Tempe and the Surrounding Areas

  • Within Papago Park, the nearly 140 acres of the Desert Botanical Garden displays over 50,000 plants, representing 4,482 species, through its outdoor trails.

  • Walking distance from the conference hotel, Tempe Beach Park provides close access to Tempe Town Lake, where bike, boat, and paddle board rentals are available

  • Dozens of restaurants, bars, and small shops line historic Mill Avenue, all within difference of our conference hotel. Hayden Butte, also known as "A" mountain located off of Mill Avenue, providing an easy hike to view petroglyphs and a view of downtown Tempe

  • Located in downtown Mesa, a 15 minute drive from the conference hotel, the Arizona Museum of Natural History is the only natural history museum in the Phoenix area.

  • One of the 7 wonders of the world. The south rim is the most frequently visited and is approximately 3.5 hours North of Tempe.

  • Enjoy art, hiking, and sightseeing in the Red Rocks of Sedona in what some call a spiritual energy hotspot. Located 2 hours north of Tempe.

  • Best known in Phoenix as a place to escape the summer heat, Flagstaff is home to Arizona’s tallest mountain (Humphreys Peak) and the Arizona Snowbowl ski resort, along with shopping and local restaurants

  • Home to dozens of restaurants, shops, bars, and entertainment. Just a short drive from the conference hotel.

  • Located in North Scottsdale, near Desert Ridge Marketplace, the MIM is the largest instrument museum in the world, representing 200 countries and territories and home to over 15,000 instruments.

  • Walking distance from the conference hotel, ASU Gammage is home to a selection of touring Broadway shows.

  • Hundreds of hiking trails in Arizona provide amazing views of the desert flora and fauna. From local, easy trails in Papago Park, to the well known Camelback Mountain, hiking opportunities are available for hikers of all abilities.

Across Arizona

  • The worlds largest firefighting museum is located just a short drive up the road from the conference hotel, and features diverse elements of firefighting history.

  • SEA LIFE aquarium is one of the local AZA accredited facilities in Arizona. Centrally located inside Arizona Mills Mall in South Tempe.

  • Located at the Arizona Boardwalk, next door to Odysea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland is the largest butterfly conservatory in the country, home to more then 60 different species.

  • Accessible by light rail, the Phoenix Art museum showcases a diverse collection of modern and historic art exhibitions.

  • Located in Page, Arizona on the Navajo Nation, Antelope Canyon is one of the most identifiable and well known slot canyons. A tour guide is required to enter the canyon.

  • In Flagstaff, the Lowell Observatory has allowed guests to be immersed in space and contribute to space research for more then 125 years using the groundbreaking Lowell Discovery Telescope

  • Located in Oracle, Arizona- approximately midway between Phoenix and Tucson sits the Biosphere 2, currently operated by the University of Arizona. Best known for its studies that attempted to create sustainable life inside of the sealed ecosystem that could be used in space, the biosphere now operates as an educational and research facility, primarily looking at the effects of climate change.