Heather Wright Schlichting: Hi everyone! I'm Heather, PlanetEye Traveler writer who covers Phoenix and the state of Arizona, formerly The Phoenix Traveler. I'm a PR pro in Scottsdale who has grown to love my adopted state of Arizona. I enjoy food, wine tasting, live music, hiking, biking, theatre, dance, and exploring attractions in and around Phoenix. I look forward to introducing you to all the exciting and wonderful places and events that my town and the amazing state of Arizona have to offer. We're not just a desert, but a variety of awe-inspiring landscapes that include the red rocks of Sedona, the Mogollon Rim in Payson and Pine, and the Aspen trees in Flagstaff. And darn it, we’ve got the Grand Canyon, one of the top ten natural wonders of the world! If you’re a Phoenician, an Arizona resident or planning to visit our lovely state and are looking for museums, festivals, nightlife, outdoor adventures or unique getaways, then let the PlanetEye Traveler be your guide. Refer to us daily as your travel website destination and tell your friends about us. Thanks for visiting. Check me out on Twitter at @azcitychik. Heather Wright Schlichting

A library card with travel benefits

The newly designed Phoenix Public Library card (a key chain card available now, too) comes with a travel benefit. Library cardholders can visit Phoenix Art Museum and receive $2 off general admission. Just present the library card when you purchase your tickets. The discount is for a maximum of four people per household, so you could save up to $8–almost the price of admission for one adult. There is no cost to apply for a library membership card if you’re a resident of Maricopa County....

January 3rd, 2009 | Phoenix | Read More

Phoenix: A top 10 U.S. travel destination

According to Travel Leaders (the travel experts formerly known as Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates), Phoenix, Ariz., gets high ranks as a travel destination for 2009. More than 540 Travel Leaders owners, managers and frontline travel experts throughout the United States weighed in on a survey taken at year-end 2008. In that survey, they ranked Phoenix in the top 10, placing the metro area #6 on the list of places people plan to visit in 2009. But with an increasing unsettled economy, people are...

January 3rd, 2009 | Phoenix | Read More

Phoenix Preserve Showcases Petroglyphs Dating Back to 5000 BC

The hummingbirds are buzzing, the jackrabbits stirring. It’s late afternoon, and the desert has come to life at the Deer Valley Rock Art Center where you can explore evidence of past human activity and learn about its connection to life today. It’s a family-friendly museum, nature preserve and archaeological site with the largest concentration of Native American rock art in Phoenix. Petroglyphs, More Than Just Squiggly Lines At the center, you’ll learn all about petroglyphs, the oldest...

January 3rd, 2009 | Phoenix | Read More

Rail travel popular again in the U.S.

Speaking of light rail and trains, train travel made a comeback in popularity in 2008, according to an article in World Hum, a travel publication that speaks to the global world. The author indicated it had to do with our carbon footprint, that train travel makes less of a dent than other forms of travel. I think train travel is about to get more attention this month in the United States. If you haven’t heard this already, President-elect Barack Obama is expected to ride into Washington D.C.,...