q138/random_k4/random_4.md

International Students
Digital Handbook
2024-2025 Guidebook

Table
of contents

4

  Preparing For ASU

Pre-Arrival Checklist
Orientation
Student Code of Conduct

5

6

  Housing Options

  Airport Transportation

Options
  Packing List

7

  You Have Arrived!

Now what?
Get U.S. Mobile Phone
Service
Opening a U.S. Bank
Account
Electronic Stores

8

  Local Stores

Furniture Stores
Bike Stores
Local Grocery Stores
International Grocery
Stores

9

  Shopping Malls

Local Restaurants
Mailing Services

10

  Local Transportation

Driver’s License

SunDevilSync
Intramural Sports

12

  Religion and Spirituality

13

   Culture

Culture Celebrations
Heritage Month and
Week Celebration
International Education
Week

14

   Preparing for Success
International Student
Engagement (ISE)
International Students
and Scholars Center
(ISSC)

15

  ASU Library

16

   Creativity Commons
Career Services
First-Year Success
Center (FYS)

17

   Volunteer

18

   Health and Wellness

19

   Safety at ASU

Student Accessibility
And Inclusive Learning
Services (SAILS)

11

  ASU Traditions

20

   Academic Support

Find Your Community
Coalition of International
Students

Network

21

   Explore Arizona

Preparing
for ASU

Pre-arrival checklist
Congratulations on your admission to ASU. Here is a
guide to your important next steps before arriving
on campus.

Orientation
International Arrival and Welcome programs are
designed to provide you with information, resources,
tools, and tips to help you and your family make a
successful transition to college life. Attending orientation
will help you be better prepared for your first semester.
At orientation, you will also be able to connect with your
academic college and become familiar with your campus
and learn about all of the many resources, opportunities
and support networks available at ASU.

Student Code of Conduct
Sun Devils are held to the highest standard of
compliance with university policies to ensure every
student at Arizona State University has the best
experience possible. To do your part in understanding
and abiding by these policies, familiarize yourself with the
ASU Code of Conduct, which has everything you need
to know regarding what you can and cannot do as a
student and representative of ASU.

Housing options - On-campus
As a first-year student, you’re expected to live on the
campus in your Residential College Community. Living
at ASU promotes creative connections and innovation
inside and outside the classroom while providing a
supportive, close-knit environment designed to set you
up for success. Take advantage of the programs, events,
and amenities tailored to your major, including tutoring,
advising, and academic resources.

Below are the options and resources for
on-campus housing.

• Information specific to international students about
housing: housing.asu.edu/housing-communities/
international-student-housing

• List of on-campus housing: housing.asu.edu/housing-
communities/residential-colleges

• First-year student housing: housing.asu.edu/
freshman-housing

• Upper-division housing: housing.asu.edu/upper-
division-housing

• Meal plans: sundevildining.asu.edu/meal-plans

Housing options - Off-campus
Here is information for off-campus housing, including:

• Find housing

• Find roommates

• Find subleases

• Renter Education Videos

Airport
Transportation Options

There are two major airports in the Phoenix Metro Area,
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Phoenix-
Mesa Gateway Airport. Most airlines operate from the
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

To assist with your transition to campus, ASU has
partnered with Lyft to provide new international students’
complimentary transportation from the Phoenix Sky
Harbor Airport to your on-or off-campus housing location
in Phoenix metropolitan area.

• Fill out this International Student Airport Transportation
Form to provide your arrival information and receive your
customized Lyft code from ASU.*

* Complimentary Lyft ride is only available for new
international students. Please submit this form at least
48-business hours prior to your flight.

For additional airport transportation options and
information, please visit here.

Packing list
Here is a reference packing list to prepare for your travel
to ASU*.
Essential items in your carry-on:

• Passport

• Visa

• I-20

• Boarding pass

• US currency

• Credit/debit card

• Mobile phone

• Important documents, e.g., admission letter, SEVIS
fee receipt, health and immunization records, financial
support documents, etc.

• Local U.S. address

• A list of the names, addresses, phone numbers and
email addresses of key contacts in the U.S. and at home.

• Valuables, such as currency, jewelry, laptop, etc.

Optional items in your carry-on:

• Medicines and doctor’s prescriptions

• Charger/adapter/converter

• Laptop/tablets

• Travel pillow

• Earplugs

• A light jacket

Items to carry in your checked bags:

• Clothes (casual, formals, shoes, undergarments,
traditional outfits, sports outfits, etc.)

• Formal wear and suits for professional activities and
career fairs

• Traditional dresses for cultural celebrations

• Utensils

• Books and stationary

* See U.S. Custom and Border Protection website for detailed

information regarding Money and Other Monetary Instruments,
Prohibited and Restricted Items, etc.

You Have Arrived!
Now What?

Desert Financial is the official banking partner of Arizona
State University. There are physical Desert Financial
branches on the Downtown Phoenix and Tempe
campuses, but you can use all of the banking services at
any location.

Other major banks are close to campus, like Bank of
America, Chase, and Wells Fargo. Here is a list of Banks
and ATMs on campus.

Electronic Stores

With advances in technology, you may need to purchase a
few electronics to support your educational experiences.
The ASU Bookstore and Sun Devil Marketplace have
university essentials including laptops, external hard
drives, and more. Stores like Best Buy can help you find
items like TVs and gaming consoles.

To prepare for enriching experiences inside and outside
of the classroom, there are some items we suggest taking
care of once you arrive in the United States and before
classes start.

* Please be aware that ASU does not endorse any of the
retailers and services listed below, regardless of their
proximity to campus.

Get U.S. Mobile Phone Service

Getting a U.S. mobile phone service is the foremost
necessity for any student in the U.S. to stay connected
with your friends and family. Some carriers may offer
student discounts but it is best to check with the carrier
directly. Some students also bring unlocked phones
from their country and buy a U.S. SIM card from a mobile
provider. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are the three major
U.S. cell phone carriers.

Open a U.S. Bank Account

Managing your money is important to your success as
a student, and it is highly recommended that one of the
first things you do is to open a bank account with a local
financial institution. Opening a U.S.-based bank account
will help you stick to a budget as well as make sending and
receiving money easier. When you go to set up an account,
be sure to get information about account types, debit
cards, ATMs, and any fees for using the bank and bank
services. Please also check the bank’s website or contact
the bank ahead of time for a list of documents needed for
opening an account.

Local Stores

Furniture Stores
Make your on-campus or off-campus housing space your
own. Stores like IKEA, Walmart, Target, etc. can help you
furnish your living space with essential items and some to
show your personality. ASU Surplus is another option. It’s
a good idea to plan, as some items may not be available in
the store and may have to be ordered and shipped to you.
You can also find used furniture and essentials at cheaper
prices at your nearby Goodwill stores and Gracie’s
Thrift Store.
Bike Stores
A big portion of the ASU population uses bikes for
commuting to campus and other daily activities. A few
facts created by the ASU Wellness team about biking to
the campus are listed below:

• People who commute by bicycle are the
happiest commuters.

• On peak days, there are more than 13,500 bicycles on
campus in Tempe.

• Wearing a helmet reduces your chances of serious
injury.

Here are a few resources to buy new and used bikes:
• Walmart

• Bikesaviours

• Facebook Marketplace
Local Grocery Stores
Grocery stores carry a variety of items from fresh meats,
fruits, and vegetables to packaged and canned food as
well as household items like cleaning supplies, paper
products, and health and beauty care. Many offer reward
programs that provide discounts on select items to help
save money. Common grocery stores in the Metro Phoenix
Area include Walmart, Target, Albertsons, Bashas, Food
City, Fry’s and Safeway, etc.

Yelp and Google maps are great resources to find the
locations and directions to the popular groceries store
near your residence.
International Grocery Stores
One of the most common things that international
students miss is food. Nothing can make you feel more
welcome in a new place than the cuisine of your home
country. Whether you want to find your favorite entrée or
side dish or explore flavors from countries other than your
own, there are several international grocery stores to help
you find what you are looking for.
Tempe
• Mekong Plaza (Asian)

• Lotus International Market (Indian)

• Defalco’s (Italian)

• FUJIYA Market (Japanese)

• Haji Baba Middle Eastern Food (Middle Eastern)

• AZ International Marketplace

• Lee Lee International Supermarket – Chandler (Variety)

• H Mart (Asian)
Downtown Phoenix
• Los Altos Ranch Market (Hispanic)

• Yasha From Russia (Russian and Eastern European)
Polytechnic
• El-Rancho Market (Hispanic)

• Mekong Plaza (Asian)

• H Mart (Asian)
West
• Asiana Market (Asian)

• 88 International Market (Variety, Asian, African,
and more)

Shopping Malls

Arizona has a variety of shopping malls where you can find
everything you need from branded stores like Nike, H&M, Forever
21, etc. to service stores like salons and food courts.
Some of the shopping malls close to campus are:

Tempe
• Tempe Marketplace

• Arizona Mills

• Scottsdale Fashion Square

Downtown Phoenix
• Arizona Center

• Biltmore Fashion Park

Polytechnic
• Gilbert Gateway Towne Center

• SanTan Village

• Queen Creek Marketplace

• Chandler Fashion Center

West
• Deer Valley Towne Center

• Arrowhead Mall

Local Restaurants

There are many chain and local restaurants around campus.
There are also many on-campus restaurants where you can find
delicacies from your home country.

Yelp is a great resource to find dining places near you. Doordash,
Uber Eats, and Grubhub are good resources to order food online or
food delivery services.

Mailing Services

The USPS can assist you in mailing parcels around the world,
whether you’re purchasing stamps, packaging, or sending your item.
They will also rent you a P.O. Box to store your mail until you pick it
up. Private companies like FedEx and UPS can also help you with
your shipping needs.

Local Transportation

Arizona State University has four campuses located throughout
the Phoenix Metro area. ASU operates campus shuttles to assist
students in getting around the larger campuses and to and from
each campus. Public transportation is also available so you can
explore the surrounding area in your spare time.

Campus Shuttle
ASU intercampus shuttles offer transportation for students, faculty,
and staff between all campuses: Tempe, Polytechnic, Downtown
Phoenix, and West, with additional routes from Tempe to the Mayo
Clinic and from West to Thunderbird. All you need is your ASU
Sun Card to board. Bicycle and wheelchair accommodations are
available on all buses.

Public Transportation
Several public transportation options include Valley Metro Light
Rail, which has stops on the Tempe and Downtown Phoenix
campuses, Valley Metro Bus, Orbit buses, taxis, Uber or Lyft for
your daily commuting needs - going to campus, buying groceries
and meeting your friends, and more.

The cities of Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, and Glendale all have
information on how to effectively use public transportation to get
you where you need to go.

Driver’s License

Getting a driver’s license is not only necessary if you have a vehicle
or plan on purchasing or operating one during your stay at Arizona
State University – and within the United States, but recommended
to use as a form of ID card while in the U.S. A driver’s license will
provide you with sufficient proof of identity throughout your stay in
the United States. By having an official U.S. identification card, you
will not have to carry your passport around with you all the time.

Visit the Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles office closest to
you to get your ID card or driver’s license. Please check the website
for a list of documents needed to apply for a driver’s license. Make
sure you also read about car insurance requirements in Arizona.

ASU Traditions

Find Your Community
ASU was founded in 1885. After more than 130 years, it’s
no surprise that the university is steeped in lots of
rich traditions.

Your life at ASU will be filled with educational, social,
cultural, and professional activities, engaging you
in academically rigorous research, internships, and
classroom discussions. Your personal development and
social awareness will be enhanced through outside-of-the-
classroom events and opportunities.

Coalition of International Students

The Coalition of International Students aims to
promote communication among all international student
organizations to coordinate and consolidate the activities
of international students while promoting understanding
among the various cultures within the university and
community at large.

SunDevilSync

SunDevilSync is a platform that hosts information
about various clubs and organizations, and their events
throughout the year. You can find organizations based on
your interest and future on-campus and off-campus events
organized by these organizations.

Intramural Sports

Sun Devil Intramural Sports offers members of the ASU
community the opportunity to participate in a variety of
activities in a wide range of skill levels and many different
formats. Sun Devil Intramurals is a great way to enhance
your ASU experience by meeting new people, building
relationships, taking a healthy break from studying or, most
importantly, having fun!

Religion
and Spirituality

Arizona State University is an inclusive community that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds,
religions, and faiths. We encourage students to openly practice whatever faiths and religions they
follow. There are many faith communities surrounding each campus location and we invite you to
explore as many of those communities as you choose.

Downtown Phoenix
• Central United Methodist Church

• Grace Lutheran Church

• Phoenix Community Kollel

• Roosevelt Community Church

• Saint George Anglican Community

• Saint Mary’s Basilica

• Saint Anthony Catholic Church

• Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Tempe

Tempe
• All Saints Catholic Newman Center

• Community Christian Church

• Episcopal Campus Ministries

• First Southern Baptist Church on Mill

• Hillel Jewish Student Center

• International Bible Church

• Islamic Community Center of Tempe

• Lutheran Campus Ministry/University Lutheran Church

• Memorial Union Interfaith Reflection Room

• Tempe Month Meeting of the Religious Society of
Friends – Quakers

• Tempe First United Methodist Church

• Temple Emanuel

• The Faithful City in the Desert Metro-Church

• University Presbyterian Church

Polytechnic
• Chabad Jewish Center of Gilbert

• Church of Jesus Christ of LDS

• Gateway Fellowship Church

• Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church

• Song of Life United Methodist Church

West
• Apostles Lutheran Church

• Apollo Baptist Church

• Chabad House

• Pure Heart Christian Fellowship

• St. Helen Catholic Church

• Christ’s Community Church

Culture

Culture Celebrations
With international students from over 130 different
countries, you have a myriad of opportunities to
celebrate global cultures and languages at ASU. Culture
Celebrations are student-led events throughout the
academic year designed to showcase countries and
cultures from around the world. This is your chance to
get involved, ask questions, support diversity at ASU, and
become a part of an emerging world community.

Heritage Month and Week Celebrations
Throughout the academic year, Arizona State University
dedicates months and weeks to honoring the Sun Devils’
heritage. The rich, diverse community of ASU students
presents many opportunities to celebrate traditions. The
major heritage month and week celebrations include:
Fall 2024
• National Hispanic Heritage Month -
Sept. 15, 2024 - Oct. 15, 2024

• Native American Heritage Month - Nov. 2024

• Out at ASU Week - Oct. 21-25, 2024

• International Education Week - Nov. 18-22, 2024

• Trans Awareness Week - Nov. 14-20, 2024

Spring 2025
• Interfaith Harmony Week - Feb. 1-7, 2025

• Black History Month - Feb. 2025

• Women’s Herstory Month - March 2025

• Accessibility Week - March 17-21, 2025

• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month -
April 2025

• National Arab American Heritage Month - April 2025

• Indigenous Culture Week - April 2-8, 2025

• Spring Pride Week - April 7-12, 2025

International Education Week
International Education Week celebrates the benefits
of international education and worldwide exchanges.
Students, faculty, and staff from all locations collaborate
to design events that showcase the global vision of ASU
and how they can make local and global impact on the
economy, arts & culture, and the environment. It is a
celebratory educational opportunity in November that
fosters globally-minded leaders at ASU.

Preparing
for Success

International Student Engagement
International Student Engagement supports, advocates, and
designs experiences for international undergraduate and graduate
students from admittance through graduation. ISE provides
students with personal and professional development opportunities
outside of the classroom. Students build community, develop their
leadership skills and participate in our many global celebrations.

International Students and Scholars Center
The International Students and Scholars Center works to facilitate
the success of international students during their stay in the U.S.
by providing assistance with F-1/J-1 visa compliance in accordance
with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s and Department
of State’s immigration regulations. We also provide support with
academic integration, employment opportunities, leadership
development, and communication skills.

Social Security Number
In the U.S. a Social Security Number is issued to track earnings
over a worker’s lifetime. Scholars who are employed in the U.S.
must apply for an SSN. F-1 and J-1 students who have secured an
on-campus job are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number.
International scholars who are unemployed are ineligible for an SSN.
The International Students and Scholars Center and the federal
government have more information regarding the requirements to
apply for an SSN.

ASU
Library

ASU Library is home to eight library facilities across four
ASU campuses, providing students and faculty access to
millions of information resources, world-class collections,
outstanding study spaces and research centers, and a
suite of maker services. The Libraries located in the four
different campuses are listed below:
Tempe
• Noble Library
• Hayden Library
• Music Library
• Design and the Arts Library

West
• Fletcher Library
Downtown Phoenix
• Downtown Phoenix Library
Polytechnic
• Polytechnic Library

Creativity Commons
Creativity Commons is the center of information
technology and computing for ASU. The Commons’
Atrium is an open access, 225-workstation
computing site complete with Mac and Windows
workstations. The Commons also provides wired
classrooms and meeting space.

Career Services
Career Services is committed to your career
success. No matter what stage you are at, a student
looking to chart your career path, a new professional
looking to nail down your career goals or a seasoned
professional looking to take the next step, we have
thought about the unique support and resources you
will need.
Career Services offers:
• One-on-one career advising including Global
Career appointments for international students
• Professional mentoring with community partners
and alumni in various career sectors
• Internship and full-time job postings in the U.S.
and globally
• Info sessions targeted towards specific
professional topics
• Hiring events and networking opportunities with
employers and alumni

On-Campus Employment
Gaining real-world experience is vital to your
success. Whether you take a job or volunteer in
your career interest area, college is a great time
to gain experience and explore a variety of areas
to narrow down your career path. You have the
opportunity to earn money for your educational and
living expenses as well as gain valuable skills that put
you ahead of your peers. The skills you obtain from
working complement your academic performance
and communicate to future employers your ability to
succeed in a professional setting. More information
about on-campus employment can be found here.
Benefits to working in a student job:
• Additional financial resources.
• Acquire valuable work experience for your résumé.
• Reduce necessity for student loans.
• Opportunity for networking with professionals.
• Opportunity to sample different career choices.
• Valuable and practical career-related experiences.
• Exposure to the world of work.
• Opportunity to enhance fundamental work skills.
• Develop a sense of community and involvement
with ASU.

Volunteer

Becoming a volunteer allows you to learn more
about areas of possible career interest before
committing to a career field. Volunteering
teaches you to help people while becoming
more involved in your community and
developing communication, critical thinking
and customer service skills. Changemaker
Central and ASU Project Humanities are two
on-campus volunteer organizations. The cities
of Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe have
opportunities as well.

Health
and Wellness

Live Well @ ASU empowers the Sun Devil
community to achieve a healthy lifestyle through
four foundational elements: Live, Feel, Learn and
Engage. Each element helps you build your best you
by contributing to your physical, mental, spiritual,
and social well-being. The information, resources,
and involvement opportunities found in each element
are designed to positively impact your academic
performance, and personal well-being and assist you
in reaching your full potential.

ASU Counseling Services
ASU Counseling Services are for any Sun Devil,
regardless of your race, gender, sexual orientation,
age, student status, religion, ability, size, financial
situation, the issue you’re dealing with or whether
you’ve had counseling before. Something as simple
as talking to someone can help you feel better,
improve your grades and manage stress.

ASU Health Services
ASU Health Services is dedicated to the well-
being and educational success of each individual
student by providing high-quality health care that
is accessible, affordable, and compassionate. ASU
Health Services offers various services which
include Clinical Laboratory, Medication, STI testing,
Radiology and X-Ray, and Immunizations.

International Student Health Insurance
Health Insurance is mandatory for all registered
international students and a condition of enrollment.
Read more about the requirements and AETNA
Student Health Insurance at the International
Student Health Requirements page.

Sun Devil Fitness
ASU’s Sun Devil Fitness enhances the ASU
experience by providing programs, services, and
facilities that promote healthy lifestyles, build
community, and enable student success. Sun
Devil Fitness offers a variety of recreation, fitness
and sports opportunities that include intramurals,
group fitness, personal training, sports clubs and
instructional classes.

Student Accessibility and
Inclusive Services
The Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning
Services provides services to qualified students with
disabilities on all ASU campuses. For convenience,
students will find offices located at the Downtown,
Polytechnic, Tempe, and West locations.

Safety
at ASU

Arizona State University provides a safe, healthy,
and secure environment. ASU is committed towards
maintaining a healthy and secure campus community
for students, staff, and faculty. ASU safety services
include campus police, safety escort services and
safe-zones.

ASU Campus Police
The Arizona State University Police Department is
committed to the safety of ASU students, faculty and
staff. The ASU Police Department main headquarters
are on the Tempe campus, with substations at
Downtown, Polytechnic and West Valley campuses.
The police department operates 24 hours a day,
365 days a year and answers all 911 calls and
administrative phone lines for each campus.

ASU LiveSafe Mobile App
Connect with the ASU Police and campus safety
services through the ASU LiveSafe app. Report
emergencies, request Safety Escort Service, access
ASU crime alerts and more. The ASU LiveSafe mobile
app does not replace 911 emergency services or any
local police department communications.

Safety Escort Services
This service provides safe and free rides across
ASU Tempe’s campus throughout the semester in
ASU golf carts and vans. This service is available
for all staff, faculty, and students on campus seven
days a week from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The service can be
reached by phone at 480-965-1515 and by requesting
a saferide on Livesafe app.

Academic
Support Network

Writing Tutoring
ASU provides a wealth of services to foster the
academic success of our diverse student population.
This system allows you to schedule writing, foreign
language and online writing appointments as well as
schedule your Adaptive Learning exams.

Graduate Writing Tutoring
Graduate students can work with graduate writing
tutors at any stage of the writing process to hone
their writing skills and to receive coaching advice
about navigating graduate life. ASU offers both
online writing tutoring in addition to four on-campus
locations to serve ASU graduate students.

Academic Support Network provides free services
to help you succeed at ASU. Students who take
advantage of these services tend to perform better
academically. All of the tutors and Supplemental
Instruction leaders are current ASU students who
have excelled in their coursework. A few of its
programs are discussed below.

Tutoring and Academic Success
ASU is committed to ensuring you achieve all your
education-related goals by providing a variety of
student success resources.

Tutoring
Academic Support Networks’ tutoring centers offer
free support to enrolled ASU students in Math,
Science, Business, Statistics, and Engineering.
Students can visit the tutoring centers to work with
a peer tutor, attend review sessions before major
exams, and utilize prep sessions to refresh their
knowledge on core concepts to prepare them for
their upcoming coursework.

Explore Arizona

Arizona, a southwestern U.S. state, is best known for the Grand Canyon, the mile-deep chasm
carved by the Colorado River. Flagstaff, a ponderosa pine–covered mountain town, is a major
gateway to the Grand Canyon and home to Northern Arizona University. Another natural site is the
Saguaro National Park which protects the cactus-filled Sonoran Desert landscape. Tucson is the
University of Arizona territory and home to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Arizona Museum of Natural History
The Arizona Museum of Natural History is your
place for dinosaurs that roar and so much more! The
museum is a place for family fun. Where else can
you see a flash flood cascading down a three-story
mountain without getting wet?

I.d.e.a. museum
Developed specifically for kids from birth through
12 years of age. World-class art hangs at children’s
eye level and is interspersed with hands-on craft,
activity, and play areas. Learn more about the
i.d.e.a museum here.

Arizona State University Art Museum
The ASU Art Museum collects and presents works
of art to stimulate, educate and delight a diverse
audience. In particular, the ASU Art Museum strives
to showcase contemporary art, new media, ceramics
and other crafts, prints, art from Arizona and the
Southwest and art of the Americas.

Deer Valley Rock Art Center
In May 2000 Phoenix named this wonderful
attraction in the northwest part of the city a Phoenix
Point of Pride. This is the location of the Hedgpeth
Hills petroglyph site. There are more than 1,500
recorded petroglyphs on almost 600 boulders. Bring
your binoculars! The center is operated by the ASU

Department of Anthropology. Free admission for ASU
students. Deer Valley Rock Art Center.

Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden is located in Papago
Park in central Phoenix. This Phoenix Point of Pride
combines desert plants with desert wildlife that can
both be seen from short trails that are well marked.
Items of interest are described in guidebooks. Check
the events calendar for classes, workshops, concerts
and more.

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting has
almost an acre of fire history exhibits, with over 90
fully restored pieces of fire apparatus on display,
dating from 1725 to 1969. It’s one of our best kept
secrets in the Valley of the Sun.

Papago Park
Located near downtown Phoenix, there are many
wonderful activities at Papago Park. Besides being a
a great urban retreat, there are fishing lagoons, a
very popular municipal golf course, hiking trails, and
unique museums like the Hall of Flame Firefighting
Museum, and an archeological site. You probably will
need a couple of days to enjoy all that this Phoenix
Point of Pride has to offer.

Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum has been open since
1959 and is one of the largest general visual arts
institutions in the Southwest. The collection includes
over 17,000 works and spans the centuries. The
Phoenix Art Museum emphasizes American art,
Asian art, European art of the 14th-19th centuries,
Western American art, Modern and Contemporary
art, Spanish Colonial art and Latin American art,
18th-20th century Fashion Design, and the Thorne
Miniature Rooms. There are also exhibits and special
programs for the younger art lovers.

Phoenix Zoo
This Phoenix Point of Pride is the nation’s largest
privately-owned nonprofit zoo. It has more than 1,300
animals, including 150 endangered or threatened
birds, mammals, and reptiles from around the world.
The Arizona Trail at the Phoenix Zoo focuses on
plants and animals of the American Southwest.
Phoenix Zoo.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Five galleries and a sculpture garden make up
the nucleus of this new facility. Additional exhibits
of interest include displays of international art,
architecture, and design, with a predominant focus
on hometown attributes. Free admission 5-9 pm
on Friday and Saturday.

South Mountain Park
South Mountain Park is the world’s largest municipal
park covering 16,500 acres. Petroglyphs, hiking trails
for all levels, biking, horseback riding and scenic
drives and, of course, picnicking, are the most
popular activities at this spot in southern Phoenix.

Tempe History Museum
The Tempe History Museum is a center where the
community comes together to celebrate Tempe’s
past and ponder the future. It is a community history
museum that explores Tempe’s identity and builds
connections between residents and their community.
Free admission!