The Grand Canyon; Monument Valley; a kitschy motel.
Arizona Office of Tourism
Places
A detailed guide to the entire state, with principal sites clearly cross-referenced by number to the maps
The Grand Canyon; Monument Valley; a kitschy motel.
Arizona Office of Tourism
The Grand Canyon; Monument Valley; a kitschy motel.
APA Richard Nowitz
The Grand Canyon; Monument Valley; a kitschy motel.
APA Richard Nowitz
Red rocks soar above the Arizona desert.
APA Richard Nowitz
A young cowgirl at the Carrel White Stallion Dude Ranch.
APA Richard Nowitz
They came, they saw … they went home. That sums up the experience of the first Europeans to see the Grand Canyon – a contingent of soldiers from Coronado’s 1540 expedition seeking the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. The Colorado River, seemingly so small yet mighty enough to have carved the Canyon, proved a daunting obstacle. Unlike today’s river runners, these conquistadors never even got their feet wet.
Today, the Grand Canyon is Arizona’s top attraction, the destination for millions of tourists, who mostly congregate at the busy South Rim, leaving the remote North Rim blessedly free of crowds. The “Big Ditch” (as locals call it) lives up to its billing. You won’t believe your eyes – nor should you – because the vision that sprawls before you is simply too vast to comprehend. It’s a common problem in scenic Arizona, where stunning landscapes crop up around every bend.
Route 66 near Oatman.
APA Richard Nowitz
The Grand Canyon is the main destination for visitors to Flagstaff, the mountainous home to Northern Arizona University, sweeping pine forests, prehistoric Indian pueblos, ranches, and outdoor activities in the San Francisco Peaks and the nearby White Mountains and Mogollon Rim country.
For a taste of Mexico – and the Sonoran Desert – head to southern Arizona’s border country. Here you can kick back and sample superb local wine and food near Sonoita, enjoy internationally renowned birding in a secluded “sky island” mountain canyon, and visit dusty mining ghost towns and charming art towns like Bisbee and Patagonia. The kids can relive the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, while historians will want to visit one of Father Kino’s graceful Spanish missions near historic Tubac.
The state’s two largest cities – Tucson and Phoenix – home to the University of Arizona and Arizona State University, respectively, offer world-class delights. Arizonans are a diverse, opinionated bunch – a fiery salsa of Indian, Hispanic, and Anglo cultures – not afraid to make headlines. That only makes a visit here interesting. Come see for yourself.
