Month: March 2013

It is safe to bet that cacti, triple digit temperatures and rattlesnakes all figure their way into your train of thought when thinking about the state of Arizona–its only natural.

Unless discussing the backyard pool or the urgency to escape another seasonal drought, it isn’t often that water matriculates its way into the barren desert land.

Albeit truthful, it is a stereotype that distracts from the state’s water-related recreational opportunities. Do I dare even go as far as to tap into the Arizona Surf Club? Is that such a thing?

Although incomparable to Minnesota’s reputable 10,000 lakes, Arizona is home to 31 lakes, which offer various activities. From fishing to boating to kayaking to waterskiing, Arizona has room for them all. 

If you’re looking to kick your feet up, seclude yourself from technology and simply relax, then pack up your fishing gear for Patagonia, Ariz. Patagonia Lake, which rests just 12 miles north of Nogales, is Tucson’s closest lake. The quaint 2.5-mile-long and 250-acre lake is best known for its Largemouth Bass and Flathead Catfish.

Or, if you’re looking to go tubing, jump on the I-10 up to the Salt River. If Lake Havasu is spring break, then the Salt River is spring break’s hangover. The inner-tube trip is as lazy as any Sunday should be as you soaking in the sun’s rays, all the while floating down through Tonto National Forest.

Drawing away from the college-polluted spring break city and “Personal Watercraft Capital of the World,” of Lake Havasu, try Northern Arizona to fulfill your wild side.

Mexico. A country rich in history, culture — and tourism dollars.

While Arizona’s neighbors from the South aren’t typically viewed as an economic stimulator, Mexican tourists generated an estimated $975.4 million in Pima County alone in 2008, according to a study by the University of Arizona.

“They come to our malls, to every store you can imagine, and can afford to leave money at restaurants, hotels,” said Felipe Garcia, Executive Vice President of Visit Tucson and the company’s resident expert on Mexico. “It has a great impact here in Southern Arizona and all the state of Arizona because they’re paying sales tax. Every municipality in our state has a benefit from those dollars— or their pesos— when they’re down there, their dollars crossing the border.”

Garcia said images of undocumented border-crossers, drug trafficking and violence first pop into the head of U.S. citizens. People see Mexico as a threat, rarely as an economic opportunity and trade partner.

Unfortunately several factors, such as border violence and S.B. 1070, have reduced the number of Mexican tourists to the United States since 2008.

“(SB1070) really gave us a black eye with the Mexican visitors and the Mexican consumers,” Douglas, Ariz., Mayor Danny Ortega Jr. said.

Imagine taking a leap of faith 13,000 feet in the air out of a plane and free falling for 60 seconds at 150 mph. Yes, this is a sport and not for the faint of heart. It’s skydiving.

 SkyDive Arizona located in Eloy between Phoenix and Tucson is one of the biggest and busiest drop zone in the world. Over 100,000 jumps are made here each year.

 “The experience was like nothing I have ever felt. Looking through the window on the way up watching the ground getting farther and farther away. Then seeing the person in front of you just get sucked out of the plane,” said Kyle Flynn of Scottsdale about his first jump at SkyDive Arizona.

In 2012 34,800 men and women were members of the United Parachute Association and the numbers will continue to grow with the popularity of the sport. 

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(To view larger photos or video clips of barrel racing and team roping, click on the image during the slideshow)

It’s rodeo season again in Arizona and the Southwest.  That means heavy competition for thousands of athletes who strive to get the most points or the best time in their events to win cash prizes and hopefully move on to the regional and national finals.

Last month, Tucson held the 88^th Annual La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros, which is a nine day event and one of the top 25 professional rodeos in North America, according to the Tucson Rodeo’s official website. While attending the final day of this rodeo, patrons were overheard complaining of the size of the crowd, stating, “Seems like it gets worse every year.” In fact, this year’s rodeo had a record attendance, according to Dr. John Marchello, who coaches the University of Arizona rodeo team and has been a meat scientist at the UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 1965.