5 minute read
Air Adventures
RAINBOW RYDERS
THINGS TO KNOW: The largest hot-air balloon business in the Southwest offers sunrise, sunset and private balloon rides. Their sunrise balloon rides are offered year round and sunset balloon rides are offered November-March, all conclude with a post-flight breakfast with prickly pear cactus mimosas and local treats and a flight certificate. Their professionalism and renowned pilots will make it an unforgettable experience. Before embarking on your journey, you’ll meet the Rainbow Ryders team the day of the ride at their North Phoenix office and are driven over to the launch site.
DON’T MISS: Before each ride, you’ll get the chance to observe and help out with the inflation process, and even take pictures. Sunrise riders are treated to a Sonoran Sunrise Gourmet Breakfast afterwards, with fresh fruit, organic greek yogurt parfaits and delicious muffins. If you decide on the sunset ride, you’ll feast on a Saguaro Sunset Charcuterie platter with homemade hummus, meats and cheeses and grilled artisan bread.
INFORMATION: rainbowryders.com Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course
There are rope swings, wobbly ladders, monkey bars, tunnels, bridges and nets, all ending with a zip line.
flagstaffextreme.com
Hot Air Expeditions
You’ll have an unobstructed 360-degree view to take excellent photographs of the Arizona mountains and desert.
hotairexpeditions.com
iFly
Ever wondered what it was like to fly? This indoor skydiving operation lets guests enter a 14-foot wide wind tunnel and be propelled into the air.
iflyworld.com
Maverick Helicopters
Maverick offers helicopter tours that will take you deep into the aweinspiring Grand Canyon.
maverickhelicopter.com
Pima Air & Space Museum
The museum features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres on a campus occupying 127 acres.
pimaair.org
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters
Since 1965, Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has been showing guests the majesty of the Grand Canyon.
papillon.com
Sedona Air Tours
Tours allow guests to see great parts of Sedona and the Grand Canyon that you’d never be able to see by hiking or taking a jeep tour.
sedonaairtours.com
Skydive Arizona
Home to the world’s largest drop zone, Skydive Arizona is the best way to fall. Tandem and solo jumps are available.
skydiveaz.com
Superstition Zipline at Goldfield Ghost Town
Get whisked away at 30 mph along a cable on a quarter-mile ride 120 feet above Goldfield Ghost Town.
superstitionzipline.com
OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK
THINGS TO KNOW:
Drive through the habitats of this wildlife park, where bears, wolves, bison and other animals walk up to vehicles as if they’re part of the scenery.
bearizona.com Butterfly Wonderland
Occasionally, a butterfly or two will land on an unsuspecting visitor. Here’s a tip: wear bright colors to attract the butterflies.
butterflywonderland.com Heritage Park Zoo
This wildlife sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation and protection of native and exotic animals. The employees at Out of Africa stress one thing — this place is not a zoo. Rather, it’s an immersive experience that allows one the sensation of being in a real-life African bush safari. Animals from all over Africa and Asia wander about in spacious habitats, and visitors will be surprised by how up-close and personal you’ll be able to get. Take a fence-free photo from the expertly placed photography platforms, and make sure to check out the free-roaming safaris and splendid habitats.
DON’T MISS:
Out of Africa boasts the world-renowned Tiger Splash show, where Bengal tigers interact with each other and their keepers in a large aquatic play land. But the best cannot-miss experience: Go into the sloth enclosure and have an up-close and personal encounter with one of the most fascinating and adorable creatures of all time — the two-toed sloth.
Bearizona
INFORMATION: outofafricapark.com reidparkzoo.org
heritageparkzoo.org Navajo Nation Zoo
The Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park is the only Native American owned-and-operated zoo in the country.
navajozoo.org
OdySea Aquarium visitsealife.com/arizona
The aquarium is home to more than 30,000 animals and 500 different species in 50 exhibits, plus fun interactive experiences. odyseaaquarium.com
The zoo is divided into four themed areas — the Arizona Trail, the Africa Trail, the Tropics Trail and the Children’s Trail, which includes a petting zoo.
phoenixzoo.org Reid Park Zoo
Features more than 500 animals and consists of four zones that are organized by the types of habitats and animals they house.
Sea Life Arizona
Sea Life is a 26,000 square foot interactive aquarium that contains thousands of aquatic creatures, plus interactive touch pools and a 360-degree ocean tunnel.
Phoenix Zoo
Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium This attraction takes pride in its exotic animals, including kangaroos, rare white alligators, a flightless emu and white rhinos. wildlifeworld.com
PHOENIX RACEWAY
THINGS TO KNOW: This hub of the motorsports scene was originally built in 1964 and delivers more action, fun, and thrills than ever before. The track hosts some of the biggest events in racing year-round, including the IndyCar weekend and the spring and fall NASCAR Championship Weekends, as well as the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200. Spacious areas are available for regular parking and RV camping, and you can rent the track for driving lessons or other events that are sure to be unforgettable.
DON’T MISS: The all-new Fan Zone, which debuted in 2018, lets you get up close to your favorite drivers and teams as they work on their cars or walk the red carpet to the drivers’ meeting. While watching the races, go the extra mile and rent a FanVision controller to see 10 channels of live video with eight in-car cameras, a radio scanner and other special NASCAR content. Stop by the Trackside Bar & Grill, open at no additional cost to all fans attending Phoenix Raceway events.
INFORMATION: phoenixraceway.com
Arizona Speedway
Dirt track race fans can get all the action they will ever need with races featuring a host of makes and models.
arizonaspeedway.net
Bondurant Racing School
Channel champion race car driver Bob Bondurant while learning tricks to make you a better driver.
bondurant.com
Castles N’ Coasters
Experience thrill-seeking attractions including their Go Kart Racers as you drive on the quarter mile of banks and through tight turns.
castlesncoasters.com
CrackerJax
This Scottsdale hub has double the go-karting with two tracks, including the 1,200-foot CrackerJax Speedway.
crackerjax.com
K1 Speed
Go-kart racers can experience a professionally designed track at K1 Speed, as well as karts that go up to 45 mph.
k1speed.com
Octane Raceway
The largest indoor racetrack in America features two quarter-mile tracks and go-karts that drive up to 45 mph.
octaneraceway.com
Penske Racing Museum
The Penske Racing Museum chronicles the career of one of the most successful dynasties in all of sports.
penskeracingmuseum.com
White Mountain Family Fun Park
A family track allows kids who are at least 54 inches tall to test their skills behind the wheel.
whitemountainfamilyfunpark.com
Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
This venue features a quarter-mile dragstrip, a road course, an off-road course, and motorboat racing lake.
