NORTHERN ARIZONA EDITION TM .com.com WanderWinter 2019 • $10.00 HOTELAZ + RESORT COPY Dining Shopping Attractions Sports Local Features Iconic Stories Fun Things to Do I n n - o R i o t # a o c m li ARIZONA’S b TRAVEL LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE T ra1vel Pu + RESPECT THE FANS RESPECT THE PLAYERS RESPECT THE GAME THE PEOPLE’S OPEN 2019 JAN. 28 – FEB. 3 TPC SCOTTSDALE WMPHOENIXOPEN.COM Welcome to our Great State of Arizona We are very excited about 2019. Visitors to the state continue to rise for the 3rd consecutive year. Travelers to Arizona could easily eclipse 44 million. And with our Grand Canyon celebrating its 100th Anniversary, we expect to set new attendance records for the park. Therefore, on behalf of all who work so hard within our travel & tourism sector to make your visit so memorable, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to one and all. n behalf of the Grand large Canadian footprint in our Flagstaff. And of course, one Phoenix or Northern Arizona. Canyon State, WanderAZ state comes from its border to cannot forget to mention To learn more about some of Omagazine extends you a warm the north, and, its colder winter Arizona’s Grand Canyon, which the best restaurants, venues and hearty welcome. months. In addition, Canada saw almost 6 million visitors and attractions, we invite and the United States remain in 2016. The Grand Canyon is you to visit our dynamic web Arizona remains a world-class each other’s largest trading about 86 miles north of Flag. portal at WanderAZ.com vacation destination for over 42 partners. As a result, over 350 But Arizona offers so much million travelers who visit with Canadian companies now have more from hiking, biking, fishing, us every year. Travel & Tourism operations throughout Arizona. hunting, skiing, ballooning, remains a major economic skydiving that are all combined engine. Travelers in 2016 spent a Arizona has so much to with our spectacular desert and whopping $ 21.2 billion, injecting offer for all who visit. Across northern vistas to luxury resorts almost $60 million dollars into the state you will experience and a diverse cultural history. the state’s local economy every authentic local cuisine, superb Whatever your pleasure, you day of the year. You might also wineries, local brew houses, can experience it in Arizona, find it interesting that roughly world renowned museums while soaking up our warm and 48% of all annual travelers to and art galleries, to world-class genuine hospitality. Arizona, are visiting with us for shopping and dining, superb the first time. golfing, historic ruins, western In closing, we hope you will culture and awesome venues enjoy your copy of WanderAZ The immense value of the and attractions. Have you ever magazine that ranks as Arizona’s annual tourism dollar is far dreamed of swimming with premier travel & lifestyle reaching and impacts all Arizona the dolphins? Well now you publication. Every issue is households. We welcome can at Dolphinaris in North designed to enhance your travel visitors from around the world, Scottsdale. How about a trip experience, which is why we however, the largest foreign to the Wildlife World Zoo & dedicate 65% of every issue to Jamie Copland, publisher entity to visit Arizona every year Aquarium one the Valleys major fresh and meaningful traveler are Canadians. On average, attractions. And when heading information that we hope will The Wander Media Group, LLC. 1 million Canadians visit with north, you must visit the Lowell educate and inform. We also us, with Canadians owning Observatory (founded in 1894) hope that our customized Enjoy your stay and do approximately 22,000 homes and the wide open vistas at regional maps will help you as come back and visit across the Valley of the Sun. Arizona Snowbowl, both are a you navigate around the local with us again. Two huge reasons for such a short distance from downtown landscape, whether it be Greater Arizonathe 48th State UPPER VERDE RIVER Arizona, was the last of the contiguous, the Lower 48, to fill in the American map. On February 14, 1912, with its wild and lawless frontier days behind it, Arizona joined the Union after surviving Civil War skirmishes, gunfights, and the Apache Wars. At that time Arizona’s population was approximately 215,000. In comparison, the population of neighboring state California was more than 11 times PHOENIX larger, at roughly 2.4 million. ong before Arizona Sheepherders and cattlemen also came to Arizona became a state, its land was scoured by to stake their claim on a new life, contributing Native Americans in search of minerals for to the reputation of the “Wild West” when their Ltrade and decoration. Historians estimate mining hostility toward each other erupted into range wars took place as early as 1,000 B.C. Native Americans over land and water for their herds. To protect heated copper and shaped turquoise into jewelry settlers from unfriendly natives, the U.S. Army and decorations. The Tohono O’odham people came West and built forts. Several major conflicts mined hematite and the Apaches used cinnabar as between the cavalry and Native Americans, most body paint. notably members of the Apache tribe, took place in Arizona. After the surrender of Geronimo in Spaniards arrived in the mid- 1886, ranchers, farmers and other 1500s in search of wealth and settlers rapidly expanded their cities of gold. As the land began Arizona remains a claims on land in the territory. While to change hands, Mexicans, highly popular travel the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Europeans and Americans from began construction in 1866, a the young nation entered the destination for visitors period of brisk railroad construction territory in search of its well- from the U.S. and commenced in the 1880s, bringing known deposits of gold, silver, another wave of settlers, trade, and copper and other minerals found around the world. civilization to Arizona. in the mountains and desert Many people in search of a new sands. Prospectors risked their lives in search of life headed west and north during the 19th century instant wealth. While a few struck it rich, most were to seek their fortunes, or to simply make a living not so lucky. In some cases, great fortunes were and raise families. These courageous pioneers made and lost in short order. In Arizona’s history, laid the foundation for the Arizona of today, and approximately 400,000 mining claims have been the storytelling and folklore that originated in those filed in the state, with about 4,000 companies early days has been transformed into scores of formed in the industry, some of them vital economic classic books and movies. Who hasn’t heard of the contributors to this day. WanderAZ • 2 • Winter 2019 legendary marshal Wyatt Earp and his sidekick Doc Holliday, territorial capital of Prescott, the red rocks of Sedona, the Route and the famous Shootout at the O.K. Corral? Who hasn’t seen 66 town of Flagstaff and the terminus of the Grand Canyon classic Western movies such as Stagecoach, Red River, Fort Railway in Williams. Running along Arizona’s northern border Apache, The Searchers and Rio Bravo? All starred John Wayne are the Grand Canyon, houseboat capital Lake Powell, and the and were filmed in part right here in Arizona? Wherever you iconic Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation. And let’s not go throughout this great state, the history of the Old West overlook the desert water resort towns of Lake Havasu City and the 48th State surrounds you. Bullhead City on the Colorado River, both of which are favorites among outdoor enthusiasts. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Arizona became known for its five Cs of copper, cattle, cotton, citrus and climate. These Phoenix offers every professional sports franchise- the NBA, days you can add a sixth C, for Canadians. From business, MLB, NFL, NHL, WNBA, USL Soccer and Arena Football. We tourism and residential perspectives, Canadians remain a major also host many other major annual events that include 15 MLB boom for Arizona’s local economy. In fact, Canadians now baseball teams for Cactus League Spring Training, the Waste represent the largest foreign sector of the state’s tourist trade, Management Phoenix Open, regarded as the best tournament as well as the majority of new Arizona businesses started by on the PGA Tour, College Bowl games and two yearly Monster foreign entities and foreign ownership of both commercial and Energy NASCAR Cup Series races and a Verizon IndyCar residential properties across greater Phoenix and beyond. Series race at ISM Raceway (formerly PIR) . Arizona (and across the Valley of the Sun) offers sporting events year-round to Today, 105 years after Arizona became a state, the population meet everyone’s individual interest. In 2016, Glendale’s State has grown to an estimated 6.7 million people. Phoenix is Farm Stadium hosted the College Football Playoff National the state’s biggest city and the country’s fifth largest overall. Championship, and for the first time Maricopa County, of which Phoenix is the county seat, accounts in 2017, Phoenix hosted the NCAA’s for an estimated population of approximately 4.1 million Men’s Basketball Final Four. the beauty of Arizona’s residents. Tucson is the state’s second-largest city, with the population of the greater Tucson metropolitan area exceeding Dotting the calendar are other natural landscape 1 million people. Arizona’s 23rd governor is Doug Ducey, a international events such as the provides the ideal Republican, who was sworn into office on January 5, 2015. Barrett-Jackson Car Auction and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse backdrop for a Arizona remains a highly popular travel destination for 10’s of Show.