Activities
*There are so many activities for each and every military base that we’re asking for your help and listing them. So please tell us what you think the next person PCSing to your location should know about activities on or off base for you and your family.
*The 56th Services Squadron is responsible for enhancing the quality of life for the world's largest fighter wing by providing a range of mission supporting recreational, educational, and life enriching activities. The programs managed by 56th SVS squadron include officer and enlisted clubs, dining facilities, fitness and bowling centers, library, community and outdoor recreation, youth and child development centers, lodging, mortuary affairs, and honor guard programs in support of 93,000 military, civilian, and retired family members. The squadron is also responsible for base exchange and commissary liaison as well as the Fort Tuthill off-base recreation area located in Flagstaff AZ.
*There are a variety of activities available both on and off base. This is a large metropolitan area with entertainment and educational programs offered year round. On base, the Youth Center offers activities throughout the year from sports to educational and social events. There are pre-teen (6-12) and teen (13-18) programs which change from month to month. The local community offers special programs to meet any child's interests. Contact the various Chambers of Commerce for bulletins of local events. Many of these are mailed on a regular basis to residents within the city. Local newspapers regularly list activities. Also the Airman and Family Readiness Center has flyers and pamphlets on local area events.
*Each month the Youth Center publishes a calendar listing their activities. There are programs available after school, weekends and during the summer. The base has tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, racquetball courts, swimming pools and a gym at the Youth Center. The local community is filled with recreational opportunities.
*Regardless of your interests, there is always something to do in the Valley of the Sun. Theaters, museums, sporting events, festivals, concerts and southwestern cultural activities are just a few of the activities available. The metropolitan area is also the home to six major league sports teams. In addition, several events occur throughout the year; the Fiesta Bowl Parade and football game, FBR Open Golf Tournament, Glendale Glitters and Glows - Hot Air Balloon Spectacular, Skoal Bandit Cooper World Classic, Arizona State Fair, Winston Cup 500, and Old Town Tempe Festival of the Arts. The Valley of the Sun is also home to the Cactus League, the spring training camps for 12 Major League Baseball teams.
*If boating and fishing is your interest, though we are in the middle of a desert, these activities are also available.
*This is only a sampling of the many various activities held throughout the year. For more information on these activities or a more complete calendar go to "Contacts/Links" for related websites and more up-to-date information.
*RECREATION - The outdoor enthusiast soon finds that Arizona offers perfect conditions to explore and enjoy many scenic and recreational pursuits. There is something for everyone to do and see from Lake Powell to Nogales and from Yuma to the White Mountains. The Grand Canyon offers the visitor a truly scenic feast, with a rainbow of desert colors and hues from many viewing points along the north and south rims. Helicopter and airplane tours are available for the adventurous. Don't miss the Petrified Forest or the majestic Monument Valley, with its towering rock monoliths on the valley floor. Experience extinct volcanoes near Flagstaff, beautiful red rock mesas in Sedona, unusual rock formations at Granite Dells near Prescott, or deep canyon reservoirs like Saguaro Lake. The state has two national parks and 14 national monuments, along with seven national forests. Snow skiing and jet skiing are just a few hours away. Close by, in Phoenix, Camelback and South Mountains offer good hiking, with outstanding views accessible by car. Golf and tennis lure people from all over the world to the Valley's many spectacular facilities and private clubs. More than 1,000 courts and 70 golf courses provide everyone the opportunity to take part in a favorite sport. Casino gaming is just a few miles away with five major casinos just outside the Phoenix area.
*SPORTS - For those who enjoy spectator sports, the valley is the home to both professional and collegiate teams. The NBA Phoenix Suns, the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, the NFL Arizona Cardinals, the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, the WNBA Phoenix Mercury and the NLL Arizona Sting all call the Valley of the Sun home. Twelve MLB teams make up the Cactus League for spring training. They are the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Seattle Mariners, the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Texas Rangers, the Arizona Diamondbacks, The Los Angeles Angels, the Colorado Rockies and the Chicago White Sox. Arizona State University is the proud home of the Sun Devils football team of the PAC 10. Racing buffs can look forward to auto racing events day and night throughout the year at the Phoenix International Raceway and Firebird International. Dog and horseracing tracks are also available (Phoenix Greyhound Park and Turf Paradise). In the old-Western tradition, rodeos are held throughout the year in the Valley of the Sun. Top-ranked cowboys provide western flavor and top-flight competition. You can obtain discounted tickets for many games and special events at the Information Ticket and Tours office at the base Recreation Center.
Homes Near Base
