 Downtown Diversions
While the metropolitan cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Glendale are
experiencing a bit of a renaissance and reinventing themselves as hip desert getaways, Route 66
communities like Flagstaff, Williams and Seligman continue to deliver classic Americana that never
goes out of style.
What's old is new again as downtown Scottsdale's ancient Indian canal system is transformed
into the city's hub of pedestrian activity and urban vitality. Undergoing $2.4 billion in
development, the downtown features one-of-a-kind restaurants and boutiques at the new SouthBridge development, hip hotels like the W, Hotel
Indigo, Mondrian and Hotel Valley Ho, and dynamic nightlife and cultural attractions. Experience
the arts and culture of Downtown Tempe and Mesa with two exciting new venues. The recently opened Tempe Center for the Arts, located on the shores of Tempe Town Lake,
features striking architecture, two state-of-the art theatres and a 3,500-square-foot gallery. Located in the heart of downtown Mesa, the Mesa Arts
Center is a 212,755-square-foot performing arts, visual arts, and arts education facility, the
largest and most comprehensive arts center in Arizona. Get a sneak peek at the revitalization of Downtown Phoenix as it becomes a hub of activity for
visitors and residents to live work and play. From a burgeoning modern art scene and the addition of an Arizona State University campus, to a variety of new dining
and nightlife options and the highly anticipated light rail transportation system, the Phoenix of
tomorrow will have a completely new face.
 Meander through historic Downtown Tucson and trace the steps of the city's earliest residents
along the new Presidio Trail, a self-guided urban walking tour. The scenic two-mile loop, marked
by a turquoise stripe painted on the sidewalk, connects 23 historic sites and includes several
restaurants. Gear up for the 2008 Super Bowl in Downtown Glendale, where the nearby University of Phoenix Stadium will host Super Bowl XLII and the new Westgate City Center will be a continuous hub of pre- and post-game
activity. Put the top down and drive through downtowns of the past as you cruise along Arizona's
Route 66 -- Downtown Flagstaff offers an enticing
combination of Route 66 history and the modern conveniences of a bustling college town. Downtown Williams gives you a glimpse into the past with its
authentic soda fountains and the daily departure of the Grand Canyon Railway, and no visit to the
tiny town of Seligman is complete without a visit to Angel Delgadillo's shop, the man who is responsible
for keeping Route 66 towns on the map when they were bypassed by Interstate 40.
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