Awe-inspiring natural wonders, ancient history, unusual niche museums and pioneering science.
Grand Canyon, this is the first thought many travelers have when they start planning a trip to visit the southwestern state of Arizona. In fact, the state’s slogan is ‘The Grand Canyon State’. As one of the world’s seven natural wonders and also listed as a top sight to see in the USA, you can see why the Grand Canyon National Park is the state's main visitor area and therefore can get quite busy.
Where else can you visit in the sunny state of Arizona? Plan a trip to experience its awe-inspiring natural landscapes, ancient history, unusual niche museums and observe pioneering science.
The 6 regions of Arizona - an overview:
Capital and Valley of the Sun
Phoenix is the main city of Arizona and the Greater Phoenix area is known as the Valley of the Sun. It is a busy metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. Nearby Scottsdale is known for its artsy vibe. Along with this region having the most golf courses in the state, it also has some interesting museums such as the Musical Instrument Museum and the Western Spirit Scottsdale Museum of the West.
Southern Arizona
Southern Arizona has a desert climate. This means hot (very hot) summers but mild winters.
Tucson, Arizona’s second largest city, is within the Arizona-Sedona Desert and is also surrounded by mountains. This southern region has plenty to keep you busy. A main attraction being Saguaro National Park, where you can see the giant saguaro cacti, the universal symbol of the American west. Another example is the Arizona-Sedona Desert Museum which also celebrates the natural beauty and wildlife of this region.
Other interesting sights to see in this area include the PIMA Air and Space Museum, one of the largest aviation museums in the world and similarly the nearby Airplane Boneyard. Also Arizona University’s Biosphere 2, a giant science experiment exploring the future of life on planet Earth.
Have a look at our travel destination guides for further interesting ideas and unusual places to visit in Southern Arizona:
Tucson destination guide - over 60 things to see and do in Tucson
Southern Arizona – 100 places to visit in Southern Arizona
Central Arizona
This is the area between Phoenix and Northern Arizona and is one of the state’s most popular tourist destinations. The draw is the rugged scenery, making you feel as if you have stepped into an old Western movie. Towns such as Sedona, with its great choice of art galleries, for instance, the Sedona Arts Center, which is filled with artwork inspired by the area’s raw natural beauty and history.
Grand Canyon and Northen Arizona
Vast is the word to best describe this area. The Grand Canyon National Park is the state’s jewel. With the canyon stretching for 277 miles and with depths of up to a mile, this is truly an awe inspiring place. In contrast to the tourist popular Grand Canyon region, if you head north towards the Utah border, this is the least visited and most remote area in the state.
The Four Corners is the point where Arizona meets the border of three other states, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.
Eastern Arizona
Mountains, forests and lakes. A place to escape the scorching heat of the summer months or go skiing in the winter. Fort Apache Indian Reserve is home to the Sunrise Ski Resort. You will discover plenty of opportunities for hiking and other outdoor pursuits.
Western Arizona
This is Arizona’s ‘coastal area’, despite being a landlocked state! The border runs along the route of the Colorado River, as a result the area has hundreds of miles of lake shorelines. This means that the western region is a popular summer destination, with many great locations for fishing and water sports.
