From national parks to racecar museums, this region has no shortage of group activities. Sand or snow, shopping or Shakespeare, there is something for every niche. Festivals and events are very indicative of their host areas. In this issue, we will look at what the Frontier/Mountain West has in store.

Arizona

Lake Powell offers spectacular scenic adventures for groups traveling the Southwest and the regions National Parks. Located on the southeastern border of Arizona and Utah, this destination offers a selection of float adventures which explore the lakes more than 2,000 miles of shoreline. Day excursions visit such sites including the Rainbow Bridge National Monument and many of the lakes 90 canyons. Departures are from the Wahweap Marina at Page. The Lake Powell Website has a listing of its packages and schedules, and the group reservation department assists planners with sightseeing, accommodations, meal and other service needs.

Sedona has introduced its 24 month-long public art project entitled Javelinas on Parade. Javelinas are the only native wild pig-like animal in the United States and they thrive in the Arizona desert. The 50 statues are created from a master form and decorated in various styles by local artists to be placed throughout the town. Javelinas on Parade has been designated as an Arizona Treasure by Governor Janet Napolitano and will be featured in the states 2006 tourism advertising and promotion efforts.

New Mexico

There are two new Albuquerque museums. The Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum is located at Balloon Fiesta Park. Displays tell the sports history with highlights of Albuquerques ballooning activities and its local personalities. The other new museum is the Unser Racing Museum in the village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. Here visitors learn about the evolution of racecars with a special focus on the Unser family.

Las Cruces new Cultural Complex is part of a downtown neighborhood offering a variety of venues that offer entertainment, food, galleries and four outstanding museums. The Branigan Cultural Center exhibits cover regional history and local artists works. The Museum of Fine Art features traveling and juried international and contemporary collections. The Railroad and Transportation Museum has displays from New Mexicos railroad past. The 1870s Bicentennial Log Cabin has a collection of period household artifacts and furnishings.

Utah

The Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City announces its 2006 summer-fall season: June 22-Sept. 2, features Shakespeares Hamlet, The Merry Wives of Windsor and Antony and Cleopatra. Also playing is Ernst Thomsons On Golden Pond, John Murray and Allen Boretz Room Service and Gilbert and Sullivans H.M.S. Pinafore. The fall season, Sept. 22-Oct. 28, presents Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, J. Hartley Manners Peg o My Heart and van Hoogstraten, Silvestri and Higgins Johnny Guitar.

The festival offers several added activities including nightly Greenshows on three outdoor stages; free literary seminars; bi-weekly music, acting and costumes workshops; backstage tours; the New American Playwrights Project and pre-performance orientation for all shows.

Special ticket prices and other benefits are available for groups of 12 or more.

Colorado

Denver arts are exploding with new venues, making it a premier arts destination. The new Ellie Caulking Opera House opened within the walls of the historic Newton Auditorium to complete the Denver Performing Arts Complex theater development project. The theater is home to the Colorado Opera, Colorado Ballet and various choral groups and features an electric seat-back text delivery system which displays performance dialog at every seat.

The Denver Art Museum will double its size in 2006 with the addition of the Frederic C. Hamilton building and will feature special and visiting exhibitions and the museums modern and contemporary art collection.

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