Imagine your name on this brown piece of paper. It’s the ticket to statewide recreational fun. The Arizona State Parks Annual Pass costs just $50, and it’s good for the entire family–all year-long.

This holiday season, it could be the affordable gift that keeps on giving as it’s the economical way to travel and explore Arizona’s 27 state parks. Pictured above, the Standard Day-Use Entrance Pass is good for the family’s non-camping day-use and includes all the Parks except Colorado River Parks on weekends and holidays.

At Kartchner Caverns State Park, the pass is good for the entrance to experience the Discovery Center, picnicking and trails, but does not apply toward the two cave tour opportunities.

Special programs within the parks may have special related fees not covered by this entrance pass; however, most of the nature walks and interpretive programs are included in the day-use pass.

What can you do at Arizona State Parks? Camp, fish, hike, take part in interpretive environmental programs, sign up for a moonlight star gazing walk, ride horseback, watch historic reenactments, picnic with the family, take a guided pontoon boat tour at Sonoita Creek Natural Area, and root for friends in the water skiing tournaments at Lake Havasu or Lyman Lake. The list goes on.

The state park system even celebrates special events, such as Earth Day in April (events scheduled at Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Red Rock and Catalina), and the annual “Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival” and “Verde River Days” at Dead Horse Ranch.

If you plan to frequent the park system this year, opt to buy the Premium Annual Day-Use Pass for $125. It adds those weekends in parks along the Colorado River, and more of your family members or friends can go with you.

HOW TO PURCHASE THE PASS?

By mail:

Arizona State Parks
1300 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007

In person: 

State Parks main headquarters, or at any of the Arizona state parks.

By fax:

Visit the Web site to print and fill out the Gift Shop order form.

More Information:

Call 602-542-4174. If out of area, call 800-285-3703 (toll free).

(Photo of pass provided and used with permission by Arizona State Parks.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Does dough flipping and rolling sound like sporting events to you? What about making dough balls? They will if you plan to celebrate the grand opening of Rosati’s Pizza in Peoria on Saturday afternoon.

The new restaurant is hosting what it expects to be the first annual “Master’s of the Pizza Dough” contest. For the first one, they’re bringing in twelve members from the Liberty High School Varsity Football Team to compete in various pizza-making drills. It’ll be the offense against the defense as teams compete for the winning team trophy. The restaurant’s founder, Fred Rosati, 91, will judge.

If you go, here’s what you can expect to see:

• Round 1 – Pizza dough balls

  • Two members from each team will compete in this event where the object is to make the most accurate dough balls in 5 minutes. An expert from Rosati will first demonstrate how to create the right size and weight dough ball.

  • Scoring – Fred Rosati along with another member of the Rosati team will judge the event.

    • Number of dough balls in allotted timeframe – 1 point per dough ball

    • Quality of Dough balls (including weight and appearance) – 1- 10 points according to Rosati’s.

• Round 2 – Dough Rolling

  • Two members from each team will compete in this event where the object is to roll the most dough circles in 5 minutes. Contestants will be judged on the number of dough circles they roll in the allotted time as well as the quality of their circles compared to the pizza pan. The best rolled dough circle will be chosen from each team and used in Round 3.

  • Scoring – Fred Rosati along with another member of the Rosati team will judge the event.

    • Number of dough circles rolled in allotted timeframe – 1 point per circle

    • Quality of circles (how closely it fits into pizza pan) – 1-10 points according to Rosati’s.

• Round 3 – Dough flipping contest

  • The last two members from each team will compete in the dough flipping contest where the best rolled dough circles from Round 2 will be used. A Rosati’s expert will demonstrate how to properly flip/toss the dough. Each team member will have 2 minutes toss the dough and make it look similar to the Rosati’s expert.

  • Scoring – Fred Rosati along with another member of the Rosati team will judge the event.

    • Quality of tossed pizza dough – 1-10 points according to Rosati’s

Best news of all: The first 100 people to show up get a free slice of pizza. But even if you miss out on the free pizza, you can still take advantage of day-long specials.

WHAT: “Master’s of the Pizza Dough” contest

WHERE: Rosati’s Pizza, 20340 N. Lake Pleasant Rd., Peoria

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m.

Call 623-566-4944 for information.

(Logo used with permission by Rosati’s Pizza.)

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort’s Aji Spa near Chandler, just south of Phoenix and 11 miles from Sky Harbor airport, has created a special offer just for this occasion.

Called the Recessionista Spa Package, it combines a full day of treatments at a half-day price. Included in the $199 package: a 25-minute massage that targets the back, neck and shoulders; a facial cleanse and masque; a poolside lunch at the Aji Café; and finally, an express pedicure and manicure treatment. And there’s more! Afterward, take time to hang out in the steam room, try the sauna, meditate, or sign up for a fitness class or Native Teachings. The offer is good from now until December 31.

The Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, located on the 372,000-acre Gila River Indian Community, showcases the heritage, culture, art and legends of the Pima and Maricopa Indian tribes.

To book the “Recessionista Spa Package,” call 602-385-5759 or visit www.wildhorsepassresort.com.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Malees at Desert Ridge will pamper these ladies with a special MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL WIDOW’S EVENT. In the weeks ahead, this event will include some or all of the following:

• Psychic readings
• Jewelry
• $4 Cosmos, Appletinis, and Sakatinis
• Manicures
• Astrology readings
• Stylist consultations  

She even thinks of the guys…so they don’t feel left out:

HAPPY HOUR prices at the main bar and sushi bar during the games. 

You have a few days to plan ahead.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler

Located in the Target Plaza on the corner of Val Vista and Warner roads in Gilbert, the locally-owned and operated ice cream parlor was conceived by the same folks who run Superstition Farm (a cute and memorable song plays when you click on the name)–a third generation dairy farm that offers tours to the public.

At Udder Delights, the menu offers several tempting flavors: peanut butter ice cream with your pick of jelly; cherry ice cream with raspberry swirls; peach; seasonal flavors; the traditional vanilla and chocolate; and cotton candy. You can also get an ice cream cupcake and gourmet coffee here.

If it sounds yummy, it tastes yummy, too. The ice cream is hand-made on the site from fresh, local ingredients. Click here for a coupon that will save you a buck on your next order. It expires at the end of September.

Udder Delights: 1385 E. Warner Rd., Ste. 103, Gilbert, 480-507-3859.

Post from: The Phoenix Traveler