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5 January 2022
Home to the famous Grand Canyon, Arizona is a fantastic destination if you’re looking for sunshine, natural beauty, and charming cities and towns. Being the sixth largest state in the United States of America, Arizona offers numerous interesting sites and places that both tourists and locals alike can visit.
Here is our list of the top must-see and must-visit destinations in Arizona.
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Grand Canyon, with its endless ridges of colorful cliff walls and deep valleys, is a sight to behold. The canyon glows orange, red, yellow, and everything in between in the late afternoon sun.
There is no doubt that the Grand Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in the country, and certainly in Arizona. It is a place that must be seen in person to be appreciated fully. The Colorado River has carved out this natural wonder over the centuries, which can be seen in the distance far below.
Among Arizona’s most spectacular settings are Sedona’s red rock mountains and buttes. Sedona is about 1.5 hours north of Phoenix, making it a popular day trip, but the town is worth much more than just a few hours of your time.
The drive into Sedona from the south, beginning at the Village of Oak Creek, is breathtaking, and the pullouts along the way allow you to enjoy the scenery.
The Hoover Dam is one of America’s greatest engineering feats. Completed in 1935, this massive structure crosses the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. It measures 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long.
The largest artificial lake in the United States is Lake Mead, which is held back by the Hoover Dam. 110 miles long, it holds the equivalent of two years’ flow of the Colorado River.
You can drive or walk across the dam for free, but there is a fee for parking. A tour of Hoover Dam or the Powerplant is another option. The visitor center provides information about the dam and tours, as well as basic food options.
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Enjoy a variety of water activities at Lake Havasu, including swimming, fishing, boating, and water skiing. Discover hidden coves that are accessible by kayak and admire the beauty of the eye-catching London Bridge. You may also decide to head ashore to Lake Havasu City for campgrounds, hiking trails, shops, and restaurants.
Havasu Falls on the Havasupai Indian Reservation is one of the most breathtaking sites you’ll ever see. You’ll have to plan ahead and buy a permit from the Havasupai Tribe to access the area. The number of permits is extremely limited, so be sure to plan your adventure ahead.
The sandstone buttes that dominate Monument Valley are some of the most iconic images of the Southwest. Along the border between Arizona and Utah, there are jagged rock formations, stone spires and buttes, and sand dunes.
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, located in the heart of the valley, offers a 17-mile self-driving route along a one-way gravel road.
Guided tours of the area are also available. Even if you don’t have time to visit the park, you can still enjoy some of the views from the highway.
Whether you’re traveling on a vacation or planning to move to the Copper State, the top destinations we mentioned above, along with the state’s culture, heritage, cuisine, and people, are what make Arizona one of the most livable and interesting states in the US.
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A towering wall of dust can roll across central Arizona on a monsoon evening, swallowing skylines, grounding flights, and cutting visibility to near zero across parts of the Phoenix metro. Spectacular? Absolutely. Routine? In the Southwest, yes. These dramatic dust storms—called haboobs—are a hallmark of Arizona’s summer monsoon. Here is what they are, how they form, and how to stay safe when one arrives. advertisement What Is a Haboob? A haboob is a fast-moving dust storm generated by thunderstorm outflow winds. As a storm cell collapses or surges forward, dense, cool air rushes toward the ground and spreads outward like
Coyotes are as much a part of Arizona’s landscape as saguaros and sunsets. Known for their adaptability and eerie night calls, these wild canines have become one of the state’s most fascinating and misunderstood residents. Whether spotted trotting across desert trails or heard howling in suburban neighborhoods, coyotes embody the untamed spirit of the Southwest. advertisement Masters of Adaptation Arizona’s diverse terrain — from the Sonoran Desert to pine-covered plateaus — offers coyotes a variety of habitats. Few animals are as flexible in their survival strategies. Coyotes thrive in deserts, forests, grasslands, and even urban environments like Phoenix and Tucson.
Arizona might be known for its sun-soaked deserts and dramatic red rock formations, but the Grand Canyon State also offers incredible water adventures for locals and visitors alike. From lazy tubing down rivers to kayaking through canyons, there’s no shortage of aquatic fun to cool off under the Arizona sun. advertisement 1. Tubing the Salt River No Arizona summer is complete without a float down the Salt River in Mesa. This laid-back, family-friendly activity lets you relax as you drift through stunning desert scenery while spotting wild horses along the banks. Bring sunscreen, water shoes, and a waterproof speaker for
The Salt River wild horses are one of Arizona’s most beloved symbols of freedom, beauty, and resilience. These majestic animals roam the lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, an area synonymous with the wild, untamed spirit of the American West. But once again, their very existence is under threat. advertisement A Fight for Survival In 2015, when the Salt River wild horses faced possible removal, Arizonans came together in a historic show of unity. The outpouring of public support led to the passage of the Salt River Horse Act in 2016, protecting the herd from unnecessary removal and
