Why go to Nationals..?

Here are some initial thoughts: Cultural Heard Museum (http://www.heard.org/): best for Native American history/culture. If you're done swimming and they're cooking up fry bread, get it and enjoy! Museum of Instrument Museum as Paul mentioned above Scottsdale Galleries (www.scottsdalegalleries.com) -- a wide mixture of styles and easily walkable with loads of restaurants and watering holes to stop into Phoenix Art Museum (http://www.phxart.org/) -- art-lovers have told me this was better than they expected. Maybe their expectations were lower thinking that we're some desert outpost. Hiking My favorite "visitors trail" is Pinnacle Peak (www.pinnaclepeakpark.com/) because this trail gets you out of the city, has great natural scenery and is moderate. Chris, this would be perfect for your parents. About 45 minutes from Kino. If you do this mid-morning and want a greasy burger in an old western outdoor setting, head over to nearby Greasewood Flat for lunch (www.greasewoodflat.net/). Phoenix Mountain preserve (phoenix.gov/.../hikphgud.html) has a great mix of trails for differing abilities/desires. The most popular (but not easy) is Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak), basically a stair climber to one of the best view points in the valley. By May, you'll probably want to hike this early. About 30-35 minutes from Kino pool. Camelback Mountain, as mentioned. South Mountain Park (www.phoenixasap.com/south-mountain-park.html) has endless miles of hiking for all levels and desires. Eat at the Farm at South Mountain (www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/) when you're down in this area. Nature I'm not a huge fan of our zoo (the habitats are sometimes so good for the animals that you can't see them!), but it's about 20 minutes from the Kino pool and will allow you to see a lot of the desert animals that you normally wouldn't see back east or up north. If you love desert landscaping and cacti, the Desert Botanical Garden (http://www.dbg.org/) is practically next door to the zoo and a great place for a stroll. Oh yeah, if you've got energy left and want to get a head start on your long course training, come swim Monday morning at Cactus Pool at 5:30am with one of the greatest Masters Coaches in the country, Laura Winslow! If you're actually interested in this, better PM me around the meet to see if Laura's going to be there Monday morning. She's working much of the Nationals meet, so she might have a substitute coach. I made some restaurant recommendations here: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - 2011 Spring Nationals - Mesa, AZ. PM me with any specific things you're interested in and I'll do my best.

Here are some initial thoughts: Cultural Heard Museum (http://www.heard.org/): best for Native American history/culture. If you're done swimming and they're cooking up fry bread, get it and enjoy! Museum of Instrument Museum as Paul mentioned above Scottsdale Galleries (www.scottsdalegalleries.com) -- a wide mixture of styles and easily walkable with loads of restaurants and watering holes to stop into Phoenix Art Museum (http://www.phxart.org/) -- art-lovers have told me this was better than they expected. Maybe their expectations were lower thinking that we're some desert outpost. Hiking My favorite "visitors trail" is Pinnacle Peak (www.pinnaclepeakpark.com/) because this trail gets you out of the city, has great natural scenery and is moderate. Chris, this would be perfect for your parents. About 45 minutes from Kino. If you do this mid-morning and want a greasy burger in an old western outdoor setting, head over to nearby Greasewood Flat for lunch (www.greasewoodflat.net/). Phoenix Mountain preserve (phoenix.gov/.../hikphgud.html) has a great mix of trails for differing abilities/desires. The most popular (but not easy) is Piestewa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak), basically a stair climber to one of the best view points in the valley. By May, you'll probably want to hike this early. About 30-35 minutes from Kino pool. Camelback Mountain, as mentioned. South Mountain Park (www.phoenixasap.com/south-mountain-park.html) has endless miles of hiking for all levels and desires. Eat at the Farm at South Mountain (www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/) when you're down in this area. Nature I'm not a huge fan of our zoo (the habitats are sometimes so good for the animals that you can't see them!), but it's about 20 minutes from the Kino pool and will allow you to see a lot of the desert animals that you normally wouldn't see back east or up north. If you love desert landscaping and cacti, the Desert Botanical Garden (http://www.dbg.org/) is practically next door to the zoo and a great place for a stroll. Oh yeah, if you've got energy left and want to get a head start on your long course training, come swim Monday morning at Cactus Pool at 5:30am with one of the greatest Masters Coaches in the country, Laura Winslow! If you're actually interested in this, better PM me around the meet to see if Laura's going to be there Monday morning. She's working much of the Nationals meet, so she might have a substitute coach. I made some restaurant recommendations here: U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums - View Single Post - 2011 Spring Nationals - Mesa, AZ. PM me with any specific things you're interested in and I'll do my best.