Arizona Shopping is the Best Around

When it comes to shopping in Arizona, there is literally something for everyone. Chock-full of options from high-end, high-fashion stores to outlet malls offering designer duds for next to nothing, Arizona’s numerous indoor shopping venues provide visitors and residents plenty of cool (literally and figuratively) options to being outside during the warm summer months.

Let’s start in central Scottsdale, where Scottsdale Fashion Square boasts dozens of shops from sleek and chic clothing boutiques to nationally-known anchor stores. It’s also a great place to people-watch—grab a table in the large food court and you might even see a local celebrity walk by. Meanwhile, downtown Scottsdale is where you’ll find authentic décor, jewelry and clothing, along with chi-chi galleries and quaint eateries – all with a distinctive Southwestern-style flair.

Home to Arizona State University, Tempe’s most trendy shopping district is definitely all along Mill Avenue, a street that is alive with shops, cafes and more. Easy to navigate by foot, the area is home to many historic buildings dating back to the late 1800s, so it’s an interesting place to take a stroll even if you’re just in the mood for window-shopping.

Just north of Phoenix, Outlets at Anthem features over 70 stores, many of them popular names such as Nike, Calvin Klein, Guess and the Gap, while in the northern part of Arizona, Sedona is also home to a small outlet mall. Speaking of Sedona, this picturesque and ultra-charming town is famous for its gorgeous red-rock formations, but it is also host to an amazing selection of shopping options, including beautiful art galleries showcasing the work of local artisans as well as national figures.

If you’re in the southern part of the state, Tucson is home to a plethora of upscale stores and shops that dot the city’s sprawling landscape. In fact, Tucson’s Foothills Mall contains over 90 stores, a fifteen-screen multiplex cinema, a food court with cuisine from around the world, and more. Open daily, the Foothills Mall even has a Kids Play Area to offer some entertainment for your little ones. 

ASU Planetarium Gives Answers on Stars That Shine on Your Arizona Home

What is one the best things about Arizona? The answer is quite obvious, the gorgeous views- day and night. There are few things more stunning than the wide open sky at night, with thousands of stars twinkling down at all who venture outdoors. But, if you want to really have a better understanding of those stars, then you need to seek the insight of a professional. The School of Earth and Space Exploration Planetarium also known as ASU Planetarium is a great place to see the stars and learn more about the stars that shine down on all of the beautiful Arizona real estate.

Arizona State University is known for many things, but few people take time to mention the education and beauty that can be found at its planetarium. This intimate setting can hold just fifty people at a time, but it is well worth the real estate it occupies. Visitors can make a strong connection with the stars and the universe as a whole. They can learn about all that we, as a modern civilization, know about what lies beyond our own atmosphere, and also a bit about what is still being learned today. Shows will often feature an underlying theme. Currently, the planetarium guides are featuring the works and times of Galileo. Learn more about the man, his telescope, and his contribution to our understanding of Earth and space today.

If you find yourself really feeling the line of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star that says, “How I wonder what you are,” then you will love everything this Arizona treasure has to offer. Daytime shows are available on request, or you can attend the nightly 6:30 PM experience (during the standard school year). To take part in a daytime showing, you will need to bring your own group and contact the SESE to schedule a time. The daytime shows typically last about fifty minutes and many opt to also include tours of the SESE facility thereafter. The 6:30 PM showing lasts about forty-five minutes and includes the opportunity to peer through the ASU telescope, as long as the weather is cooperating.

You will not pay for your visit, as the ASU Planetarium, but you will have to pay for visitor parking on the campus. The charge is currently two dollars per hour, with a maximum fee of eight dollars. This is a very small price to pay for a day or evening of wonder and amazement, as well as a better understanding of the solar system that surrounds us.