ft Special Advertising Section ;]"#■ 



ADVENTURERS HAVE BEEN 

 coming to Yuma's unique 

 location in southwest Arizona, 

 where the Colorado River meets 

 the Sonoran Desert, ever since 

 Spanish explorers arrived. Modern- 

 day travelers are finding Yuma an 

 ideal destination as well to enjoy 

 its authentic history and explore 

 thousands of acres of wilderness, 

 desert dunes and wildlife refuges. 



You might start your adventures 

 right where those early explorers 

 crossed the Colorado. Pivot Point at 

 Gateway Park marks the riverfront site 

 of the historic Yuma crossing and the 

 first rail bridge, where the first train 

 crossed from California into Arizona. 

 Enjoy more history at the Yuma 

 Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 

 whose Old West prison was the bane 

 of outlaws. 



You can get a closer look at the 

 river with narrated trips on a jet boat 

 that include petroglyph sites. Take a 

 cruise aboard a sternwheeler or rent a 

 canoe to do your own exploring. 



You might recognize some scenes 

 from the Star Wars movies as you head 

 west of town to the Imperial Sand 

 dunes. Now popular with off-road 

 enthusiasts and campers during the 

 winter months, the exotic dunes also 

 have served as a movie location since 

 the days of Rudolph Valentino. 



There are abundant opportunities 

 for hiking, camping, and bird and 

 wildlife watching in Imperial National 

 Wildlife Refuge, Kofa National 

 Wildlife Refuge, Cibola National 

 Wildlife Refuge, or Picacho State 

 Recreation Area (in California). 

 Birders flock to the area in April for 

 Yuma's annual birding festival. Yuma 

 also offers a little taste of wilderness 

 just steps from downtown. In the 

 Yuma East Wetlands, about 500 acres 

 have been restored as wildlife 

 habitat with native trees, grasses and 

 marsh plants. 



Left: The 1915 Ocean-to-Ocean 

 Bridge was the first highway 

 crossing of the Colorado 

 River. The historic structure 

 was completely restored and 

 reopened to vehicle traffic 

 in 2002. Below: Yuma is the 

 gateway to the Imperial Sand 

 Dunes, which have attracted 

 filmmakers since the silent- 

 picture days and are now popular 

 with off-roaders and campers. 



For more information call 1-800-293-0071 or www.visityuma.com. 



Follow the meandering 

 Colorado River 

 through the natural 

 beauty of the Sonoran 

 Desert ...Rich in 

 wildlife, adventure and 

 southwestern flavor. 



Yuma. We're more 

 than sunshine. 



"ft 11 if f 1 



• Apply in person at the 

 Yuma Birding & Nature Festival 



No Experience Necessary I On-the-job Training Provided 

 April 15-19, 2009 



www.visitYuma.com 

 1.800.293.0071x628 

 Yuma Visitors Bureau 



ARIZONA 



VON STATE 



