The Deals are Hot and So is the Weather in Sunny Arizona

Tempe, Arizona - As the temperature begins to plummet in Canada, people’s desire to escape the cold rises. Chandler, Mesa and Tempe, collectively known as Sunny Arizona, are well poised to keep Canadians in the warm sunshine where they can discover the many distinct shopping opportunities available. Leave the boots and mitts at home and bring the sunglasses, bathing suit and sunscreen instead. And with the Canadian dollar almost at par to the US dollar, it has never been a better time to shop.

Snowfall under the Desert Sky
Most people think of the holidays as a time when there’s a chill in the air and snow on the ground. That’s not the case in Sunny Arizona, however Tempe Marketplace is making the best of it. There will be a nightly “snowfall” at 7 p.m. from November 27-December 24. For 10-12 minutes, visitors can pretend like they’re walking in a winter wonderland, and then continue their holiday shopping at fashionable specialty stores and large national retailers. No salt or shovels are required.

Don’t forget the Skates
Continuing with the holiday mood, visitors will find a trip to Historic Downtown Chandler on November 28 a complete destination for the holidays with a synthetic skating rink, Dickens Carolers, and plenty of boutiques, galleries and independent eateries and Arizona’s original golf resort; the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Golf Resort….all decorated to keep one merry!

Let’s Swap (jewelry, clothing that is!)
In Mesa, travelers can hunt for bargains during the holidays with affordable shopping opportunities strewn throughout Arizona’s third-largest city. At 55 acres, the always popular Mesa Market Place Swap Meet offers visitors a full day of treasure hunting excitement with more than 1,600 booths displaying an assortment of reasonably priced goods that run the gamut. Everything from home furnishings, clothing, memorabilia, jewelry, books, food and tools can be found here at bargain prices. Local Arizona products are a big draw with many craftspeople selling custom items ready for on-site personalization.

Discounts for Canadians in Fashion
Of course, Chandler keeps the discriminating shopper very busy. First and foremost is the Chandler Fashion Center, an upscale regional mall anchored by Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Macy’s, and Sears, which will be decked out for the holidays with extended shopping hours, kids train, and plenty of time for a photo op with Santa. For tourists, a stop at the concierge desk with one’s out of state ID will net a shopping/dining coupon book with $500+ in savings! In fact, hot shopping locales dot all areas of the city, including Chandler Pavilions and Casa Paloma with chic boutique shops and plenty of places to do lunch or enjoy a special night out.

Golf Central
Chandler is also home to Arizona’s first PGA Tour Superstore, with 50,000 square feet of golf and tennis equipment along with professional instruction - perfect for those heading to the links at Chandler’s Troon-managed Ocotillo Golf Resort with its 27 hole Ted Robinson design.

Holiday Shopping Paired with Sunshine
For a more sophisticated shopping experience, tourists can pair holiday shopping with planned events at the upscale shops of Dana Park Village Square. This 400,000-square-foot fashion-focused lifestyle center features include some of the nation’s most popular high-end retailers and unique boutiques paired with wide pedestrian walkways, spacious patios for dining al fresco, fountains and palm-tree-lined driveways. The holiday season will feature Family Night activities where guests can enjoy complimentary entertainment, dancing, take-home craft activities and more on the fourth Wednesday of each month - not to mention the many retail holiday sales offered through December.

Lighting it Up in Tempe
With more than 175 outlets and destination retailers, Arizona Mills is always a popular with bargain shoppers. This year, those great deals start even sooner when doors open at midnight on Thanksgiving to help shoppers get a jump start on their holiday shopping. Tempe’s Mill Avenue District will be aglow with thousands of twinkling holiday lights during the APS Fantasy of Lights event, from November 27 through the New Year. Shoppers can find unique holiday gifts at the charming boutiques along Mill Avenue or at the Tempe Festival of the Arts, December 4-6, with more than 400 artists selling their work. Visitors can also buy Arizona-made clothing, jewelry, edibles and more at the Market on Mill, every Thursday evening from 5-9 p.m.

This winter there will be 80 direct flights a week to Phoenix from Canadian gateway cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto in addition to other flights via various cities. WestJet begins new service from Vancouver-Phoenix on January 17, 2010.

November 18, 2009   Posted in: United States West