Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/319926
ARIZONA The kaleidoscope of colors this state offers is breathtaking – the Red Buttes and Mesa's of Monument Valley, the magnificent Hoover Dam, to the stunning imagery of Painted Desert and Red Rocks near Sedona, it can overwhelm the senses. Nestled in the world's largest ponderosa pine forest is Flagstaff, a year- round playground featuring skiing, snowboarding, hiking, mountain bik- ing, river rafting and rock climbing. The Grand Canyon is just an hour away. Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe – suburbs of Phoenix – are equal parts chic and rustic with a blend of upscale shopping, spas, dining, a collection of golf courses, outdoor activities, nightlife, and art. Set amongst the Saguaro Cactus of southern Arizona is the state's second largest city, Tucson. It's a thriving visual and performing arts des- tination with numerous galleries, museums and great world-class obser- vatories such as the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. The Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum are a must. PHOENIX Projected against a rich panorama of beautiful vistas, canyons, red rocks, cactus and wondrous desert sunsets is a city of great urban sophistication. America's sixth largest city and sunniest metropolis fea- tures resorts and spas that soothe the soul and those aching bodies after a day of hiking, playing golf or shopping. Phoenix is the location de jour for many of America's great sporting events. The countdown to 2015 is underway as the city and nearby Glendale play host to Super Bowl XLIX. Not to be outdone, college football's annual Fiesta Bowl is played in Phoenix University Stadium. Phoenix will host college football's national championship game in 2016. A mericans of the 19th and early 20th century looked at the American West as an area of untamed wilderness ripe for adventurous thrill seekers look- ing for an opportunity to claim this vast region as their own. Not much has changed in the past 150 years. It's still an area of vast opportunity and beautiful wilderness that leaves many in awe. From the towering snow capped Rocky Mountains to the majestic Pacific Coast, from the cactus strewn desert landscapes of Arizona to the ski resorts of the Sierra Nevada, the contrast across America's great frontier is difficult to put into words. Visitors to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Santa Fe or Seattle can find themselves snow skiing, kayaking, hiking, biking, golfing or simply enjoying the sounds of nature in an hour. From the busy streets of Houston, Honolulu or San Diego, the nearest beach is mere minutes away. From Phoenix, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Tulsa and Oklahoma City to the nearest Indian Reservation or ranch is like a walk in the park. It's time to begin your western adventures. B Y M I C H A E L B E N N E T T A F R I C A N - A M E R I C A N TRAVELING IN THE WEST G U I D E T O M E E T I N G , I N C E N T I V E S & Denver, Colorado Convention Center 27 B M & T ••• March/April 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 27 •pg_27-37.qxp__BMT_pg3-58 5/20/14 5:32 PM Page 27