ARIZONA
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon yawns across a remote part of Arizona roughly 80 miles from the closest towns, such as Flagstaff and Tuba City. If seeing the majestic canyon is your top priority, the best option is to stay at Grand Canyon Village, a historic town on the canyon's Southern rim built for the sole purpose of accommodating tourists. A designated national historic landmark, the village was built in 1901 when the Santa Fe railroad established a route and depot through the park. For a complete Grand Canyon experience, stay at the one of the historic and eco-friendly lodges within the park grounds. The company that manages the lodges is authorized by the National Park Service to provide visitor services, and can arrange guided trips and park-sponsored adventures..
Monument Valley
Head into the vast landscape of northeastern Arizona and it’s as if you’ve entered another world. Highways roll endlessly along plains with not a soul in sight. The land rises imperceptibly, cliffs reveal themselves in the distance. Further exploration uncovers a canyon where ancient people once made their homes, and where some live still. The road leads on to a magical place where rocky monoliths burst from the desert floor. Those lucky enough to wander the lands of the Navajo and Hopi people will find treasures that exist nowhere else..
Sedona
Whether you only have a few hours in Sedona or an entire weekend or week to explore, you'll find something to remember. Vortex sites and outdoor destinations make for great hikes, walks and adventures. Closer to town, museums and shops speak to the artist in all of us. If you are just passing through there is also a scenic drive to try..
Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly (pronounced da-shay), with thousands of ruins, carvings and paintings on stone, is revered by the Navajo people. It is classified as a living monument by the National Park Service. Over campfires, during a hike on the trails, visiting on horseback or on a jeep tour, visitors get a sense of the canyon's history and spirituality..
Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly (pronounced da-shay), with thousands of ruins, carvings and paintings on stone, is revered by the Navajo people. It is classified as a living monument by the National Park Service. Over campfires, during a hike on the trails, visiting on horseback or on a jeep tour, visitors get a sense of the canyon's history and spirituality..
Canyon de Chelly
Canyon de Chelly (pronounced da-shay), with thousands of ruins, carvings and paintings on stone, is revered by the Navajo people. It is classified as a living monument by the National Park Service. Over campfires, during a hike on the trails, visiting on horseback or on a jeep tour, visitors get a sense of the canyon's history and spirituality..
Tombstone
In nearby Tombstone, history is a part of the fabric of everyday life, one that draws visitors from all over the world. Re-enactments, museums and tours are big business here. The "Town Too Tough To Die" survives on its history. The O.K. Corral, site of that infamous gunfight, charges an adult admission of $10 for re-enactments. The gift shop is filled with tchotchkes emblazoned with the O.K. Corral logo..
Bisbee
Maybe the only thing more improbable than the town of Bisbee springing up on the sides of a steep canyon amid the Mule Mountains is that it still is there. Much like its artsy counterpart Jerome in central Arizona, Bisbee reinvented itself in the mid-1970s when its underground and open-pit mining operations ground to a half. Now Bisbee, in southeastern Arizona, is like a big interactive museum with historic buildings, walkable streets, shops and terrific places to eat and stay.
Lake Mead
When engineers dammed the Colorado River, it created a reservoir known as Lake Mead. A liquid oasis in an expansive desert area, Lake Mead draws thousands of locals and visitors each year, many of which enjoy playing on the lake. The National Park Service manages Lake Mead, but the Nevada Division of Wildlife enforces the region's boating safety laws. Officials stocks the lake regularly with a variety of fish..
Pima Air & Space Museum
The restored World War II Flying Fortress is among the highlights of the museum, where more than 300 historically significant aircraft are parked amid 80 acres and four hangars. The aircraft range in size from a mini plane that can be thought of as a motorcycle with wings to the B-52 Stratofortress, an eight-engine behemoth capable of carrying 70,000 pounds of weapons. The collection includes private, commercial and military craft as well as a small fleet of helicopters..
Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon is often called Tucson's worst-kept secret. Just 12 miles from downtown, you'll find one of the most glorious places in Arizona to hike, picnic and even swim. If you prefer to ride rather than walk, board the tram for a 3.8-mile tour. You'll learn about Sabino Creek's rich riparian area and rock formations that are 12 million years old..
San Xavier del Bac
One glance, and you know why it's called the "White Dove of the Desert." The mission church of San Xavier del Bac, the oldest intact European structure in Arizona, is a stunning example of Mexican baroque architecture. Catch it in the right light and it seems almost incandescent. Construction began in 1783, but the mission's roots go back to 1692, when the Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino first came to the O'odham village of Wa:k (which he transcribed as "Bac")..
Saguaro National Park
Whether you have hours, days or a week to explore, the area lends itself to design-your-own experiences. If you want to hit the highlights in an hour or so, head to the park’s Tucson Mountain District and take the Bajada Loop Drive, an unpaved, well-maintained road. Stop at the Signal Hill picnic area and take a short hike up the ridge to see petroglyphs and a lovely view of the valley. If you have a half-day, several trails can be reached from Bajada Loop. The Hugh Norris Trail, 5 miles one way, gives increasingly lovely views as it climbs. If you want to spend two or more days, head to the larger Rincon Mountain District and stop at the visitor center for maps and advice. Camping is allowed with a backcountry permit..
Wupatki-Sunset Crater
Wupatki-Sunset Crater is the austere remains of volcanic activity. The landscape varies dramatically, from flat, sparsely vegetated and rather austere vistas along the first few miles to colorful cinder cones flanked by tall ponderosa pines at the southern end. You also can explore fascinating Indian ruins, some a short drive off the main road, while pondering the people who lived here so long ago..
Snowbowl
Wupatki-Sunset Crater is the austere remains of volcanic activity. The landscape varies dramatically, from flat, sparsely vegetated and rather austere vistas along the first few miles to colorful cinder cones flanked by tall ponderosa pines at the southern end. You also can explore fascinating Indian ruins, some a short drive off the main road, while pondering the people who lived here so long ago..
Phoenix
Arizona's biggest city could keep you busy for years, with museums and other cultural institutions, such as the world-famous Heard and the Phoenix Symphony. Nature lovers swear by the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo, while more adventurous outdoorsy types flock to Camelback Mountain and other Valley trails. Families with small children look to the Children's Museum of Phoenix and neighborhood splash pads for reliable fun..
London Bridge
Lake Havasu City might have remained a sleepy retirement town, except that traffic increased halfway around the planet and that made all the difference. In England, the venerable London Bridge was sinking into the Thames River because of traffic overload. Rather than demolish the bridge, which opened in 1831, the city put it up for sale. In 1968, Robert P. McCulloch, the founder of Lake Havasu City, bought it for $2.46 million and reconstructed it in Arizona. Yes, the bridge that stood in the time of Charles Dickens, and that bears the strafing scars of Nazi warplanes, is the centerpiece of Segway tours. What a long, strange trip it's been..
Scottsdale
The city has a rep around the world for Western fun, nightclubs, shopping and posh resorts. Some of the highlights: West World, with equestrian events and more; new Nightclub & Bar fave Craft 64; Scottsdale Fashion Square; and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.