MILEPOSTS

Visit an Ostrich Ranch, Celebrate Cotton, Rent a Lake and Plant a Butterfly Garden RENT-A-LAKE AND ESCAPE

Have you ever wanted to own your own lake even for a day? Now, through the White Mountain Apache Tribe's Rent-a-Lake program, peace and privacy can be yours. Lakes in eastern Arizonas high country set aside for private rental include Cyclone Lake at 8,300 feet and Hurricane Lake at 9,000 feet. Remote, but with good access, the lakes offer fishing, camping, hiking or just relaxing. "People have pulled 17-inch trout out of these lakes," says dispatcher Dion Nashio. Cabanas, barbecue facilities, firewood and potable water are available. For an extra fee, the tribe will cater meals and provide boats ideal for reunions or corporate getaways. For more information, call (520) 369-7669. - Jo Baeza

PLANT A BUTTERFLY GARDEN

You don't need a green thumb to learn to grow your own butterfly garden with Desert Butterfly Gardening (32 pages, $3), published by the Arizona Native Plant Society and the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute. The booklet offers a full-color, comprehensive look at native Sonoran Desert plants and the butterflies they attract. Tips on landscape design and an introduction to the life cycle of a butterfly make this booklet a must for gardeners hoping to attract such beautiful butterflies as the black swallowtail, the painted lady and the great purple hairstreak. For more information, visit the Many Legs Trading Post online at www.sasionline.org, or call (520) 883-3945.

BRAVE THE RAPIDS

"Kiss and Tell," "Overboard" and "Bump and Grind" more than a dozen Class III rapids like these add up to an exciting adventure on the Upper Salt River. The most popular boat trip departs in the morning from the bridge at Salt River Canyon and travels downriver through the San Carlos and Fort Apache Indian reservations and Tonto National Forest. The 7%-hour wilderness adventure covers 12 miles of calm water broken by exciting rapids as the river curves between narrow canyon walls. Several outfitters in the region offer all-inclusive trips. For more information, call the Greater Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce toll-free at (800) 804-5623.

BOOTS & SADDLES B&B

At Boots & Saddles Bed and Breakfast in Sedona, rooms are decorated in different cowboy motifs. The Gentleman Cowboy room offers luxuries; The Santa Fe Cowboy, prime comfort with Southwest accents; The Country Cowboy, a rustic Old West setting; and The Wrangler, an unpretentious, quiet getaway. In the morning, guests gather in the breakfast room or on the morning deck for a gourmet breakfast which might be a "six-shooter strata," "Old West orange croissants" or breakfast enchiladas served with coffee, fresh fruit and juice. For more information or to make reservations, call toll-free (800) 201-1944.

SLIDE INTO SPRING

Take a rocketlike ride on the indoor waterslide at the Blue Water Resort, or relax at any of the resort's four indoor pools. With 200 rooms and access to 11 miles of scenic waterway on the Parker Strip, visitors to this top-notch retreat on the Colorado River Indian Reservation can experience all that the Colorado River has to offer. If water-skiing, parasailing or fishing don't strike your fancy, there's plenty to do back at the Blue Water in the casino, on the sandy beach or at the miniature golf course. For more information or to make reservations, call (520) 669-7000 or toll-free (888) 243-3360.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTOGRAPHY ON DISPLAY

The 75th anniversary year celebration continues with ongoing photographic exhibits.

CELEBRATING THE TRADITION

The Fine Art Photography of Ansel Adams, David Muench and Jack Dykinga Organized by the Center for Creative Photogaphy, University of Arizona, Tucson; Phoenix Art Museum; and the Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff; in association with Arizona Highways. Sponsor: Eller Media.

THROUGH APRIL 29

Center for Creative Photography on the University of Arizona campus 1030 N. Olive Road, Tucson

JUNE 24-NOVEMBER 5

Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff

CELEBRATING OUR LAND, OUR PEOPLE

Seventy-five images from the pages of Arizona Highways in the signature style of the magazine: dramatic landscapes, intimate portraits, flora and fauna are seen through the eyes of some of the world's best photographers.

Sponsors: Ramada Express Hotel Casino, Laughlin, Nevada; Northern Trust Bank; Image Craft Photo Imaging Services.

THROUGH APRIL 16

Desert Caballeros Western Museum, 21 N. Frontier Street, Wickenburg

VISIT AN OSTRICH RANCH

Tour a working ostrich ranch and check out the computerized incubators at Awesome Big Bird Ranch in Casa Grande. Tours include a slide show, a visit to the breeding pairs and the chick barn. Ostrich products, available at the ranch, include everything from belts to boots and wallets to golf bags. The gift shop sells ostrich feathers, ostrich meat and decorated eggs. For groups of 15 or more, the ranch will serve up a special ostrich lunch.

Tours are available Monday through Friday, at 11 A.M., by appointment only. Tour prices are $3.50, adults; $3, seniors; $1, students; and $.50, under 15. Lunch prices are $3.50,. general; $2.50, seniors. To schedule a tour or for more information, call (520) 421-2002, or e-mail ostrich@ cybertrails.com.

EVENTS Cotton Days

March 3-5; Coolidge Try your hand at rolling a 550-pound cotton bale, walk through a vintage car show and watch a parade during the festival celebrating the cotton industry. A 10K run, volleyball tournament and horseshoe competition offer visitors a chance to show off their athletic ability. Other fun includes live entertainment, cotton displays and booths featuring arts and crafts, toys, novelties, clothing and jewelry.

The parade begins at 10 A.M. on Saturday; the car show opens at noon on Sunday. Admission is free. Information: (520) 723-3009.

College Rodeo

March 4-5; Florence Cowboys and cowgirls come together for a weekend of good-natured competition at the Charlie Whitlow Memorial Rodeo Grounds at this National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association-sanctioned event of saddle-bronc riding; bareback riding; bull riding; calf, team and breakaway roping; steer wrestling; goat tying and barrel racing.

Along with watching the action-packed activities, visitors also get a chance to rub elbows with the participants on Saturday at 4 P.M. at a traditional "cowboy fry," including steak, beans, corn and tortillas for $10. Performances begin at 1 P.M. Admission: $4, adults; $3, seniors; free, under 12. Information: (520) 723-4141.

Dons' Superstition Trek

March 12; Apache Junction Two tons of glowing embers tumble down a rocky mountaintainside at the 67th Annual Dons of Arizona Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Superstition Mountains Trek.

"It's the last firefall in the United States and possibly in the world," says Don Jim Lingle.

The embers fall like a liquid gold wa-terfall. It's a beau-tiful sight."

A fireworks extravaganza, guided hikes, performances by world-champion hoop dancers, pioneer reenactments, demonstrations by American Indian artisans and mineral exhibits keep the crowd entertained. The Dons' Base Camp, hub of the activities, lies at the foot of the Supersition Mountains, accessible by Peralta Road, 50 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Route 60.

Activities run from 8:30 A.M. to 10 P.M. Admission: $35, adults; $17.50, children. The price covers meals throughout the day, plus coffee and do-nuts, Navajo fry bread and a BBQ dinner. Information: (602) 258-6016.

March 18-19; Tucson Could you hunt a prehistoric mammoth? Test your skill and accuracy at throwing an atlatl, a spearlike device used to kill

ENTER THE REALM OF NATURE'S CATHEDRALS

etched in the crust of the Colorado Plateau, a labyrinth of narrow slot canyons attracts photographers from around the world. Come with the Friends of Arizona Highways as they enter this memorable realm where light and sandstone come together to create a natural cathedral in the wilderness. Join Randy Prentice, May 11-15, or Richard Embery, May 18-22, and try your hand at capturing the color and form of these unforgettable natural wonders. Explore the region where eagles ride the wind and mysterious petroglyphs remind us of the pueblo people who inhabited this region long ago.

For more information about these trips and a complete schedule of workshops, contact the Friends of Arizona Highways, P.O. Box 6106, Phoenix, AZ 85005-6106; (602) 712-2004 or toll-free (888) 790-7042, or online: www.friendsofazhighways.com.

Here are other workshop dates though May: Apr. 9-13: Red Rock/Four Corners with Bernadette Heath and Janet Webb Farnsworth.

Apr. 17-21: Best of the West with J. Peter Mortimer.

Apr. 26-29: Horseback Adventure Along the Verde with Jerry Sieve.

Apr. 27-May 2: A Large Format Black and White Study of Canyon de Chelly with Jay Dusard.

May 3-13: River Odyssey for the New Millennium with Jack Dykinga.

May 10-14: Follow the Blooms with Larry Ulrich.

Large animals, at the Arizona State Museum during Arizona Archaeology Awareness Month. Visitors to the event “walk through time,” guided by archaeologists and Native Americans. Try your hand at creating a replica of a prehistoric pot or a piece of jewelry. Or spend some time grinding corn with a metate and mano. Live American Indian entertainment and interactive exhibits keep the entire family interested. If you can't make it to the Tucson event, be sure to call Arizona State Parks for a free listing of events offered state-wide throughout the month. Admission is free. Information: (602) 542-4174.

WorldPort 2000

March 25-26; Glendale Celebrate diversity at Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management, west of Phoenix at Greenway Road and 59th Avenue. The 4th Annual World-Port Glendale's Celebration of the Nations features an international crafts bazaar, sounds of world music on multiple stages and exotic flavors at food booths. While you're there, don't miss the Discovery Pavilion, an exhibit geared for kids, and the colorful Parade of Nations, featuring native costumes, music and dance. Festival hours are 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Admission and parking are free. Information: (623) 930-2299.