Live in Arizona? Here's Some Great Places to Visit in Your Own State
Arizona is a beautiful state to live in – there are so many places to visit as a day trip or a weekend getaway. The following are just a few of the many fantastic places Arizona has to offer:
Grand Canyon National Park – People around the world save for years to be able to afford a trip to the Grand Canyon. It is known as “One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World” and you live just a few hours away. The Grand Canyon is one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Whether you visit the North Rim or the South Rim, the park has many outdoor activities including hiking, water rafting, and camping to name a few. Visit nps.gov/grca/index.htm for more information.
Montezuma Castle National Monument - Montezuma Castle is an awe-inspiring National Monument about 50 miles from Flagstaff which tells the story of the intelligence, ingenuity, and resilience of people who built it thousands of years ago. It is a five-story dwelling cut into the soft limestone cliffs of Beaver Creek Canyon that is located 100 feet above the canyon floor. The castle consists of twenty very well-preserved rooms built by fieldstone glued together by mud and clay mortar. For more information, visit nps.gov/moca/index.htm.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park - You've seen it on TV and in theaters. You can't look at the towering rock formations without thinking of John Wayne, cattle drives or insensitive portrayals of Native Americans. But you know what's even better than seeing Monument Valley on the big screen – seeing it in person. Visit navajonationparks.org to plan your next trip.
Prescott - If the United States held an America's Best Hometown Contest, Arizona's entry would most likely be Prescott. It has all the requisites: quaint downtown (Courthouse Square), area committed to adult beverages (Whiskey Row) and exuberant small-town celebrations. The town has charm as well as a more amenable summer climate, when temperatures can be 15-20 degrees cooler than the Valley's. From 1881 to 1884, Prescott served as the territorial capitol; it was just enough time to build a governor's mansion, now part of the Sharlot Hall Museum. Go see what constituted a governor's home in those days. visit-prescott.com
Saguaro National Park - Located near Tucson, the park was created to protect these rare and magnificent cacti. The park is located at the heart of the Sonoran Desert, at about 2,400 feet above sea level and is one of the top Arizona attractions. The giant saguaro cactus is found only in a small portion of the United States and is protected by Saguaro National Park. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset. For more details, go to nps.gov/sagu/index.htm.
Sedona – A charming area in Northern Arizona and home to Cathedral Rock, Sedona’s most famous landmark and one of most beautiful places to visit in Arizona. It is located in Yavapai County in the Coconino National Forest. The rock is carved from red sandstone created from sand dunes around the ancient Pedregosa Sea. Visit Sedona’s museums to learn about the art and history of the area, sample delicious wines along the Verde Valley Wine Trail, dine at incredible restaurants, and browse the many novelty shops. Among the best things to do in Sedona include: Oak Creek Canyon, Palatki Ruins and the Sedona Heritage Museum. Go to sedona.net for more details.
Tombstone - Imagine the 1880’s frozen in time, where tough-looking men wearing dusters fit right in. The frontier facades are largely original, the souvenir T-shirts, mugs and refrigerator magnets are not. Still, there is an Old West charm found nowhere else. Learn about pistol and rifle shooting from the Single Action Shooting Society. Visit the OK Corral and Historama to hear Vincent Price's dramatic retelling of the shootout. Go see the Bird Cage Theater Museum, a former brothel that has been preserved, not restored. The tattered nature of the museum is as endearing as it is honest; it's OK when something shows its age. For more information, go to tombstoneweb.com.
Walpi Village - The ancient village on the Hopi Reservation first appears as if a natural part of the stony ridge 300 feet above the valley floor. Walpi is one of North America's oldest continuously inhabited villages – or, so many people believe. Walpi offers a rare insight into Hopi life as well as unmatched vistas. It is an authentic, only-in-Arizona experience, rich in culture and history. For information, visit wmf.org/project/walpi-village.
There are so many more areas to see near Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson. Check with visitarizona.com to find out about more places to visit.
