Dynamic Deserts: Resource Uncertainty in Arid Environments
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Local Information
Maps and Directions to ASU
Visit this site for directions, parking information, and a map of the Tempe campus: http://www.asu.edu/map
Travel
Getting Here: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX) is only a few minutes from campus and area hotels. It is a major international airport serviced by most carriers.
Getting Around: The city of Tempe’s Orbit bus service is free and capable of taking you to and from most areas of Tempe. For larger-scale commuting, the Valley Metro buses can get you around the greater Phoenix area. Most buses come every 15 minutes, and you can get almost anywhere from ASU’s campus without transferring. You can take a taxi or the less expensive Super Shuttle to get to your hotel. If you are planning to go out of bus range, most major commercial car rental companies are available at the airport. For a local, more flexible option, you may want to take advantage of Zipcar, a service with several locations on or near ASU’s campus that allows users to pay for vehicles by the hour. Keep in mind that there are several hotels and dining options within walking distance of the ASU campus (see below). Finally, the new light rail should be operational by the conference and should transport people between ASU, the Airport, downtown Phoenix, and many area attractions.
Hotels
Hotel Reservations can be made at either the Twin Palms Hotel or the Courtyard Tempe Downtown. Both hotels are within walking distance of campus, but many other options are available in the surrounding area.
For those Dynamic Desert Conference participants who are interested in sharing accommodation, we will maintain a list of attendees searching for roommates. We will email you a copy of the list so that you may contact potential roommates directly. Please try to submit your Room Sharing information to resource.uncertainty@gmail.com as early as possible while appropriate room accommodations are still available.
Room Share Form: Word document | PDF
Twin Palms
We have reserved a limited number of rooms here for conference participants at a reduced rate of $99 per night for single and double occupancy. Please ask for the ASU rate and say you are with the “Dynamic Deserts” conference when you make your reservation. Reserve early as space is limited. Reservations must be made by February 1st to receive this rate.
Twin Palms
225 East Apache Boulevard
Tempe, AZ 85281
(800) 367-0835
(480) 967-9431
Website
Courtyard Tempe Downtown
We have reserved a limited number of rooms here for conference participants at a reduced rate of $140 per night for single and double occupancy. Please ask for the ASU rate and say you are with the “Dynamic Deserts” conference when you make your reservation. Reserve early as space is limited. Reservations must be made by January 25th to receive this rate.
Courtyard Tempe Downtown
601 South Ash Avenue
Tempe, Arizona 85281 USA
(480) 966-2800
Website
Four Points by Sheraton
1333 Rural Road
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 968-3451
Website
University Motel
902 South Mill Avenue
(480) 966–7221
Tempe Mission Palms
60 E. 5th St.
(480) 894–1400
Website
Restaurants
Good local restaurants and cafes within walking distance of campus.
There are several restaurants and bars (as well as some shopping) on Mill Avenue between University and Rio Salado.
Go here for more info: http://www.downtowntempe.com
Natural Attractions
Local Birding: ASU Campus – Bird life is surprisingly abundant on the ASU campus with an interesting mix of native desert birds and urban specialists. Notable species on campus include:
Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
Abert’s Towhee (Pipilo aberti)
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)
Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
Curve–billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
Great–tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Peach–faced Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis)
Desert Botanical Garden – This is a beautiful garden with a wide variety of desert plants from the Sonoran desert and beyond as well as displays highlighting the ethnobotany of the local region. This is a good location to find common desert residents and wintering sparrows and warblers
This popular city park is home to scenic red rock formations and common desert resident birds including numerous Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) and cooperatively hunting Harris’s hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus).
Rio Salado project
Although still in the early stages of restoration, this riparian corridor through urban Phoenix has yielded sightings of more than 200 species of birds.
Gilbert Water Ranch is one of the most popular birding sites in the valley. This complex of ponds and riparian edge habitat is an excellent location to look for waterfowl, wading, and shorebirds. The water ranch also boasts an impressive list of rare bird sightings including Streak–back Oriole (Icterus pustulatus) and Groove–billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris).
This is an impressive desert park at the southern edge of town with miles of trails to explore.