Tempe: the Hub of Arizona

A great destination for a weekend gateway or a grand stop on a southwest vacation!

Tempe, Arizona, one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, is in the heart of the Valley of the Sun. Tempe is bordered by Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Chandler. It is the proud home of Arizona State University, with students from all 50 states and 120 countries. This eclectic mix contributes to the city’s vibrant youthful flair. Tempe is also the headquarters of America West Airlines, the regional headquarters of Chase Manhattan Bank, and numerous other businesses. Tempe’s Diablo Stadium is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels baseball club.

With an average of 300 sunny days a year and a rich cultural life, Tempe offers diverse opportunities for enjoyment all year long. National sporting events, museums, festivals, golf and tennis courses, dedicated bikeways and a variety of musical venues are among Tempe’s numerous attractions. The Tempe Improv is the flagship of the national comedy chain. Tempe has cuisine from around the world, microbreweries, nightclubs and retail shops, specialty stores and boutiques, including the state’s only IKEA.

Arizona State University (ASU)

Arizona State University’s 700-acre campus is the Tempe center of academic, cultural and social activities, with outstanding facilities for students and the community.

World-class sporting events are held at Sun Devil’s Stadium, which is the home of the Arizona State Sun Devils and the site of the annual Insight Bowl.

Among ASU’s many cultural attractions is Gammage Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the most influential American architect of the 20 th century. Gammage Auditorium is the largest university-based arts-presenter in the United States. Its diverse programming ranges from nationally touring Broadway shows and dance performances to multicultural presentations.

ASU has more than a dozen”open to the public” museums, including several fine art collections, a planetarium, the Arizona Historical Society Museum, ASU Mars Global Surveyor Facility, Center for Meteorite Studies, and museums in technology, architecture, geology, anthropology, life sciences, photography and music. The Evelyn Smith Music Theater hosts many opera productions.

 Downtown Tempe and Mill Avenue

Downtown Tempe is a thriving urban oasis, which features Mill Avenue, a quaint, pedestrian-friendly, town-within-a town. Mill Avenue, with its red-brick sidewalks, runs along the ASU campus. It has a bustling “ Main Street” atmosphere, with more than 100 trendy nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops. From Starbucks to P.F. Chang ’s- Borders Books to Z Gallerie.

 Tempe Town Lake, Tempe Beach Park,
  and Papago Park

Tempe Town Lake is a 220-acre oasis at the end of Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. This River/ man- man lake is one of Arizona's most popular outdoor destinations for boating, kayaking, sailing and fishing. Surrounding the lake are five miles of trails for jogging, skating, biking and picnicking.

These paths connect to historic Tempe Beach Park, Tempe’s premier special-event location for outdoor concerts, fireworks and a variety of festivals, with something scheduled nearly every weekend of the year. The park also features Splash Playground for children during the warmer weather, a baseball field for youth softball and carnival games, and a 5,000-seat amphitheater for concerts or outdoor trade shows.

Papago Park is a separate 296-acre recreation area in Tempe with softball fields, picnic ramadas, hiking and biking trails, an archeological site and picturesque natural desert areas.

 Spectacular annual events

In addition to ongoing activities, Tempe offers many annual events, including

• Arizona Dragon Boat Festival
• Tempe Spring and Fall Festivals of the Arts
• Ford Ironman Arizona Triathlon
• P.F. Chang’s Rock and Roll Marathon and ½ Marathon
• Tempe’s 4th of July celebration
• “Movies in the Park”
• The Annual River Rally
• Way Out West Oktoberfest
• Holiday Boat Parade
• ASU Art Museum Short Film and Video Festival
• The New Year’s Eve Block Party - rated "Top 10 in the USA"