In partnership with Visit Arizona
Though dubbed ‘The Grand Canyon State’, Arizona has a lot more to offer than the world’s most iconic valley and kooky cacti. The US’ sixth largest state is no mere desert, in fact, it boasts three enormous national parks, multiple eclectic cities and a diverse range of hospitality offerings to suit everyone.
Experience ‘old meets new’ in Scottsdale and Phoenix
Just to the east of Arizona’s bustling capital, Phoenix, lies Scottsdale, a slice of serenity within the Sonoran Desert. They’re perfect partners: while Phoenix
Scottsdale’s picturesque Old Town is where visitors can get to know Arizona best. Modern boutiques, vintage clothing stores and trendy bars coalesce to create a stylish urban space. Stores overhung with wooden awnings are crammed with Western wear, art galleries, souvenir shops, restaurants and the latest in revitalising vitamin infusions (the city has a serious wellness scene – top up your energy levels with a shot from Second Nature Clinic).
One great way to tour the Old Town is via the Scottsdale Wine Trail, a self-guided, walkable route which stops off at seven wineries and allows visitors to sample the region’s tastiest libations. For a less ambulatory tipple, park up at the Outrider Rooftop Lounge where whisky-infused cocktails pair with open fires and with sweeping mountain views.
To see where it all began, head to Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, where extensive exhibitions of artwork, historic clothing and Native American artefacts provide a detailed document of the region’s history. Dig deeper with The Heard Museum in Pheonix, which celebrates Native American art and culture through a variety of multimedia exhibits designed to promote indigenous craftwork.
Don’t depart without visiting one of the area’s biggest attractions: architect Frank Lloyd-Wright’s winter home, Taliesin West. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, visitors can tour the distinctly-designed property (getting an audio guide is recommended) and learn about the architect’s eventful life.
Discover a new sense of wellness in Sedona
Just two hours north of Phoenix lies the tranquil surrounds of Sedona, a veritable playground for the wellbeing-focused. This artsy city sits within stunning red rock buttes and craggy slopes, offering visitors the chance to experience the magnificent landscapes in whatever way suits them best.
Fairway fans will be pleased to know that Sedona houses some excellent greens, with Weiskopf and Pank-designed courses found at Seven Canyons or Sedona Golf Resort. Those looking for a higher adrenaline escape should head out into the wild with a Pink Adventure Tours. Guided four-wheeled excursions range from several hours long to full day trips, taking intrepid explorers on rides and hikes through Horseshoe Bend, the Grand Canyon and every corner of the area’s iconic red rock scenery.
If slowing down is more your speed, simply sign up for a day at one of Sedona’s award-winning spas. Head to the Wilde Heaven Spa to soak in outdoor tubs beneath the slopes of the imposing Thunder Mountain, before indulging in a Sedona Forest Signature Massage, which detoxes weary bodies with natural forest scents such as Juniper, Cedar and Cypress. Alternatively, Vortex tours take small groups into the desert to conduct ceremonies and prayers, hoping to connect visitors with the spiritual centre of the location.
Before heading out, be sure to sample some of the Verde Valley’s most delicious produce. The Verde Valley Wine Trail stretches west from Sedona across to Cottonwood and Jerome, taking in more than 25 wineries en route. Ideal for those oenophiles.
Explore Flagstaff’s big skies and bigger landscapes
Continuing north another 45 minutes brings travellers to the iconic city of Flagstaff. Famous for its Puebloan archeological sites, location on Route 66 and as the place the world discovered Pluto – not to mention its jaw-dropping scenery – this metropole is a key stop on any Arizonan itinerary.
As the world’s first international Dark Sky City, Flagstaff is an ideal place to indulge in some stargazing – but then so is most of Arizona: the state boasts 12 dark sky parks, so, weather-permitting, visitors are near-guaranteed unprecedented views of space. Expand your galactic explorations with a trip up Mars Hill to the Lowell Observatory, the very place Pluto was first spotted. Their extensive exhibition covers 127 years of astronomical discovery while their Giovale Open Deck Observatory hosts six advanced telescopes through which visitors can see star fields, nebulae and more. Plan to be there for a while…
Flagstaff sits within some of Arizona’s most beautiful landscapes, namely the Coconino National Forest. Nearly two million hectares of protected land holds ponderosa pines, craggy canyons, desert slopes and volcanic fields. The area is also just a drive away from some of North America’s most ancient artefacts. At the Petrified National Forest, 225 million-year-old fossilised trees lie alongside the remains of late Triassic ferns, cycads and a plethora of other plants, as well as dinosaurs. What’s more, all this history sits within the striking, striated panorama of the Painted Desert, providing the perfect example of Arizona’s prediliction to pair scenic beauty with historic monuments.
Arizona also holds the secrets to some of humanity’s most ancient history. The Colorado Plateau (a 130,000 sqm area spanning Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado), has shown evidence of some of the oldest civilisations in the country (some predating Jesus). Visit these ancient archaeological sites then learn more about them at the Museum of Northern Arizona, whose Ethnology Gallery covers the history of the indigenous Hopi, Zuni, Navajo and Pai tribes.
Marvel at the majesty of the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell
Arizona’s crown jewel needs little introduction: as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, travellers come from far and wide to witness the immensity of the Grand Canyon. First timers should aim for the South Rim, where a visitors’ centre, shuttle bus, shops, food and amenities await. It’s also the perfect place to set off on one of the many excellent hiking paths into the canyon. The 24-mile, two day, ‘rim to rim’ walk is a backpacker’s favourite – though the rim-river-rim walk starts and returns from the south rim, is shorter, easier and just as rewarding. Various other paths lead down into the canyon (which reaches depths of a mile in places) where boat rides along the Colorado River supply a scenic reward for travellers’ exertions.
The Grand Canyon is only one of Arizona’s many geological attractions however. To the northeast of the iconic valley is Lake Powell, a 658km2 reservoir whose mineral waters weave between the shimmying cliffs of Glen Canyon. Again, boat rides allow visitors to marvel at the striated red and ochre sandstone walls up close. Keen outdoors people should also head further afield to the likes of Paria Canyon and Marble Canyon, both of which show off some of the state’s most mesmerising topography.
