Tag Archives: phoenix

sedona with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

Getaway in Sedona with Events & Adventures Phoenix!

Image

“But it’s a dry heat!” Yeah, right! With it being monsoon season, Arizona has been a little more on the humid side than any of us would like. It’s no secret that Arizona summers can be a tad brutal, but the humidity hasn’t helped. So instead of letting it cramp our style, Events & Adventures Phoenix recently decided to get out of town. We took the party up to Sedona where the weather is more comfortable and the scenery is a pleasant change from our typical urban sprawl. Who am I kidding—Sedona is absolutely beautiful!

We stayed at Sky Ranch Lodge and enjoyed horizon-to-horizon views of the gorgeous blue skies. We soaked in the red rocks and escaped into the quiet serenity of the six-and-a-half acre garden. It was a wonderful escape from the city; it’s hard to believe such beauty is just a few hours away and it was so awesome getting to indulge in the scenery and make memories with friends. We definitely didn’t waste any of the good weather just lounging around our hotel rooms!

On Saturday we went horseback riding through the working ranches of Sedona, riding our way through two stunning vineyards.

On Sunday we put our adventurous side to the test and headed to Flagstaff to challenge our fear of heights and strap up for an obstacle course that did not disappoint. The Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course has multiple large courses with a mixture of 10 to 17 different obstacles and zip lines. From rope swings and hanging nets to wobbly bridges and suspended “surprises”, the courses definitely didn’t let us down (pun intended)! Moving our way from the beginner’s course to the more extreme course brought us closer and closer to the sky. It actually started to get a little dark and gloomy, but the coming storm never interrupted our adventure. In fact, the sounds of thunder made our trek up into the trees quite thrilling!

Our Sedona weekend getaway trip was full of smiles and laughter, and the only obstacles we faced were at the Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course, which we tackled with a “bring it on” attitude. Needless to say, the memories and friendships we made over the weekend were amazing. I can’t wait to get out there and do it again! I guess the summers here aren’t all that bad when you get to escape to beautiful Sedona with good friends from Events & Adventures!

 

4th of July with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

4th of July with Events & Adventures Phoenix

Image

July 4th is so much more fun when you get to spend it with both old and new friends! Events & Adventures Phoenix took the holiday to the lake and spent a few hours dining, relaxing, and making memories that are sure to last a lifetime! We were spoiled with a buffet perfectly filled with everything you need for Independence Day. Our July 4th dinner cruise would not have been complete without a little BBQ, right? We had pulled pork, pulled chicken, beef brisket, BBQ beans, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad! I’m pretty sure a few of us made plates bigger than our stomachs, but can you blame us? The food was amazing and if you saved some room for dessert, there were fudge brownies to indulge in! I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it!

My favorite part of our July 4th evening had to be that the entire dinner cruise was VIP for Events & Adventures members only!

I think the best part about the club is knowing that everyone you interact with is essentially there for the same reason–to do things outside of their comfort zone, enjoy different events they normally wouldn’t try on their own, or to do things they already enjoy while getting to make friendships and potential relationships that are sure to last a lifetime. This dinner cruise really took the pressure off the holiday and it was so nice getting to hang back, relax, viewing a perfectly yellow orange beautiful sunset with such great friends.

To top the evening off we started a dance party on the deck and it was an absolute blast. Some Events & Adventures members rocked out dance moves like never before, others stepped out of their comfort zone and put on their dancing shoes, and some giggled at us lovingly in the distance. Don’t worry, we pulled them out onto the deck and had them join in on our fun and they did not disappoint!  All in all, this 4th of July was definitely one to remember and I couldn’t have been happier with the evening. Consider this 4th of July a challenge by to 2018, because it was surely one to try and beat!

~ Meggie, Events & Adventures Phoenix

Memorial Day Weekend with Events & Adventures
Denver, Phoenix, Travel Events

Memorial Day Weekend with E&A Phoenix

Image

This past Memorial Day weekend Events & Adventures Phoenix took to the open road and made our way out to Copper Cloud Ranch in Kanab, Utah. Our days started with sunrises and ended with sunsets that beautifully lit up over the canyons.

On Saturday, our first full day at the ranch, we made our way to Page, Arizona and right over to Lower Antelope Canyon. Located in a large Navajo reservation that extends from Utah to Arizona to New Mexico, Lower Antelope Canyon—called Hazdistazi, or “spiral rock arches”, by the Navajo Indians—was absolutely breathtaking. Pictures simply don’t do any justice to the canyons once you’ve seen them in person. Our guided tour of the canyon was an hour-long hike led by an experienced guide. It was both spectacular and informative!

Sunday we went paddle boarding and kayaking on Lake Powell. The weather was in the mid-80s and the water was perfect. From playing football to swimming around playing “alligator” to goofing off around the rich blue lake with friends, this Sunday was a total win and one for the books! Not only did we have Phoenix members building friendships and making memories, but we had three members from our new Denver club join in on the fun. We were sad to say goodbye to them because we want to adopt all three of them into Events & Adventures Phoenix. One of them jokingly agreed, but shhh…don’t tell the Denver club that! Even coyotes and roosters wanted to join our party, but we were already in bed by the time they showed up.

This Memorial Day weekend had had everything you’d think of when you think of “camping trip”–and so much more!

We gathered around the campfire to sing and get to know one another. We immersed ourselves in stargazing and pointed out as many constellations as we could. Being in the city, it’s a sight we rarely see and none of us took the clear skies for granted! On the last night, one of our members pulled out his guitar and put on a show for us that brought the whole trip full circle.

Monday morning when everyone was up packing up and getting ready to head out, some of us just weren’t ready for the trip to end yet. We took advantage of where we were and stayed back to view Horseshoe Bend. Whether or not our members were afraid of heights, Horseshoe Bend didn’t keep us from standing on the edge of canyon cliffs that drop 1,000 feet straight into the Colorado River below. The distant panoramic horizon views were mesmerizing. It was the perfect way for us to end our Memorial Day weekend trip.

After seeing not one, but three top Arizona destinations in one weekend, this camping trip was what I’d call an eventful adventure that gave us all memories and friendships we’ll hold onto for life! Only with Events & Adventures can you get this kind of experience.

Hang gliding adventure with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

Hang Gliding with Events & Adventures Phoenix

Image

Events & Adventures Phoenix took things to all new heights and spent Sunday soaring above the city. We went hang gliding and experienced a whole new world. High above the zooming cars, city lights, and endless noise we found ourselves at peace among the birds. We were strapped safely and securely into the harness and got the whole thing started with a little help from a tow rope and an airplane specially designed to pull hang gliders.

Once we smoothly reached 3,000 feet we were released from the plane and left to our own devices… well, okay, maybe not entirely alone. We flew tandem, of course, and with the assistance of our instructors some of us even got to try our hand at piloting the hang glider. Some of the turns were similar to those on a roller-coaster, but nothing crazier than that! The entire experience from start to finish lasted about 15 minutes, but a lot of us felt like we could hang out up there for hours! Landing even seemed as effortless and gentle as the take off and perfectly brought everything full circle.

Some members conquered their fear of heights, others stepped outside of their normal comfort zone, and some members just came along for the ride completely without worry. One member recalled his experience as being incredibly nervous the night before and leading up to the event, but once walking out onto the pavement and towards the hang glider he was filled with a sense of calm. Another member was even lucky enough to glide alongside a red hawk and was left with an unforgettable memory. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience!

From start to finish and with the support of friends, we all knocked something new off our bucket lists.

We even overheard a member that was originally afraid of heights talk about potentially going skydiving in the future! It’s safe to say you can’t knock something until you try it and you never know what experiences might open up a whole new world of adventures. Hang gliding for Events & Adventures was another huge success and we can’t wait to get out there and do it all over again!

Spring training game with Events & Adventures
Phoenix

Spring Training with Events & Adventures Phoenix

Image

Here in Phoenix we have the good fortune of being the West Coast home to the wonderful world of Major League Baseball’s Spring Training games. And frankly, spring with Events & Adventures would not be complete without a fun outing in 70-degree weather to enjoy seeing the Arizona Diamondbacks take on the World Champion Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa. Sloan Park is a baseball park where the primary tenant is the Chicago Cubs, and the ballpark serves as their spring training home, but it’s also the home of the Arizona League Cubs.

Events & Adventures Phoenix attended the sold out spring training game as part of its own exclusive group!

It’s not every day you can get that close to World Series Champions to enjoy hot dogs, beer, and the American pastime. The best part of the game? The socializing of course! The lawn seats are the place to be at any spring training game. New members were amazed at how comfortable they felt stretching out on the lawn while the sun set behind the park. We laughed through all nine innings, with our favorite part being the mascots signing autographs and playfully taunting the other team throughout the stadium. There were two home runs and lots of fouls, but despite our high hopes we’ll have to wait till next time to catch one.

And in case you are wondering—yes, the Diamondbacks hit a home run right into the concession stand! Speaking of which, if you weren’t sure that a bacon-filled heaven actually exists—we can confirm it does if you are a baseball fan in Arizona! You could tell which team a fan was rooting for—the Zonies were ordering the 18-inch corn dog stuffed with cheddar cheese, jalapenos, and bacon, served with a side of fries, while other fans ordered the Chicago deep dish pizza.

Although Sloan Park is not their home field, the Diamondbacks sure made it feel that way as they won the game by the score of 7 to 3! It’s always exciting when the members of Events & Adventures Phoenix can get together for any sporting event, but it’s even sweeter when the home team comes away with the win.

Events & Adventures Phoenix New Year's Event
Phoenix

Events & Adventures Phoenix Rings in 2017

Image

Events & Adventures Phoenix brought in the New Year with style—Great Gatsby style, that is—as we rang in 2017 at the spectacular Sheraton Grand Phoenix Hotel. There was no more fitting place than the Sheraton Grand Phoenix to celebrate a new year like it’s the Roaring ’20s; it’s right in the heart of Phoenix, just steps away from the convention center, restaurants, arenas and museums.

Old and new Events & Adventures friends gathered their best 1920s gear and showed us all that a little party never killed anybody. Dressed to the nines, everyone showed off a bit of their personality with their best ’20s get-ups. Flapper dresses, boas, long strands of pearls, fedoras and suspenders lined the dance floor as everyone showed off their best moves while the DJ spun away.  To keep the memories of the night alive we had a photo booth that beautifully captured the laughs, happiness, and fun of the evening.

Nobody Parties Like Events & Adventures Phoenix

And the fun didn’t stop there! As we clinked glasses and cheered to new friendships courtesy of our open bar, we also played our best hands at the blackjack table in true 1920s fashion. For all of those eager to find out what their new year had in store for them, we were also guested with a psychic who provided tarot readings and good fortune for all. Events & Adventures Phoenix couldn’t have thought of a better way to say “out with the old and in with the new” than at this event. As we all counted down those 60 seconds to a brand new year full of endless, exciting, and adventurous possibilities, everyone seemed to be ear to ear with happiness as we toasted in 2017.

Let’s just say the Great Gatsby himself had nothing on this event! There really is no better way to ring in a new year than with Events & Adventures. We are so excited for the New Year and to share in all of those adventurous New Year’s resolutions. Say hello to 2017 with new friends, new adventures, and a new you!

trampoline dodgeball with Events & Adventures Phoenix
Phoenix

Dodgeball Competition Heats Up in Phoenix

Image

Dodgeball is no longer just a kids’ game played during gym class in junior high with the jocks teasing the nerds.

Nope, dodgeball is now an adult game played for fun in leagues across America, and last week we decided to get it on right here in Glendale, Arizona at Jump Street.  It’s a great way to spend time with your friends while getting in a competitive workout, so the members of Events & Adventures Phoenix did battle five-on-five—with the added twist of blending in a trampoline to raise the stakes, and insanity level. We picked our teams, decided our strategies, and summoned our inner Patches O’Houlihan!

Even if you were never very competitive before, that part of you will reveal itself when it comes down to deciding who will be the last man standing after a game of dodgeball.  The good news is that no matter how hard a ball is thrown even a direct hit on the chest does more stinging than any real harm.  It starts out with members of each team lining up on the base line and charging to center court on a whistle or clap to pick up as many of four balls as possible to be thrown at the other team. But first, each team must retreat behind the free throw line before attempting to hit an opponent.

Some teams will have a certain technique, while others will not.  The most common strategy is to target the other team’s best player and whip several balls at him or her in a coordinated barrage, presuming the player cannot dodge them all.  It took me several times to figure out how to actually dodge the ball rather than attempting to catch it flying at me.  When a team is ahead in the number of players remaining, another tactic is to pick out an opposing individual and bull-rush him until he is tagged. Play continues until one team is out of players.  Teamwork will win more games than rogue individual play.

So how does the trampoline factor into the dodgeball game?  Well if you’re able to go out and enjoy any activity when you’re laughing at yourself after repeatedly falling down, then you’re the perfect candidate to attempt this workout of a game on a trampoline!  At the end of the night, not only will your thigh muscles and arms burn from a good workout, your sides will probably hurt from all the laughs.  Trampoline dodgeball is definitely a lot more fun than just working out the gym.

As famed dodgeball coach Patches O’Houlihan once said, “If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball.”  So next time you want to try it, join Events & Adventures for an intense and hilarious round of dodgeball!

Fun event with Events and Adventures Phoenix
Phoenix

Events & Adventures Arizona has a Fresh new Outlook on Camping

Image

Nothing is more American than pitching a tent, building a bonfire and grabbing a cold one while being surrounded by friends.  Camping is a summer getaway, a rite of passage, and gives us a sense of nostalgia.  It’s the best way to remove yourself from your daily routine and step back into an easier way of life.  If you are not typically a camper or outdoorsy person you’re in luck, because here in Arizona we have the perfect camping environment.  Not only is it just a short drive north to get away from the heat, the dry weather keeps the bugs at bay, and the cooler weather makes it perfect for swimming or cozying up next to the fire. Northern Arizona has beautiful water sources for kayaking, high rising evergreens that canopy the area with shade, and amazing evenings with clear, starry skies.

Events & Adventures takes this as an opportunity to help you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind on Memorial and Labor Day weekends. This Memorial Day weekend we will be heading to Cottonwood, do some hiking amongst the Red Rocks of Sedona and kayak in the Verde River. The nights will be spent fireside getting to know new friends, and reminiscing about past adventures.  Outdoorsy or not, Events & Adventures has you covered.  There will be camping experts at your disposal that will teach you how to rough it for the three days, or how to “glamp” up your campsite to make it just as glamorous as your own bedroom.

As the summer months roll in, Events & Adventures will be taking to the high country multiple times. We’re going to the Mt. Lemmon cabins for 4th of July weekend (with all the hotel luxuries you need, while still getting to enjoy the outdoors) and tent camping again up north for Labor Day.  The days in the valley are getting warm, so join Events & Adventures for the perfect escape from the heat and stress!

Fun traveling with Events & Adventures Phoenix
Phoenix

Live Your Bucket List With Events & Adventures Phoenix

Image

What’s on your bucket list? Skydiving? A trip to Peru?  How about visiting Australia, the Amazon, Cuba or Ireland? Maybe even river rafting at the Grand Canyon or facing your fear of heights on a zipline? Events & Adventures has done all of this, and a lot more. We have a “bucket list-worthy” activity every month. In fact, this month alone our club is going skydiving, white water rafting, horseback riding, whale watching and visiting Ireland, with trips to Spain and the Grand Canyon coming up later this year!

Every person should have the adrenaline-filled adventure of jumping and falling gracefully from a perfectly good airplane, taking a kayak into the river and feeling the sheer force of the elements at its finest, or flying high above the ground on a zipline.  But don’t worry, if an adrenaline rush isn’t your thing we can find another kind of adventure that’s more your speed. For example, maybe a trip to Ireland where you and 30 of your new friends will explore the Irish country-side and partake in local St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? And then later this year we will tour the old world historic cities of Spain and take a peek into the frozen in time island of Cuba!  We also plan to take a boat up the Amazon River and witness the wonders of the untouched civilizations of the rainforest.

Once you’ve checked off everything on your current bucket list alongside Events & Adventures you’ll have time to create a new one.  With Events & Adventures you have the opportunity to have experiences you never thought possible for yourself, adventures that are more thrilling and exciting than you could possibly have dreamed.  This all happens while you are making new friends both in your city and around the world.  So whether you are an adrenaline junkie, or a quiet explorer, Events & Adventures can be your ticket to the life and experiences you’ve always wanted.

Phoenix

Have a Busy and Exciting Weekend without any Planning

Image

For so many of us weekends come and go way too quickly.  Before you even have time to plan what you’ll be doing Friday night, the alarm clock is going off and signaling the start of Monday morning. But that hasn’t been a problem for our club members since they joined Events & Adventures.

This last weekend we had tons of plans scheduled, with no thought needed on the members’ side—all we had to do was show up and have a good time. Our Friday night was a late one with bingo after dark. The casino where we spent the night created a bingo-meets-night-club atmosphere for entertainment.  It sounds crazy but we were actually playing bingo while also hitting the dancefloor.  Could you keep up with the numbers while a dance party grooves all around you?

On Saturday morning we spent a beautiful day in the desert.  Clear skies, 70 degree weather and lots of Events & Adventures friends learning to shoot clay pigeons with the shotguns.  One of our members was such a good shot; he was able to hit four clay pigeons with one load, and two shots—entertaining and impressive! Then the night was filled with custom built pizza, a personal pizza truck, craft beer, and Cards Against Humanity.

Sunday we slowed it down and took to the trails and rode horses into the sunset. This quiet, peaceful ride through the desert was the perfect way to wrap up a fun, eventful and adventure-filled weekend.
There’s so much to do with Events & Adventures there’s no need to plan your weekend.  Spend your week concentrating on what you need to get done; and then when the weekend comes around your R&R is all ready for you.  Whether you’re looking for something adventurous to do on your weekends, or an opportunity to meet and have fun with new friends, Events & Adventures has you covered.  Next weekend will be filled with even more new adventures, so check us out. We’ll be doing things like city scavenger hunts, bumping each other around at bubble soccer, or jumping out of planes on our quarterly skydiving adventure!  And all in one weekend!