Attendees who value the networking opportunities of the Restaurant Leadership Conference will find more occasions this year to connect with acquaintances new and old. The show-opening recreational activities that foster social interaction have been expanded to include a cooking demonstration and riding waves on surf or body boards.
The cooking demo complements a tour of a desert garden, where participants are shown local plants that can be used for food, shelter or other practical ends. The edibles will be used to prepare a meal for the tour-goers, who also have an opportunity to view the signature glass sculpture of the Desert Botanical Garden.
Attendees who want more of an ocean experience can enjoy waves in the heart of the desert at a FlowRider facility. Boards will be provided for some summertime play in the man-made waves.
A warming break from winter is also provided in a visit to Butterfly Wonderland, a pavilion that features thousands of butterflies, flowering plants and examples of tropical foliage. Resembling an indoor rainforest, the facility also features aquariums stocked with exotic Amazon River fish.
Other activities include a visit to the Scottsdale Gun Club, one of the best-appointed shooting facilities in the nation; a stretching and core-building session; guide-led hikes through the desert; a golf tournament; and a 5K fun run.
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