Boasting some of the world’s most arresting and unusual geology, the high desert landscape of Arizona and New Mexico presents an ideal canvas for inventive team-building activities, memorable events and just-plain outdoor fun.
Everything from exciting nighttime Hummer rides across the desert terrain to serene float trips along wilderness waterways rich in birdlife are just minutes from resort hotels and downtown meeting venues.
Outdoor experiences are within easy reach of even the region’s most populous city, notes Steve Moore, president of the Greater Phoenix CVB, which recently hosted meeting planners on a fam trip showcasing new developments in downtown Phoenix.
“Their time exploring our vibrant urban core as well as the closeness of the Sonoran Desert is simply explained as ‘seeing is believing’,” he says.
Desert Treks and Tours
The ways to explore the high desert are almost endless, including the chance to hike with llamas in New Mexico’s Ojito Wilderness Area outside of Taos. Working with Wild Earth Llama Adventures, Sally Lane of Destination Southwest, a DMC, arranges llama hiking experiences for meeting groups in the Ojito Wilderness as well as in Bureau of Land Management preserves near Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
“The llamas, which are used to high elevation, are a nice addition to a hike because they are unexpected,” Lane says. “You don’t ride them, but walk with them, as they are not beasts of burden. A lot of times people enjoy leading a llama. It’s an incredible experience.”
The llama hikes, which usually take about two or three hours, are tailored for participants’ abilities, but are generally easy, according to Lane. A gourmet lunch, often featuring hot specialties such as fondue, is part of the experience as well.
For an adrenaline-charged desert adventure of a different sort, groups can ride in military-style Hummers designed to traverse rugged terrain inaccessible to other vehicles. The tours are popular for corporate groups in the Sonoran Desert outside of Scottsdale, says Angela Hofford, director of sales for AlliedPRA Arizona, a local DMC.
“A fun variation is to go out after dark with night-vision goggles, with the chance of seeing nocturnal critters,” she says. “The vehicles run off biodiesel fuel and the drivers stay on the trails, as they are respectful of the desert and are knowledgeable about the plans and geology. Every time I go out, I learn something new” PageBreak
Wilderness Waterways
Water in the desert? While there may not be a lot of it, river excursions by kayak, canoe or raft are plentiful in the Southwest and are great ways to enjoy birdlife and even ancient Native American ruins.
Groups meeting at the new Pivot Point Conference Center in Yuma, Ariz., can easily walk to a landing area at Gateway Park for canoe or kayak excursions on the Colorado River, which runs through town. Along the way, they can explore recently restored wetlands.
“River excursions, which can be for as long as the group wants, are right on our doorstep,” says Ann Walker, spokeswoman for the Yuma CVB. “In the summer, we can also arrange for groups to go tubing in Colorado. Another option is to go out on Lake Martinez on the Colorado King sternwheeler.”
Groups that prefer to explore on land will also find walking trails extending from the conference center to the wetlands nature area, Walker says, adding that the CVB can arrange for a guide to talk about the birdlife and restoration efforts.
In the Verde River Valley outside Sedona, Ariz., AlliedPRA can arrange a “Water to Wine” activity, in which groups take a leisurely river excursion before disembarking for wine tasting at one of the many wineries the region is known for.
“It’s a great trip along a beautiful stretch of the Verde River where you see Sedona’s famous red rock scenery,” Hofford says. “We use inflatable kayaks. It’s not a crazy, white-water thing, but there’s just enough excitement.”
Rare birdlife such as cliff swallows, along with Native American ruins, are among the hidden gems to be found when kayaking along the Salt River outside of Scottsdale, according to Kelley Bolender, business development manager for Southwest Conference Planners, based in Scottsdale.
“People are often surprised that you can kayak here, but it’s a great way to enjoy the Sonoran Desert as you paddle right by cliffs and saguaros,” she says. “You can see wild horses, bald eagles, coyotes, migrating birds and all the different cacti that grow along the river.”
For groups meeting in Albuquerque or Santa Fe, float trips on the Rio Grande are a popular option that blends an environmental experience with a cultural one, says Lane of Destination Southwest. The DMC partners with local outfitters as well as with Native American pueblo communities in offering the excursions.
“We can bring a Native American guide on board who can talk about the history and culture,” she says. “The group can also enjoy Native American feast day items like green chile stew, enchiladas, watermelon and pies. We’ve done this for corporate groups of up to 300 people.” PageBreak
Desert Venues
A perennial favorite for group outings and events, Tucson’s Arizona-Desert Museum is expanding its focus from land plants and wildlife to include the region’s aquatic life. The Warren Aquarium, which opened this month, features an exhibit called “Rivers to the Sea,” spotlighting marine creatures from the Sea of Cortez as well as fresh-water species native to the Arizona rivers that feed into it.
The museum is also the place to see thousands of plant and wildlife species, some of them rare or endangered, native to the Southwest. Set on 100 acres, the mostly open-air museum offers such intriguing features such as a walk-through hummingbird aviary, rocky habitats for mountain lions and bighorn sheep, a cactus garden and a huge collection of fossils, gems and minerals from the desert.
Desert garden vistas are a major part of function spaces at the museum, including the Baldwin Education Building, with its glass-panel wall opening onto an outdoor balcony. Other venues include the 270-seat Warren Theater, the tree-shaded Taylor Plaza and the Ocotillo Cafe, which offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
“We take a lot of groups to the Desert Museum,” Hofford says. “It’s great for both a daytime or dinner event. In addition, there are hiking trails from there into the Saguaro National Forest. The amount of saguaros you see there is jaw-dropping.”
In Phoenix, the Desert Botanical Garden, nestled among the red buttes of Papago Park and home to dozens of rare and endangered plant species, offers tours and activities for groups that go beyond just admiring the landscape. With its open-air pavilions, secluded courtyard and indoor conference areas, the garden is a venue for everything from team-building events and breakout sessions to formal dinners under the stars.
“It’s a great central location that works for both outdoor and indoor events,” Hofford says. “There are outdoor art exhibits that are a real feast for the eyes. And the trails give you a true sense of the desert.”
Right within the city limits of Albuquerque, a ride up the spectacular Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway is an enjoyable and easy way to appreciate the local geological wonders, says Lane of Destination Southwest. Groups can ride the tram up for a dinner or lunch event at the restaurant or take off on one of the hiking trails.
“We can bring a geologist, which really adds to the experience,” Lane says. “The mountain was formed by a rift shoved up from the Rio Grande, so the terrain at the top was once actually under water. You can even find sea fossils up there.”
Maria Lenhart is a former Meetings Focus editor.
