FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     February 10, 2009   Contact:  Toni Smith or Amy Richert (480) 894-8158 toni@tempecvb.comor amy@tempecvb.com   Need to Get Away? Top Reasons to Think Tempe First Tempe, Arizona Provides Affordable and Sunny Vacation Options Tempe, Ariz. – Temperatures dipping below freezing and record snow storms across the country can equal a serious case of the winter blahs. Tempe, Arizona, located in the heart of the Metropolitan Phoenix area, has the cure. Here are a few reasons to “think Tempe first” for an affordable, warm vacation. Visit our new Web site, www.ExploreTempe.com, or call 800-283-6734 for even more ideas. Great Deals: Tempe hotels, ranging from a mountaintop retreat to cozy, budget getaways, are offering money saving rates now through May 31. Rates start at just $79. Visit www.stayintempe.comto find the best deals. Play Ball!: Before they become the boys of summer, they are the boys of Cactus League Spring Training. Be a part of the action as 14 teams make their way to Arizona for this annual rite of passage. Tempe is the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They’ll take on teams such as the Oakland A’s, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and new this year, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians. Tickets for Angels games start at $6. There will be more than 240 games from February 25 through April 2. www.stayintempe.com METRO Light Rail Now on Track: METRO Light Rail is now up and running. The light rail transports passengers from central Phoenix through Tempe and into Mesa. Tempe will be the only city that has light rail service through both its east and west city borders. METRO makes it easy for visitors to get to Tempe’s Mill Avenue District, Arizona State University and downtown Phoenix. A one way ticket is $1.25 and an all day pass is $2.50. http://www.valleymetro.org/metro_light_rail Aloha! aloft Tempe Now Open: aloft Tempe opened to the public on February 5. It is the first Arizona property for the new lifestyle hotel brand by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. This hotel is a vision of Starwood’s luxury boutique brand, W hotels, and is designed to deliver a modern, vibrant design and energetic, technologically advanced guest experience at an affordable price.  It is located adjacent to Tempe Town Lake, Tempe Marketplace and ASU Karsten Golf Course. www.aloftempe.com Take a Hike: With temperatures hovering near 70 degrees and perpetually sunny skies, hiking is the perfect way to soak up the sun this winter. There are trails from novice to expert at Papago Park and South Mountain Park/Preserve. Don’t miss your chance to mingle with our famous saguaro cacti, see colorful wildflowers and maybe even watch the sunset or sunrise from a scenic overlook. www.papagosalado.org http://phoenix.gov/parks/hikesoth.html   Art for Everyone: The Tempe Festival of the Arts, March 27-29, features more than 400 artists selling their wares throughout the Mill Avenue District. Entertainment is sprinkled amongst the artwork, along with cottage edibles and even wine tasting at the Arizona Wine Festival. Looking for more for art to satisfy your creative spirit? Art of all kinds can also be explored at one of the 20 free art museums located on the Arizona State University campus, including the ASU Art Museum and Ceramics Research Center.  www.tempefestivalofthearts.com http://asuartmuseum.asu.edu/     Broadway Travels to Tempe: ASU Gammage, designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, is among the largest university-based presenters of the performing arts in the world. The M&I Bank Broadway Across America - Arizona Broadway season and special engagements range from light-hearted to thought-provoking. Tickets are a steal – starting at just $20. Upcoming shows include: Rent: March 17-22, 2009 Frost/Nixon starring Stacy Keach: March 31 - April 5, 2009 Cats: April 7-12, 2009 Stomp: May 5-10, 2009 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: June 16-21, 2009 Wicked: July 1-26, 2009 www.asugammage.com Shopping, Live Music and Dining: Tempe Marketplace, Tempe’s newest dynamic shopping and entertainment destination, features multiple stages of live music Thursday through Sunday evenings. Live music is featured in “The District”, a pavilion filled with trendy shops, cafés, restaurants and nightspots. With outdoor fireplaces, interactive fountains and comfy patio seating, it’s the perfect mix for a great night out. www.tempemarketplace.com Recharge at the lake: A lake in the desert? Yep. We’ve got that. Take a stroll along the paths that surround Tempe Town Lake, picnic along the shore, rent a pedal boat or coming soon, take a guided tour on a Segway. www.tempe.gov/lake   Beer, Boats, Music and Salsa: No matter what day you visit Tempe Beach Park and Tempe Town Lake, there’s always something happening. Plan your trip around these upcoming events for some extra fun. The Great Arizona Beer Festival, March 7 & 8, is a beer lover’s dream – your sample mug is your key to trying more microbrews than you ever thought existed. The Arizona Dragon Boat Festival, March 28-29, combines Tempe Town Lake with traditional Chinese dragon boat races. The Circle K Music Festival, April 3-4, brings more than 30 local, regional and national acts to multiple concert stages at Tempe Beach Park. My Nana’s Best Tasting Salsa Challenge, April 25, packs the heat. Salsa makers compete for the best salsa title. But because event goers are lucky enough to taste the salsas and vote for their favorite, everyone is a winner. www.azbeer.com www.azdba.org www.tempemusicfestival.com www.salsachallenge.com ###