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Guide to the Valley of the Sun in Arizona

  • Writer: Stuart Sokoloff
    Stuart Sokoloff
  • Mar 12
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 8

Arizona is special for its stunning and diverse landscapes. From the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the otherworldly red rock formations of Sedona and the expansive deserts dotted with saguaro cacti. The state offers a rich blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventures and cultural history, with Native American heritage deeply woven into its identity. Arizona's unique combination of year-round sunshine, vibrant cities like Phoenix and Tucson and iconic national parks make it a destination unlike any other. Whether you're hiking, golfing or exploring, Arizona's beauty and warmth leave a lasting impression.


Things To Do

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  • Desert Botanical Garden: Home to thousands of cacti species, trees and flowers from all around the world spread across 55 acres


  • Musical Instrument Museum: The largest museum of its type in the world. The collection of over 15,000 musical instruments and associated objects. It includes examples from nearly 200 countries and territories, representing every inhabited continent.


  • Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours: Reconstructed 1890s town including gold-mine tours, Old West gunfights, a history museum & more


  • Taliesin West: Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and studio in the desert from 1937 until his death in 1959


  • Lowell Observatory: An astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. Where they discovered Pluto.


  • Biosphere 2: An American Earth system science research facility. Its mission is to serve as a center for research, outreach, teaching and lifelong learning about Earth, its living systems and its place in the universe.


  • Queen Mine Tour: Hard-hat tours through a century-old underground complex to learn about mining history & disasters


  • Pink Jeep Tours: Sedona’s famous red-rock landscape offers adventure at every turn. Each excursion offers an unforgettable backcountry tour with insider info from the area’s most knowledgeable and experienced local guides.


  • Pima Air & Space Museum: An aerospace museum that features a display of nearly 400 aircraft spread out over 80 acres on a campus occupying 127 acres. It has also been the home to the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame since 1991


Hikes:

Hard

  • Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain (2.6 miles)

  • Peralta Trailhead at Superstition Mountain (4.6 miles)

  • Boulder Canyon (10.2 miles)

Medium

  • Piestewa Peak (2.3 miles)

  • Tom's Thumb (4 miles) (Get The Thumb BBQ after)

  • Butcher Jones (5.8 miles)

  • Pinnacle Peak (4.1 miles)

  • Hidden Valley via Mormon Trail at South Mountain (4 miles)

Easy

  • Double Butte Loop Trail at Papago Park (2.2 miles)

  • Judith Tunnell Trail at South Mountain (1.3 miles)


Day Trips:

Places To Eat & Drink

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