was already there waiting for me. He did just fine and everyone could hear him barking because he was so happy to see me again! He has adjusted perfectly to life in Arizona, and we are both very happy we made the move. So, while thinking of your pet as air freight isn’t the nicest of ideas, safe and happy air travel for pets is possible.

9 Great Books About Arizona

9 Great Books About Arizona

By: Trevor Freeman

If I had to pick just one word to describe Arizona, it would be inspiring. Maybe it’s the variety of landscapes and climates, or perhaps it is the remarkable sunsets. Whatever the reason, there’s just something about Arizona that inspires people to get creative. Here is my list of some cool books about Arizona:

Weird Arizona Book Cover

1. Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat

This book features all of the weird, strange, and unique places you won’t find in other travel guides. Weird Arizona features roadside attractions, haunted places, and all manner of weirdness. Definitely a must-read for those off-the-beaten-path explorers. It also makes a great gift!

Weird Arizona by Wesley Treat

2. Moon Handbooks: Arizona by Bill Weir

A dear friend gifted me this excellent travel guide to Arizona. It covers Page to Nogales and everything in between. The best Arizona has to offer in attractions, lodging, and dining are all packed into this extremely portable book. Weir goes a step beyond other travel guides by introducing each of Arizona’s regions with a detailed and contextual history.

3. Phoenix Then and Now by Paul Scharbach and John Akers

Take a trip back through time and see what Phoenix used to look like in its early days. This book takes it a step further with “rephotography” – modern-day photos from the same locations as historical photos. Akers and Scharbach do a masterful job of showing the city’s changing face over time.

Phoenix Then and Now

4. The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons by John Wesley Powell

Civil War veteran, geologist, and explorer John Wesley Powell was the first man to lead an exploration of the Colorado River Valley in 1869. Powell’s journal records the incredible 1,000 mile journey that led to the first recorded exploration of the Grand Canyon with the soul of a poet and the wit of a scientist.

5. Official Arizona Trivia by Marshall Trimble

As the Official State Historian of Arizona, Marshall Trimble has spent his life preserving the state’s history and culture through his written works. In Arizona Trivia, he recounts the weird, wacky, and unusual facts about the state’s history that you simply won’t find anywhere else!

6. Phoenix: 21st Century City by Edward Booth-Clibborn

This book is a compilation of photographs that highlights the architectural and artistic side of Phoenix as it continues to grow and expand in a seemingly endless sprawl of suburbs. It’s worth owning just for the remarkable photographs of a city that is contstantly in transition and the effects that has on its residents.

7. Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory? by Paolo Soleri

This Italian-born architect has adopted Arizona as the home for his vision of the future. Arcology is a fusion of architecture and ecology, exhibited at Soleri’s experimental community in Mayer, Arizona and at Cosanti in Scottsdale. His visions of the future are as ambitious as they are grand, which makes for some controversial yet interesting theology.

8. Monumental Places: National Parks and Monuments in the Grand Canyon State by George McNamee

Published by Arizona Highways, this book takes readers on a tour of Arizona’s most famous places. At just 80 pages, the focus of this book is clearly on quality. It features the stunning, award-winning photographs that Arizona Highways magazine is famous for. Great for shutterbugs and Arizona enthusiasts alike.

9. Route 66 Across Arizona by Richard and Sherry Magnum

Check out this comprehensive index of Historic Route 66 in Arizona! From the New Mexico border to the California State Line, this book features maps, photos, and information about the Mother Road’s path through Arizona.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Sky Train Coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor

Sky Train Coming to Phoenix Sky Harbor

By: Trevor Freeman

Have you heard about the new project that’s underway at Sky Harbor Airport? It is big, expensive, and very, very cool.

I’m talking about the Sky Train – the new rail system that will link all of Sky Harbor with the Metro Light Rail system that runs between Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. When completed in 2020, the new trains will ferry passengers from the 44th Street and Washington rail station all the way over to the Rental Car facility at 18th Street and Buckeye Road. The train will make stops at the East Economy parking garages as well as Terminals 2, 3, and 4.

The massive project calls for constructing new stations, trains, and 4.9 miles of elevated track across the entire airport. This will allow travelers to quickly and easily traverse the airport while reducing traffic congestion and pollution on the roadways by up to 20,000 cars per day.

But that’s not even the best part. What has me excited is the stretch of track between the East Economy Garages and Terminal 4, which will open to the public in 2013. Here, the Sky Train will truly live up to its name as it soars 100 feet above the ground on a graceful concrete arch bridge over the jetway.

Yes, you heard that right. The train will cross over a ramp that passenger planes use for taxiing between runways. Passengers will zip along at 35mph in air-conditioned comfort while Boeings and Airbuses roll right beneath their feet. It will be the first and only place in the world where a train crosses over an airplane.

The Sky Train project is massive by any scale: the total cost is estimated at $1.1 billion dollars. Annual ridership is projected to be 10 million people per year. And the fact that the final phase of construction won’t be complete for another 10 years is also a big deal.

When Phase One opens in 2013, you can bet I will be there to go for a ride.This beats the heck out of the Disneyland Monorail I rode as a kid!And unlike Disneyland, the Sky Train will be free of charge and run on a 24-hour schedule.

The Sky Train is an awesome feat of engineering and logistics that will really bring Sky Harbor into the 21st century. I am eagerly looking forward to the project’s completion.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport 75th Anniversary

Sky Harbor Control Tower

Sky Harbor Airport Celebrates 75^th Anniversary

By: Trevor Freeman

Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport is one of the ten busiest airports in America, and one of the fifteen busiest in the world. Sky Harbor is a mega-hub of activity that includes passenger travel, cargo transport, and general aviation. This year, Sky Harbor is celebrating its 75^th anniversary!

To celebrate this important milestone, the City of Phoenix has added several new pages to Sky Harbor’s website featuring historical information about the airport’s early days. The City also served cake to passengers and employees on October 7^th as part of the celebration.

The airport is also putting together a new exhibit about its history which will be on display in Terminal 3. For more about the history of Sky Harbor, please visit their 75^th Anniversary page (http://www.phxskyharbor.com/about/75Years.html)

Here are some interesting things you may not know about Sky Harbor International Airport:

Sky Harbor Airport Museum

• The 326 foot-tall control tower is the 5^th tallest in the world (after Atlanta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Munich).

• Over 39 million people passed through Sky Harbor Airport in 2008.

• Sky Harbor has an average of 1,200 arrivals and departures every day!

• Over 600 tons of cargo pass through the airport on a daily basis.

• Sky Harbor provides over 33,000 jobs to Phoenix residents.

• Sky Harbor Airport has its own radio show which airs Sundays at 10:30am on 1480 AM KPHX radio.

• Terminal 4 features an interfaith chaplaincy where people of all faiths can reflect, regroup, and rest.

• Sky Harbor features over 500 works of art spread amongst its three terminals, making it one of the largest airport museums in the nation.

• Have you ever wondered about the biplane hanging in Terminal 3? It’s a fully restored 1917 SPAD XIII from World War I.

• The escalators in Terminal 3 are designed to resemble the Grand Canyon.

• What happened to Terminal 1? The original building was constructed in 1952 and torn down in 1990. Terminals 2, 3, and 4 were not renamed.

• Nonstop international flights are available to Canada, Mexico, and England.

• There are more than 30,000 parking spaces at Sky Harbor.

• There are 3 main runways, the longest of which is 11,490 ft (3,502m).

• The Sky Train (currently under construction) will link the airport with the Valley Metro Light Rail system by 2020.

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Trevor Freeman is a resident of the Phoenix valley and a contributing author to Phoenix.org. He also maintains his own local blog at NorthPhoenixBlog.Blogspot.com.

If you would like to contribute an article to Phoenix.org then please contact our editor at Troy@Phoenix.org.

How to Spend your 4th

Looking to plan a way to celebrate the fourth of July this year? Well, you needn’t look any further. The team at Phoenix.org has put together a list of events going on both in the Phoenix Metro area and around the state. If you live and work in the Phoenix area, there are events happening all weekend all over the valley. Here are three we have chosen to highlight; Phoenix, Mesa and Chandler.

Phoenix Metro Area

Fireworks Over Phoenix

25th Annual Freedom Wireless Fabulous Phoenix Fourth

July 4
Steele Indian School Park
Phoenix

FREEDOM WIRELESS FABULOUS PHOENIX FOURTH— Help celebrate our country’s freedom once again at Steele Indian School Park, 3rd Street and Indian School Rd.  The fun will begin at 6 p.m. with an expanded fireworks display beginning at 9:20 p.m. There will be two stages of entertainment, Kids World area, Classic Car exhibit, refreshment vendors, and more! For more information call 602 262-6862.

For More Information
http://www.phoenix.gov
Phone: 602-262-6862
Phoenix, AZ

Downtown Mesa

Celebration of Freedom

July 2 through July 3
Downtown Mesa
Mesa

Visit downtown Mesa for the inaugural Arizona’s Celebration of Freedom festival. There will be classic cars, motorcycles, beer gardens, art, music, games, and more.

Celebrations start Friday with the ever popular, “Motorcycles on Main” and a flag raising at Stage America. Along Main street bands will be playing music and businesses and restrautants will be open for your shopping and dining pleasure.

Saturday night includes an American classic car show and the official Salute to America program featuring musical performances, brief comments by Mayor Scott Smith and others and a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to a special selection of patriotic songs.

Each night, the event includes “fun zones” and specific program areas up and down Main Street. The Wet Zone, a “you-will-get-soaked” area at the event, is sure-to-be popular with kids and adults with more than a dozen water activities. The Family Fun Zone, your traditional county fair area includes games, pie-eating and watermelon-eating contests, carnival games for the kids and more.

FREE TO THE PUBLIC, FREE PARKING

Fri., July 2, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Sat., July 3, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Downtown Mesa (Street Closures: Main Street, from Morris just west of Robson to Centennial just east of Center Street Center, Macdonald, and Robson 1st Street to 1st Avenue)

For more information go to www.azcelebrationoffreedom.org.

July 4th- A Star Spangled Shoot Out!

July 4
Rawhide Wild West Town
Chandler

5:30pm – 11pm

Celebrate your independence this July 4th western style with us right here at Rawhide! If it’s a party yer lookin’ for, we’ve got you covered with cowboys, gunfights, food, fun, family and fireworks!

Attractions & Entertainment:

• Live music throughout town
• Action Packed Performances
• Aerial Fireworks Display

Admission: $10 per person (ages 6 & up), Kids 5 years old and under are Free.
Admission cost includes Rawhide attractions, entertainment & Aerial Fireworks Display.

For More Information
http://www.rawhide.com
Phone: 480-502-5600
Chandler, AZ

If you’re looking for something different to celebrate this year—a chance to get away from the crowds—there are celebrations going on throughout the state. Phoenix.org will highlight a few for you.

Around the State:

Prescott Rodeo

Perhaps you are looking for a Rodeo. At just under a two hour drive, the Prescott Rodeo and dance is sure to please. Or maybe you’re looking for a more small-town rodeo. In that case, why not make the trip to Taylor, AZ, or Eager, AZ, where both towns will be hosting rodeos, and enjoy a scenic drive through the Tonto National Forest while you’re at it.

Should you be looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate the fourth, there are events going on which will be enjoyable and certainly entertain.

Clarkdale Train

Head on up to Flagstaff to watch an outdoor movie on the square, and while you’re there, catch a Renaissance Faire and Mountain Music Festival or the 77th Annual Hopi Festival of Arts & Culture.

Superior, AZ is also offering a unique experience. Make the one-hour drive to Superior and enjoy a Dragonfly Walk; sure to be a highlight in the non-traditional celebration of the Fourth of July weekend.

Or perhaps, you’d like to spend your day riding the Firecracker Express through the majestic tunnels of the Tonto National Forest in Clarkdale. For the athlete, head to Tucson to spend the fourth participating in the 15th Annual Holualoa Firecracker Triathlon. Whatever you choose, Arizona has much to offer.

Lake Powell

Looking for a scenic place to watch the fireworks? Here are a few options in the beautiful state of Arizona. Head north to the city of Page and watch the colors as they gleam off Lake Powell.  As a closer option, choose to visit Parker, AZ and enjoy the fireworks on the Colorado River. If you’re planning a trip to the east-side of the state, make Pinetop one of your stops to enjoy fireworks over Sunrise Lake.

While there are sure to BBQs going on in neighborhoods and backyards all over the state, should your mouth be watering for professional Barbequeing, head to Williams, AZ where teams will compete for $10,000 in prize money. At a closer option, Maricopa, just outside South Phoenix, will also be hosting a city-wide BBQ.

Maybe you’re looking for something to do with an old-fashioned feel. Well, look no farther! Visit Clarkdale to eat a pancake breakfast, ride the train and a live band concert. In Williams, AZ you can join in a game of vintage baseball, railhead shoot and hometown parade.

Tucson Music Hall

If you’re looking to light up the weekend with the sounds of patriotic music, head to the Tucson Music Hall to enjoy the Arts Express Choir and Orchestra.

Regardless of what your tastes are, we’re confident that one of these activities highlighted by Phoenix.org will be right for you and your family. If you know of an event that is not listed here that you would like our readers to know about, please contact us and we will be sure to update this article.

Have a safe and happy fourth!

Check out other celebrations happening throughout Arizona!

Railhead Shooting Competition

July 1 through July 4
Williams Shooting Range
Williams

43rd Annual 4th of July Celebration

July 2 through July 4
Veterans Memorial Park
Sierra Vista

2010 Light Up the Sky Festival

July 2
Maryvale Baseball Park
Maryvale

6th Annual Art Barn 4th of July Arts and Crafts Festival

July 2 through July 4
Pinetop
Pinetop

Frontier Days Parade

July 3
Courthouse Plaza
Prescott

Independence Day Celebration

July 3
Alpine

31st Annual Prescott Rodeo Days Fine Arts & Crafts Show

July 3 through July 5
Courthouse Plaza
Prescott

30th Annual Pine-Strawberry Arts & Crafts Festival

July 3 through July 4
Pine Community Center
Pine

Show Low Main Street Farmers’ Market & Art Walk

July 3 through July 31
Festival Marketplace
Show Low

4th of July Celebration

July 4
City Park
Benson

Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks

July 4
Paul Mason Sportsplex
Casa Grande

11th Annual Fantastic Family Fourth of July

July 4
Cottonwood Kid’s Park
Cottonwood

Freedom Fest

July 4
Florence Pool & Heritage Park
Florence

Fourth of July Celebration

July 4
Patagonia

Family Style 4th of July

July 4
Medigovich Field
Tombstone

Bisbee’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration

July 4
Tombstone Canyon
Bisbee

4th of July Fireworks & Celebration

July 4
Veterans Memorial Park
Douglas

14th Annual 4th of July Parade

July 4
Historic Downtown
Flagstaff

Star Spangled Spectacular

July 4
Crossroads at Silverbell Park
Marana

July 4th Celebration

July 4
Pioneer Park
Prescott

Prescott Valley 4th of July Celebration

July 4
Mountain Valley Park
Prescott Valley

39th Annual Fourth of July Celebration

July 3
Sunset Park
Wickenburg

Fourth of July Fireworks

July 4

Emil Nasser Stadium

Winslow

24th Annual Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony

July 4
Caballero Park
Yuma

Hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix April 7th 2010

This is where the fun starts...

To view any of the pictures in greater detail simply click on them. To view our complete portfolio from Phoenix.org’s Camelback Mountain hike click here.

Don’t let anyone fool you, even though it is only1.2 miles up, hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix can be quite a feat. It is not just that even in April it can be well over 90 degrees outside (only a crazy person would try to do it in the Summer), it is not just that there are portions so steep that I wanted to buy life insurance before attempting them or even that the trail is so crowded that at least you are comforted in the thought that if you did happen to fall off a cliff and have an unfortunate splat below that at least you would leave this life knowing that hundreds of absolute strangers would have in a way shared that moment with you. No, Camelback Mountain is not a difficult hike simply because of any one of these things alone, but instead as a result of all three of them combined.

As anyone who has climbed the mountain anytime after 2am knows, the first part of an ascent up Camelback begins with about an hour of fruitlessly searching for a parking spot. Naturally, after you find one you realize that you forgot your water bottle so you will have to leave the spot you spent the last hour looking for only to come back from the grocery store with overpriced water bottles and start the search for a place to park all over again.

Map of the Overflow Parking Lot: Click for larger Version

Here are just two small pieces of advice for you. One, there is an overflow parking lot just at the point where McDonald Drive turns into North 44^th Street. It is about a 25 minute walk to the trailhead but I personally guarantee that it will be a lot shorter then driving around for 30 minutes looking for a place to park in the neighborhoods, eventually giving up on that and waiting in line to park at the trailhead for 30 minutes then finally losing your sanity and parking at the overflow anyway. Just park at the overflow first thing, you are going to end up doing it regardless whether it is the first or last place you look. Second, the closest grocery store to the north is on Tatum and Shea and their bottles of water are actually reasonably priced.

Starting the Hike:

The trail starts out deceptively simple, nothing more that a short 300-500 yards of progressively steeper dirt steps. While most of us, myself included, broke a sweat early on in the hike, by the time you reach the end of this simple portion of Camelback you are starting to think pretty highly of yourself, 500 yards done on a hike that is only a mile and half anyway makes us all feel kind of good but as you turn right around a corner you notice that your accent has not even begun yet. Seeing what is coming up next, after the first 500 yards of simplicity,  is sort of like being invited inside the home by a beautiful girl after your date and thinking that you must be doing pretty well, only to see her 6’5 300lbs father cleaning his guns at the kitchen table, needless to say it is a little depressing.

Trust me, it is steeper than it looks!

The first really steep portion is equipped with a mounted metal rail to assist you for over 50 yards as you attempt to climb up what appears to be a scene out of movie cliffhanger. Truly the worst part of this portion of the climb is asking the people that are coming back down how close you are to reaching the top and seeing their snide smiles and hearing their obnoxious laughs. Truth of the matter is that you are nowhere near the top at this point, just don’t tell yourself that and you should be fine.

The nice thing about finishing this first hard climb, apart from finishing the climb, is that you are rewarded with a nice view of the valley. You are starting to get high enough that you actually feel a good deal above the valley

This is probably the first decent view from Camelback

around you and that is a nice experience. The area just after this first steep climb is more of a transition from one part of the mountain to another. Naturally as you make this transition you will be gaining a lot of elevation. The major difference between this part of the hike and the portion before it is that while the portion before, albeit steep, was on relatively firm ground and had an additional handrail for support and guidance. This second part is just as steep but it is done over scattered rock fall and small boulders and there is no handrail to help you feel good about yourself. It is on this second portion of the hike that you will reach your halfway mark, yeah, .75 of a mile down.

The third portion is similar to the second; you will be crawling, sometimes even using your hands, over large rocks as you make your way up a small ravine. As you reach the top of the ravine you will hook to the left to start you final assent on the mountain. Warning, if you do not hook hard enough to the left you will soon find yourself off of the main trail overlooking the southwest valley thinking, “This sure is pretty… I wonder where everyone else went”. If you find yourself in this situation do not despair, you are not the first (it has happened to as least one other person that I know of).

If you see this you are probably lost... find the trail.

A mistake such as this is easily remedied and it will be no time at all until you find yourself inching your way over the final assent of the mountain and are rewarded with the opportunity to rub shoulders with about 100 other hikers, all as sweaty as you, as well as the opportunity to take some wonderful pictures of the valley below. If you are lucky enough you will meet some interesting individuals on the top as well. I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman from Scotland and had a pleasant conversation, if you are reading this my Scottish Friend; remember

Very happy to arrive at the summit

you were going to send me an email.

Either way you look at it climbing Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, AZ is tough, but it is also worth it. The view from the top is the best in Phoenix, the climb can be invigorating and the company is certainly interesting. I recommend that everyone take the opportunity at least once. As for me, I am just hoping that my next assigned review for Phoenix.org involves a water slide.

If you would like to request a review of a local Valley of the Sun activity please contact Phoenix.org. Thanks for reading!

Arizona Science Center: A Great Place for Kids and Adults

Arizona Science Center

Whether you only have a hour or two to fill, or whether you are looking at a full day experience for you and your children, the Arizona Science Center is a great choice when you want an educational experience that will never be forgotten. There are three full floors of exhibits, experiments and adventures. What other place on earth can your child lay on a completely real bed of nails, ride a bicycle across a suspended cable, or even experience what a hurricane or tornado feels like?

Staff members from Phoenix.org were invited to do a walk-through tour of the Arizona Science Museum in early April and naturally we jumped at the opportunity to acquaint ourselves with one of the Valley of the Sun’s most beloved adventures. Below you will find a little write up of our time at the center as well as some pictures that were taken during the visit.

The first thing that a person notices while walking into the Arizona Science Museum is the sheer size of the structure. The open design allows a visitor to look from the bottom floor up through both the second and third floors. This certainly is a far cry from what was present back in 1984 when the center was a small 10,000 square foot storefront exhibition space located in the parking garage level of the downtown Phoenix Hyatt. Now-a-days the Center boasts over 120,000 feet of display space alone, an I-max movie theater, three full floors of exhibits as well as a gift shop and concession stand. We are not kidding when we say that there are literally hundreds of things that a person or child can find to do there, and most of them will leave the child having learned something new.

Jamie on the Sky Cycle

The first exhibit that we saw while touring the facility was the Sky Cycle, a metal bicycle that is counterbalanced with a weight that allows riders, after they have been strapped in, to ride the bicycle across a metal cable. Oh ya, did we mention that while doing this the riders are 14 feet in the air! The ride typically lasts about 3 minutes and consists of the rider pedaling the bicycle about 60 feet across the extended cable and then pedaling backwards over the length again to get back to the platform. Typically at some point in time most riders, after beginning to feel comfortable with the balancing of the bike, will actually shift it back and forth which causes the bike to sway. This supposedly makes the experience even more exciting although it is not something that I chose to do.

After our experience at the Sky Cycle we were ready to try something a little less adventurous so naturally we found our way to the “Get Charged Up” exhibit where we could take a relaxing few minutes and lay down on a bed of nails, yes, you heard me right, we laid down on a bed of nails! To be more direct a person actually lays down on a flat piece of Plexiglas with hundreds of circular holes in it. After the person is settled on the Plexiglas they press a red button and in a uniform movement

Jamie on the Bed of Nails

nails slowly extend from the holes and lift the person’s body about an inch and a half above the level of the plastic. The nails are sufficiently dull enough and your weight is sufficiently distributed enough that not only do you not feel any pain while laying on the nails but you actually have to pay very close attention to even be able to tell that your body is being raised up by the nails.

Also in the “Get Charged Up” exhibit are smaller exhibits on generators, pulley’s and an electromagnetic workbench where objects move before your very eyes. The pulley tug of war was fun, especially for my 130lbs wife that, thanks to a properly located pulley (as well as a “positive mental attitude” in her opinion) was able to out-pull me in a tug of war contest. If only we could have used a pulley system back in elementary school. Surely then my class would have won the coveted “Tug-of-War” trophy that I so desperately wanted.

Dancing Iron Shavings

Just off the stairway between the 2^nd and 3^rd levels is what is called the “Music Landing”. This was one of my favorite areas of the Center. There is one exhibit made up of iron shavings that move in time to the music of your choice. “Flight of the Bumblebee” has never been so entertaining as it is when piles of iron shavings dance back and forth with the pitch of the piccolo. There are also a series of large pipes that when your ear is placed up against the bottom cause you to hear a very low pitch, showing that there is truly music everywhere.

On the third floor you will find three of the best exhibits in the Center, these are “Forces of Nature”, “The Science of Fear” and “My Digital World”.

“Forces of Nature” is a large circular standing platform complete with a television screen above you. The narrator then explains the various types of natural forces that we experience in Arizona from floods, to monsoons to intense desert heat. The participants then get to experience each of these “Forces of Nature” with wind and rain present for the monsoon and heat lamps that turn on for the desert scenes. It is quite the experience.

The Drop in "The Science of Fear"

The “Science of Fear” allows a participant to experience many of the most common types of fears such as the fear of spiders, fear of heights and the fear of falling. The fear of falling exhibit was one of the most popular. In this one the participant is strapped securely to a bench and the bench is then suddenly dropped backward making use of a pivot joint in the bench. As if the fear of falling was not enough a camera also takes of picture of the face of the participant just as the free fall begins.

One of the most memorable exhibits at “My Digital World” was the facial structure reorganization exhibit. In this exhibit you were able to adjust a picture of your face and warp it into shapes and forms that seem to be strait from Picasso’s newest painting, he does have a new painting doesn’t he? In this exhibit I was able to see a picture of my lovely wife’s face that in all honesty I hope I never have to see again.

Facial Reconstruction: Not a Great Idea

Our final experience at the Center was a 30 minute video in the IMAX theater on Black Holes. The video was very interesting and seeing it projected on a dome that was 30 feet above your head just added to the excitement and mystery that are black holes.

In conclusion the Arizona Science Center is a wonderful place to spend a day, or an hour, with your children or even someone else’s. They have affordable entrance fees, especially if you sign up for a yearly package and it is the kind of place that children will enjoy going back to again and again. We recommend that you take the time to experience it for your self, and tell them that Phoenix.org sent you…

Phoenix.org routinely does reviews of local attractions, restaurants, and more. If you know of a location that you would like to have reviewed then please contact us and let us know.

Phoenix: The Perfect Vacation

Phoenix Vacation Spot

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is located just 11 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the Gila River Indian Community’s beautiful 372,000-acre reservation in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, famous for its lush variety of cacti and stunning mountain views. This AAA Four Diamond resort features an award-winning spa and one of Arizona’s hottest restaurants, Kai, which is the only restaurant in Arizona to win a the Five-Star Award from the Mobil Travel Guide. Other attractions include 500 luxury rooms, two golf courses, four swimming pools, a 1,000-acre equestrian center, the Gila River Casino, and the Rawhide Western Town at Wild Horse Pass.

The Aji Spa at Wild Horse Pass is one of only ninety-five in the U.S. to have a Four-Star ranking from the Mobil Travel Guide, and is one of the top seven spas in the state. This 17,500 square-foot relaxation haven is a unique Native American experience, offering a signature line, “Indigenous,” featuring organic products locally sourced from the Gila River reservation. In addition to deluxe massage and spa treatments, the Aji Spa offers authentic Native American healing treatments based on ancient Pima and Maricopa traditions. Yoga, Pilates, meditation, and “Sweat and Sculpt” classes are also offered.

If activities are more your thing, there’s plenty to do outdoors. The Koli Equestrian Center offers horseback riding lessons, trail rides, wagon rides, and more. The four swimming pools have cascading waterfalls, and one features an 111-foot waterslide! You and the kids can take a scenic boat ride down the 2 ½-mile replica of the Gila River that winds through the resort and also acts as transportation to the Whirlwind Golf Club and Rawhide Western Town, which locals claim is the “Best Western Experience” in Arizona. For grownups, why not take a golf lesson from PGA and LGPA pros at the Bird Golf Academy? Other attractions nearby include the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving, where you can indulge your need for speed on a 1.5-mile racetrack, and the Arizona Mills Mall, which has over 175 stores, from Virgin Megastore to Neiman Marcus, to satisfy your every shopping need.

Rooms at Wild Horse Pass are beautifully appointed with art reflecting the Pima and Maricopa Indian traditions and history, private balconies and/or patios, flat-screen TVs, bath suites with separate tub and shower, and scenic views of the Sierra Estrella and South Mountain ranges. You can also choose to participate in their “Green” program, which rewards you for helping to conserve natural resources.

If you’re hungry, Wild Horse Pass offers a range of dining options. Their AAA Five Diamond restaurant Kai gets rave reviews from customers and food critics alike, offering a Southwestern menu with authentic Native American flair. Much of Kai’s food is farmed organically right on the Gila River reservation, making it a sustainable dining choice. Other choices include Ko’Sin, a desert fusion restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the Aji Cafe located in the Aji Spa, and the Hanyo Grill, conveniently located poolside so you don’t have to stop having fun to have lunch.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a rollicking family vacation, the Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa is the perfect choice for you.