Arizona is one of the most tourist friendly states in the United States. There are unique natural features such as the Grand Canyon, surrounding deserts, and lush forests. Arizona has high-end resorts, golfing, and spas, but it also offers locals and visitors the rugged outdoors and all the beauty and sport Mother Earth has to offer. Historic Arizona allows for a taste of the old west, of Native American life - past and present, and of the Main Street of America: Route 66.
At the southern end of this beautiful state and just north of the Mexican border is Sierra Vista. There are tons of natural preserves and outdoor activities to enjoy in this area of the state, including San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, great for hiking, horseback riding, camping, and more. Amateur archeologists should visit Murray Springs Clovis Site for 40,000 remnants of the earliest residents. Ramsey Canyon is great for summer bird watching, especially for hummingbirds. Coronado National Forest offers hikers desert lowlands during the winter, and cool high-elevation Ponderosa pine forests during the summer. Tour historic Fort Huachuca, an active military installation since 1882, used first to fight Apache Indians. Tombstone is only 15 miles away, a central point of the old west, and home to Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday.
In nearby Benson, you can see bats, stalactites and stalagmites at Kartchner Caverns. You can bring your RV to Benson and tour ghost towns and old western outposts. Historical Benson offers an impressive railroad depot replica. Nearby in St. David, is the Holy Trinity Monastery, which has a library, Oriental garden, museum, art gallery, and bird sanctuary. The Singing Wind Bookshop is a working cattle ranch, a birders' paradise, and scenic picnic spot. Nearby Vega-Bray Observatory has eight major telescopes, a planetarium, and museum.
Still in southern Arizona is Tucson, the second largest city in the state. Tuscon has museums galore, botanical gardens, golf, shopping, and nature. Visit Tucson Children's Museum for hands on activities that will keep the kids busy for hours, and then spend the rest of the day at the Reid Park Zoo, watching polar bears swim away the day. In Tuscon there are plenty of opportunities for the family to buy locally created works by artisans at markets and fairs. For more visual stimulation, you could visit the Tuscan Museum of Art and the Arizona State Museum. Those more interested in military life will enjoy the Pima Air & Space Museum, housing one of the largest collections of historic aircrafts in the country, or visit the launch control center of the Titan Missile Museum. For a bit of history and wildlife, check out the Colossal Cave Mountain Park where you can tour the cave itself or saddle up to learn about the area's legends, history, geology, and even the areas bats.
East of Tucson and off of Rte 10, lies Safford. From the city, you can experience breathtaking views of the Pinaleno Mountain Range. Safford lies only 10 miles north of the Colorado National Forest, where miles of trails, mountain hikes, and the Natures Hideaway Riparian Wetlands await. There are hot mineral springs at Roper Lake State Park, and in the area, many spots for camping, picnicking, or rafting down the Gila River. Check out the paleo-Indian culture of the Cochise people in Dankworth Village or take a peek at the cosmos at the Mount Graham International Observatory.
About three hours north of Holbrook and just south of Holbrook lies the very small town of Taylor. You can use Taylor as your outpost to for visiting eastern Arizona's amazing White Mountains. To the south is the Apache and the Sitgreaves National Forests which encompass two million acres of magnificent mountain country between the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains. This is one area of Arizona that has tons of waterways, so get your fishing polls ready, and get wet.
Also known as "The Mother Road," and named in 1926, historic Route 66 is like the artery of Americana, running from Chicago to Los Angeles. Although Route 66 is not traveled as frequently anymore for industry, it is a great recreational road that allows visitors to experience the heartland of the US.
Holbrook lies along Route 66, and has more than a few gems of Americana. The Petrified Forest National Park lies within the Painted Desert, just off 1-40, where you can enjoy beautiful layers of sediment in desert colored landscapes, fossils, and petrified logs. Check out the Navajo County Historic Courthouse and other local sites on a self-guided tour of the downtown. This area is still home to many Native Americans. You can visit the Navajo Nation and watch native dance performances, see ancient pueblos built into the canyon walls at Canyon de Chelley or visit the Hopi or Zuni Nations. Stay in style at your very own kitschy teepee at the Wigwam Motel.
Flagstaff lies two hours north of Phoenix on I-17 and west of Holbrook on Rte 66. It is also not far from the Grand Canyon, and locally, there are shuttles and tours providing visitors access to local attractions. Learn about the local culture of Native Americans at the Museum of Northern Arizona, which offers exhibits in biology, anthropology, geology, and the fine arts. A hike into the depths of Walnut Canyon National Monument, will allow you to see the homes of the native people to this area, cliff dwellings built deep into the canyon walls. Lava flows and cinders look as if they formed yesterday, though they've been there for over 900 years at the Sunset Crater National Monument. You can view and touch one of the largest meteor fragments found in the area - 1,406 pounds - at Meteor Crater.
Williams is a small town with lots of personality, offering a very friendly version of Rte 66 and the old west. The area's shop owners have revitalized the saloons, bordellos, and shops, brought back from the time of the towns' beginnings. The Grand Canyon Railway, which leaves form Williams, offers a scenic, comfortable, and quick form of transportation to the Grand Canyon. Bring your kids to the petting zoo at Grand Canyon Deer Farm or see some historical reenactments at the Wild West Junction. There's skiing in winter and hiking at the summer Elk Ridge Ski and Outdoor Recreation.
Kingman is located along the longest remaining preserved stretch of Rte 66, and amongst the scenic Hualapai, Cerbat, and Black Mountains, where you can hike, camp or just relax by the pines. The areas lakes offer opportunities for boating, fishing, and water sports. There are several ghost towns in the area, and you can also do some awesome antiquing in historic Kingman. Try the Route 66 Museum for a taste of America's intricate past or the Mohave Museum of History and Arts for more information about the area.
Lake Havasu City is located southwest on I-40 and south on AZ-95. This city is home for the original London Bridge, brought all the way over from the UK and reassembled here. Many visitors shop along the banks of Lake Havasu while others enjoy getting in the water on rented boats, jet skis, or paddle boats. You can tee off at any of the four golf courses in the area or take your chances at the casino. This picturesque oasis is a great resting spot to explore the surrounding area. You can do some bird watching, tour hidden trails, hike up scenic cliffs, or go rock climbing at the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge or the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.
Yuma is located in the southwestern corner of the state. You can get yourself golfing at the Arroyo Dunes Golf Course and Desert Hills Golf Courses. A visit to Yuma Territorial Prison State Park will teach you about Arizona's most dangerous criminals between 1876 and 1909; it is Arizona's most visited State Historic Park. Jump in a vintage Pullman Coach on the Yuma Valley Railroad and experience views of the winding banks of the Colorado River, lush farmlands, and even of Mexico. Just a short drive from Yuma will take you to Adair Park where you can experience steel in a different way at nine rifle, pistol and archery ranges. Learn about the areas original residents at Cocopah Indian Museum and at St. Thomas Mission on the Yuma Indian Reservation.
On the other end of the state, near the Colorado border is one of this earth's most impressive features, the Grand Canyon. There you will visit the Grand Canyon Village at the Canyon's Southern Rim. This natural and national treasure is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and 5000 feet deep. This is the spot to check out historic landmarks such as the El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House, and the Santa Fe Railway Station. You will definitely find the time to experience the wonders and beauty of the area by hiking into the canyon on foot or by riding in on a mule. Check out waterfalls, wildlife, and breathtaking sunsets against the backdrop of reds, yellows, and oranges. Impressively, Point Imperial stands 8000 feet high and overlooks the northern part of the canyon. Don't forget to take a day trip to jump aboard a white water raft down the Hualapai River.
A few hours north of Grand Canyon, Arizona is Page, a small town on Lake Powell that has great potential for exploring Utah and Arizona's natural attributes and the history of the Navajo people. Page lies adjacent to the Navajo Nation, the largest Indian Nation in the United State. If you are in the area, check out some of Utah's Rainbow Bridge National Monument - the world's largest known natural bridge - and Zion National Park. A rafting ride on the Colorado River will get your blood moving, and a stroll through Antelope Canyon will leave you breathless with wonder. The Canyon has high, narrow, natural sandstone, hallways offering rust colored waves of rock.
Heading back down south, the spiritual and warm city of Sedona lies off of Rte 17 from Phoenix, and off of US-89 from Page. You will never overlook the sunset in Sedona, where the sun will capture every hue of the red rocks around the city. This area is a well known for its spiritual vortexes, where people believe that energy is concentrated, so many come here to relax and rejuvenate. This area is known as a great destination spot for vacationers who like to golf, hike, fish, mountain bike, play tennis, visit local art galleries, or for a day at the spa. Take a scenic drive around Sedona and you'll find an ancient dwelling high in the mountain wall of the area's former residents, the Sinaqua, Called Montezuma Castle.
Prescott is located about an hour and a half southwest of Sedona on AZ-89A. The city has at least four golf courses and the World's Oldest Rodeo fairgrounds. For history lovers, check out art of the old west at the Phippen Art Museum, pick up a souvenir at the Sharlot Hall Museum, or learn about native pottery and weaving at the Smoki Museum. You can take the family on a walking tour of the historic Victorian houses in downtown, take a kayak ride, or even visit the area's zoo!
The small town of Payson lies southeast of Sedona and about 90 miles north of Phoenix. This town lies amongst the mountains of the Mogollon Rim, surrounded by giant saguaro cacti, thick green, pine forests, and clear running rivers. This is town is great for nature lovers, rodeo enthusiasts, and country music fans who can visit the annual Old Time Fiddler's Contest each September. Stop by historic Main Street for unique dining and shopping and a touch of the old west at the Ox Bow Inn and Saloon.
Phoenix is the largest city in the state, surrounded by mountains on all sides, and has more than 300 days of sunshine annually, so bring your sunglasses! While the Heard Museum focuses on Native American culture and history, the Phoenix Art Museum offers more than 17,000 works of art. For a lavish lunch, make sure to eat at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and for a more casual sit-down, grab a bite at one the area's delicious Mexican restaurants. Kids will go crazy for the roller coasters at Castles and Coasters, or the race tracks and go karts at the F1 Race Factory and the Speedway Indoor Kart Racing Center. Phoenix even has hot air balloon rides and a botanical garden with the largest collection of desert plants. Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum is located 30 miles north of downtown, and offers visitors 90 acres of an authentic town, straight out of the 1800s, including cowboys and Victorian ladies. There is no shortage of opportunities for relaxing, fun or cuisine in Phoenix.
Chandler, a suburb of Phoenix, is also a popular vacation area for Arizona residents. Historic Downtown Chandler has restaurants, shopping, galleries, and performances at the Chandler Center for the Arts. Tee off at the oldest golf resort in Arizona, San Marcos Golf Resort. Each March, check out the unique Ostrich Festival and watch the birds race.
Also a suburb of Phoenix, Mesa, is a must visit place for its full-size dinosaurs housed at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Also downtown you can grab some pizza with one of the world's largest Wurlitzer theater organs at Organ Stop Pizza. After visiting the huge Fiesta Mall for some shopping, or the Mesa Center for the Arts, you can catch a show and dine at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater.
Known as the Valley of the Sun, Tempe is a college town located 10 minutes away from Phoenix International Airport. The Arizona State University (ASU) campus offers visitors the perks of a college town, such as theater, museums, and delicious, but affordable food, and nightlife. The Museum of Anthropology associated with ASU is a great place to check out fossils and gems. For more modern fun, kids will love Fiddlesticks, an amusement park with go karts and bumper boats. Parents will love the deals and variety offered at the Arizona Mills Mall.
When in nearby Scottsdale, visitors will enjoy the architectural wonder of Taliesin West, created and resided in by Frank Lloyd Wright. Kick back in Scottsdale's old town and grab ice cream in a 1950s parlor, then check out art galleries and shop till you drop. You can take a hot air balloon ride or see the desert at night with night vision goggles on an adventure tour. The Out of Africa Wildlife Park will introduce the whole family to the wonders of the animal kingdom. Grab a thick steak, pan for gold, and hit the petting zoo at Rawhide Western Town.
Glendale is located in the northwest section of Phoenix. At the Historic Sahuaro Ranch, peacocks roam free, and the area is known for its beautiful rose gardens and antique shops. Hit the trails on your bike or by foot at White Tank Mountain Regional Park and uncover Petroglyph Plaza at the end of Waterfall Trail, where ancient residents left their marks on stone. The Xeriscape Botanical Gardens and the Bead Museum will be great spots for those do-it-yourselfers to get some ideas for their gardens and crafts. Sports lovers will sure love Gelndale, since it is home to the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes, the National Lacrosse League's Arizona Sting, Phoenix International Raceway's NASCAR series, and is the spring training spot for the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers!
Also in the area is Peoria, the Gateway to Lake Pleasant, where you can take your pick of lake sports and also take a romantic ride on a replica of a Mississippi riverboat to explore the unique landscape of cacti, snow topped mountains, and green rolling hills. The Challenger Space Center offers visitors fly simulated space flight missions where one can experience what it might be like to go to outer space. The Turf Soaring School will give you access to Peoria by air, offering a beautiful view that you'll never forget.
South of Phoenix on I-10 is Casa Grande, a rapidly growing city, and a great place to rest your head. For history buffs, the town offers the Casa Grande Valley Historical Museum, a preserved railroad station, and other local, historical buildings. There is a community theater group, and the local art museum hosts shows and shows art by Arizona artists. Each March, the city hosts the Arizona State Open Chili Championship and in February is the Annual O'Odham Tash Celebration, a gathering of tribes featuring crafts, rodeos and powwows. Beside the huge local mall, the Promenade, you can discount shop at the Outlets at Casa Grande.
Arizona is a place for adventure, with it's varied landscapes, unique history and residents. It is also a place where one might go to relax and rejuvenate, and catch some of the most beautiful sunsets that the earth has to offer. It is definitely a state with attractions for everyone, with fun, nature, and beauty galore.
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