These tour descriptions are provided in advance of registration. You will have the opportunity to sign up through Avalon s website in the near future. SELECT A TITLE BELOW TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE DESCRIPTION HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT HORSEBACK RIDING DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN HEARD MUSEUM ART DISCOVERY TOUR PHOENIX ART MUSEUM GRAND CANYON GROUND TOUR
HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT The beauty is overwhelming as the cool breeze and calm winds raise you above the ground. You'll experience the exhilaration of silently floating in the air with the panorama of the earth moving slowly below. As you drift along, there is no movement of air, for you have become the wind. You will feel as though you could touch the clouds for you have experienced the spirit of flight! Breakfast (quiche, croissant, cheese, fruit and Juice) as well as a sparkling Cider Ceremony is included. Minimum age is 5. Pilot gratuity is not included. ALL FLIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO FAVORABLE WINDS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. This tour is not available for pregnant women or guests who have had recent back surgery. It is not recommended for those with orthopedic issues such as back problems. One should be able to jump off the 2 nd step and be in good general health. All participants are required to sign a liability waiver. There is a 300 pound weight restriction and if we can have weights ahead of time to distribute properly, that is always helpful. HORSEBACK RIDING Join the experienced wrangler guides of Avalon for a 1 hour horseback ride on trails of breathtaking scenery in the High Sonoran Desert. Come out to where the pavement ends and the West begins. Riding among tall Saguaro cactus, you will see the rugged mountains, hear the sounds of doves, coyotes, and quail and feel the call of the west. Breathe the fresh mountain air and imagine the days when ancient Indians gathered their food from the desert plants and left their history in Petroglyphs on the rocks of the trail where the Yavapai and Tonto Apaches battled the conquistadors for the rights to the wealth of this country. All participants are required to sign a liability waiver. This tour is not recommended for pregnant women or those with orthopedic issues such as back problems. There is a 280 pound weight limit.
DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN Discover more than 15,000 plants from the world's deserts in a spectacular outdoor setting. The Garden is a natural environment where you may see jackrabbits, squirrels, desert tortoises and other small animals that make their home here. For bird watchers, there are dozens of species of native and migratory birds, from jewel like hummingbirds to the desert hawks that circle gracefully overhead. Guests will participate in a self-guided audio tour. HEARD MUSEUM The internationally acclaimed HEARD MUSEUM is one of the best places to experience the fascinating cultures and art of the Native Americans of the Southwest. Large collections of artifacts, including baskets, jewelry, Kachina dolls, pottery, and textiles are represented. Examples of traditional and contemporary Native American fine art, including paintings and sculpture, are also on exhibit at the Museum. Guests will explore the museum on their own.
ART DISCOVERY TOUR Our professional Art Consultant will escort your group to the heart of Old Town Scottsdale where they will explain about the three galleries that have been selected to highlight your tour. We will allow time at each gallery. The tour guide will point out the galleries and give a brief overview of the schools of art that each one represents. Guests are also free to browse at their leisure. PHOENIX ART MUSEUM Visit the Phoenix Art Museum and see the largest visual arts institution between Denver and Los Angeles, with a permanent collection of more than 18,000 works of art. While meandering through the 15 galleries, see paintings, sculpture and more in the areas of 20th century art, Western American art, Asian art, Costumes, Latin American art and European art of the 18th and 19th century. Enjoy the works of Contemporary artists such as Georgia O'Keefe, Joseph Stella, Rufine Temeyo, and Frida Ddahio. Also housed in the Phoenix Art Museum are the Thorne Miniature rooms, which were created by Mrs. James Ward Thorne, and replicate sixteen historical European and American interiors.
GRAND CANYON GROUND TOUR The day begins with a fully narrated tour en route to the magnificent Grand Canyon. With several brief stops along the way, we will arrive just in time for lunch (on own). After lunch at one of the restaurants at the Canyon, guests have time to explore the Grand Canyon Village and then will be taken on a guided tour with time to get out, take pictures and enjoy spectacular views along the rim drive. A stop will be made at a Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation with the Painted Desert as a backdrop. There they may buy directly from the Navajo people and learn about their culture. Next it is back in the coach for the ride home with another stop at either Flagstaff or Camp Verde for a light dinner (on own).