One of the more popular attractions in the Phoenix area is Rawhide. Each year, about a million visitors come here to be a part of an Old West saga and participate in trail rides, barbeques, stage coach rides, entertainment, shootouts and many other activities. In September, Rawhide will be closing its doors, packing up and moseying on down the road to a new home at the Wild Horse Pass Resort and the Gila River Indian Community. Reopening in November, the new facility will feature many of the same Rawhide activities and features from its former locations plus many new enhancements, added activities and special events. The park will be connected to other facilities at the Wild Horse Pass Resort via a water taxi service which travels the two and one-half mile long Gila River and via its River walk path.

Open Road Tours’ Valley Hopper offers a way for visitors to explore eight popular museums, shopping centers and historic sites at a leisurely pace and leave the driving to the Hopper’s shuttle. The Hopper route travels for two hours and passengers may board at any point, get off at their choice of stops and, when ready, re-board the next vehicle. Stops include downtown Phoenix, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Biltmore Fashion Park, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Old Town Scottsdale, Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Zoo, Mill Avenue and Arizona State University.

Grand Canyon Airlines has introduced a nine-hour Grand Canyon air-ground package that departs daily from the Scottsdale airport. Flights follow a path offering scenic views of area golf courses, overview of the communities of Carefree and Cave Creek and on to the Horseshoe Reservoir. It continues via the Verde River, ontezuma Well, Tonto National Forest, Red Rocks at Sedona, Flagstaff ’s NAU Skydome and Lowell Observatory, Arizona’s Snowbowl ski region and over the expanse of the Grand Canyon. Upon arrival at the Grand Canyon airport, passengers then travel by coach to various National Park sites, including a stop to view the IMAX film, “Grand Canyon -The Hidden Secrets." This is followed with a direct flight return to Scottsdale.

The Sonoran Desert Discovery Guide offers visitors insights to the region’s history, biology and geography. It has information about the desert’s flora and fauna

and directs visitors to good hiking trails, bike routes, scenic sites and many other options. There are many photos and illustrations to help familiarize readers with the discoveries they will find throughout the Sonoran Desert.

The Heard Museum, celebrated for its collections and study of Southwest Native

cultures and art, offers several options for group tours. “Highlights of the Heard" visits all museum galleries. “Native Cultures and People" tours both the Heard and the Desert Botanical Garden and focuses on the Southwest’s human and natural experience. Lunch is included.

The “Las Guias Specialized Tour" is a customized experience for groups with special interests in the areas of jewelry, pottery, basketry, sculptures, Kachina dolls, textiles and contemporary art. There is also a “Self- Guided Group" option that allows tour members to explore the museum at their own pace. For details about these and meal

packages for groups, contact: 602-252- 8840, www.heard.org.