ShabbosWeekendPage

We have made arrangements for all out of town guests to stay at the Scottsdale Hilton Resort in Scottsdale Arizona. Please call them at (480) 948-7750 to make your reservations and say you are with the "Cucher/Kessler Wedding Party".

We have arranged for a room rate Thursday night through Sunday night of $55 for double occupancy. You must tell them you are with the "Cucher/Kessler Wedding Party" to get this rate. Check out their website to see more pictures of the hotel!

We have been able to work out a deal with America West Airlines. You have to fly between June 28th and July 9, 2004 and 10 people need to book a flight on America West for the discount to be valid. You can fly from anywhere in the country. As long as the flight is booked 60 days in advance, you will receive 10% off. If it is booked any time after that, you will receive 5% off. There is also an additional discount if the flight is booked online.

To use the discount go to the America West website and use the promotional code: AP9415

Lots of people are coming from lots of different places, but you all want to make sure to fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

From Baltimore: As of right now we hear the cheapest fairs are available on Southwest Airlines. We have heard that some people were able to book flights as low as $99 each way.

From New York: We have found the best deals in the past on America West and Continental Airlines.

We know that many of you are planning on making a vacation out of the wedding. Below are some ideas of things to do while you are in Arizona.

Please keep in mind, it will be very hot (although "yes, its a dry heat"), so plan any outdoor activities very early in the morning, and keep drinking lots and lots of water.

Phoenix is the hub of the rapidly growing American Southwest and the heart of a metropolitan area of over 2 million people. The city is a curious but delightful mix of Old West and New World. You can pamper yourself at a world-class resort, relax at a dude ranch or dance the night away at one of the area's swanky night spots.

The name Phoenix — a legendary Egyptian symbol of rebirth — was chosen because the city was built on the ruins of the Hohokam civilization whose farmers dug irrigation canals still in use today.

Although city tourism promoters brand Phoenix as the "Valley of the Sun," most locals just refer to it as the Valley — as in the Salt River Valley, the region's official name. Covering over 2,000 square miles, Greater Phoenix is actually is larger than Los Angeles geographically. The city is both the capital of Arizona and the Maricopa County seat. The Valley's explosive growth began during World War II when military airfields were built in the area for the near-perfect flying weather. Many defense industries followed. Luke Air Force Base, west of Phoenix, is still a major training center for fighter pilots today.

Orientation
Greater Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert. Downtown Phoenix is flanked by the upscale city of Scottsdale to the east and north; and rapidly growing towns like Glendale and Peoria to the west.

The southern edge of the Valley is bordered by South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the world. Beyond the mountain are the fashionable bedroom communities of Ahwatukee and Chandler. Further east are the college town of Tempe (home of Arizona State Univ.) as well as Mesa and Gilbert.

Climate

(Weather for Phoenix.AZ provided by addresses.com)

Current Weather by Addresses.com What's so special about the weather in Phoenix? For starters, the Valley averages 300 days of sunshine a year. Despite the desert locale, daytime temperatures between November and April range from the upper 40s to 80s. Click the current weather forcast link above for a 5 day forcast.

Summer is another matter. If you visit between May and October (which you obviously are), be aware that it gets very, very hot. Phoenix averages triple digits for much of June through September. Make sure you are constantly drinking plenty of water!

Art scene
Art aficionados should know that Arizona offers a large array of galleries, art museums and artist communities. Scottsdale is a nationally known center for Western and Native American art. The city offers block after block of galleries stocked with fine art ranging from large paintings to bronze sculptures. Click here to learn more about the art scene in Scottsdale. Nearby Sedona, Arizona's original artists' community is second only to Scottsdale in number of art establishments.

Biking
The possibilities for road or mountain biking in Arizona are virtually endless. In Phoenix, one of your best bets is South Mountain Park, the nation's largest city park. At 16,500 acres, the park is 11 miles across. Last year, more than 2 million visitors trekked through the mountain preserve - hiking, biking, and leisurely motoring along the scenic roads or horseback riding along the lower trails.

Cacti Adventures
Arizona is well-known for its deserts and the cacti that call them home. There are a number of places you should visit to get up close and personal with these famous desert plants.

Botanical Garden - Located next to the Phoenix Zoo, the garden displays more than 20,000 plants from all over the world. Melissa and I have visited the Botanical Garden, and it is absolutely beautiful. If you don’t have much experience with Cacti, you will learn a whole lot! Quiz Kess on his cactus knowledge throughout the weekend. He has become quite an expert!

If you are really into it and have the time, a day trip down Tucson way is worth the effort to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park. Both are excellent places for learning about Sonoran Desert plant and animal life. By the way, Saguaro National Park features one of the largest saguaro stands in the world.

Golf
If golf is your life, then life is good in Phoenix. The sheer number of courses and variety of design found here make it one of the best golf destinations in the world. At last count, you have a choice of more than 275 courses statewide that range from traditional to desert target settings. The vast majority are accessible to the public. Visit the golf pages to learn more and book your tee times.

Hiking & Backpacking
Phoenix is a great place to get outside and experience nature through hiking, especially during spring and autumn. Numerous hiking trails are easily accessible from most parts of the Valley. Most of the area hikes are rated from easy to moderate. But enthusiasts will be delighted to learn that the Valley boasts several "mini-mountains" guaranteed to challenge even iron-lunged hikers. Visit the suggested hikes page to plan your Phoenix trek. If you are outside, remember to bring and drink plenty of water!!

Resources:
• Hiking & Camping Database: Over 300 hiking trails searchable by location, trail name or difficulty. You can also search for campgrounds by location or camp name; and make reservations online.
• Wide World of Maps. 2626 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix, AZ 85017. Phone: 602-279-2323. A great source for USGS Quad maps.

Museums
Arizona boasts more than 200 museums, art centers, archaeological parks and botanical gardens. Notable establishments include: The Heard Museum (Phoenix), world-renowned for its Native American art and culture exhibits. The Phoenix Art Museum features a permanent collection of 13,000 works ranging from contemporary art to Western classics. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson) is both a botanical park and a zoo.

Indian country
Native American culture is extensive and diverse in Arizona. The Native American Tourism Center in Scottsdale is a great place to learn more about this rich culture. The Center is located at 4130 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Suite 114, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. Phone: 480-945-0771. Fax: 480-945-0264. In Phoenix, the Heard Museum is a world-renowned museum devoted to Native American art and culture.

Old West Attractions
Arizona's Old West Country is filled with cultural attractions that portray the region's heritage and its time under the governments of Spain and Mexico. From the early days of the Kino missions to rowdy frontier days at the OK Corral, the state's Old West regions have many stories to tell. Old Tucson Studios, located just outside Tucson, has been the setting for some of Hollywood's finest Western films. The movie Tombstone was filmed here, as were classics like John Wayne's Rio Bravo. Tucson is an easy day trip from Phoenix.

Dude ranches are another great way to experience the Old West in Arizona. Most offer horseback rides through scenic desert backlands, cookouts and even cattle drives. For more information contact the Arizona Dude Ranch Association, P. O. Box 603, Cortaro, AZ 85652.

Scenic Drives
You could easily spend half a lifetime exploring Arizona's great outdoors by highway or back country road. Popular drives near Phoenix include the Apache Trail (near Phoenix). Visit the scenic drive pages and plan your trip.

Back Road Travel: Whether you are a skilled 4-wheeled vehicle driver or you have just rented a car (and have promised to stay on the pavement!), there are many places on public lands where you can get off the beaten path and enjoy Arizona's diverse scenery, heritage, and challenges. Back country byways and off-highway vehicle opportunities abound throughout the state. For more information about motorized recreation, visit the Bureau of Land Management web site or contact them at 222 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 85004. Phone: 602-417-9200.

Shopping in Phoenix

There has been an overwhelming number of requests (mostly from Kess’ Mom and her friends’) to list some good places in Phoenix for their #1 hobby: SHOPPING! Below are some of the “must hit” malls (sorry guys….):

Scottsdale Fashion Square
Phone: 480-941-2140
http://fashionsquare.westcor.com/pages/index.jsp
Scottsdale Fashion Square is a boisterous shopping center whose retractable skylights open to reveal sunny skies above. Besides Robinsons-May and Dillard's, there is Neiman Marcus (check out the hanging Paolo Soleri sculpture above the Neiman's elevator). The collection of stores runs toward the pricey chains, including J. Crew and Artafax. FAO Schwarz, the Disney Store, and Warner Bros. Studio Store are big draws for the kids. (Source: Fodors)

Biltmore Fashion Park
Phone: 602-955-8400
http://www.shopbiltmore.com/pages/index.jsp
Biltmore Fashion Park has posh shops lining its open-air walkways, as well as some of the city's most popular restaurants and cafes. Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue are its anchors, and high-end designer boutiques are its stock-in-trade -- Via Veneto, Gucci, and Polo by Ralph Lauren among them. Cornelia Park offers an awe-inspiring collection of MacKenzie-Childs, Ltd. glassware as well as furnishings, tiles, and linens. You'll also find the restaurants RoxSand and Christopher & Paola's Fermier Brasserie. This center has more fine eating in a small radius than anywhere else in Arizona. (Source: Fodors)

Borgata
Phone: 480-998-1822
http://www.westcor.com/malls/index.cfm?Mall=2&Section=home
Aside from being directly across from the hotel, Borgata, a re-creation of the Italian village of San Gimignano, is one of the Valley's most fashionable places to shop and where you will find some of Scottsdale's most popular restaurants, including Cafe Terra Cotta. Shops include Capriccio for women's wear, Stefan Mann for leather goods, DaVinci for menswear, and scores of others. Check out the affordable and intriguing Mineral & Fossil Gallery near the Coffee Plantation. (Source: Fodors)

Spas
Rejuvenation is the name of the game at Phoenix-area spas. Most spas offer a veritable menu of self-indulgences, including cold and warm stone therapies, aloe-vera body wraps, aromatherapy exfoliations, and healing and restoration therapies.

The beautiful Spa at the Arizona Biltmore, which features 17 indoor treatment rooms; two outdoor treatment rooms; two wet treatment rooms for herbal wraps; a hydro therapy tub; three spa pools; steam rooms; saunas; locker and grooming facilities and a full-service beauty salon and boutique is an excellent choice.

One of the area's most celebrated spas, the Centre for Well-Being at The Phoenician continues to evolve with new and innovative treatments such as Acussage, which incorporates aspects of acu- puncture with massage therapy. The bi-level spa offers 24 treatment rooms, sauna and steam, Swiss showers, water bar, boutique and a complete fitness center.

The final phase in the renovation of Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, formerly John Gardiner's Tennis Ranch, is the recently opened Sanctuary Spa. The new spa at the luxury resort in Paradise Valley features Asian-influenced design with such elements as a shrine-like reception area with 16-foot ceilings and a Zen Meditation Garden, a serene area with an adjoining reflecting pool. Amenities include a movement studio, 25-yard shaded lap pool, Free Motion exercise equipment, personal training and a full menu of salon services.

Sports scene
Metro Phoenix is host the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (college football festival), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Coyotes (NHL), Arizona Rattlers (arena football), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) and the Arizona Thunder (indoor soccer).

Three major professional golf tournaments have regular stops in Greater Phoenix: The Phoenix Open (PGA), the Standard Register Turquoise Classic (LPGA) and The Tradition (Senior PGA).

Bank One Ballpark, known as "BOB" to the locals, is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, winners of the 2001 World Series. In addition to a retractable roof, "BOB" boasts a built-in swimming pool along the outfield fence that fans can rent to watch the games while relaxing in the water.

In between Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury basketball games, America West Arena's wooden floor is taken up, revealing an ice hockey rink -- the slippery home of the Phoenix Coyotes. Football fans have two teams in the Valley to follow. The Arizona Cardinals go head to head with the NFL's best at Sun Devil Stadium, which is also the home to the Arizona State University Sun Devils and the annual Fiesta Bowl.
source: http://www.azcentral.com/travel/

Check out the following sites for more information, great pictures, and good ideas:

http://www.azcentral.com/travel/
(Take a look at the guides, especially for Flagstaff and Sedona for good ideas if you will be in AZ for a few days.)

Kosher Restaurants

For those of you coming from the East coast, you will be reminded of how thankful we should be for having so many Kosher Restaurants. Luckily the food at the wedding and weekend will be amazing! If you are in Phoenix before or after the Wedding Weekend, here are your choices for Kosher food:

King Solomon Pizza
www.kosherpizzas.com
4810 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014
602-870-8655

The Café at the JCC (Dairy Restaurant)
www.cafefood.com
12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-659-9180