From Canyons to Cacti: A Full Arizona Journey Information

Planning an Arizona street journey or a metropolis break within the desert state? Visiting Arizona is ideal for the outdoorsy and adventurous kind, with a powerful array of otherworldly nationwide parks. 

It may possibly nearly be overwhelming in the event you don’t know the place to start out. Do you head straight to the Grand Canyon or linger on the mystical vortexes in Sedona? (We’ll get into that in a minute.)

Use this information to plan your Arizona journey from begin to end, together with learn how to prioritize what to see in Arizona. 

What number of days ought to I spend in Arizona?

When you solely have just a few days, two to 3 days is sufficient to go to Sedona, Flagstaff, or a mix of Phoenix and Scottsdale. 

Per week will provide you with sufficient time for an Arizona street journey that can hit the pure highlights. That features the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon — each Decrease Antelope Canyon and the Higher Canyon are value your time — and the pink rocks of Sedona.

Horseshoe Bend (Web page, AZ)

With extra time, you may add extra of the state’s distinctive landscapes, just like the astounding Monument Valley of northern Arizona, Petrified Forest Nationwide Park, and Lake Powell. 

What’s the prettiest place in Arizona? 

Sedona all the time involves thoughts as one of many prettiest locations in Arizona. Actually, it’s one of the scenic locations in the USA.

Close by Oak Creek Canyon and Slide Rock State Park solely add to the intrigue within the area on Arizona street journeys, with sufficient chance to fill weeks’ value of adventurous actions.

10 Enjoyable Details About Arizona

Petrified Forest Nationwide Park – Blue Forest Path

Arizona is kind of an fascinating place, which makes it rife with prospects the place enjoyable info are involved. Try 10 of my favourite Arizona enjoyable info to impress any locals you come throughout.

1. Arizona has wine! In actual fact, there are over 100 totally different wineries doing their factor in Arizona.
2. When you simply can’t deprive your self of these fries everytime you see these golden arches, you will have Arizona to thank. The primary McDonald’s drive-through opened in Sierra Vista again in 1975.
3. The film Oklahoma! was filmed in Arizona, so once they’re happening about these wide-open plains or no matter they’re happening about, the inspiration was Arizona.
4. These saguaro cacti are much more spectacular whenever you discover out that the Sonoran Desert is the one place on this planet the place they develop.
5. The state has an official state fossil: petrified wooden. Stand up shut and private with samples at Petrified Forest Nationwide Park.
6. Sure, the massive nationwide parks are superior, particularly in the event you’ve skilled the Grand Canyon South Rim. Arizona can also be residence to 18 nationwide monuments, greater than another state. The Vermilion Cliffs and Walnut Canyon are amongst them, and nicely value an add on any Arizona itinerary.
7. When you’re a giant fan of hummingbirds, head to Arizona. Relying on the yr — generally Texas stories extra of the quickly buzzing birds — Arizona has extra hummingbird exercise than wherever else in the USA.
8. Arizona did one thing magical in 1973 when the bola tie was designated the official neckwear of the state.
9. Most of Arizona observes Mountain Customary Time year-round, which suggests they don’t get all fuzzy when a lot of the remainder of the nation is coping with daylight financial savings.
10. That stated, Arizona’s Navajo Nation does observe the daylight financial savings time change, which makes me unhappy for them.

High Locations to Go to in Arizona

It may be laborious to slender down the perfect locations to go to in Arizona. Whether or not you’re brief on time or plotting your route for an Arizona street journey, listed below are my favorites, in no explicit order.

Antelope Canyon

Higher Antelope Canyon (Web page, AZ)

This slot canyon close to Web page will transport you to what you’re nearly sure is one other planet. That’s how unusual the landscapes are as you descend beneath the bottom.

When you’re ready, discover each the decrease and the higher canyons. Each provide one thing just a bit bit totally different from the opposite.

Be aware: Remember that the canyons are solely accessible on a guided tour. That is Navajo land you’ll be visiting right here.

Planning a visit to Arizona with youngsters? There’s some climbing concerned with an Antelope Canyon go to, but it surely’s an excellent Arizona day journey for adventurous little ones.

Need an adventurous twist? As an alternative of exploring the canyon with a basic strolling tour, go for a singular and much less crowded expertise by renting a kayak and paddling from Lake Powell to Antelope Canyon.

Grand Canyon Nationwide Park

Desert View East Rim, Grand Canyon Nationwide Park

This is without doubt one of the most spectacular pure wonders you’ll encounter on this earth, regardless that I do know somebody who referred to as this one a “big gap within the floor.”

When you’re ready, take one of many mountaineering paths down into the canyon to absorb a number of the greatest Grand Canyon views. Replicate on how small you are feeling wanting up on the canyon partitions rising round you. This place is spectacular, and in no way overrated. 

Grand Canyon Nationwide Park is simple sufficient to discover by yourself, however in the event you’re in search of a bucket listy guided expertise, guided excursions are additionally an possibility.

Biking lover? Masking 800 miles, the Arizona Nationwide Scenic Path affords an opportunity to traverse your entire state from north to south, together with a short journey by way of the Grand Canyon.

Saguaro Nationwide Park

Saguaro Nationwide Park West – Sendero Esperanza Path to Wasson Peak

When you’re speaking about saguaro, a easy cactus could be very spectacular.

Enjoyable reality: The specimens within the park can develop as much as 40 toes tall, with arms reaching out for the solar in probably the most amusing methods.

Quite a few trails at Saguaro Nationwide Park will get you proper up shut and private with the featured cacti. Outdoors of the 

Scottsdale

Taliesin West (Scottsdale)

The sprawling metropolis of Phoenix is probably going the place most vacationers are beginning their Arizona adventures, but when the sprawl of the massive metropolis overwhelms you, head to Scottsdale, as an alternative.

Make the most of the quite a few spas right here and deal with your self to a day of leisure. Stroll the town’s Previous City with its Nineteenth-century olive timber and eat your method by way of a burgeoning foodie scene. Go to Taliesin West, a should for followers of structure and Frank Lloyd Wright.

All of that makes Scottsdale the right cease for weekend getaways in Arizona, whether or not you’re touring as a pair or with your pals.

Scottsdale is cool, and it needs you to realize it.

Sedona

Soldier Go Path – Sedona

Sedona looks like worlds away from the remainder of the state, with a number of the most spectacular landscapes you’ll discover throughout the nation. A Sedona journey can also be common with these in search of a non secular expertise. Apparently, there are vortexes right here that radiate the Earth’s vitality.

Hike among the many pink sandstone on your personal non secular journey, and observe it up with dinner on this foodie paradise. Sedona can also be a preferred place for guided excursions, together with journeys to see a number of the greatest stargazing throughout the state. 

Greatest Occasions to Go to Arizona

The winter and spring months are typically the occasions of yr to go to Arizona for the perfect probability at first rate climate, particularly in the event you’re seeking to hit any of the nationwide parks and state parks within the state.

We’ve visited throughout each of these seasons on our Arizona trip and located winter preferable.

That stated, when to go to Arizona does rely some on the place you’re going within the state and what you’ll be doing, as these winter months do see snow in areas of the state with some elevation.

Summer season (June-August)

There’s a purpose why snowbirds go away Arizona in the summertime months for his or her main properties within the Midwest. It’s SO sizzling within the state in the summertime. When you’re tremendous dwelling because the locals do, inside their air-conditioned areas, plan to trip Arizona in the summertime.

The one perk I can consider with a go to throughout this time is decrease charges on airfare and lodging within the state’s principal cities, with the state’s tourism business itching to get you to go to in that summer season warmth.

The exception to the above is Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, which sees most of its vacationers in the summertime months, regardless of the potential for extreme thunderstorms at the moment.

Keep away from visiting the state’s slot canyons through the summer season months. On prime of the warmth, flash floods are additionally a harmful chance.

Fall (September-November)

When you’re concerned about visiting the Grand Canyon, it is a nice time to go, as street closures are doable as soon as the snows come within the area.

Cooler temperatures make the cities extra interesting within the fall as nicely, with many common state festivals taking place throughout autumn.

Winter (December-February)

Winter is a peak journey time all through Arizona, significantly in the event you’re hitting the spas of Phoenix or Previous City Scottsdale in your Arizona street journey itinerary.

The snowbirds are in full drive, crowding out of doors patios to get some outdoors time they seemingly wouldn’t have the ability to wherever they got here from.

Arizona does get snow in sure elements of the state, although, so maintain that in thoughts on the prime of your Arizona journey ideas in the event you’re anticipating to have the ability to do all of these hikes you’ve been occupied with. We hiked a number of trails slick with ice on our go to to Sedona in February.

Spring (March-Might)

Regardless of the next probability of rain throughout the state, spring is an attractive time to go to Arizona due to the desert blooms possible throughout a go to then.

You’ll see the cacti of Saguaro Nationwide Park topped with blooms, for instance, a magical sight, and all types of floral exercise in locations just like the Desert Botanical Backyard in Phoenix.

When you’re visiting early within the season, you should still expertise some snow on the bottom in areas of the state at larger elevations. Temperatures expectedly start to rise by mid-Might because the summer season season approaches.

The right way to Get to Arizona

Arizona has some main transportation hubs so that you can fly into in the event you’re touring by aircraft, together with Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport and Tucson Worldwide Airport.

Mission San Xavier del Bac – Tucson

Connections from there can be found to smaller airports all through the state, together with Yuma Worldwide Airport and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.

Offers to the foremost hubs, particularly Phoenix, are simpler to search out in the event you’re versatile on timing. Count on larger costs within the winter months, a peak journey season for snowbirds.

Use a device like Skyscanner in the event you’re in a position to watch flights for a bit to catch these Arizona journey offers.

One other technique is following the foremost airways that fly there for offers on low cost Arizona journey that will come up out of your metropolis. Watch Southwest and Delta, two huge canine that provide tons of flights into the state from across the nation.

What to Pack to Arizona

What to pack to Arizona will rely a bit on whenever you’re going — in the event you’re hitting Vegas on the best way, for instance, deliver all of the sequins — however listed below are just a few objects that can cowl the most well-liked Arizona journey itineraries.

• Cowboy Boots: A cowboy hat is all the time a superb wager in the event you’re headed to Arizona’s western cities. Full the look with a sizzling pair of cowboy boots.
• Cowboy Hat: When you’ve added Tombstone to your listing of issues to do in Arizona, a cowboy hat is much more of a no brainer. Get in on a few of that line dancing when you’re at it.
• Flannels: It’s not sizzling in Arizona year-round. In these transitional months, you’ll need layers. Flannels are a flexible selection when these desert evenings hit.
• Mountaineering Backpack: When you’re exploring a number of the state’s parks, head on the market ready with a superb mountaineering backpack. Get your self an identical water bladder to remain hydrated.
• Mountaineering Pants: A pair of excellent weather-resistant pants could be fairly clutch on winter visits to mountaineering locations like Sedona the place stream crossings are a giant factor.  
• Mountaineering Sneakers: When you’re mountaineering, whether or not you’re hitting the deserts or crossing streams in Sedona, deliver alongside a sturdy mountaineering shoe. 
• Layered Jacket: Except you’re touring within the lifeless of summer season — I’d suggest towards planning day journey actions to the desert then — Arizona climate can get sneaky.
• Rain Jacket: Summer season showers are a chance regardless of the place you’re visiting in Arizona. Pack one thing light-weight simply in case.
• Sundresses: Make that spa weekend in Phoenix or Scottsdale even fancier with a sundress or two. You’ll need breezy supplies for warm-weather journey in Arizona.
• Wool Socks: When you’re doing any mountaineering in your journey, pack a number of pairs of wool socks it doesn’t matter what time of yr you’re going. They’ll maintain you dry and funky.

The right way to Get Round Arizona

Arizona is a good state for street journeys.

Guide a automotive rental earlier than you arrive, so you recognize what you’re getting on your drive by way of the state. It’s all the time best to only decide your experience up from the airport. 

When you’re in search of extra choices for long-distance journey, Amtrak does have a number of routes that reduce by way of the state to get you to hubs like Flagstaff, Kingman, Tucson, and Yuma, however you’ll nonetheless seemingly want a automotive when you get there.

Greyhound is basically your solely long-distance bus possibility.

Dobbins Lookout (Phoenix)

In case your journey is proscribed to Phoenix, you might be able to get round utilizing the town’s community of buses and light-weight rail system. Tucson additionally has greater than 40 bus routes that run in and across the metropolis.

Widespread Arizona Phrases

Though it is best to anticipate to be spoken to in English in Arizona, that doesn’t imply you’ll mechanically perceive what somebody’s saying to you when you’re there.

Try these frequent Arizona phrases and all the perfect Arizona slang so that you’re ready for all of that conversing with the locals.

The Large Ditch

Arizonans are happy with their pure wonders, however they do wish to poke enjoyable at rampant vacationer fascination with the Grand Canyon, or The Large Ditch.

However it’s a dry warmth.

Natives don’t really say this, however these new to Arizona do. Does dry warmth actually matter when temps are within the triple digits?

Carneceria

You’re extra more likely to get your meats from a carniceria than a butcher store whereas in Arizona, partially due to a lot of the state’s proximity to the Mexican border.

Chubasco

A chubasco refers to inclement climate throughout monsoon season and Arizona’s torrential downpours.

Oven Mitts

OK, this isn’t slang however a warning to these visiting Arizona in the summertime months. The summers get so sizzling some take to carrying oven mitts for defense when their fingers are on the steering wheel.

Raspados

Raspados are the Arizona model of snow cones or shave ice in the event you’re fortunate sufficient to be in Hawaii.

Snowbirds

These are all the oldsters coming to Arizona from chilly climates, usually the Midwest.

Swamp Field

Arizonans are all about their air con. A swamp field is an evaporative cooler.

Stravenues

Stravenues are streets, roads, avenues, and so on. that run alongside a diagonal.

The Ten

It is a reference to Interstate 10, the foremost east-west freeway within the state.

Native Arizona Meals

Arizona will not be recognized for its culinary delights, however there are fairly just a few issues it is best to strive in your go to to get an actual style of the state.

Cheese Crisp

The cheese crisp, common all through Phoenix, is sort of a quesadilla that forgot its prime and is sliced like a pizza. Something tacky sounds mighty tremendous to me.

Chimichanga

You’ll discover Mexico’s affect throughout Arizona delicacies. A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito that’s served with dollops of bitter cream and guacamole.

Cowboy Steak

You didn’t put on these cowboy boots only for kicks. A cowboy steak, or Arizona steak, is often fairly the hunk of meat: a 24-ounce, bone-in rib eye.

Fry Bread

Fry bread is a scrumptious Navajo custom, a plate of fluffy bread topped with beans, meat, and any method of savory substances.

The story behind the deal with isn’t as fantastic. The Navajo individuals got here up with the thought once they have been pressured to depart their lands by their colonizers. Fry bread served as sustenance.

Margaritas

It’s somewhat bit imprecise, however Arizonans love their Mexican meals, and alongside all of these chimichangas, they’re more likely to be sipping on margaritas.

You’ll discover fancied-up preparations within the huge cities. Prickly pear is a well-liked ingredient.

Navajo Tacos

When your fry bread is served up like a taco, you will have a Navajo taco. Floor beef is a well-liked protein, and it is best to anticipate the fixings you’d discover at your favourite taco bar.

Piki

Piki bread comes from the Hopi tribe and is exclusive in its shade. The bread is made with blue cornmeal and is so skinny that It melts in your mouth upon the primary chunk.

Ranch Fries

Ranch fries are crinkle-cut fries layered with a number of heart-stopping substances, and by that I imply they’re each scrumptious and never nutritious.

Suppose bacon, varied cheeses, chili, and sure, Ranch dressing.

Raspados

You already know the lingo from the frequent phrases above. Raspados are Arizona’s snow cones.

Sonoran Scorching Canine

This road meals is beloved in Tucson and fairly the intestine punch. The new canine are wrapped in bacon and topped with beans, mayonnaise, and different toppings relying in your temper.

Particular Dates & Occasions in Arizona

When you’re planning a visit to Arizona throughout a selected time of yr, contemplate whether or not any festivals or holidays are occurring. It’s possible you’ll wish to attend particular occasions or keep away from them, as holidays usually imply enterprise closures.

Tucson Competition of Books (March)

The annual Tucson Competition of Books is a free truthful that celebrates the written phrase. Meet authors, hearken to readings, and hang around with like-minded of us on the College of Arizona’s grassy mall.

Arizona Polish Competition (April)

The Arizona Polish Competition, held yearly in Phoenix, permits all Arizonans throughout the state to eat their weight in pierogi and dance it off to one of many polka bands going reside at any given second. I additionally think about gallons of Polish beer.

Phoenix Movie Competition (August)

It’s not nearly Cannes, individuals. The Phoenix Movie Competition is a giant deal on the movie circuit.

Lots of of films are screened over 11 days on the pageant, which began in 2000 to get Arizona on the map within the movie business.

Helldorado Days (October)

This annual occasion is an ode to the Wild West and the city of Tombstone. Watch staged gunfights, cowboy reenactments, and line dance to your coronary heart’s content material.

OK Corral

Arizona Journey FAQs

Is Arizona costly to trip?

Arizona could be costly to trip in the event you plan winter journey to a spa vacation spot like Scottsdale. It may also be very budget-friendly in the event you plan low season journey to the state’s nationwide parks or a metropolis break in Phoenix. 

What time of yr is the most affordable to go to Arizona?

January is mostly the most affordable time of yr to go to Arizona, but it surely does rely on the place you’re going within the state in the event you’re in search of budget-friendly journey. Summer season within the state’s huge cities can provide huge financial savings in the event you don’t thoughts coping with the warmth.

Is the Grand Canyon nearer to Phoenix or Sedona?

The Grand Canyon is nearer to Sedona than Pheonix. The driving distance from Sedona to the Grand Canyon is roughly 117 miles. The gap from Phoenix is round 230 miles. Each provide a scenic path to the nationwide park, so it could rely on the place you fly in.

Embark on an Arizona journey crammed with pure wonders, vibrant tradition, and unforgettable adventures—your final desert escape awaits!

Hold studying: It seems it’s doable to go to 50 States in 50 days