TOUR #2: Major League Baseball
Sunday, June 28      11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

See the Arizona Diamondbacks play the Los Angeles Angels in the last game of Inter-League play of 2009. Chase Field is perhaps one of the most unique stadiums in the major leagues, primarily because of all of its “fan friendly activities,” including a swimming pool in right center field. As a group pay attention to the Jumbo-Tron, as our group, the TCA, will be acknowledged at some point during the game. Fare includes admission to the Ballpark, dine on your own at any of over 23 different concession stands.

There are still some seats left in the TCA section (lower level) for this ballgame.
You can logon to the Diamondbacks web site and purchase tickets ($30) in the TCA section. You will need to provide your own transportation to the ballpark.
http://www.dbacks.com/groups
Logon with: train
Password: dbacks

TOUR #3: Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Railway
Monday, June 29      6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

President Theodore Roosevelt once proclaimed the Grand Canyon as "the one great sight every American should see." Depart Phoenix early for a day of adventure traveling into Grand Canyon National Park on the Grand Canyon Railway which features authentic restored vintage rail equipment. Upon arrival at the Grand Canyon Railway depot in the small town of Williams, witness an exciting Western shootout prior to the departure of the train. Then “All Aboard!” as you experience 1st Class train travel that could only be dreamed of in the Old West. Upon arrival at the Grand Canyon, you will be transferred to a luncheon buffet followed by a guided bus tour, where you will see the Canyon from many perspectives. Enjoy complimentary drinks and light snacks on your travels to and from the South Rim. The return trip to Williams is not without its perils as Western outlaws attempt to rob the train on a daily basis! Relax after a day of excitement with a buffet dinner in Williams before traveling back to Phoenix. Fare Includes round-trip train ride, park entrance fee, hot buffet lunch, guided bus tour, and evening meal.

FARE: 1st Class Child (under 12)$210; Adult $240;; Parlor Car, $280 (only 33 seats available)

TOUR #4: Luke Air Force Base and the Challenger Space Center
Monday, June 29     8:00 AM – 4:00 PM                                    Limited to 32 people

Start the morning by touring Luke Air Force Base, home of the 56th Fighter Wing and more than 185 F-16 Fighting Falcons! This guided tour includes a display of the aircraft that have flown out of Luke since 1941. Before enjoying lunch at the Officer’s Club, we travel to the end of the runway to watch the F-16s land and take off and take a “windshield tour” of the flight line. Next, travel to the Challenger Space Center, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate Museum, for a two-hour simulated space mission. The Center’s Technology Flight Deck features over $1 million in technology, including a Mission Control room patterned after the Johnson Space Center and spacecraft designed to simulate a room onboard the International Space Station or the Space Shuttle. Our tour will be split in half: one group will operate ground control while the others are in the Space Shuttle. “Houston we have a problem!” Both groups will need to work together to solve a simulated situation. Fare includes lunch at the Officer’s Club, admission to the Challenger Space Center and the simulated space mission.

FARE: $70 SOLD OUT!

TOUR(S) #5: Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum
5A Monday, June 29       9:00 AM – 2:00 PM                               Limited to 50 people
5B Wednesday, July 1   9:00 AM – 2:00 PM                               Limited to 50 people

Visit the world renowned Heard museum, featuring historical Southwestern Native American art, jewelry, pottery, basketry, and Kachina dolls. Learn about the unique architecture, foods, culture, and lifestyles of 21 Native American tribes while seeing rare examples of their work. Continue on to the Phoenix Art Museum where a gourmet lunch is available. Conclude your outing with a docent-led tour or feel free to take a self-guided tour and enjoy an interactive gallery filled with hands-on art exhibits. Fare includes all admission and docent fees; dine on your own.

FARE: $40

TOUR #6: Golf Outing
Monday, June 29      Time to be determined


Join us at a premier golf course for 18 holes of fun. Golf cart is included. The Callaway Handicap system will be used for scoring, so everyone has an equal chance to win. There will be prizes for Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Longest Putt, Longest Worm-Burner, Cutest Outfit and Most Congenial, just to name a few! Time will be determined and available at registration.

FARE: $65

TOUR(S) #7: Meteor Crater and La Posada                         
7A Tuesday, June 30      7:00 AM – 5:00 PM                         Limited to 50 people
7B Thursday, July 2        7:00 AM – 5:00 PM                         Limited to 50 people

Depart early and travel to Meteor Crater, the best-preserved meteorite crater on earth! Visit the Interactive Learning Center, featuring 24 exciting exhibits and see the movie, “Collisions & Impacts.” Be sure to bring your camera to capture the magnitude of this phenomenon where NASA astronauts trained for the moon missions. Continuing to Winslow, you will tour the historic Hotel La Posada, one of the two remaining Harvey Houses of the old Santa Fe Railroad. Enjoy lunch in the Turquoise Room and then enjoy a guided tour of the hotel conducted by The Winslow Harvey Girls. BNSF trains run past the building all day long. Fare includes all admissions, tours, and lunch.

FARE: $80

TOUR #8: Desert Botanical Garden and the Hall of Flame
Tuesday, June 30      8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The Desert Botanical Garden features plants, cacti, and succulents native to the Desert Southwest and the world. A guided tour highlighting plants and people of the Sonoran Desert will demonstrate how native people used the unique plants of this region. This tour takes the group through an Apache Wickiup and a Pima Household, revealing native cooking and gardening techniques alongside hands-on activities, such as twisting a rope made from Agave leaves and pounding Mesquite beans to make flour. After a stop for lunch, visit one of the rarest museums in the United States, one devoted solely to firefighting equipment! This museum houses the largest collection of items used by firefighters throughout the years, from horse-drawn carriages to modern trucks. Equipment dates from 1725 to the present. Also included are miniature displays and an extensive collection of Fire Company Badges. You might be able to find one from your own hometown! After a one-hour guided tour, browse the equipment at your leisure. Fare includes all admissions, tours, and lunch.

FARE: $55

TOUR #9: Prescott Layouts and Phippen Museum          
Tuesday, June 30      8:30 AM – 5:30 PM                              Limited to 100 people

Saddle up for a trip to the Arizona high country and Prescott, the old historic and first Arizona state capitol in the pines of the Bradshaw Mountains. On our tour we will visit the Phippen Museum for a guided tour featuring some of the West’s finest art. TCA members’ homes we will be visiting include one featuring an extensive collection of early 20th century toys and trains, one with over 2000 square feet of operating contemporary trains and walls full of trains and railroad collectibles, and finally a 2400 square foot train room with a scenic high rail layout as well as a prewar O and Standard Gauge layout. Fare includes admission to the museum, layouts, and lunch.

FARE: $60    SOLD OUT!

TOUR(S) #10: Chase Field Ballpark
10A Tuesday, June 30     9:00 Am – 1:00 PM
10B Thursday, July 2       9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Join us for a visit to one of Major League Baseball’s most unique stadiums. Chase Field is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and features a retractable roof, beer garden and even a swimming pool! Your walking tour takes you behind the scenes in this state-of-the-art facility. Afterward, lunch is served at TGI Friday’s, overlooking left field. Fare includes tour admission and lunch.
Note: This tour does not include a baseball game.

FARE: $65 Adult $45 Child

TOUR #11 Taliesin West and Trains
Tuesday, June 30      9:00 AM- 1:00 PM                                Limited to 50 people

Visit Taliesin West, the main campus of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. The docent-guided tour of the grounds includes Wright’s living quarters, his private office, and the Cabaret. Next is a short drive to visit an O-gauge layout that was recently featured in Classic Toy Trains before returning to the Resort. Please note: To see the layout, one must be able to climb a flight of stairs. Fare includes admission to Taliesin West.

FARE: $55

TOUR(S) #12: Grand Canyon Day Trip via Motor Coach
12A Wednesday, July 1      6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
12B Friday, July 3                6:30 AM – 6:00 PM

You have traveled all the way to Arizona, so don’t miss seeing the Grand Canyon while you are here! Your guide will pick you up in a Deluxe Motor Coach and then travel directly to the South Rim to view this amazing world wonder. Enjoy a rim tour followed by a hot lunch, then free time at Grand Canyon Village or a walk along the rim trail to visit the historic El Tovar Hotel and Hopi House. Fare includes round-trip bus transportation, guide, rim tour, and lunch.
(This DOES NOT include a train ride.)

FARE: Adult, $145; Child, $ 95

TOUR #13: Tucson Day Trip
Wednesday, July 1      8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Bring your camera as we head to Tucson. We will drive through Saguaro National Monument on the way to the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. This museum is an internationally acclaimed garden and zoo with hundreds of species of plants and animals in their natural settings. Enjoy an included lunch at the museum before continuing to see Mission San Xavier del Bac, acclaimed as the finest example of early Spanish Mission architecture. Then travel to the Toy Train Operating Museum, where you can explore the amazing collection of toy trains and railroad memorabilia. Fare includes all admissions and lunch.

FARE: $75 SOLD OUT!

TOUR #14: Garden Railroads and Fountain Hills
Wednesday, July 1      8:00 AM – 2:00 PM                              Limited to 50 people

Start the morning by enjoying two Garden Railways that were featured here during the 24th National Garden Railway Convention. Not only do you experience gardening in the desert, but you will see some innovative layouts, including features such as a trolley fetching mail out of a mailbox. Plus, see an enormous garden layout comprised of 3,500 feet of track, 300 locomotives and over 4,000 pieces of rolling stock! Then it is north to Fountain Hills which boasts the world’s tallest Fountain. Tour participants will be able to see the Fountain from any of the following venues: Burling's Ton of Trains, an extraordinary toy train store with eleven operating layouts; the River of Time Museum with a guided tour featuring the history of the Lower Verde Valley; and lunch overlooking the Fountain itself. Fare includes admission and lunch.

FARE: $40    Second Bus Added!
    We are trying to put another tour together for another day.
    Check Back periodically for Updates,

TOUR #15: Challenger Space Center
Wednesday, July 1      9:00 AM – 1:00 PM                             Limited to 32 people

Visit the exciting space-based learning center where you will participate in a two-hour simulated flight mission! In addition you will see the Columbia Shuttle Memorial display, the Arizona State University Meteorite Exhibit, the Iridium Satellite Model, and the Atlantis Space Shuttle Model. You may take a walk back in time through manned space flight, starting with the current day space station and space shuttle, and see what NASA has accomplished over the past several decades. Fare includes admission and simulated space mission.

FARE: $45 Only 2 seats left.

TOUR #16: Sedona and the Pink Jeeps
Thursday, July 2      8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Travel through the Sonoran Desert on the way to the Red Rock country of Sedona. The unusual geology has long been an inspiration to artists, filmmakers, and visitors. Upon arrival to Sedona, enjoy an exciting backcountry jeep tour with the world renowned “Pink Jeeps” for fantastic views of this colorful section of Arizona. Then enjoy lunch from Los Abrigados along Oak Creek, with time to visit and shop at Tlaquapaque, a lovely arts and crafts village. After lunch, travel up Oak Creek Canyon and make a stop at the Native American Arts and Crafts sale and display booths at the rest stop. Fare includes jeep tour and lunch.

FARE: $110

Tour #17: Light Rail Operations and Maintenance Center
                 and Hall of Flame Museum
Thursday, July 2      8:00 AM – 2:00 PM                                  Limited to 100 people

The Valley of the Sun and the Phoenix Metropolitan area is home to the nation’s newest Light Rail transit system. It began operations in December 2008 and runs on a 20-mile line from North Central Phoenix, through the downtowns of Phoenix and Tempe to Mesa. The tour group will receive a briefing from Valley METRO staff on the design and construction of the system, the route, the stations, and future plans. There will be a tour of the light rail vehicles and the Operations and Maintenance Center, which is the hub of light rail vehicle assembly, maintenance, and operations in the Valley. Following a stop for lunch, you will visit one of the rarest museums in the United States, one devoted solely to firefighting equipment! This museum houses the largest collection of items used by firefighters throughout the years, from horse-drawn carriages to modern trucks. Equipment dates from 1725 to the present. Also included are miniature displays and an extensive collection of Fire Company Badges. You may even be able to find one from your own hometown! After a one-hour guided tour, browse the equipment at your leisure. Fare includes admission, guided tours, and lunch.

FARE: $55

TOUR #18: Corona Ranch Dinner and Mexican Rodeo
Thursday, July 2      6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The TCA is serving up a very special “cruise dinner” this year. We will take you to the Corona Ranch where you will be serenaded by a Mariachi band upon your arrival. Then savor the private Mexican Fiesta Buffet featuring chicken enchiladas, salmon, and steak served in an air conditioned gala hacienda! After dinner, move outdoors to the 3,000 seat arena where you will witness an exclusive Rodeo performance for TCA members only. This evening will be filled with memories of the Southwest that will last a lifetime!

Adult's FARE: $95
Children's FARE: $75
(12yrs old or younger)

Tour #19: Out of Africa
Friday, July 3     8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Join us for a “wild” day of adventure at Out of Africa, a unique wildlife preserve where animals from the savannas and jungles of Africa and India have natural, spacious habitats and share relationships with their caregivers. See giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, lions, tigers, panthers, hyenas and more as they prowl their natural environment. A highlight is the Tiger Splash exhibit where Bengal and Siberian tigers romp and play in the pool. Fare includes admission and lunch.

FARE: $75

Tour #20: Kid’s Club
Friday, July 3      9:00 AM – 2:00 PM                                       Limited to 32 people

Spend the morning exploring space at the Challenger Space Center. After a tour of the museum, classroom instructors will teach young astronauts how to build their own water-propelled rocket, along with other age-specific hands-on activities. Once “back on the ground” relax with a pizza lunch while playing miniature golf INDOORS! Open to all Kids Club members and their sponsors. Fare includes admission and lunch.

FARE: $40

TOUR #21: Gourmet Cooking Class
Friday, July 3       9:30 AM – 1:30 PM

Don your aprons and chef’s hats! Don’t miss this participation cooking class, featuring a gourmet Southwest Sonoran menu which you will prepare and then enjoy. The menu will include Black Bean/Corn Salad, Creamy Cornbread, Roasted vegetables, two main entrees of Beef Fajitas and Southwestern Tomatillo Chicken, and two desserts, Molten Lava Cake and Dulce de Leche Ice Cream. This may well be the highlight of your convention! Every participant will receive a certificate authenticating successful completion of the course. Fare includes private cooking class and gourmet lunch.

FARE: $90

TOUR #22A - Self Guided Layouts
Thursday, July 2     10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Valley of the Sun features layouts of all sizes and descriptions from high-rail to toy rail and numerous gauges. You supply your own transportation as our members open their homes for small groups to visit during the late morning and early afternoon. You set the schedule based on maps and layout descriptions provided in the guidebook. Fare includes guidebook with maps.

FARE: $5

TOUR # 22B: Live Steamers
Friday, July 3        6:00 PM- 11:00 PM

Join us for a train ride this evening! Visit the Adobe Mountain Western Railroad to ride the Maricopa Live Steamers. At one stop you will be able to experience HO, G, and 1.5” live steam along with visiting Sahuaro Central Railroad Heritage Park. This Park features four 30-minute mainlines and special behind-the-scenes tours of how live steamers “fire up”! Don’t miss the fun!

FARE: $30

TOUR #22C: Layout Tours
Friday, July 3       6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

The Valley of the Sun is the home of some well renowned collections and layouts so plan for an evening of enjoyment featuring every gauge and era. Itineraries will be posted at the registration desk for you to choose which bus to go on, but don’t fret! While you are touring one set of collections and layouts, your bus will play a video of the other layouts of the evening. Be sure to join us for an evening of fun and memorable collections.

FARE: $30

Tour #23: Verde Canyon Railroad and Chuck Wagon Dinner Show
Sunday, July 5 9:30 AM – 10:30 PM

Travel to Clarkdale for a fun-filled day aboard the Verde Canyon Railroad! We arrive in time for you to enjoy the Boxcar Gift Store and John Bell Museum before eating lunch at the Copper Spike Café. Then it’s All Aboard! for a panoramic rail experience through the Verde River Canyon to Perkinsville. We visit areas accessible only by train, seeing colorful desert cliffs and abundant wildlife. All passengers have access to open-air viewing cars, so don’t forget your camera. Upon return, transfer to the Blazin’ M Ranch for a rip-roarin’ time featuring chuck wagon “grub” and cowboy music. Visit the Olde Tyme photo studio and the Wood ‘n’ West Gallery for hand-carved historical scenes that will delight and entertain your entire family. Come and enjoy the fun, food and humor of the Wild, Wild West! Fare includes round-trip transportation, guide, train ride, lunch and dinner.

FARE: Coach: Adult, $145; Child, $115 (under 12);
            1st Class: Adult, $179; Child, $159.