Grand Canyon West: Open for Visitors

THOSE looking to experience the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon amid the federal government shutdown can do so at Grand Canyon West.

Grand Canyon West is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe through its Grand Canyon Resort Corporation. Grand Canyon West is not part of the National Park Service. Thus, the tourism center, which attracts more than 1 million visitors each year, has not been at all affected by the current federal government shutdown.

Visitors are welcome to explore the world-famous Skywalk glass bridge, which hovers more than 4,000 feet about the floor of the Grand Canyon. Other Grand Canyon West experiences include Hualapai Ranch, which is a replica of an old western town, and majestic viewpoints like Eagle Point and Guano Point.

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A splash of colour

THE iconic family brand announced at a press conference today that it will open a Crayola Experience at Chandler Fashion Center next summer. This is the fifth location for the popular family attraction, which also has facilities in Orlando, Florida; Bloomington, Minnesota; Plano, Texas; and Easton, Pennsylvania – the home of #Crayola crayons since 1903.

At Crayola Experience Chandler, guests will enjoy classic experiences such as naming and wrapping their own Crayola crayon (Wrap It Up!), starring in their own coloring page (Be a Star), using their touch to bring art to 4-D life (Color Magic), creating melted wax spin-art (Drip Art) as well as some new experiences that will debut in #Arizona.



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Saddle up and ride towards well-being

WHETHER it’s enhancing our creativity or taking our first steps towards a healthier lifestyle, in 2019 travellers will place a much greater emphasis on “the self” and life-enrichment.

Ruth Daly, Marketing Director at Ranch Rider comments, “No longer a simple means of escape, we now see the potential for holidays to make a very real and lasting difference to the way we lead our lives, so our existence can be more fruitful and fulfilling.”

Ideal for guests who want to step out of their comfort zone and embrace their authentic selves, the new four-day women-only, “Unbridle Your Creativity” retreat will be hosted by Devon Combs, “The Cowgirl of the Wellness Industry,” and Kris Drewry, published author and lifestyle blogger.

Based at Arizona’s Rancho de la Osa, the course aims to silence your inner critic and make creativity part of your routine, through Equine Gestalt Coaching (described as healing through interaction with horses), writing and trail riding. Additional activities include an evening of cowboy poetry (with a real cowboy), a moonlight bonfire and cowgirl cocktails.

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Falling for Flagstaff

AS the fall months begin to emerge, Flagstaff's LEAF-ometer is the answer to the question: What color are the fall leaves? To experience the autumn season at its most exhilarating, visitors can use the LEAF-ometer and catch the changing foliage on the trails and around town.

Flagstaff is only 80 miles from the Grand Canyon an ideal home base for visitors to explore some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Visitors experience Route 66, a charming historic downtown with trains, shopping, art galleries, events, music, restaurants and nightlife. Flagstaff is the World's First International Dark Sky City

Time your leaf-viewing trip and plan to get here to experience cool temperatures, amazing scenery and outdoor adventure. For more information, suggestions and conditions visit flagstaffarizona.org or www.flagstaffarizona.org/leafometer.

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Flights of Fancy

ARIZONA Commemorative Air Force Museum (AZCAF) announces the return of early morning "Dawn Patrol" flights available to the public starting September 21. The public may experience a living history flight in an open cockpit World War II Stearman bi-plane or a canopy cockpit seat in a World War II SNJ/T-6 Texan airplane in the morning when the weather is cooler.

These are two of seven World War II airplanes that comprise flying exhibits at AZCAF's 55,000 square-foot museum. Other warbirds include an ultra-rare B-17 Bomber, Sentimental Journey, one of eight still flying in the world, B-25 Bomber Maid in the Shade, and C-47 Cargo Old Number 30. Both the B-25 and C-47 aircraft have authentic combat histories from World War II.

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White Stallion Ranch named in America's Top 10 family resorts

THE White Stallion Resort, a family owned and operated dude ranch located in Tucson, has been named one of the top 10 America's best family resorts of 2018 by readers of USA Today.

The USA Today Readers Choice Award honor was based on readers' votes for the resort determined by kids' amenities and family programming. A panel of experts including USA Today editors, 10Best.com editors, expert contributors and media nominated the ranch.

White Stallion Ranch is located just outside Tucson, Arizona and adjacent to Saguaro National Park West, and for more than fifty years has been the home of the True family. Guests reconnect with nature, family, friends and serenity during a relaxing visit to the ranch. Visitors ride through the unspoiled desert, rugged mountains and cactus that have brought Hollywood filmmakers to the ranch for over 70 years. The White Stallion Ranch is a unique, high quality and elegant working cattle ranch with spectacular views of the mountains. 

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Ride off into the sunset

RANCH Rider has some fabulous deals available this summer, including a saving of £2,220 for a family of four at a luxury guest ranch. The specialist tour operator’s discounts cover Arizona, Montana and Colorado so book now and rein in a great value family horseback adventure.

Arizona’s White Stallion Guest Ranch situated adjacent to the Saguaro National Park where there are miles of scenic horseback riding and hiking trails to explore and the Sonoran desert is literally teeming with wildlife; mountain lions, coyotes, javelinas, bobcats inhabiting the ranch’s 3,000 acres. 

Montana’s Lone Mountain Deluxe Guest Ranch is a popular haunt for adventurous families; guided horseback rides, Yellowstone tours (the national park less than 20 miles away), mountain biking, fly fishing and kayaking on the list of pursuits. Expert naturalists, the ranch’s guides have over 80 years combined experience in leading Yellowstone tours, their love of the national park helping younger adventurers to appreciate the wildlife and the world around them.

Colorado’s Majestic Dude Ranch offers a challenge at every turn, horseback riding, mountain biking, ATV off-road adventures, white water rafting (included in the price) archery, skeet shooting, fly-fishing and hiking on the list of pursuits. FREE horse riding lessons are also available and the ranch’s younger guests can show off their new found skills at the weekly summer rodeos. 

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Enjoy western heritage in Arizona

BASED in Sasabe, Arizona, the Rancho de la Osa offers an endless list of adventures, from clay pigeon shooting and 3D archery on the 590-acre property to guided horseback adventures and fat bike riding in the nearby 120,000-acre Buenos Aires Wildlife Refuge. New for 2018, the ranch is adding arena based cattle work and half-day cattle drives to its list of pursuits.

The cattle drives themselves will focus on the history and significance of cattle ranching in the area (the ranch once owned by cattle baron, Colonel William Sturgis in the late 1800s), and offered several times over the course of the week-long stay, the new activities will form part of a true Western heritage experience: Rancho de la Osa voted Best Heritage Guest Ranch for 2018 by True West magazine.

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Virtual Reality Allows Viewers to Speed Down Sedona Slickrock, Skydive Over Grand Canyon

THE latest tool the #Arizona Office of Tourism is using to elevate awareness of Arizona’s tourism assets is virtual reality. AOT created a pair of VR experiences that are filled with drama and awe, with a touch of narrative storytelling.

The films are set in the Grand Canyon and Sedona, and those locales don’t just serve as a backdrop for the action—they are characters in the story. In the Grand Canyon film, users who put on the VR headset jump out of a plane and into the airspace above one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. The Arizona Office of Tourism is the first entity to create a VR skydiving experience over the Grand Canyon.

In the other film, VR users climb atop a virtual mountain bike and hurtle down singletrack and slickrock in Sedona. In all directions, Sedona’s distinctive geology and a big, blue sky whiz past.

The films debuted in January 2017 in Chicago, at the Cubs Convention and Travel & Adventure Show. This spring, the Arizona VR show will travel to several Cactus League stadiums.

Visitors to Visit Arizona's Facebook page can experience 360-video versions of the films on their mobile devices.

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Birdwatching in Arizona

THE Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in #Arizona has expanded its wings to include a two-hour #birdwatching experience on the resorts Wild Burro Trail.

The experience includes knowledge about the local flora and the ancient rock formations which make up the canyon. Eventually settling above the canyon floor with an amazing 360 degree view of the surrounding canyon, hawks, falcons and vultures can be seen soaring in their natural habitat. Dove, finches, hummingbirds, roadrunners and Gambel's quail can be spotted.

The experience is available year-round and is recommended as a “not to miss” activity for resort guests 10 years of age and older. Those wishing to take their birdwatching to the next level also can request a bespoke outdoor experience working with the Dove Mountain ranger team to build nesting boxes for birds living on and above the hiking trails near the luxury resort. 

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Picture Credit: Alan Vernon. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32541690@N02/8607009078">Male Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelli)</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com