LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Grand Canyon Tour! **Pre-Conference Social Activity**
Are you interested in traveling to see the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world? Several SVP Conference-goers have already expressed an interest in going on a tour from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon on Saturday, June 16th. Reservations are required.
Tour depart the hotel between 6am and 7am. Cost is $179/adult. Includes lunch, entry fees, and bottled water. If you are interested, click the link below to make your own reservation. Booking website: https://www.360-adventures.com/request-information-minimum/
Major League Baseball Games – Chase Field – 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix. **Pre-Conference Social Activity**
Calling all baseball fans! Beat the summer heat at Chase Field while you root for the National League West’s Arizona Diamondbacks.
If you are interested in joining SVP Conference-goers for a baseball game, there will be a special section for SVP conference attendees and guests at the Diamondbacks vs. Mets game on Sunday, June 17th at 1:10 pm. Tickets are $46 and include all-you-care-to-eat hot dogs, peanuts, chips, popcorns, and soft drinks, plus a special Father’s Day giveaway. If interested, click the following link to purchase tickets in the SVP section: https://groupmatics.events/event/SVP
Tickets will be available for purchase at the discounted rate until June 6th!
Microbrewery Tour (Tempe)--Four Peaks Brewing Company – 1340 E 8th Street, Tempe. Reservations required
A treat for craft beer enthusiasts, Tempe staple Four Peaks Brewing Company tours will take you behind the scenes of brewing. On this one-hour, one-of-a-kind guided tour through Four Peaks’ historic Creamery Building, see how beer is made, from individual ingredients to canning, bottling, and kegging. Tours will be guided by a Four Peaks Brewer. Top off your visit with a mug of award-winning beer – mainstays include Kilt Lifter, Hop Knot, Peach Ale, and Pitchfork Pale Ale.
Free admission! | Saturdays at 10:30AM, 12:00PM, and 2:30PM | Must be 21+ years Reservations: https://www.universe.com/events/8th-street-brewery-tours-tickets-FYVT27
Taliesin West—Insights Tour (25-minute drive from Saguaro Hotel)
You’ll be drawn closer to Frank Lloyd Wright’s world on Taliesin West’s signature tour. Visit Wrights’ private quarters and living room, the gracious Taliesin West “Garden Room,” the drafting studio, the Music Pavilion, the Cabaret, and more. This tour is not intended for children under the age of 6. Tours Offered daily starting at 9 a.m. 1.5 hours long $34 advanced purchase, $36 walk up.
Musical Instruments Museum (30-minute drive from Saguaro Hotel)
Rated the #1 attraction in Phoenix and ranked in the top 20 museums in the US (TripAdvisor.com) The World's Only Global Musical Instrument Museum with a collection of over 15,000 musical instruments and associated objects includes examples from nearly 200 countries and territories, representing every inhabited continent. Home of the MIM Music Theater--a 300-seat acoustically superb performance space--as well as the award-winning Café Allegro (open 11 am - 2 pm daily) and the MIM Museum Store. The average guest spends nearly four hours at MIM. Open daily, 9 am - 5 pm. Admission $20/adult, less for children.
Best Sunset Drive, South Mountain (40-minute drive from hotel)
After a hectic day, there are many surefire ways to escape from reality. Luckily, viewing the sunset at South Mountain is a free antidote to calm your weary mind without any side effects. Head up to Dobbins Point at dusk and take it slow as you drive up the windy, meandering Summit Road. Once you reach the top, check out the planes departing and arriving at Sky Harbor to the east as they fade in and out of view, and, to the west, see the lights over the neighborhoods below. Remember to appreciate the contours of the many varieties of cacti on your way back down the road to reality.
https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/south-mountain/trail-descriptions-and-map
Heard Museum (30-minute drive from hotel)
Immerse yourself in the works of generations of American Indian artists at the renowned Heard Museum (2301 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004). Guests enjoy access to more than a dozen galleries, free guided tours (offered daily at noon, 2 and 3 pm), outdoor sculpture gardens, and a celebrated cafe and museum shop. Open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Admission: $18/adult, less for children and students with valid ID.
Desert Botanical Garden (15-minute drive from hotel)
After departing the Phoenix metro area, guests will first have a chance to photograph the famous Sedona red rocks, stretch their legs and take a quick walk around this picturesque town. While you are enjoying Sedona, your guide will pick up your gourmet picnic lunch made fresh that morning. From Sedona, the tour passes through Oak Creek Canyon, a scenic byway that winds through 2,000 vertical feet of a red walled canyon to emerge surrounded by the dense ponderosa pines of the Coconino National Forest.
Atop the Mogollon Rim, we will travel the outskirts of the Route 66 town of Flagstaff on our way to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. You’ll experience about three hours within the National Park marveling at the beauty that is the Grand Canyon. While at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, you will have opportunities to walk the rim, shop, capture an unlimited number of photographs, or enjoy your lunch and relax with the best seat in the house.
Let yourself explore the wonders of the southwest at the Desert Botanical Garden (1201 N. Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008). Visitors encounter free flashlight tours (7-9:30 pm), photography shows, music in the garden, dinner on the desert, ballet performances, and the Patio Cafe. Open from Monday to Sunday, 7 am - 8 pm. Admission: $24.95/adult, $12.95/youth (3-17), free for children under 3.
RESTAURANT IDEAS
Rusty Spur Saloon Scottsdale https://rustyspursaloon.com/ 0.2 miles from hotel
The Rusty Spur Saloon the oldest of Scottsdale bars, now celebrating over 60 years in business. It was Scottsdale’s first ever saloon. The building is an officially registered historic landmark that used to be the Farmers’ Bank of Scottsdale. Celebrities like Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Vince Vaughn, and Jennifer Anniston have walked through its swinging doors to take in the Old West décor and Scottsdale live country music
Barrio Queen Scottsdale https://www.barrioqueen.com/ 1 mile from Saguaro hotel
At the Queen, it is not only about the unique flavors of our authentic Mexico City dishes. It's about the dining experience. We are your best option for Mexican food in Arizona, no matter if you want to try Mexican food for the first time we want you to feel like you are visiting our Casa and Familia in Mexico.
The Mission Old Town Scottsdale: https://www.themissionaz.com/ 0.4 mile from hotel
The Mission, which specializes in modern Latin American cuisine, shows off the city's flair for melding disparate influences with amazing results. This upscale restaurant is a great place to sample what's on the cutting edge of Southwestern, Mexican and Latin cuisine.
Hula’s Modern Tiki Scottsdale: http://www.hulasmoderntiki.com 0.3 mile from hotel
HULA'S is a modern, urban twist on the classic tiki bars and restaurants of the '50s & '60s. Locally owned and operated, it's a community place where everyone is welcome. Enjoy a tropical cocktail, happy hour, a quick bite or a full meal, all while being served by the best staff in the restaurant biz. Our menu is a fusion of Island and American flavors and has something for everyone. Consistently voted one of the best restaurants in Metro PHX, try Hula's once, and you'll be hooked!
Cowboy Ciao Scottsdale: http://cowboyciao.com/ 0.6 mile from hotel
Cowboy Ciao began as a neighborhood joint with wine-friendly fare focused on Italy, Mexico and the American Southwest and an eclectic wine list of 88 selections. It has evolved into a ‘Big City’ restaurant featuring a Modern American menu with Southwest accents and Global influences, sporting an internationally-acclaimed wine list hovering around 2000 selections.
Los Olivos Mexica Patio Scottsdale: https://losolivosrestaurants.com/ 0.5 mile from hotel
Los Olivos Mexican Patio, where gatherings of good friends and great food has been an Arizona Tradition reaching back 70 years. Where customers are still greeted by family, where the tortillas and salsas are still made by hand. Taste the authentic flavors of real Sonoran Cuisine.
Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor Scottsdale: http://sugarbowlscottsdale.com/ 0.4 mile from hotel
If you are a long time Valley resident or just in town for the weekend, we invite you down to " Old Town" Scottsdale to experience our full menu and fountain treats in the style and tradition we have been providing since 1958! Whether you are in the mood for savory soups, sandwiches, or salads or maybe something a little more fun like an ice cream cone, sundae, or float...we can satisfy any craving!