Grand Canyon National Park
Situated in the northwest corner of Arizona, the Grand Canyon National Park welcomes around 5 million visitors a year.
Nature and animal lovers, scientists, geologists and archaeologists continue to be mesmerised by the imposing beauty and splendour of its massive layered-rock canyons, river tributaries, fauna and flora, and historical significance.
Your touring options are endless: a drive along the incredibly scenic South Rim; a two-day mule trip down to the bottom of the canyon; hiking trails; helicopter or hot-air balloon tours; or white-water rafting down the Colorado River.
The park is home to around 500 species of animals and birds, including the endangered Californian condor, and six types of rattlesnakes.
Sedona
While Sedona boasts some exquisite natural beauty amidst the remarkable Red Rocks, mother nature is not the only artist at work in this bustling Arizona desert town.
For decades Sedona has been a mecca in the Southwest for artists, photographers, natural healers and free-spirited creatives drawn in by the town’s impressive array of art galleries and the reported mystical quality of the natural surrounds.
The area is equally attractive to outdoor enthusiasts keen to take advantage of the hiking and mountain biking opportunities among the incredible pinnacles, spires, buttes and domes of the surrounding canyons.
Whether you are seeking wonderful spa facilities, world-class vineyards, a thriving arts scene, phenomenal restaurants or simply some outstanding natural landscapes to explore, you are bound to find plenty to enchant you in and around the extraordinary town of Sedona.
Monument Valley
In San Juan County in the southeastern corner of Utah, lies the vast, wild and sunbaked desert plane of Monument Valley.
This red-sand desert region is known for its towering sandstone buttes and forms part of the lands sacred to the Navajo Nation.
In this area, the stars of the Milky Way can be seen exceptionally clearly at night. Visitors can enjoy hiking, jeep tours, horse riding and stargazing on their own or escorted and narrated by Navajo guides.
Top activities also include touring the Monument Valley Drive for spectacular views of the landscape, hiking the Wildcat Trail for closer views of the buttes, learning more about the area at the Goulding Film and Cultural History Museum, and watching the sunrise from one of the many viewpoints.
Phoenix
Fondly known by locals as the Valley of the Sun, the greater metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona covers over 1500 square kilometres of desert and boasts a slew of luxury resorts, world-class golf courses, some excellent restaurants, fascinating museums, and a thriving nightlife scene.
Phoenix is a conglomeration of diverse areas. From the extremely affluent area of Camelback East with its extravagant hotels, spas and designer stores to the historic neighbourhoods and numerous charming performance venues of North Phoenix, there is plenty in Phoenix to satisfy any interest.
Nature lovers can indulge in a wide range of outdoor activities in the spectacular surrounding mountains while culture vultures can enjoy the city’s impressive opera, symphony, theatres, and fine museums.
With its massive red rocks, its vast blue sky and endless hours of golden sunshine Phoenix is the cosmopolitan heart of Arizona and the soul of the American Southwest.
Hoover Dam
Located between Nevada and Arizona, the Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam situated in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River.
The Hoover Dam marked the first ever dam constructed nearly entirely out of concrete. The dam is used to provide power to the state of Nevada, control floods, and impounds the water of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States.
The Dam provides water to the states of Arizona, Nevada, and California. The site is very popular and is visited by over a million visitors each year.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Encompassing over 1,25 million acres around Utah's Lake Powell, the vast Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is known for its incredible views, interesting geological features and exceptional opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Set against rugged red rock canyons and the placid blue waters of Lake Powell, this vast expanse of wilderness offers an array of adventurous activities such as wakeboarding, waterskiing, sea kayaking, houseboating, fishing and taking boat tours.
Other not-to-be-missed attractions in the region include the graceful and awe-inspiring Rainbow Bridge National Monument, the largest natural bridge in the world; a variety of archaeological sites including one of the most complete sections of Mesozoic paleolithic finds in the world; and the breathtaking vistas of seemingly endless golden cliffs from the popular Grandview Point.
Tucson
Located in southern Arizona, Tucson is an attractive city surrounded by the spectacularly scenic Sonoran Desert, as well as a number of dramatic towering mountain ranges.
As the second largest city in the state, Tucson serves as a vibrant commercial hub, as well as a laid-back university and resort town.
The city is known for its beautifully restored nineteenth-century mansions, quirky vintage shops, excellent museums and its extensive array of outdoor activities.
These include, among others: horseback riding, hiking, bird-watching and picnicking along the foothills of the magnificent Santa Catalina Mountains.
Other popular attractions include the Arizona State Museum, the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, featuring an aquarium and a zoo; and Old Tucson Studios, which boasts an amusement park with a classic Western theme.
Jerome
Wedged between Prescott and Flagstaff, near the top of Cleopatra Hill in Arizona, USA, Jerome is a thriving tourist town and National Historic District.
Once the fourth largest city in Arizona, drawing people seeking work and fortune at its copper mine, it was filled with miners, bootleggers, and gamblers.
After the closing of the mine, the remaining residents promoted Jerome as a ghost town, and now it flourishes again - home to musicians, artists, and gift-shop owners. Jerome lies within the beautiful Coconino National Forest.
Hike the beautiful Woodchute Mountain, part of a protected area of juniper and pine trees home to American Black Bear, elk, cougar, mule deer, and eagles.
Attractions nearby include the Tuzigoot National Monument, an ancient hilltop pueblo built by the Sinagua people, and the Dead Horse Ranch State Park, home to some incredible birdlife.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
The Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a stirring natural preserve located in the northern part of the state of Arizona.
Lying within the territory of the Navajo Nation, the Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a unique place to visit, home to incredible rock formations (such as the Canyon itself and the magnificent Spider Rock), ancient petroglyphs and caves that have been inhabited for thousands of years.
As well as a programme of special events, the National Monument offers scenic drives, hiking routes (such as the White Horse Trail) and camping, while it is also possible to engage the services of a ranger for a guided tour of the area.
A deeply historical and geographically outstanding place, the Canyon de Chelly National Monument is a highly recommended stop on any Arizona travel itinerary.
Tombstone
Tombstone is synonymous with the Wild West: this legendary outpost for outlaws and cowboys has featured in numerous books and Hollywood blockbusters.
Head straight to the heart of the action on East Allen Street and pop into the historic Bird Cage Theatre, which was the centre of entertainment in the town’s tumultuous heyday and now functions as a museum.
To get to the roots of Tombstone, don't miss a subterranean tour of Goodenough Mine, one of the original silver mines that kickstarted the boomtown, or head to the notorious OK Corral, where you can watch reenactments of the infamous bloody gun battle that took place on Fremont Street in 1881.
