The Phoenix Traveler

Bars in Scottsdale will celebrate with a huge block party, the W hotel will host a masquerade, the Tempe Improv will do comedy with Frank Caliendo, and Valleywide restaurants and bars have special dinner/dances planned for New Year’s Eve. But what if big crowds getting blitzed doesn’t rock your world? If you like your celebrations to be a little more low key, here are a few alternatives that will help you greet 2009 on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008:
Game night with family or friends: I’ll be heading over to a friend’s house where we’ll play board games till the break of …read more

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NEW YEAR’S EVE: If it weren’t for the blogs I follow, I’d likely miss really important news. For instance, I just found out from RailLife.com that Metro Light Rail is extending its service on New Year’s Eve. That means if you had plans to use the rail line for your safe ride home after celebrating the New Year arrival, but thought you couldn’t, now you can.
The last light rail service is regularly scheduled to end at 11 p.m. nightly; however, the schedule’s been extended on New Year’s Eve to 2 a.m. I have plans to go to Mesa that evening, …read more

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Reuters announces the opening of the new light rail line in Phoenix. The question on people’s minds is whether or not it will catch hold, if people will actually use it. Phoenix is not a city known for its convenient public transportation system. I’m hoping it will become more of just a novelty that wears off.
A day pass to ride on the new light rail costs $2.50. That’s a lot cheaper than driving a car to work, and it’s a safe alternative to getting around if you want to visit the bar scene in Tempe or downtown Phoenix.
The Arizona …read more

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After my boyfriend finished his 8-mile run this morning, I had a surprise for him. Instead of going to our usual spot for Saturday morning breakfast, I told him I wanted to ride the light rail. It’s the grand opening day celebration, and I thought we could try to find a spot somewhere on the rail line.
At first he resisted–it was pretty cold outside this morning, 50 degrees, probably less, and he was still in his running clothes. But he relented, and we headed off to what used to be called the Christown Mall at Montebello and 19th Avenue. It’s …read more

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Although the weather’s cooled down a bit since last week, it’s a common sight in Phoenix to see family and friends hiking together in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and other mountain trails in the Valley during the holiday season.
It seems the Phoenix winters were created especially for this outdoor activity. And homes that back up to the preserve make the perfect starting point.
Just ask Gene Urban and his wife Amy. They are known to schedule regular hike and brunch days. I was lucky enough to be asked to participate in one of them last weekend.
Take a look at …read more

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If you’ve never heard luminarias before, in Phoenix you’ll see them all over the Valley. It’s a “brilliant” tradition that honors the birth of Christ.
In my former north Phoenix neighborhood, the homeowners’ association distributed to all the homeowners the items you’d need for your Christmas luminarias. I’d step outside one afternoon to find at my front door a plastic bag filled with sand, ten votive candles, and ten paper bags–the kind used for school lunches.
On Christmas Eve, you’d see all the neighbors outside at the end of their driveways filling those paper bags with the sand, setting the candles inside …read more

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I turned in my photos today to my publisher for my upcoming travel guide book. With your help, I chose for my tenth photo suggestion the Prescott trail shot. It was taken at Lynx Lake. I wrote about it earlier in the year.
If you went up there today, you’d have to dress warmly. It’s cold enough, in fact, that one news report I read mentioned the city may get snow in time for Christmas.
Can you imagine this trail lined with snow? Wouldn’t that make an even better cover shot?
(Photo used with permission by Jackie Dishner.)
 
Technorati Tags: Prescott,travel,Arizona weekend,Lynx Lake,guide book …read more

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I posted three separate contests last week and drew the winning names yesterday on two of them. The winners’ names as they appeared on my blog are listed in parenthesis after each prize.

a free week’s worth of yoga classes in Phoenix (Shelly).
a bottle of pillow spray (Geoff).

To claim your prize, please contact me by sending an e-mail with your full name and address. To find me by e-mail, just click on the e-mail icon on the right-hand side of the home page.
The third contest remains open for participation until December 31. All you have to do is post your comment …read more

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Hi there!
I’m running three separate contests this week. They’re easy. All you have to do is post your comments for three chances to win three different prizes. Click on the links below to find out specifically what you need to do for your chance to win:

a travel wallet by Leeds.
a free week’s worth of yoga classes in Phoenix.
a bottle of pillow spray.

Thank you for visiting, and good luck!
Technorati Tags: contests,giveaways,free prizes,Phoenix travel blog,Phoenix travel,visit Phoenix,yoga classes,travel wallet,pillow spray,gifts,Arizona travel,Arizona living

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I’ve been sorting through hundreds of photos that I took while traveling throughout Arizona to research my book. I now have to pick 10 to send to my publisher for cover photo ideas. I’m mentally fatigued and could use your help in deciding which photo to recommend as the final pick. I have nine already in a file.
Of the three photos I’ve copied below, which would you think represents an Arizona backroads guidebook? Keep in mind that I’m writing about places you won’t see in Arizona, unless you get on some back roads to get there.
If you’ll help me pick …read more

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