Despite Arthur Frommer’s feelings about the Grand Canyon State, people seem to be ready to head out to Phoenix this fall. It is possible that his opinion might not have made it through to everyone yet, or it’s possible that nobody cares what Frommer thinks. Even though things are slow due to the economy, the Valley of the Sun appears to keep drawing the crowds into town.

According to the 2009 Travel Leaders Fall Travel Trends Survey—catchy name—the Phoenix and Scottsdale area sits just outside the top ten at number 11 among destinations booked throughout the rest of the year. People must want to avoid the cool crisp days of autumn at any cost. About 75 percent of those asked said that trips were down compared to last year overall, and about 60 percent said they had a good feeling about the strength of the fall travel season. Let's just hope the travel season isn't too strong, we're getting used to all the great deals. ]]> kjb 2009-09-10T09:13:50-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/3/125855/4687

Become an informed consumer while still on vacation! Check out Jaunted's newest series of the Best Factory Tours the world over, and let us know if we missed any.

Ever heard the urban legend about how peeling the top layer of a golf ball will cause it to explode? Us too! We expect a tour of Karsten Manufacturing, maker of Ping golf balls, to clear this mystery up for us.

Karsten Manufacturing founder Karsten Solheim got into golf as a young engineer when his coworkers at General Electric strong-armed him into joining their foursome; the putter he subsequently designed first made a big splash when a winner at a Phoenix PGA tournament used it. At Karsten in Phoenix, you can watch club heads being molded in a machine and later, real-life orders personalized for golfers around the world. ]]> egw 2009-09-03T16:29:45-05:00 33.5849080 -112.10447 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/8/27/213623/732

Travel guru Art Frommer proclaimed on his blog recently that he's putting a moratorium on vacationing in Arizona because of its lax gun laws. To clarify his position, Frommer said he was alarmed that the state's gun statutes allowed about a dozen armed people, including one toting an assault rifle, to sit outside a place where President Obama was speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He said:

I will not personally travel in a state where civilians carry loaded weapons onto the sidewalks and as a means of political protest. I not only believe such practices are a threat to the future of our democracy, but I am firmly convinced that they would also endanger my own personal safety there. And therefore I will cancel any plans to vacation or otherwise visit in Arizona until I learn more.

If you need to beat the summer heat of the Phoenix desert, hop in your car and head north towards Sedona. Not only will the weather be slightly cooler, but you’ll also be able to take a trip down a waterslide custom built by Mother Nature. Slide Rock State Park will entertain you with beautiful views of the area’s red rocks as well as provide a little thrill as you slide down the stream.

In the olden days, the park and surrounding area served as an apple farm, but now it greets visitors daily. Right next to the original homestead sits Slide Rock, a slippery bottom creek that serves as a water chute for those looking to get wet. Remember to tell your grandparents that you checked out this place; they’ll love hearing that James Stewart, Rock Hudson, and John Wayne all shot moves here in the 1950s.

For most of the year the fee for carloads to enter the park is $8, but until Labor Day the summer fee will set you back $10. It seems like a pretty good deal to enjoy an afternoon of hiking, sightseeing, and splashing around. Just remember to start your day here early, otherwise you’ll be hovering around looking for a parking spot. They often have to close the lot on weekends, because it’s just so darn popular.

Related Stories:
· Slide Rock State Park [Official Site]
· Cool Off In North Carolina With Nature's Own Water Slide [Jaunted]
· Active Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: edwindavila] ]]> kjb 2009-07-22T14:41:27-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/2/7759/73567

When you think of Phoenix in the summer, you probably think of the sweltering heat and imagine yourself dodging in and out of the comfort of air conditioning. A relaxing trip down a river in a tube doesn’t even seem like a possibility, but it is, and you can beat the summer rays only 30 minutes outside the city.

After a short ride towards Mesa, you’ll find yourself floating and bobbing along the Lower Salt River in the middle of the Tonto National Forest. Although tubing is usually a relaxing experience, there are some rapids along this route to keep you on your toes. Also, they encourage picnicking along the river and even rent out special tubes to float your cooler right along side your group. ]]> kjb 2009-07-02T10:42:20-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/18/10393/6805

A common misconception about volunteer vacations is that they can quickly get to be expensive endeavors. A new travel guide, "Volunteer Vacations Across America" by Sheryl Kane, however explains how you don’t have to shell out big bucks or travel half way around the world to get the satisfaction of helping others. "The biggest misconception about volunteer vacations is that they have to be very pricey, which isn't always the case," Kayne says. In the book, Sheryl lists more than 200 inexpensive volunteer programs right here in the U.S.

The opportunities for volunteering include outdoorsy destinations like national parks, summer camps for kids and animal sanctuaries like the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary in Tucson, AZ. ]]> cmb 2009-06-18T13:32:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/6/18/72932/9622

Before we felt it right to make our way to one of the country’s best ice cream parlors, we had to backtrack for a moment and hit up one of the country’s best pizza places first. Located in a historic square along Phoenix’s downtown border, Pizzeria Bianco has been the pizza Mecca for crust aficionados across the country.

We knew that Bianco was a must-eat during our visit to Arizona, so we headed to the restaurant at 4:30 pm, as the place opens at 5:00, and only takes reservations for six or more. From what we’d read, we knew we’d have to wait, but we didn’t totally believe that our wait would be as long as it was. When we arrived, the line was already way down the block, and by the time we finally sat down and were rewarded with two delicious pies, it had become a five-hour journey. ]]> kjb 2009-06-18T10:02:13-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/