Arizona Things to Do

  red Rock Crossing, Sedona
by Martinewezel
 
  • red Rock Crossing, Sedona
      red Rock Crossing, Sedona
    by Martinewezel
  • Heard Museum
      Heard Museum
    by Jim_Eliason
  • Front of building on 2nd St
      Front of building on 2nd St
    by BruceDunning
  • San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona Aug 2010
      San Xavier del Bac, Tucson, Arizona Aug...
    by jumpingnorman
  • Lookout Studio-view of Bright Angel
      Lookout Studio-view of Bright Angel
    by BruceDunning
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Arizona

1.

Chapel of the Holy Cross   Sedona

Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona

 24 Reviews  The Church of the Rock is the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona. Built on two pinnacled spur rocks approximately 250 feet high. It juts our of a thousand foot red rock wall representing the solid... 

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2.

Downtown Tucson   Tucson

Downtown Tucson, Tucson

 37 Reviews  Before I had my son, I took my 12 year old daughter with me anywhere I went. One of her favorite things to do was feeding the pigeons downtown Tucson. On one such occasion, we stumble upon the... 

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3.

Desert Botanical Garden   Phoenix

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

 23 Reviews  I had the opportunity to go back to Desert Botanical Garden again this year (2011), taking my son, Aaron, for the first time. It was a rewarding experience as always. Icing on the cake was we used the... 

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4.

Sunrise / Sunset   Grand Canyon

Sunrise / Sunset, Grand Canyon

 22 Reviews  Our second sunset at the Grand Canyon was out at Desert View Point. You also get some great views of the snaking Colorado river from here. We went for the ranger talk which started about an hour... 

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5.

Overlooks and Points   Grand Canyon National Park

Overlooks and Points, Grand Canyon National Park

 24 Reviews  Our group on this trip included my husband, my children and my children's friend Charlie. We took a jeep tour of the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas. Most of the pictures I have are of us posing in front... 

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6.

Yuma Territorial Prison Visitor's Center   Yuma

Yuma Territorial Prison Visitor's Center, Yuma

 2 Reviews  The Yuma Territorial Prison started when seven inmates were sent to the prison in July 1876. They were housed in cells they built thenselves. In the 33 years the prison operated 3069 prisoners,... 

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7.

Montezuma's Castle   Camp Verde

Montezuma's Castle, Camp Verde

 2 Reviews  Nestled in the historical and old limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, stands one of the best preserved and most easily accessible cliff ruins in North... 

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8.

Slide Rock State Park   Sedona

Slide Rock State Park, Sedona

 27 Reviews  In the Arizona heat, a rambling, rapid-moving stream is a magical place indeed. Give in to your inner child and wallow in the natural rock slides at this place. There is a small fee to enter the park... 

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9.

Mt. Lemmon   Tucson

Mt. Lemmon, Tucson

 15 Reviews  We were staying at a hotel on the east side of Tucson, and I just saw on the Tuscon To-do magazine the word Mt Lemmon, saying that it offered great views of the city. So, I added Mt Lemmon to my... 

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10.

Scottsdale's Art District and Old Town   Phoenix

Scottsdale's Art District and Old Town, Phoenix

 9 Reviews  The town has done a nice job of restoring the downtown to draw people to the large number of shops and places to eat in the old town sector. They have the area split up into sectors. A free trolley... 

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11.

Overlooks & Points   Grand Canyon

Overlooks & Points, Grand Canyon

 38 Reviews  Descending to the river is hard, taking time (and money or... risks). Most people follow the rim using the several marked and protected points to a view over the wide scenery. One interesting detail... 

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12.

Rim, South   Grand Canyon National Park

Rim, South, Grand Canyon National Park

 9 Reviews  Located along the Rim Trail just east of the main lodge areas and Grand Canyon Railway train station, this little store provides a number of books and maps that are useful for those wishing to tour... 

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13.

Indian Ruins   Sedona

Indian Ruins, Sedona

 9 Reviews  We visited this site through the Pink Jeep Tours, which we enjoyed very much. The guide gave us blankets to keep warm while traveling to the ancient ruin. Words can hardly discribe the beauty this... 

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14.

San Xavier del Bac Mission   Tucson

San Xavier del Bac Mission, Tucson

 30 Reviews  The Spanish Mission of San Xavier Del Bac was built in between 1783 and 1797. It is a National Historic Landmark, and has been in continuous use for over 200 years. It was built by Tohono O'odham... 

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15.

Mountains   Phoenix

Mountains, Phoenix

 16 Reviews  July 26, 2009 ---- Wow, this place just beside the Phoenix Zoo is just amazing -- it is a big HOLE in the middle of the a little mountain, and you climb up easily, and be up there in just 5 minutes... 

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16.

Tours by Air   Grand Canyon

Tours by Air, Grand Canyon

 41 Reviews  Before visiting the west, I read a lot. In most lectures, Lake Mead was a must see. From the air we can have the idea of the importance of Hoover dam, and the challenge that its construction must have... 

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17.

Hikes   Grand Canyon National Park

Hikes, Grand Canyon National Park

 20 Reviews  I've never stood behind a waterfall before - not one this tall and majestic and isolated. We woke up at Phantom Ranch in the morning after hiking down the Grand Canyon the day before. And while we're... 

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18.

Vortexes & Spirituality   Sedona

Vortexes & Spirituality, Sedona

 17 Reviews  I just came back from doing a SpiritQuest Retreat in Sedona. I can't overstate how much I loved this beautiful place and the people I met there. I've traveled widely and have never been anywhere that... 

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19.

Pima Air and Space Museum   Tucson

Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson

 42 Reviews  Being that most of my family loves history in general and particularly WWII military history, visiting the PIMA Air & Space Museum was a "must do" because it included the famous "Boneyard." This... 

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20.

Water Parks   Phoenix

Water Parks, Phoenix

 6 Reviews  Although this lake is actually in Peoria (35 miles northwest of Downtown Phoenix), I am adding it to my Phoenix "Things to Do" because it is not that far. On the way to this lake, you will see lots... 

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21.

Rim, South   Grand Canyon

Rim, South, Grand Canyon

 47 Reviews  This is THE best thing to do at the South Rim. Shuttles are fine if you must but you'll see and experience a lot more on foot. You'll also get some relief from the crowds at the main part of the rim.... 

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22.

Bright Angel Trail   Grand Canyon National Park

Bright Angel Trail, Grand Canyon National Park

 12 Reviews  You will find dozens of tips already written on the Bright Angel Trail, just here on Virtualtourist. This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the assorted hiking guides to the region you will... 

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23.

Jeep Tours   Sedona

Jeep Tours, Sedona

 22 Reviews  VERY easy to locate here in Sedona. The jeep does provide you refills to your own bottle of water. Trust me on a hot day you will need it. Our tour guide, Jeff, was VERY informative and entertaining.... 

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24.

Biosphere 2   Tucson

Biosphere 2, Tucson

 10 Reviews  30 minutes north of Tucson is the sight of Biosphere 2, originally an expirement in self sustainable living. this was done as an expirement of how humans might live in space. Today its managed by the... 

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25.

Phoenix Zoo   Phoenix

Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix

 12 Reviews  The Phoenix ZOO is smallish, but has a number of different 'Encounters' at specific times, such as the Giraffe Encounter and Petting Zoo, as well as a Safari Train, Monkey Village and Yakulla... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

The San Xavier del Bac Mission

by traveldave

The San Xavier del Bac Mission is considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the United States, combining Moorish, Byzantine, and late Mexican Renaissance styles of architecture. The church was established to convert the local Tohono O'odham American Indians to Christianity. Nowadays it is the focal point of the San Xavier Indian Reservation on which it is located.Bac was a village settled by the Tohono O'odham tribe in the Santa Cruz River Valley, and means "place where water appears." The village was visited by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1692. In 1700 he began construction on the first of two churches to be built in the area, and named it San Xavier, in honor of Saint Francis Xavier. The first church was destroyed, and the present church was started in 1783 and completed in 1797. It was built by Franciscan fathers Juan Bautista Velderrain and Juan Bautista...

Lake Pleasant Regional Recreation Area

by Africancrab

I do have an impulsive behavior when it comes to travel. I will spontaneously go to a place if I have the right company and mood. One such time was St. Patrick's Day 2006 when my charming boy friend Guy, invited my best friend Agnes and I to his boat on Lake Pleasant.Getting to Lake Pleasant is easy: from Wickenburg, take route 60 (East Wickenburg Way, which turns into Grand Avenue south to route 74. Turn left (the only way you can go) to head eastbound. Drive for about 20 miles through some of the most beautiful and barely touched Sonoran Desert landscape around. (Enjoy it while it lasts; developers will be turning it into housing development and strip malls as soon as they can). Sharing in the "luck of the Irish" with non-Irish people around, imagine that! The pints, Margaritas, beers, vodka to mention but a few made for such a merry St. Patrick's day celebrations on the boat last...

Fun times at the harbor aboard Bob's boat
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Casa Grandes

by Jim_Eliason

Casa Grandes, about a 1/2 hrsouth of Phoenix, was a major pre-columbian site for the Hohokam indians from 1350 to 1450. It represents one of the best preserved adobe great houses that used to dot the landscape in this region.

Casa Grandes
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Montezuma's Castle National Monument

by Africancrab

We approached the national monument from the north, then headed south on Interstate 17. Montezuma National Monument is a little less than 60 miles south of Flagstaff. After a rather exciting three days of traveling, hiking and using motels, we were heading back home to Tucson when we made a last minute decision to stop at this historic place. Whether you are traveling north or south, you will need to take exit 289 off of interstate 17 and follow the signs down the Verde Valley to the location of the Castle. When we arrived, we found the place crawling with Italian tourists who had come in on two giant tour buses from California. Apparently there was some sort of annual christian trip organized by the faithfuls of a local region in Italy.A little history on the castle: The first Europeans to see Montezuma's Castle believed it to be of Aztec origin and named it for the Aztec king. Both the...

with my daughter at the Castle Ruin
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Chiricahua National Monument

by Jim_Eliason

This little known park sets along way from anywhere in the Southeastern corner of the state but is well worth the visit for its fantastic rock formations. No services are available in or around the park so fill up with gas in Wilcox and get any water and food needed there.

Chiricahua National Monument
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Hiking

by blueskyjohn

Both Tucson and Sedona have some of the best hiking anywhere. In Tucson, I especially enjoyed the Brown Mountain trail. I've highlighted a few others here: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/be2b7/b73a6/Many others I haven't tried. Best bet is to pick up a guide book and also check with the local staff at Summit Hut when you arrive in town: http://www.summithut.com/I always found them very helpful.Sedona is great. Again, there are some great guide books for hiking here. Canyon Outfitters would be a good stop for local and up to date intel/ guide book: http://www.canyonoutfitterssedona.com/I've always enjoyed hiking Boyton Canyon and Doe Mountain. Doe has some steep sections but it is worth it. It is a mesa some I recommend hiking the rim once on top. When you get to the top, go directly to the opposite side, its a short walk. Turn right and explore the rim. No trail but pick your best...

Tucson Mountains
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Pipe Springs National Monument

by Jim_Eliason

An interesting stop if you are heading for the North rim of the Grand Canyon, Pipe Springs is a natural springs that has attracted first indian and then later mormon settlers to its reliabel water source in an otherwise arid landscape. Today the site is dominated by the remains of the Mormon fort built here.

Pipe Springs National Monument
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Vermillion Cliffs National Monument

by Jim_Eliason

There is no visitor's center or trails in this national monument, what is preserved here is an escarpment that runs North of the grand canyon and is visible to the North as you take US 89 east from the North Rim of the grand Canyon.

Vermillion Cliffs National Monument
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Grand Canyon

by Oneill2905

Going to the Grand Canyon was incredible. We drove into the park and from the main car park then used the free shuttle buses which are great and there are certain parts of the park that only they can get to. We went back at dusk to Yaki point and watched the sunset this was amazing and one of the highlights of our whole trip!The following morning we also took a Helicopter ride over the park, I had heard it was best to go either in the morning or at dusk as the flight is smoother, our pilot was amazing and the views were incredible, this is a must!

Sunset at Yaki Point.
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Canyon de Chelly National Monument

by Africancrab

There are thousands of rock canyons in the southwestern region of the United States. Of the thousands, some of the most breathtaking are in my home state of Arizona. On a recent 4 days weekend getaway to northern Arizona, my family and I, toured/ hiked Canyon de Chelly (pronounced Shay). The Spanish and English have corrupted the Navajo word Tseyi' which means Rock Canyon. Canyon de Chelly is a National monument located within the Canyon de Chelly National Monument National Park on the Navajo Reservation/nation. The canyon is set apart from other canyons in the west because of it's spiritual and sacred nature to the Navajo.Located on the Navajo Nation Reservation land at Chinle, Canyon de Chelly was declared a national monument in 1931. It is said to have the largst concentration of prehistoric cliff dwellings in the southwestern United States. For nearly two centuries, the Navajo...

Canyon de Chelly National Monument
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Top 3 Hotels in Arizona

El Tovar Hotel Grand Canyon  Grand Canyon

 14 Reviews and 1070 Opinions  El Tovar Hotel was built in 1905 and designed by Charles Whittlesey who was the Chief Architect for... 

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Loews Ventana Canyon Resort  Tucson

 4 Reviews and 708 Opinions  We stayed here for the first 4 days of January 2009. The hotel is beatuifully layed out and blends... 

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L'Auberge de Sedona  Sedona

 4 Reviews and 715 Opinions  My boyfriend and I stayed here last weekend, off season so the rate for a cabin was $250.00. It was... 

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Arizona Things to Do

Reviews and photos of Arizona things to do posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Arizona sightseeing.
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