Arizona contains some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole of the USA.
The Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert National Park and Petrified Forest National
Park (comprising the Painted Desert in the north and Rainbow Forest in the south) are just some of the highlights. The north of the state is criss-crossed with canyons, mountain streams, ponderosa pineforests, alpine meadows and snow-capped volcanoes. In the south and west are red deserts with stunning rock formations, Native American tribes, ghost towns from gold and silver-mining days, and deep blue skies. Phoenix, the largest city in the state, shares borders with Scottsdale, the primary resort destination in Arizona. Both cities have a variety of accommodations and attractions, unique shopping, fine art galleries and many cultural events. The fifth-largest city in the...
he USA, Phoenix boasts over 200 spectacular golf courses and a climate that attracts people from across the country.
Where to Go in Arizona
Greater Phoenix Area. The sixth-largest city in the USA and
the capital of Arizona, Phoenix has enjoyed a growth in popularity recently,
thanks to its improved airport facilities and a large investment in extensive
urban redevelopment. Today, it claims to have more 5-star hotels than any other
US city.
Sightseeing options include Encanto Park, Pueblo Grande Museum, Papago Park
(including the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden), South Mountain Park
and the recently expanded Heard Museum, devoted to the art, anthropology, history
and Native American culture of Arizona.
Year-round sunshine makes the outdoors a way of life, with scores of tennis
courts, swimming pools and an ever-increasing number of spas. Attractions include
a new museum of contemporary art and Taliesin West, the home and workshop of
the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. On the western edge of Phoenix, Glendale
is known for its antique shops, while in the southeast are Mesa, the third-largest
city in the State, and Tempe, known for the shopping and nightlife on pedestrianized
Mill Avenue.
Grand Canyon. The jewel of the National Park Service and
a World Heritage Site, the Grand Canyon’s impact is awe-inspiring. This
massive rend in the earth may be experienced in a variety of different ways:
by airplane or helicopter, from the back of a mule, on foot or aboard a raft.
For those wanting to catch a memorable sunrise or sunset, it is worth booking
accommodation at one of the hotels in and around the canyon. As the area is
far from any city, those wanting to save time and see it all can take a ‘flightseeing’ trip
over the canyon.
Sedona. An attractive town nestled in the extraordinary red-rock
formations and cliffs at the foot of Oak Creek, Sedona has a strong local arts
and New Age scene and some celebrities have second homes here. The beautiful
Oak Creek Canyon provides lush scenery, and there are prehistoric Native American
ruins to be seen nearby. Jeep tours, hiking and mountain biking are also available.
Lake Havasu City
Nestled amidst rugged desert peaks on the Colorado River, this city with a
small-town feel became the new home of London Bridge in 1971. Dismantled
stone by stone, the bridge was brought over from England and reassembled
in Arizona, where it became the focal point for an array of English-style
shops, pubs and lodgings. The city’s warm, dry climate ensures that
swimming, fishing, jet boating, water-skiing and other watersports along
the miles of public shoreline are a year-round possibility.
Tucson. This popular winter resort is one of the fastest-growing
resort cities in the USA. Surrounded by a ring of five mountain ranges in the
Sonoran Desert, it is known for its constant sunshine; and its location, only
160km (100 miles) from the Mexican border, is apparent in its architecture,
cuisine, lively fiestas and cultural festivals. The Tucson Children’s
Museum, with many hands-on exhibitions, is a favorite with children and adults
alike, as is the zoo at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Apache Trail. Passing through arid deserts, winding canyons,
looming buttes, glistening lakes and the ominous volcanic dome known as Superstition
Mountain, the Apache Trail is an extraordinary scenic drive. Attractions include
Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours, Superstition Mountain Museum, Lost Dutchman
State Park.
Tombstone. Tombstone owes its enduring appeal to the brief
showdown at the OK Corral, and movies such as Wyatt Earp and Tombstone mean
that it has retained its popularity. This notorious town plays on its past
with restored sites and attractions like the Boot Hill Cemetery, the Crystal
Palace Saloon, the Bird Cage Theater and even has its original newspaper, named
the Tombstone Epitaph.