I’ve been to Arizona the least of all the southwestern states. I’m really excited to go back and actually spend any length of time. Now, I know the Grand Canyon is a huge draw and I’ll go back (I’ve been once, briefly), but I’m actually super excited to see the Saguaros at Saguaro National Park.
The cactuses bloom in April, so that is when I’ll first be going to Arizona and I’m hoping for a super bloom. That’s absolutely a bucket list item. I’m actually zig-zagging through Arizona twice so I’m going to divide this into a “first leg” and a “second leg”.
First Leg
The first time I head through Arizona is going to take longer than the second time through. Unlike what I’ve found in other states that I’ve been planning for, Arizona really categorizes their activities by city. I assume that’s part of setting up shop in the desert, so I’m going to work my way North to South.
Grand Canyon
I’ve been to the grand canyon before, however briefly, and I’m excited to be able to go back and actually do some hiking. I’d love to trek down to the Colorado River, but I don’t know if that’s something that I’m up for. Permission to change my mind later? Great!
A lot of the hikes in and around the Grand Canyon are longer than I prefer when done in their entirety, so it looks like the Kaibob Trail (also known as the rim-to-rim) has several points when you can start and end. That is probably what I’ll end up doing. I’m a slow hiker (otherwise known as a daisy picker) so I don’t enjoy trying to hike several miles in and then several miles back out. A 5 mile round trip is about perfect and I’ll happily do as much as an 8 mile loop. Anything more than that usually isn’t my cup of tea.
This time at the Grand Canyon, my goal is to see the sunrise and the sunset. The pictures I’ve seen are stunningly beautiful and I’m sure they don’t even begin to capture the actual awe of being there.
The Grand Canyon is also home to the chuckwalla, a desert lizard that can inflate its body to wedge between rocks and avoid predators. I remember being an elementary school child learning about chuckwalla’s and Native American culture. It wasn’t until I was an adult, however, that I remembered the name of the creature! I’m determined to find one while I’m in Arizona.
Finally, the Grand Canyon caverns are reportedly extremely haunted and if I have an opportunity to stay here (or at least tour here) I am absolutely going to. Maybe it will be the experience that makes me a true believer!
Sedona
Sedona seems like a desert fairy tale town. The more I read about it, the more I feel like maybe I would like living there. First of all, it is one of the few certified Dark Skies cities, which makes it an excellent place to stargaze. According to US News, its also in the top 5 best small towns in the United States.
There are tons of trails in the area with gorgeous views, canyons, caves, and pools to dip your toes in. Soldier’s Pass includes sinkholes, caves, and Sacred Seven Pools. It sounds like a dream so this one is definitely a hike I’m taking. Robber’s Roost cave also boasts a lightly trafficked trail leading to a cave with a natural rock window and a stunning view. I don’t think I can pass this one up, either, unless inclement weather prevents me from safely doing the hike.
Slide Rock State Park is also in the Sedona area and has some absolutely beautiful views. Montezuma’s Castle National Monument is located here as well. There’s even a UFO tour I can take (Arizona is top 10 UFO states)! Needless to say, it doesn’t appear there is any shortage of things to do in this part of Arizona.
Saguaro National Park
Next up is the Tucson area, and more importantly, Saguaro National Park. I’ve seen saguaro cactus only once previously, and they are truly a sight to behold. When you think of the American Southwest, you think of saguaros, so I think its a treat to bask in what is the nations largest cacti. April is when the cactus bloom, so I hope to be treated to such a beautiful sight.
In addition to Saguaro, Tombstone is just a little ways south. Everyone has heard of Tombstone so I’d be remiss to not spend some time here. As well as its historical value, its apparently also very haunted. The Vulture Gold Mine is nearby and so is it. One of these places I’m bound to find a ghost, right?
From here, its onto New Mexico where I’ll be visiting Carlsbad Caverns, White Sands, and many others. Read about it HERE. Once I’m done in New Mexico, I go back across Arizona on to Nevada and California.
Second Leg
Once I enter back into Arizona from New Mexico, my first stop is going to be Petrified Forest National Park. I’m not too sure what to expect here, other than some pretty overlooks, but I’m excited to check it out. There’s a petrified wood gas station near where I grew up, and my dad gifted me a piece of petrified wood as a child, so it will undoubtedly be pretty neat.
The Hubbel Trading Post National Historic site is next up. It’s the longest operating trading post in Navajo Nation and has been selling goods since 1878. It has historical grounds to walk around along with various items for sale. Navajo National Monument is also not too far away, also on Navajo Nation.
Page
The area around Page, Arizona is the last stop as I head out of Arizona. I’ll be driving through the iconic Monument Valley to get there. Page itself is home to the infamous Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. They are infamous for a reason, so while they aren’t the only things I’ll check out, they are on the list.
Vermillion Cliffs National Monument is also in this area, which is the site of The Wave. That’s another one of those infamous views and I’m all about it. The Navajo Village Heritage Center is also apparently a wonderful place to visit (in Page itself) and I plan to continue learning about Native American culture there.
One place that I don’t know if I’ll make it to is a tiny town called Oatman. It’s right along the Nevada-California-Arizona border. It boasts donkeys in the streets, which sounds both adorable and quirky. I’d love to check it out, but this area wasn’t one I was originally planning on going through, so we’ll see.
Any restaurants I should check out? Places I’ve forgotten to add to the list? Tell me below!
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