If you live in Arizona or are planning a trip there, here is a list of the ten best places in AZ. These are some of the best places to visit in Arizona as they are extremely beautiful and offer many adventurous activities.
These places are ranked high in the list of most visited tourist attractions. Arizona is a great city to visit, especially for nature lovers, as there are several hiking trails to visit in Arizona. Arizona is a state in American West, also known as the Grand Canyon state.
10 Best Places In AZ
Here is a list of the ten best places in AZ. These are some of the best places to visit in Arizona as they are beautiful and offer a serene view and many activities you can do with your family or friends. Arizona has a lot of places that suit all kinds of people. It does not matter whether you are an indoor or an outdoor person; you will have fun in Arizona if you visit these best places in AZ. You can get gorgeous views from Glen Canyon and try some activities near lake Powell.
1. Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park in Northern Arizona is one of the best places in AZ. This amazing park has a lot of viewpoints that give you views of the Canyon and Colorado rivers. This National Park was established in 1919. There are two lodgings in this Park. One is South Rim, and the other is in North Rim.
It is one of the best places to visit in Arizona as it offers a variety of outdoor programs for kids. In North Rim, there are several campsites. The Grand Canyon park also offers park ranger programs through which visitors can learn about the Grand Canyon’s nature, science, history, and culture. You can also take a tour of the Grand Canyon virtually.
1.1 More Details
Several museums and contact centers also provide information about Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon visitor center is open on all days, from eight in the morning to four in the evening. It has spectacular rock formations on South Rim. You can do casual sightseeing from the South Rim or explore the Canyon floor, which is accessible by foot, boat, or raft. You can also tour Grand Canyon west which has the Grand Canyon skywalk.
1.2 Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is also known as the east rim of the Grand Canyon and is located near the Colorado River. Horseshoe Bend was also featured as a landmark for the Glen Canyon National Recreational area. Horseshoe Bend is also an iconic spot for people fond of unique topography and landscapes. You can visit and explore Horseshoe Bend late morning to get the best view. Also, one of the advantages is that it is not difficult to hike Horseshoe bends.
2. Petrified Forest National Park
This Park, located in North Eastern Arizona, is one of the best in AZ. This Park also has the rainbow forest museum in its south. The petrified forest National Park was established sixty years ago.
This park is worth visiting because it contains deposits of more than 200-year-old fossils and very famous archaeological sites and structures. One of the activities that you can do when you visit this amazing Park is hiking. The park has over 1000 historical sites.
2.1 More Details
The petrified forest National Park gets this name because it has large deposits of petrified wood. This Park has more than 400 species of plants and a lot of kinds of animals and birds. Apart from its flora and fauna, this National Park is also known for its fossils.
Some of the activities include visiting the painted desert Visitor Centre, which Richard Neutra designed. You can enjoy the blue Mesa trail or the painted desert rim trail near this park. This park is one of the many sites on historic route 66, Arizona.
3. Saguaro National Park
Located in Southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park has two sides on either side of Tucson. The Eastern side of the park is called the Rincon mountain district, and the Western side is called the Tucson mountain district. It is one of the best places in AZ, as it can be explored in less than a day. Saguaro national park protects the majestic plants only found in a small portion of the United States of America.
3.1 More Details
The Saguaro National Park is one of the best places to visit for hiking. It does not offer car or RV camping, and there is no Wi-Fi available in either district.
4. Desert Botanical Garden
Located at 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, Arizona, the United States of America, this botanical garden allows you to experience the deep tranquillity of desert plants in the red rocks.
It is one of the best places to visit in Arizona as it offers live music, complimentary drinks, and unforgettable strolls in the garden. You can visit Desert Botanical Garden with your family or friends, or even for a date night. There are also a lot of restaurants for dining near the garden.
4.1 Other Places to Visit in Phoenix, Arizona
You can also visit the superstition mountains in the East Of The Phoenix Metropolitan area. You can spot the black bear or a Mountain Lion in these mountain ranges. It is one of the best places in AZ, as several towns and cities surround it.
Therefore if you visit the superstition mountains, you can also visit the Gold Canyon and the Lost Dutchman state park. One more great place to visit in Phoenix is the Heard Museum.
5. Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National monument is a National monument located in North Central Arizona. The location of this monument is 25137 North Wupatki Lane, Flagstaff, AZ, the United States of America. This national monument was established in 1924. Anyone curious about culture and nature must visit this National monument.
The Wupatki Pueblo is located behind the Wupatki Visitor Center and offers stunning scenery. Flagstaff is an international dark sky city and a historic downtown. This historic downtown has an amazing historic route with diverse shops.
If you visit Flagstaff, you can also explore Coconino national forest, which has beaver creek Canyon. You can also visit Walnut Canyon National Monument in Flagstaff. This National monument has several archaeological sites.
6. Glen Canyon Dam
This Dam is a dam on the Colorado River in the North of Arizona near the town of Page. The location of Glen Canyon Dam is in the national recreation area of Glen Canyon. This dam forms one of the largest reservoirs made by man, Lake Powell, which is in the United States of America.
The Colorado River is the largest source of water in southwestern America. It is the second-highest concrete arch dam after Hoover Dam in America.
Hoover Dam is a hydroelectric plant in Nevada, whereas the Glen Canyon dam ensures water distribution from the Colorado River. The Hoover dam is also considered a national historic landmark.
6.1 Hoover Dam and Colorado River
Hoover Dam is a dam located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River and forms Lake Mead in the river. It was completed in 1935. This Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in the USA. You can also explore Lake Mead National Recreational Area, which has amazing landscapes.
6.2 More Places to Visit in Northern Arizona
The Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Colorado plateau region. You can hike here as well or stay for an overnight trip. However, visitors are required to get a permit for both of these activities.
You can also take your dog along by paying an extra amount on the hike. There is also Vermilion cliffs national monument near this place that you can go to.
7. Montezuma Castle National Monument
The Montezuma Castle National monument was established in 1906 to protect well-preserved dwellings in Arizona, which were built and used by pre-Columbian culture and other indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States.
The location of this national monument is Montezuma Castle Rd, Camp Verde, Arizona, the United States of America. This National monument is one of the best places to visit in Arizona for people interested in history and culture.
7.1 More Details
This national monument has two sides, one is Montezuma Castle, and one is Montezuma Well. The visitor center in the former has details and information about both of these.
Both places have hiking trails and picnic spots where you can spend quality time. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in Arizona, as it offers formal ranger programs as well.
7.2 Other Places to Visit in Arizona
You can also explore the Sonoran Desert in Southwest Arizona. It is the hottest desert in America. The Sonoran Desert is one of the places to visit in Arizona as it has a variety of plants and animals.
8. Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Located in Chinle, Northeastern Arizona, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is one of the best places in AZ. Canyon de Chelly catered as a home for Navajo people. The Canyon de Chelly National Monument was established in 1931 as a part of the National park service to preserve the ruins of indigenous tribes.
Some features you will be able to witness once you visit Canyon de Chelly National Monument are spider rock spires and towering sandstone cliffs. You can also hike or do horseback riding in Canyon de Chelly.
9. Tonto National Forest
This forest is the largest of the six national forests in America. There is a wilderness area known as Salt River Canyon Wilderness within this National forest. You can travel and explore this wilderness using a raft or kayak. If you like to do adventurous activities, you can go white-water rafting in the Salt River and explore the various side creeks.
10. Jerome State Historic Park
This state park in Arizona, US, was established in 1957 and opened for visitors in 1965. Jerome is now known as a ghost town, but it is still a place worth exploring while visiting Arizona as it has breathtaking scenery and a rich historical past. This state park is one of the best places in AZ as it offers a lot of events and organizes several new programs each month.
2. Other Best Places In AZ
If you are still looking for some amazing places to visit in Arizona, you can explore many natural sites in the Sonoran desert landscape. Tucson, which is the second largest city in Arizona, is also extremely popular for its storage destinations, including the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.
2.1. Havasu Canyon
This Canyon is one of the gorgeous places, located around 35 miles west of the Grand Canyon Village in southwest Arizona. All the visitors are required to get a permit before entering the Canyon.
The Havasu falls, located in the Grand Canyon, is a waterfall of Havasu creek. The Havasu Falls is within Havasupai tribal lands, and so is the Havasu Canyon. Therefore, if you are visiting the Grand Canyon, you must also explore Havasu falls, as it is extremely beautiful and peaceful.
Lake Havasu City is also one of the best places in AZ. You can take a walk on London Bridge in this city. The London Bridge was moved to Arizona to make it a popular tourist destination.
The trek to Havasu Falls is a little difficult and takes approximately four to seven hours. Havasu falls is also a great waterfall for swimming as it has refreshing water. The best time to visit Havasu falls is during spring or winter.
2.2. Mount Lemmon
They are the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains. These mountains are located in the Coronado National Forest, which is north of Tucson, Arizona.
The Mount Lemmon scenic byway, also known as Catalina Highway scenic drive, is considered one of the most scenic routes in southeast Arizona as it offers amazing mountain views.
2.3. Goldfield Ghost Town
Goldfield Ghost Town was an old west mining camp founded in 1893. It includes the gold king mine museum and gold mine tours. If one visits this ghost town, one can explore many shops and historic buildings.
2.4. Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a red sand desert region known for the sandstone buttes of Monument Navajo tribal park. This park in Monument Valley has been used to film several Western movies.
Monument Valley is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Arizona. Besides being featured in movies, Monument Valley also appears in various computer games.
More Details About Monument Valley
Monument Valley is one of the must place to visit in Arizona as it has an iconic landscape. You will need a minimum of one day to explore this place. However, it is one of the places everyone should visit in Arizona as it is gorgeous and offers various things to do too.
2.5. Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is one of the best places to visit in Arizona. The upper Antelope Canyon is almost 200 meters in length and includes five scenic slot canyon sections. A tour of Antelope Canyon will take you approximately three hours.
However, it is not too difficult. The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is in March and October. You can explore the horseshoe bend and Antelope Canyon in one day. A sightseeing tour of Upper Antelope Canyon will surely be a great memory for you! One of the reasons why Antelope Canyon is one of the best places to visit in Arizona is that it offers various activities to its tourists.
Closing Thoughts
Do visit these ten best places in AZ for an amazing experience. These are some of the best places to visit in Arizona as they have plenty of activities that you can enjoy with friends or family. Some of these places have hiking trails, camping sites, biking trails, and amazing views.
The Arizona Territory, with mostly desert landscapes, has a lot to offer, and if you visit these places, you will take back a lot of memories from here. One thing you should consider before planning a trip to Arizona is the weather conditions. Many art galleries in Arizona protect the rich art of the state. There are a lot of places to visit.
FAQ
1. What kind of weather should I expect in Arizona?
A: The weather in Arizona can vary, but it is generally hot and dry, especially in the summer months.
2. Can I find art galleries in Arizona?
A: Yes, Arizona has several art galleries that showcase the rich art culture of the state.
3. What is the best time to visit Arizona?
A: The best time to visit Arizona depends on your interests and the activities you plan to do. Generally, the cooler months from October to April are the most popular.
4. Is Arizona a family-friendly destination?
A: Yes, Arizona offers a variety of activities that are suitable for families, such as visiting national parks, hiking, and visiting museums.
5. Are there camping sites in Arizona?
A: Yes, there are many camping sites in Arizona, ranging from primitive to developed.
6. Are there bike trails in Arizona?
A: Yes, Arizona has several bike trails, both on and off-road, for all levels of riders.
