With a dazzling array of amazing sights, Arizona’s desert climate is home to astounding geological
formations and canyons that are well worth exploring.
The most notable one, The Grand Canyon, for example, is one of the United States’ most
famous sights, while the impressive Monument Valley certainly gives it a run for its money.
With Indian reservations making up almost a quarter of Arizona’s land area, there
are lots of interesting archeological, historical, and cultural sites relating to Native American
culture for tourists to learn about.
Arizona has a reputation for being one of the most liveable states in America.
As true as this may be, it doesn’t make Arizona any more boring or any less interesting
or enjoyable as a place to visit.
There are plenty of fun things to do here – check out some of these 11 best places
to visit if you want a taster of what Arizona has on offer!
CTA Hi, I’m James, and before we delve into
the Grand Canyon State, don’t forget to hit the red subscribe button below to get
Via Travelers updates on our favorite destinations from around the world.
1 Grand Canyon National Park.
The Grand Canyon is a true wonder of nature and arguably the most famous of all the world's
natural wonders.
It’s the world’s largest canyon, formed by natural erosion over millennia, and in
turn has become an important tourist hotspot for visitors from all over the world, who
come to admire its majesty.
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is one of the more recent additions to the park – this horseshoe-shaped
bridge offers visitors a unique and vertigo-inducing view of the canyon from 4000 feet up.
2 Saguaro National Park.
The Sonoran Desert is home to the Saguaro cactus, which is found almost exclusively
in this part of the world.
This makes Saguaro National Park a must-see for any nature lover interested in desert
flora and fauna.
The park also has some beautiful hiking trails that lead visitors through rugged canyons
and offer amazing views of the desert landscape.
The park is home to over 300 species of birdlife, and 10 different types of reptiles can be
found on its grounds as well.
3 Sedona.
The town of Sedona is a popular tourist destination in Arizona, and after 5 minutes here it’s
really not hard to see why.
With its stunning red rock formations, funky art galleries, and New Age vibe, Sedona offers
something for everyone.
The area is also a great base for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping.
Sedona is a well-known tourist destination, known for its spiritual and artistic vibes
as much as it is for the beautiful scenery that surrounds it.
The red rocks of Sedona are perfect if you’re looking to experience an exciting night out
in Arizona with some stunning views – they also make great photo subjects!
As touched on before, there are lots of outdoor activities available in this area including
hiking, biking, and camping.
Check into one of the many hotels or guest houses located around the city center when
visiting Sedona – there is plenty on offer here, and at affordable prices too, which
makes them even more appealing to tourists who want their money’s worth while staying
here.
4 Phoenix.
The state capital of Arizona, Phoenix is also the largest city in Arizona, and it’s one
of the most popular tourist destinations in the state.
It has a vibrant urban scene as well as an impressive range of landmarks such as Arcosanti
– this community-built artistic village offers visitors a chance to learn more about
sustainable living practices.
Phoenix is a huge sports town, home to 10 professional sports teams including the The
NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, NHL's Arizona
Coyotes, and the USL’s Phoenix Rising FC.
In the last 10 years, Phoenix has seen a great increase in the number of fabulous new restaurants,
bars and nightclubs, ensuring that you’ll be able to enjoy a terrific night out in the
city.
5 Scottsdale.
Scottsdale is a popular resort town in Arizona, great for some R&R, and is home to the acclaimed
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall – this shopping mall has over 250 stores and 10 different
restaurants and eateries within its walls.
This makes Scottsdale an ideal place for retail therapy before heading out into the desert
wilderness.
The town is also home to some excellent golf courses, so if you’re a fan of a good walk
unspoiled, this is definitely the place for you.
6 Tucson.
Tucson is the second-largest city in Arizona, and it offers a great mix of cultural attractions
and natural wonders.
It’s a great base camp to visit Saguaro National Park as well as the Kitt Peak Observatory
– this astronomical observatory has some of the most powerful telescopes in the world
and offers visitors an amazing view of the night sky.
Tucson is a city located about 10 miles north of Saguaro National Park and it’s home to
the University of Arizona, which offers great cultural attractions for students as well
as tourists.Tucson also has its own professional baseball team in the form of the Tucson Padres.
The area is known for having one of America’s best climates – making it an ideal place
to visit at any time of year.
It also boasts world-class golf courses such as Club de Golf Santa Catalina, while there
are plenty more hiking trails that are worth exploring too!
7 Antelope Canyon.
Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon located in northern Arizona, and it’s one of the most
popular tourist destinations in the state.
The canyon is known for its stunningly smooth sandstone walls that change color with the
light, making for some amazing photographic opportunities.
The area has become a popular stop on the Grand Circle Tour Route, and there are guided
tours available that take visitors through its 10-mile length.
8 Horseshoe Bend.
Horseshoe Bend is a famous destination in Arizona due to its location on Lake Powell
– this 10-mile long manmade lake was created back in 1964 when Glen Canyon Dam went into
operation.
The dam provides hydroelectric power for much of southern California and northern Arizona,
but it also offers amazing views from both sides thanks to its huge spillway.
Horseshoe Bend lies at one end of the reservoir, where you’ll find some stunning desert scenery
that changes color with each season and time of day.
This view can be captured perfectly using just an Instagram filter!
There are also guided tours available here too if you want someone else to do all of
the hard work for you.
9 Monument Valley.
Monument Valley is a truly iconic location in the American West, and it’s located on
the border between Arizona and Utah.
The valley is known for its towering sandstone buttes that rise up out of the desert landscape,
which have been featured in countless movies and TV shows over the years.
The area is open to visitors all year round, and there are plenty of guided tours available
to take you around this natural wonderland. 10 Flagstaff.
Flagstaff is another major city in Arizona, located about 10 miles north of the Grand
Canyon, 10 miles south of Sedona and surrounded on all sides by stunning scenery.
According to recent census data, the metro area has a population of just under 140 thousand
people, but it still feels like a relatively small town compared to other cities in the
region, partly due to its isolated location and sparse layout.
It certainly feels a little busier in term time when the 10,000 students of Northern
Arizona University descend upon the city!
Flagstaff offers some amazing cultural attractions, such as Lowell Observatory – this observatory
was built back in 1894 by Percival Lowell who believed he had found evidence that an
advanced civilization existed on Mars!
There are plenty more great places nearby if you want to explore beyond Flagstaff as
well.
Flagstaff gets an average of 300 days’ worth of sunshine every year, making for some beautiful
blue skies that change color as sunset approaches – this makes photography really easy here
even if you have no experience whatsoever.
Other things to do around Flagstaff include hiking through Coco-nino National Forest or
visiting nearby Sedona.
If you happen to be staying near Grand Canyon Village, don’t miss out on the chance to
visit Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument!
This 10,000-year-old volcano is located about 10 miles north of Flagstaff and it’s well
worth a visit if you have the time.
Finale Thanks for watching!
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