<p>Our son’s a HS senior and we’ve decided to fly out to Tempe the last weekend in October to visit Barrett. S is a serious marching band percussionist, so we’re planning to go to the ASU-Colorado football game to check out the band (and OK, the Sun Devils too). Any suggestions of things to do and see at ASU and in Barrett? Is it possible for a prospective student to spend the night in Barrett? Any things to see off of campus that are standard ASU student attractions?</p>
<p>Check out Mill Avenue, Tempe Town Market (a large strip mall/shopping center very close to campus with large movie theatre complex) and perhaps a look around the sports arenas in downtown Phoenix since they are just a light rail trip away.</p>
<p>Light rail is sort of like above-ground subway cars?</p>
<p>If you guys come out one weekend sooner (22nd/23rd) the SDMB hosts Band Day on the 22nd. You’ll see one of our shows without a boring football game. Although we should beat Colorado, so that could be fun.</p>
<p>If he’s interested in band so much, tell him to look into Kappa Kappa Psi! The Beta Omicron chapter at ASU is extremely active (we have about 50 members this year) and we’re always looking for great brothers to help us serve the bands. We do tons of service projects a year and work with the music school as well.</p>
<p>I would definitely suggest eating in the Barrett Dining Hall. The food is definitely the best on campus and there’s even a room that looks like Hogwarts’ Dining Hall. You should also climb up A mountain, which is iconic on the Tempe campus. Each year the freshmen paint the A white and then the A is repainted gold before the first football game. The hike is rewarding (you can see most of Phoenix from the top) and not too difficult.</p>
<p>I’m not sure if he would be able to spend the night in Barrett, but it’s always worth a call to Barrett at (480) 965-4033.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that there is a way for students to stay the night in the BHC dorms with an upperclassman student because I once met the guy who housed HS seniors last year.</p>
<p>I would say that he should also meet with his prospective major’s department adviser while he is here.</p>
<p>Yes, lightrail is like an above ground subway that links part of Mesa, ASU, Downtown Phoenix (with its major sports arenas and civic center/symphony hall)and part of the west Phoenix area. ASU students can buy an unlimited rail pass for $125 for the year.</p>
<p>How about any parks on Town Lake?</p>
<p>Tempe Town Lake has an adjoining park (more like a grassy venue for Tempe events/festivals on the bank of the lake). When you visit the Mill Avenue area the lake/park is basically at the end of Mill Ave. It’s really a nice area, totally within walking distance from the campus (except in the summer weather).</p>
<p>Mill Avenue hosts the Tempe Art Festival in the fall so you may find that your trip coincides with that, there is a lot of activity in the Tempe area (10K’s for various causes, triathalons, iron man competitions, biking events, the art festival) that enhance the ASU experience. There is a sense of vibrancy in Tempe that is generally lacking in sprawling western cities; the bad economy took its toll in Mill Avenue, but it seems to be gaining a little bit of its former flavor back.</p>