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Things To See & Do
Northern Arizona, Flagstaff and Grand Canyon
This region features many museums that showcase the geological history of Northern Arizona, as well as depictions of frontier life, Native American art, pioneer history and the performing arts. There is also a world-famous Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. From its ancient Indian dwellings and glimpses of early frontier life to historic Route 66, Northern Arizona is rich in history. Navajo, Hopi, Hualapai, Apaches, Havasupai and other Native American tribes all live here, descendants of prehistoric people who built extensive civilizations, complete with cliff dwellings, architectural pueblos and ball courts. Snow-capped mountains. Windswept mesas. Thick pine forests. Large sculpted canyons. Northern Arizona contains some of the best hiking, biking and sightseeing in the state, including the largest stretch of ponderosa pine anywhere and a wide variety of wildlife. An area full of many natural wonders, including the Grand Canyon, the Red Rocks of Sedona, Monument Valley, the Petrified Forest and extensive pine forests surrounding Flagstaff. From Meteor Crater, formed about 50,000 years ago, to prehistoric Indian dwellings dating back to 1200 AD, the geology and archaeology of Northern Arizona is fascinating.
Flagstaff is nestled in the midst of the world's largest ponderosa pine forest at an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,135 m), Flagstaff attracts outdoor enthusiasts year-round with its spacious vistas and cool, clean mountain air. Favourite activities include wilderness hiking, mountain biking, camping, river rafting and rock climbing. During the winter months, Flagstaff is host to countless skiers and snowboarders, as well as many families who come to enjoy nearby snowplay.Flagstaff is Arizona's winter playground. Winter storms traditionally bring more than 100 inches of snow to the surrounding forests. Nearby ski areas offer formal settings for Nordic and alpine skiing as well as several designated snowplay areas. Flagstaff has an eclectic collection of diners and restaurants that pleases even the most discriminating. Just ask the food editors and Conde Naste Traveler, who named Flagstaff's own Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar one of the top 95 restaurants in the world in 2007. But savvy travellers can not subsist on dinner alone. Flagstaff has a thriving nightlife, offering live music almost every night of the year. Whether the mood calls for a crowded dance floor or a people watching from the corner window of a downtown wine bar, Flagstaff has it. Don't forget to visit Museum of Northern Arizona with its exceptional geology, anthropology, biology and fine art exhibits plus Lowell Observatory where the planet Pluto was discovered and the first evidence of the expanding universe.
Some places of inerest in the surrounding area are Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument with its 1 mile Lava Flow trail, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon with the immense red-rock monoliths and picturesque Oak Creek Canyon which is prized by anglers, hikers, swimmers and naturalists and finally Montezuma Castle one of the best preserved Indian cliff dwellings in the west.
The Grand Canyon One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World has long fascinated visitors with its breathtaking scenic vistas. Located on the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona, the Canyon has been carved out by the Colorado River over the last 6 to 10 million years. It measures 15 miles from rim to rim at its widest point, and averages 4,000 feet deep for its entire 277 miles.The South Rim, which is open 365 days a year, is the most popular destination and offers a full service visitor centre, scenic overlooks, the Tusayan Museum and IMAX Theatre. The more remote North Rim, open from mid-May to mid-October, also offers numerous scenic viewpoints.
Once you have arrived at the Canyon, there is plenty to do, so plan on spending the entire day. Listed below are 10 wonderful things to see and do at the Grand Canyon's South Rim
Grand Canyon IMAX Movie This extraordinary film takes you from altitudes high above the Canyon to the magical depths below the rim. Catch the show at the National Geographic Visitor Centre at the South Rim entrance. Rim Trail Walking a paved Rim Trail gives you an up-close-and-personal view of the Canyon's majesty. You can access the Rim Trail from most overlooks and can walk as far or as little as you'd like. Yavapai Observation Station How old is the Canyon? How did it form? The new exhibits at Yavapai Observation Station answer these and other geology questions. Hopi House Opened in 1905, Hopi House was the first curio shop at the Canyon. Today you'll find exquisite Native American arts and crafts, as well as other gift items. Desert Watchtower This 70-foot tower is the highest point on the South Rim and offers a gift shop and 360-degree views of the Canyon. Hermits Rest Erected in 1914, this National Historic Landmark provides scenic Canyon views, a gift shop and snack bar. Kolb Studios The former home of the Kolb brothers, pioneering Canyon photographers, this restored building houses art exhibits, a bookstore and auditorium. Tusayan Museum The Tusayan Ruin and Museum provides a glimpse of Pueblo Indian life at the Canyon some 800 years ago. Shopping There are numerous shops galleries in and around Grand Canyon National Park that offer beautiful crafts, jewellery, paintings ans sculptures by local Native American artisans. Mule Trips Travel deep into the Canyon on the back of a sure-footed mule. Full day and overnight trips are available.
Phoenix, Scottsdale and Central Arizona
Museums and art galleries in Phoenix and Central Arizona showcase both fine arts from around the world and crafts made by local Native Americans and other artisans. You can also visit pioneer history museums, art galleries and science museums. Phoenix has some ancient roots, dating back as far as 700 AD, when the area was first inhabited by the Hohokam – meaning "those who have gone" – a people who mysteriously disappeared from the region.From high to low and wet to dry, Central Arizona has it all – so you can take a mountain hike, go on a desert tour or even head to the lake. These varying conditions make the region ideal for all kinds of diverse animal and plant life – like coyotes, hawks, rattlesnakes, scorpions, palm trees and cacti. Central Arizona is a major tourist destination and business centre and has more golf courses per capita than any state west of the Mississippi River. Central Arizona includes both low-lying desert and mountain peaks, as well as several Native American museums, prehistoric ruins, Native American reservations and national monuments.
Scottsdale is a golfers dream with more than 200 golf courses in the metro area. Other exciting recreational opportunities include hot-air ballooning, river rafting, hiking, off-road Sonoran Desert tours, horseback riding, ecotours and more. There are over 125 art galleries, museums, festivals and performing arts venues. Unique attractions include Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West, Cosanti, Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Garden and Rawhide at Wild Horse Pass.Scottsdale has more than 5,500 boutiques, shops and malls, including the Downtown Scottsdale Arts, Shopping and Entertainment Districts. Finally, there are more than 600 restaurants offering from fusion cuisine to mesquite-grilled cowboy steaks, plus 70+ upscale nightclubs, bars and lounges.
Phoenix America’s fifth-largest city still has real cowboys and rugged mountains and the kind of cactus most people see only in cartoons. Phoenix is the gateway to the Grand Canyon, and its history is a testament to the spirit of puebloans, ranchers, miners and visionaries.The museums and attractions are not to be missed. The Desert Botanical Garden and the Heard Museum offer unique Southwestern experiences, while Phoenix Art Museum and SMOCA appeal to contemporary art types. If you have kids, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and the Arizona Science Centre are must-dos. By foot, by bike, or even by horse, there’s no shortage of mountain trails, some right in the city and some in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Climb iconic Camelback Mountain, see the cityscape from Piestawa Peak, or head to South Mountain for over 50 miles of trails. The Greater Phoenix area is full of restaurants, cafés, bakeries and even coffee shops that the locals – and the national media – rave about. The Southwestern and Mexican restaurants are supremely authentic, the chefs are known around the world, and the views from some of the tables in town are unparalleled.
North Central Arizona
The handiwork of the past and present is on display in North Central Arizona, where a variety of museums offer up exhibits on Native American culture and cowboy art. You can also visit frontier-era buildings and modern-day art galleries and festivals. National monuments showcasing ancient ruins help tell North Central Arizona’s long history. The Sinagua Indians, who inhabited the area between 500 and 1300 AD, led a simple life based on corn farming, subsistence hunting and gathering throughout the region. Cool pine forests, numerous mountain retreats, shaded trails and lots of lakes and rivers make this region perfect for hiking, biking, camping and fishing. North Central Arizona is also known for its winter snow, spring wildflowers and rodeos and festivals all year round. Known as Arizona’s "Four Season Playground," North Central Arizona features cool pine forests, mountain retreats and trails, making it perfect for hiking, biking, camping and more. Around 1000 AD, volcanic activity in the region improved soil conditions, allowing the Sinagua (or "Western Anasazi") to thrive in the region between Phoenix and Flagstaff, where evidence of their civilization still abounds.
