Have you ever stood
on a mountain top and
gazed down, lost in
thought, wondering how
you managed to make it all
the way up? And then, so
to speak, you say to your-

It\u2019s March here in
Southern Arizona and the tourism
industry is -- without a doubt -- looking
down on a spectacular view, while
enjoying the ride down. It is going to be
a great ride, over far too soon.

Yes, we\u2019re nearing the end of our
renowned, gloriously beautiful winter
season. We know that, for many of our
visitors, this trip out has been their first,
and we want to do everything we can to
make their Arizona experience awesome
\u201con the first try.\u201d Why?

Well, it\u2019s true: you only have one
chance to make a great first impression.
So, great \u201ccustomer service\u201d (great

Many of our winter visitors are on
their way back home, or will be soon.
It\u2019s our job to continue to do all that we
can to make sure that all of you leave us

with regret, feeling a draw to visit again soon, or even to move to Arizona, retire here, buy a vacation home...

There\u2019s a reason Arizona politicians
believe in funding tourism, a purpose
that goes beyond the short-term boosts
such investment provides: bringing
great people like you, with rich experi-
ence, diversity, knowledge, skills, wis-
dom and energy into our state.

This is why, at AZ Tourist News, we
make striving for exceptional customer
service our first priority. We hope we
are succeeding, and we want to learn
more about how we can become even
more effective at providing you, our
very welcome and appreciated visitors,
with the information resources you need
and want.

So, we are asking you to complete
our ongoing customer service survey,
and as a \u201cthank you,\u201d we\u2019ll give you a
free 3-month subscription to AZ Tourist
News. We\u2019ll mail it right to your house.

Thus far, we have received countless
responses, and they are overwhelmingly
positive. It looks like we\u2019ve been doing
our job, and we couldn\u2019t be happier.
Many are taking a few extra moments to
share great ideas and insightful feed-
back that will help us \u201cmake a great

thing even better.\u201d (But wait! If your feedback isn\u2019t so \u201cpositive,\u201d don\u2019t fail to send it! We REALLY want to hear from YOU!)

Some of the interesting things we\u2019re
learning so far? Well, as many in-state
residents as out- of-state visitors travel
Arizona and rely on AZ Tourist News.
And (not surprisingly) most of our read-
ers are 50 years of age, or older. These
folks typically travel the state 3-6 times

The information we are receiving
from all of the thoughtful people who
take just a few moments to complete the
survey is confirming what most in
Arizona have come to believe: AZ
Tourist News is Arizona\u2019s premier travel
publication, an indispensable resource
for people, like you, who want to get
the most out of their Arizona experi-

Please take 3-5 minutes to fill out
and send in our survey, and receive a
FREE 3-month subscription, and help
us make sure you don\u2019t miss a thing!

To reach an account executive, associate editor or to contact the editor or publisher, call (800) 462-8705. Any editorial portion of AZ Tourist News may not be dupli- cated without written permission from the Publisher. Az Tourist News \u00a9 2004. 60,000 copies distributed monthly. Look for us at visitors centers, hotels, resorts, movie the- aters, restaurants, major attractions, major events, and everywhere else in Arizona!

Az Tourist News, P.O. Box 5083,
Tucson, AZ, 85703. Toll Free (800)
462-8705, (520) 624-2897, (520) 622-
7275 Fax, email info@aztourist.com,

\u2022 Arizona Tourism Alliance
\u2022 Ahwatukee Foothills C of C
\u2022 Black Canyon C of C
\u2022 Benson/San Pedro Valley C of C
\u2022 Bisbee C of C
\u2022 Bouse C of C
\u2022 Buckeye Valley C of C
\u2022 Bullhead Area C of C
\u2022 Camp Verde C of C
\u2022 Carefree/Cave Creek C of C
\u2022 Chandler C of C
\u2022 Chino Valley Area C of C
\u2022 Chloride C of C
\u2022 Clarkdale C of C
\u2022 Coolidge C of C
\u2022 Copper Basin C of C

\u2022 Dolan Springs C of C
\u2022 Douglas C of C
\u2022 Ehrenberg C of C
\u2022 Eloy C of C
\u2022 Flagstaff C of C
\u2022 Globe-Miami C of C
\u2022 Golden Valley C of C
\u2022 Graham County C of C
\u2022 Grand Canyon C of C
\u2022 Greater Florence C of C

\u2022 Greenlee County C of C
\u2022 Green Valley C of C
\u2022 Holbrook C of C
\u2022 Jerome C of C
\u2022 Kingman C of C
\u2022 Lake Havasu C of C
\u2022 Marana C of C
\u2022 McMullen Valley C of C
\u2022 Oatman C of C
\u2022 Page/Lake Powell C of C
\u2022 Pearce/Sunsites C of C
\u2022 Phoenix C of C
\u2022 Pinetop-Lakeside C of C

\u2022 Rim Country C of C
\u2022 Scottsdale CVB
\u2022 Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon C of C

\u2022 Show Low C of C
\u2022 Snowflake/Taylor C of C
\u2022 Southwest Valley C of C
\u2022 Springerville C of C
\u2022 St. Johns C of C
\u2022 Tombstone C of C
\u2022 Wickenburg C of C
\u2022 Willcox C of C
\u2022 Winslow C of C
\u2022 Yarnell-Peeples Valley C of C

Astronomy...................................................................................33 Attractions.............................................................................34-35 Bed & Breakfasts........................................................................27 Birdwatching...............................................................................33 Casinos.........................................................................................37 Central Arizona.........................................................................4-8

Events, Featured...................................................................24-25 March Events.........................................................................30 April Events............................................................................31 May Events.............................................................................32

Flagstaff..........................................................................................11 Globe-Miami...................................................................................8 Grand Canyon...........................................................................12-13

Green Valley..................................................................................19 Lodging..........................................................................................26 Mexico............................................................................................39 Native American Culture......................................................36, 38

Pet Friendly Arizona....................................................................28 Phoenix Metro................................................................................5 Public Lands..................................................................................40 Regional.........................................................................................23 Rim Country....................................................................................7 RV Resorts & Campgrounds..................................................42-47 Scottsdale....................................................................................6-7 Southern Az..............................................................................16-22 Statewide Map........................................................................24-25 Tombstone.....................................................................................22 Tucson........................................................................................16-18 White Mountains..........................................................................10 Wineries, Regional.......................................................................41

The
Arizona
Office
of
Tourism

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Phoenix's West Valley is hosting a
major area event March 26-28 at
Glendale Municipal Airport, the 30th
anniversary of the Thunderbird Balloon
Classic. The hot air balloon extravaganza
will be made even more
exciting by the addition of
a spectacular air show, and
the event has been renamed

Balloon Classic was con-
ceived in 1974 by the
Friends of Thunderbird, a
volunteer group at Thunderbird, The
American Graduate School of
International Management in Glendale.
The group was founded in order to raise
money for the Mavis Voris Scholarship
Endowment fund. The event began with
just 16 hot air balloons and has grown to
more than 150 balloons participating,
making it one of the largest balloon festi-
vals in the country. Between 60,000-
80,000 spectators are expected to enjoy
this year's event, which promises to have
something for every flight buff.

The show will kick-off Friday evening
at 6:30 PM with a Desert Glow - a full
field of illuminated, tethered, hot air bal-
loons including fanciful special shaped
balloons that will be choreographed to
glow in time to music. There will also be
a Desert Glow on Saturday evening.

and spectators are encourage to walk
amongst the balloons on the flight line to
visit with the pilots, take photos and
watch the balloons inflate and lift off.

AM- 5:00 PM on both
Saturday and Sunday. The
show will consist of a
wide variety of aircraft on
static display including
cargo and training aircraft
and a special performance
of flying formations and
aerial demonstrations by

Another highlight will be the Warbird
Reunion, which brings together privately
owned military aircraft from WWII,
Korea and Vietnam, including the B-17
Bomber, the Sentimental Journey, a P-51
Mustang, Corsair, Hawker Sea Fury, P-38
as well as vintage jets, the MIG17, F-86
Sabre and the British Hawker Hunter. A
four ship L-39 team flying with the
MIG17 will also be a special aerial treat.

Current military aircraft invited
include a full aerial demonstration by the
USAF West Coast F-15 Demonstration
Team, F-16 Falcon Flyover, F-14 Falcon
Flyovers, and a beautiful Heritage Flight
with the F-15 and P-38. Pending are per-
formances by the F-18 Hornet and A-64

Civilian acts will be headed up by the
four ship Red Baron Squadron, which
includes performances by Tim Weber in

his Extra 300, Jon Melby in his Pitts 2-SB
and Rhett Thompson flying his Sukoi 26
aerobatic aircraft.

Other attractions will include the
Arizona Skyhawks Jump Team, which
will open the show and do pyro night
jumps during the evening Desert Glows.
There will be a special Kids Breakfast on
Saturday presented by the United

Dairymen Association (free breakfast for the first 500 children).

the Red Baron Flight
Club, with activities
and pizza for the kids.

present close to 100 vendors exhibiting a
wide variety of memorabilia and interest-
ing items for sale. There will be a Food
Court with samplings from PACE, Stagg
Chili and other culinary treats.

Admission for one session is $15 for
adults and $5 for children 6-12 years old
(children under 5 are free) when pur-
chased at the gate. The Family Pak for
one session is $35, good for two adults
and up to four children (day of show
only). Parking is $5 per car and there is
handicap parking available. Please check
the website below for Discounted \u201cPrint
Your Own\u201d tickets. The balloon events
are subject to weather and all the events
and attraction information is subject to
change by show time.

Leading area hotels have played a
major role in the Classic's return to
Glendale and have rooms available for the

opulent get-away. Built in 1918 as a com-
pany lodge for visiting Goodyear Tire
executives, the Wigwam Resort opened to
the public in 1929. The Wigwam exudes
elegance and romance and offers exquis-
ite dining in the award-winning Arizona
Kitchen. With pueblo-style adobe archi-
tecture and rustic decor, you will feel as if
you\u2019ve traveled back a century in time.

downtownGlendale. It is within walking
distance to over 90 antique
shops and numerous restau-
rants. The Glendale Municipal
Airport is only minutes away
and within a short drive are the
new Glendale Arena, 3 Cactus
League stadiums, many golf
courses, major shopping malls
and two racetracks. They offer
friendly, personal service from

their entire team along with 80 rooms,
each with refrigerator and coffeemaker,
and a complimentary deluxe continental
breakfast with "make-your-own" waffles
each morning.

For further information regarding the
Thunderbird Balloon & Air Classic visit
www.ThunderbirdBalloonandAirClassic.com.

Call the Thunderbird Balloon & Air Classic
Hotel Coordinator, Brenda Allen, Southwest
Travel Services at 480-607-3980.

Feast your eyes on majestic red cliffs and rambling
rivers. Learn about native wildlife and vegetation as
you ride along gently rolling trails.

history of the area. Over one million people visit Montezuma National Monument.
And it\u2019s no wonder they do. Nestled into a cliff 100 feet above Beaver Creek, the five-
story, 20-room pueblo built by the Sinagua Indians in the 12-13th centuries is a wonder
to behold. Just down the road is Montezuma Well, a sacred place of our origin.