Get Schooled: Arizonas College Towns Offer Tons for Tourists!

Although you may be past the point in your life where toga parties and all-nighters are considered a good time, youre never too old to have fun in Arizonas college towns. There are three major universities in the Grand Canyon State, and each has its own unique personality. The cities that are home to each school have benefited by the schools presence, being able to offer more cultural, educational and entertainment activities. Let class begin:

Start off with Arizonas largest university, Arizona State University, which is home to more than 49,000 students. And with a large number of international students, its got some of the best and most varied restaurant food around. Hungry visitors will find everything from microbreweries to Mexican, and Ethiopian to Swedish fare. The place to be in Tempe is Mill Avenue, the most concentrated area of restaurants, cafes, nightlife and shops in Arizona. Youll enjoy the ease with which you can walk from o­ne place to the next, all along o­ne main street. If youre feeling active, check out Tempe Town Lake, where you can boat and fish, plus the adjacent Tempe Beach Park, where you can rent bicycles or in-line skates, and if youre lucky, attend o­ne of many festivals that occur here throughout the year. o­n campus, catch a show at Gammage Auditorium, the last public structure that famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed.  And stop in any of the more than 20 free museums and galleries o­n campus, including the ASU Art Museums Ceramics Research Center, which has 7,200 square feet of gallery, open storage, archival and research space. Then climb A mountain next to Sun Devil stadium for incredible views of the ASU campus and beyond. Go to www.tempecvb.com for more.

Located in Arizonas second-largest city, University of Arizona in Tucson is a feast for the senses. See the stars at Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium, which features educational shows and telescope viewing for all ages. Listen to a concert at Centennial Hall and enjoy the silence while viewing an exhibit at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Also located o­n campus, the Center for Creative Photography is not to be missed. This museum, archive and research center features more archives and individual works by 20th century North American photographers than any other museum in the nation. Then, take a stroll along Fourth Avenue and enjoy the funky, bohemian atmosphere of the more than 100 shops that line this tree-shaded street. Touch and try o­n the vintage clothing and jewelry, and take a seat to get a feel for the custom-made furniture for sale in several shops. Then let your nose guide you to the right restaurantCarusos and Delectables are local favorites. Finish your day with tasteenjoy a pint at either Frog & Firkin, an English-style pub or Gentle Bens Brewing Company, which has been a U of A favorite for more than 20 years. For additional information, go to www.visittucson.org.

Finally, head north to Flagstaff to take in Northern Arizona University. This unique Route 66 town is the perfect balance of funky creativity and polished sophistication. With a population of o­nly 62,000, the 16,000 students at NAU definitely make this mountain town a college town. It also boasts some of the most incredible natural attractions in the statedont miss Sunset Crater National Monument, Meteor Crater and Walnut Canyon National Monument, which features ancient Native American ruins. And in winter, dont miss some of the best skiing in the West at Arizona Snowbowl, located in the San Francisco Peaks mountain range, which boasts the highest point in the state. For a taste of the Mother Road, try Galaxy Diner for dinner and the Museum Club for drinks and live entertainment. After dinner, stargaze at Lowell Observatory, and youll be interested to learn that Flagstaff was the first International Dark Sky City in the United States. Wrap up your night and learn about Flagstaffs pioneer history at Charlys Pub in the Weatherford Hotel or the cocktail lounge at Hotel Monte Vista. For more, go to www.flagstaffarizona.org.

Dont be absent from Arizonas college towns. Make the grade and set up your trip at www.ArizonaGuide.com.