< Previous20 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Ottawa.edu/OUAZ 15950 N Civic Center Plaza | 855.546.1342 In the heart of downtown Surprise, you will find the beautiful campus of Ottawa University – Arizona (OUAZ), a four-year residential university that offers liberal arts and professional education. Uniquely integrated into the Surprise Civic and Recreation Campus, the university’s 15-acre campus includes administration and classroom space, a student union, residence hall and the O’Dell Center for Athletics which is anchored next to Spirit Field. OUAZ boasts 28 men’s and women’s athletic teams - the Ottawa Spirit - competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). at City Center21 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Get OUAZ and City of Surprise gear at the Ottawa University Fan Shop.22 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Nearby Attractions Climate-controlled hitting bays offer year-round comfort at Top Golf. Here seasoned golfers, and non-golfers alike, take aim at giant outfield targets. Using high-tech balls that instantly score themselves, you can see the accuracy and distance of each shot. Come together for playful competition and stay to enjoy a chef-driven menu and top-shelf drinks. topgolf.com Arizona’s largest collection of exotic and endangered animals live at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park. This 15-acre park allows visitors to see, learn about and even interact with some of the 600 separate species. The large aquarium has four buildings filled with fish, amphibians and reptiles. Perfect for all ages with rides, petting zoo and daily shows! wildlifeworld.com You will find one of the most scenic water recreation areas and an overall outdoor recreationist’s dream nearby at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. The 23,000+ acre park offers fishing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, camping and wildlife viewing. A popular location for boating, the marina has multiple lunch areas and several companies offering boat and watercraft rentals. maricopacountyparks.net Are you looking to try your luck? Desert Diamond Casino provides a selection of more than 1,400 slot machines, live table games, electronic table games and a sportsbook. From your favorite card games to betting on your favorite team, you can go for a big win here then celebrate at any one of their restaurants or bars inside the casino. ddcaz.com/west-valley Westgate Entertainment District is a 200+ acre vibrant and walkable outdoor space offering plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options. You can find year- round fun since the district surrounds Gila River Arena, which hosts a full schedule of top-name concerts and world-class events. Next door, State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, keeps the fanfare going by hosting events from Super Bowls to the NCAA Final Four Basketball Championship. westgateaz.com With so much close by, the possibilities for fun adventures are endless! 23 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM Prescott (1.5 hr drive) Known for its historic downtown and Whiskey Row bars, this city is filled with art galleries, antique shops, local eateries and plenty of golf offerings. Sedona (2 hr drive) Enjoy the scenery of stunning red rock formations as you take in a day of golf or shopping at the local art galleries. Jerome (2 hr drive) This historic copper mining town offers several local wine tasting rooms and a variety of thrilling ghost town adventures. Flagstaff (2.5 hr drive) The beautiful pines welcome you into the city. This university town offers year- round adventures with lots to explore, including the Snowbowl Ski Resort. Grand Canyon (3.5 hr drive) A breath-taking natural wonder, you can easily drive to the South Rim and experience the beauty of the canyon by land, water or air! and explore Arizona Head NorthHead South or Tucson (2 hr drive) In the heart of the Sonoran Desert, you’ll find Mexican inspired cuisine, culture, history and entertainment. Tombstone (3.5 hr drive) Our wild west history comes to life as visitors enjoy reenactments at the famous O.K. Corral and tour the area by either foot or stagecoach. Wilcox (3.5 hr drive) This city is a hub for more than 30 vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. Visitors can learn about the unique area through its several museums. Bisbee (4 hr drive) In this historic town, you can take an underground tour of the mine, enjoy antique shopping and grab a beer at the brewery. For more information on these destinations, go to visitarizona.com Grand Canyon24 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM EVENTSHAPPENINGS &JANUARY Thunderbird Artists Fine Art & Wine Festival thunderbirdartists.com MLK Day of Celebration & Service surpriseaz.gov/mlk Kachina Kennel Club Copper Classic Dog Show copperclassicaz.com Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events FEBRUARY Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic surprisestadium.com/events Spring Training at Surprise Stadium surprisestadium.com Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events Artisan Treasures Handmade Market woodnme.com MARCH Spring Training at Surprise Stadium surprisestadium.com Surprise Spring Training 5K & 1K Fun Run surprisestadium.com Spring Eggstravaganza exploresurprise.com/events APRIL Movie Night at the Park exploresurprise.com/events Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events MAY Surprise Aquatic Center Opens for Summer surpriseaz.gov/aquatics JUNE Dive-in Movie surpriseaz.gov/aquatics JULY City of Surprise Independence Day Celebration exploresurprise.com/events Independence Day Pool Party surprise.gov/aquatics AUGUST Dive-in Movie surpriseaz.gov/aquatics SEPTEMBER Movie Night at the Park exploresurprise.com/events Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events Thunderbird Artists Fine Art & Wine FestivalSpring Training at Surprise Stadium25 Surprise enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year, making it the perfect place to enjoy outdoor activities from hiking to golf! Here are the average temps per season: Winter (Dec - Feb) High 68°F / Low 47°F Spring (March - May) High 68°F / Low 61°F Summer (June - Aug) High 105°F / Low 82°F Fall (Sep - Nov) High 88°F / Low 65°F weather like? What's the OCTOBER Surprise Fiesta Grande Street Festival surpriseaz.gov/fiestagrande Arizona Fall League Baseball surprisestadium.com Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events NOVEMBER Veterans Day Parade exploresurprise.com/events Surprise SciTech Festival surpriseaz.gov/scitech Arizona Fall League Baseball surprisestadium.com Sunday in the Park (Food Trucks & Live Music) exploresurprise.com/events Artisan Treasures Christmas Market woodnme.com DECEMBER Surprise Party Holiday Event surpriseaz.gov/surpriseparty StadiumSunday in the Park Surprise Fiesta Grande For a comprehensive list of City events and specific details on event listings, visit exploresurrpise.com/events26 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM awhile Best Western Plus Surprise-Phoenix NW 13337 W Grand Ave | 623.554.6874 bestwestern.com Comfort Inn & Suites Surprise 16741 N Greasewood St | 520.257.4462 choicehotels.com Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Surprise 12477 W Bell Rd | 623.850.3931 wyndhamhotels.com Check out this listing of hotels in the area, and book your stay! Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix-Surprise 14783 W Grand Ave | 623.537.9122 hilton.com Hilton Garden Inn Surprise 16601 N Stadium Way | 623.404.2300 surprisephoenix.hgi.com Holiday Inn Express & Suites Surprise 16540 N Bullard Ave | 623.975.5540 ihg.com Residence Inn by Marriott 16418 N Bullard Ave | 623.249.6333 marriott.com Windmill Suites Surprise 12545 W Bell Rd | 623.583.0133 windmillsurprise.com Hilton Garden Inn Holiday Inn Residence Inn27 EXPLORESURPRISE.COM This guide was produced by the City of Surprise Sports & Tourism Department in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism. For questions about the guide, please email ExploreSurprise@surpriseaz.gov28 EXPLORESURPRISE.COMNext >