8 Arizona Adventures for Your Next Visit
Arizona has captured the minds and imagination of people around the world. In particular, the sprawling desert complete with sand, cacti, and scorpions! That being said, this state provides a wide variety of activities and attractions.
In this article, we will cover 8 of the best places for your next exciting visit to Arizona. All of these attractions are selected to be fun, memorable, and reasonably priced (or free). Check them out on your next Arizona adventure!
London Bridge
We will start with an attraction that is entirely contrary to the typical imagery regarding Arizona - The London Bridge at Lake Havasu. This bridge is the most-visited built attraction in Arizona. Spanning 930 feet (280 metres) across the Bridgewater Channel, the bridge connects pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists on "mainland" Lake Havasu City to an island with shops, restaurants, hotels, resorts, and housing. Attracting visitors from around the world, its many fans include photographers, filmmakers, travel writers, history buffs, boaters, kayakers, paddle boarders and music lovers at live concerts under its acoustical arches.
Montezuma Castle
Next up, we have a gorgeous national monument located in the Verde Valley. This five-story, 20-room building sheltered high in a limestone cliff was built by cliff-dwelling Sinagua Native Americans, somewhere between 1100 and 1350 A.D. This ancient monument is a great opportunity for kids and adults to learn more about the cultures and people that lived here. Serving as a naturalistic art piece, Montezuma Castle is absolutely jaw-dropping. You won’t want to miss this one!
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is an excellent place to have an adventure if you want to explore a vast sandy landscape. It is said to be one of the most photographed places on earth. When the sun hits the rocks, the resulting shadows create spellbinding, picturesque scenery. You will also enjoy gazing at the sandstone towers — some of which are up to 1000 feet high!
Saguaro National Park
This iconic Arizona park is named after the Saguaro cactus, the nation’s largest cacti. With over 150 miles of trails, this is the perfect place to visit for those excited to explore the desert wilderness. It's a beautiful place to spend time, especially at sunset where you'll get silhouettes of the cacti all over the desert.
The Town of Sedona
If you want to experience the culture of the local Native Americans, the town of Sedona is an excellent stop. The sacred area complete with astounding natural beauty and energy vortexes, is surrounded by 1.8 million acres of national forest and consists of a variety of shops and art galleries. Sedona continues to be recognized as a place of healing and spiritual renewal. You can take a quick hike on any of the countless hiking trails and get an expansive view of the landscape.
Tumacacori National Historical Park
If you are fascinated by Spanish culture, you need to check out Tumacacori National Historical Park. This park protects the ruins of three missions founded during the Spanish colonial era. Unlike many old buildings, each of the 3 mission communities hasn't been rebuilt. You get to explore historical ruins that were abandoned after 19th century Apache raids.
White House Ruins
The White House Ruins are located at Canyon De Chelly, which is truly one of the most awe-inspiring places in Arizona. They are named for a white plaster wall that adorned a long wall in the upper dwelling. Ancestral Puebloans built most of the cliff dwellings and structures between 350 and 1300 CE. We highly recommend taking a guided tour through the areas. You will have a memorable adventure here and be able to take lots of stunning pictures!
Sonoran Desert
Though this list provides a wide variety of attractions, we decided to end by including a place representing idyllic desert Arizona. This place is the Sonoran Desert, a landscape that stretches out over 10,000 miles. Be warned, though — the countryside is known as the hottest in the entire United States. Rainfall is also frequent, which results in varied vegetation. If you want an authentic Arizona adventure, look no further than this exciting landscape!
Final Thoughts on Arizona
Arizona is an underrated place to visit. This list barely scratches the surface of all the locations within this great state. Whether you want to adventure alone, bring along the family, or have a romantic getaway, Arizona provides many opportunities. If you would like to have your next getaway planned for you, consider joining Wander and Soul’s Travel & Lifestyle Club, where we will craft the perfect one-of-a-kind vacation for you, even if you don’t know exactly what it is that you want yet! Remember, how you travel matters. It’s not just where you go, but how the journey shapes you. Learn more about all the amazing benefits of becoming a member of our Travel & Lifestyle Club here.
