Mill Avenue District	Hayden Butte Preserve	Tempe Town Lake

This year, ICA’s annual conference will be held in downtown Phoenix’s bustling Stadium District. For those searching for a respite from this urban center, the city of Tempe, Arizona serves as a welcome retreat. A 30-minute ride east on Phoenix’s Metro Light Rail brings visitors to Tempe, named after Greece’s Vale of Tempe for its river, scenic buttes, and greenery. Tempe lives up to its name, offering an abundance of outdoor activities along with a colorful mix of history, culture and entertainment.

Today’s city of Tempe, Arizona is built upon layers of history. The prehistoric Hohokam people first settled the area from AD 1 – 1450, leaving behind a system of irrigation canals and hundreds of petroglyphs that can still be seen around the region. Later, in the 19th century, farmers moved to the region, building upon the Hohokam’s irrigation system. Hispanic families from southern Arizona settled the area, and soon combined with the nearby settlement of Hayden's Ferry (homesteaded by Charles Trumbull Hayden) to create the town of Tempe in 1879. Five years later, the Territorial Normal School was established in Tempe to train the state's teachers. Over time, agriculture was pushed outward as the town’s population burgeoned, and Tempe's once-small teacher's college evolved into Arizona State U. Today, the university forms the heart of the city, and Tempe's diverse history is reflected throughout the campus and surrounding environs.

Home to Arizona State U, Tempe boasts both the school's cultural landmarks and a vibrant college-town scene. Among ASU's cultural sites of interest is the Gammage Theater, located on the southeast end of the campus. The theater is among the largest university performing arts centers in the world, and is architecturally notable as Frank Lloyd Wright's last public commission. Close by, art aficionados can explore ASU's Art Museum, which counts examples of modern art, American ceramics, Southwest art by local artists, and Latin American works among its 12,000-item collection.

Tempe's college-town vibe becomes apparent in the nearby Mill Avenue District. Named after settler Charles Hayden's original flour mill that first made Tempe a business hub, this area today serves as Tempe's entertainment center and includes a dense array of bars and restaurants, all within easy walking distance of one another. Restaurant options range from large chains offering everything from Italian to Thai cuisine to eclectic local haunts, like the self-acclaimed "most famous Irish Pub," Casey Moores Oyster House. Musical performances take place along the avenue on Thursday evenings as part of the "Music on Mill" series, while during the day dozens of retail stores are open for shoppers.

In addition to cultural and entertainment locales, Tempe offers visitors the opportunity to explore parks and participate in various outdoor activities. The Hayden Butte Preserve sits adjacent to the Veterans Way/College Light Rail Station‎, and has 25 acres filled with hiking trails, scenic views, and petroglyphs carved by the Hohokam people. The butte provides a bird's eye view of downtown Tempe and nearby communities. Nearby, Tempe Town Lake is another area ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. It includes a two-mile recreational area for kayaking, sailing, rowing, jogging, or picnicking. Visitors can rent kayaks, or stroll the five miles of trails at Tempe Beach Park. Those keen on adventuring can also explore Papago Park, a 296-acre space situated between Tempe and Phoenix. Papago Park contains miles of hiking and biking trails through a Sonoran Desert landscape, and is also home to the Desert Botanical Garden. The garden showcases over 50,000 plant displays throughout its 145 acres that visitors can explore alone or in a guided tour. A notable event at the Garden that will be held while ICA is in Phoenix is Ballet Arizona's performance of "Topia," a ballet inspired by the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert. From hiking and kayaking to seeing the ballet, Tempe’s outdoor spaces offer a great range of experiences for all types of visitors.

Tempe, Arizona has grown from its agricultural roots to an eclectic city filled with history, art, entertainment and outdoor activities. Simultaneously a vibrant college town and an outdoor oasis; a home to modern art and to ancient petroglyphs, Tempe, Arizona promises to be a fascinating excursion for those venturing out from Phoenix's urban core.

Images courtesy of Tempe CVB