Experience Phoenix Arizona and the American Southwest

Blue Skies Red Rocks Mountain Trails Grand Canyons Desert Sunsets and City Culture

Phoenix is the cosmopolitan heart of Arizona, the soul of the American Southwest and where you will find sports venues, live music, rooftop lounges, museums, theaters and art galleries.

Downtown and its Cityscape two block entertainment district is also home to the Phoenix Convention Center and Arizona State University’s downtown campus; all served by one of the newest light rail systems in the nation.

Arizona Opera produces grand opera throughout the state of Arizona and is one of only three companies in the US that performs in two cities. In Phoenix, the company performs at Symphony Hall in Downtown.

Planning Your Trip assumes uniquely local dimensions wherever you go; the activities that you, the visitor – local, or global –  select and irrespective of the length of your stay, are unique of the community you are visiting and rooted into the local economy, history and traditions. TEMA develops personalized travel itineraries based on client interests by leveraging an in-depth knowledge of your destination, superior client service in the planning stages and throughout the trip or event as well as logistics expertise to reduce your travel costs and transfer times. tema@arezza.net | skype arezza1

Explore Papago Park and learn about the flora of the Sonoran Desert at Desert Botanical Garden or visit the Phoenix Zoo to see more than 1,300 animals.

Head north to discover the marvelous red rocks of Sedona and get acquainted with the desert’s history and geology during the scenic drive.

Verde Valley Wine Trail visit the many wineries and tasting rooms nestled in the red-rock countryside and lush canyons surrounding the towns of Cottonwood, Jerome, Clarkdale and Cornville.

The Grand Canyon your northern Arizona sightseeing includes one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. You can also reach the South Rim by traveling by road or on the Grand Canyon Railway from the town of Williams. See the Grand Canyon from above via a scenic helicopter tour.

TEMA’s Professional Enrichment Tours focus suburban sprawl, declining water quality, diminishing water supplies, vanishing agricultural land, loss of historic character, wildlife habitat degradation, and threatened biological resources. Learn to:

Protect and conserve land and water, natural, cultural and scenic resources;

Improve site planning and design to support resource conservation;

Enhance awareness and knowledge of conservation approaches.

If you are in local government, are a developer, landowner or in business and are interested in expanding your skills in these areas, please contact us for a no obligation travel and/or training plan.

Scottsdale Start the day by hiking the steep, 2.4-mile trail from Echo Canyon to the top of Camelback Mountain. Have lunch, shop for souvenirs and browse Western art galleries in Old Town Scottsdale.

Add a dose of modern art to your afternoon at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Take time to soak in the sun at the pool or indulge yourself with an indigenous spa treatment, then go shopping at Scottsdale Fashion Square, the largest mall in the American Southwest.

Experience a Sonoran Desert sunset set against the mountain you hiked in the morning

The Children’s Museums If you’re traveling with kids, let them enjoy the hands-on, interactive exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the Arizona Science Center. Spend the afternoon at Phoenix Art Museum, the Western American Art collection and Fashion Design gallery sculpture garden.

The Heard Museum is one of the best places to experience the culture and art of the Native Americans of the Southwest. The museum's 10 spacious exhibit galleries and outdoor courtyards feature outstanding traditional and contemporary Native American art. The Heard Museum Shop offers authentic American Indian art.

The Musical Instrument Museum MIM is a museums devoted to music. MIM's collection holds 15,000 instruments and artifacts from every country in the world. Each exhibit includes high quality audio/video that allows guests to see and hear the instruments being played in the cultures where they originate.

Connect with Tema

receive a detailed travel plan

for Your Phoenix Arizona and American Southwest Travel Experience

Local Knowledge – Global Reach

tema@arezza.net | skype arezza1 

 

The Colorado River - American River Trails

The Colorado River flows from the Rocky Mountains through the Grand Canyon to the Gulf of California between Baja and Sonora in a southwestern direction for 1,450 miles - 2,330 km; it drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. and two Mexican states. With dramatic canyons and whitewater rapids, the Colorado is a vital source of water for agricultural and urban areas.

The river and its tributaries are controlled by an extensive system of dams, reservoirs, and aqueducts, which in most years divert its entire flow to furnish irrigation and municipal water supply for almost 40 million people both inside and outside the watershed. Its large flow generates hydroelectric power.

Native Americans have inhabited the Colorado River basin for at least 8,000 years. Between 2,000 and 1,000 years ago, it fostered large agricultural civilizations which collapsed from severe drought and poor land use practices. Europeans first entered the Colorado Basin in the 16^th century. Large-scale settlement of the lower basin began latter 19^th century, with steamboat landings along the Colorado River that linked to horse drawn wagons. Gold strikes took place in the 1860s and 1870s.

Development of the river basin began in the 20^th century with guidelines established in a series of domestic and international treaties known as the Law of the River with hydraulic engineering projects. Most of the major dams were built between 1910 and 1970; Hoover Dam was completed in 1935. 

The Upper River is a swift whitewater stream ranging from 200 to 500 feet - 60 to 150 m - wide, and depths ranging from 6 to 30 feet = 2 to 9 m. The Colorado Plateau is a vast desert centered at the Four Corners of the southwestern United States.

Planning Your Trip assumes uniquely local dimensions in the places you visit, rooted in the local economy, history and traditions. TEMA develops personalized itineraries based on your preferences; we leverage an in-depth knowledge of your destinations with superior client service throughout your trip.

Your anchor locations when visiting the Colorado River include 

Las Vegas, Phoenix and Utah

In Utah the Colorado is characterized by narrow canyons and unique folds created by the tilting of sedimentary rock layers along faults. Here, the San Juan River joins the Colorado from the east. The Colorado then enters northern Arizona where Glen Canyon forms Lake Powell.

Lee’s Ferry was an important crossing for early explorers and settlers and since the early 20^th century the principal point where Colorado River flows are measured for apportionment to the seven U.S. and two Mexican states in the basin.

Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the continental United States, formed by Hoover Dam and southeast of Las Vegas. The Lower Colorado River Valley LCRV is a desert region dependent on irrigation, agriculture and tourism and is also home to Indian Reservations. 

The Imperial Valley is the most Productive Winter Agricultural Region in the United States

Tributaries The Colorado is joined by over 25 significant tributaries, of which the Green River is the largest by both length and discharge. The Gila River is the second longest and drains a greater area than the Green. Both the Gunnison and San Juan rivers, which derive most of their water from Rocky Mountains snow melt, contribute more water.

Recreation the Colorado is one of the most desirable whitewater rivers in the United States. Grand Canyon trips typically range from one to eighteen days for commercial trips and from two to twenty-five days for private trips. Several other sections of the river and its tributaries are popular whitewater runs, and many of these are also served by commercial outfitters. Eleven U.S. national parks are in the watershed, in addition to many national forests, state parks and recreation areas. Hiking, backpacking, camping, skiing, house boating, water-skiing and fishing are among the recreation opportunities offered in these areas.

Connect with Tema for a Colorado River Vacation

Economic Development Entrepreneurs

Tourism Energy Water Transit

   tema@arezza.net     skype arezza1