Arizona is one of the Four Corners states. It borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California, touches Colorado, and has a 389-mile (626 km) international border with the states of Sonora and Baja California in Mexico.

Arizona Trip

Feb 2003

MONUMENT VALLEY

Monument Valley is a great experience in one of the most scenic areas, a photographer's paradise! We took a guided tour on a flatbed truck with a Navajo guide. This is a Navajo tribal park, so they control all the activities. Experience the wonder of discovery among the monuments….the buttes, mesas, canyons and rock formations, along with the culture and traditions of the Navajo. The monuments are amazing, as is the rugged land. You will be intrigued with the human history that goes back in time, even before the Navajo. Since the 1930s, this area has been greatly filmed for Hollywood westerns. Some of the productions filmed here are: Stagecoach, My Darling Clementine, The Searchers, How the West Was Won, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, Back to the Future III, etc.

SEDONA

This charming community features massive red rock buttes that contrast beautifully with fresh green patches of pinon, juniper and cypress trees. In addition to this marvel of red rock and scenery, Sedona has fascinating shops, South-Western style clothing and jewelry, Native American crafts, rugs, pottery and woven baskets. Visit the amazing Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village with sunny flower-filled courtyards, bubbling fountains and Spanish Colonial architecture.

Sedona with its red-rock setting is at the foot of Oak Creek Canyon. A must do: take the twelve mile road that passes through Oak Creek Canyon and along the path of sparkling Oak Creek to see the natural beauty of the canyons. At each climbing turn, you will be enchanted!

A great resort to spend some time is at Enchantment Resort. There is much to do and the guest rooms are adobe-like casitas, set against the fire-red buttes and mountains. Jeep riding and helicopter rides are available. Sedona is spectacular!

JEROME

Jerome is a historic mining town 28 miles west of Sedona high up on Mingus Mt. It had its start as a copper mining town, but between 1883 and 1953, it experienced an economic roller coaster ride as price of copper rose and fell. In the early 1950s, the last mining company closed and everyone left town. In the 60s, artists discovered the great views and cheap rents, so they moved in. The ghost town soon became an artists' community….and then the tourists came. Today the winding streets, alleys and stairways are lined with old brick and wood-frame buildings that hug the mountain side. The entire town has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

TUCSON

Another great visit, particularly in Winter! Tucson has a long history that melds Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo Roots. It is the second largest city in Arizona and has a lot to offer. There is a national park and forest, world class golf resorts, great restaurants, Native American crafts in the shops, active cultural life and great weather. It is surrounded by the Santa Catalina Mts., giving a dramatic Southwest setting.

Take time to go to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is a composite zoo, botanical garden and history museum. There are 300 animal species and 1200 kinds of plants on display, all alive in a desert setting. And, there is Sabino Canyon Recreational Area in Coronado National Forest. You can either walk the trails or take a shuttle. Outstanding scenery abounds!

While in the area, drive to Mission San Xavier del Bac. This church is considered the finest example of mission architecture in the Southwest. It is called The White Dove of the Desert, a white adobe building built in 1783, rising from a desert landscape. It incorporates Moorish, Byzantine and Mexican Renaissance architectural styles.

TUBAC

Tubac is located 45 miles South of Tucson and 20 minutes from bordertown Nogales, Mexico aside the Santa Cruz River sits Tubac. A former military outpost in early days, then an artist site in the 40s, today it continues this tradition and is a place where art and history meet. Spend the day strolling this Latin American market place. It's a shoppers paradise with folk art, beautiful rugs, hats and textiles, clothes from the Southwest, Guatemala and Ecuador, good restaurants. Plan to spend most of the day; it's an easy stroll!

NOGALES (Arizona and Mexico bordertown)

While you are in Tubac, consider going a bit further to Nogales, AZ, parking your car, and walking across the border into Nogales, Mexico for Latin festivities. Everything is cheaper on the other side. This can be a fun day; it was for us!

PRESCOTT

Prescott appears to be any small town; it seems out of place in Arizona. It has old Victorian homes, a historic downtown business district with a stately courthouse on a tree-shaded square. But the town has a pioneer history from 1863. Old time miners flocked here and when Arizona became a territory, Prescott was the capital. It still is a major regional town. Today Prescott is an upscale retirement community with a mild year-round climate (much cooler than Phoenix area). It is 60 miles SW of Sedona. The pine forests, of Prescott National Forest are in the background with hiking and mountain biking trails, lakes and campgrounds. Try the St. Michaels Hotel for breakfast or lunch.

TOMBSTONE

Tombstone is The Town Too Tough To Die. It was founded as a silver mining boom town in 1879, and is today a Registered National Historic Landmark. It reached its pinnacle of riches and fame, then faded within eight years. By 1886, Tombstone's best days were over. Then $7,000,000 in silver came out of the mines. Soon it became the county seat. The Cochise County Court House was built, and quite stylish it was. It remained the county seat until nearby Bisbee replaced it.

The famous gunfight at O.K. Corral took place in 1881. There are live reenactments of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral daily; don't miss it. Walk the streets that Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday walked over one-hundred years ago. Visit the Boothill Graveyard; look for Les Moore's grave. You will enjoy this stop.

BISBEE

During the early 1900s, Bisbee became the largest copper mining town in the world. It is located in the steep slopes of Tombstone Canyon. The town stopped growing in the early part of the 20th Century, and today is one of the best-preserved historic towns in the Southwest. It has been used in many Hollywood productions as a double for New York, Spain, Italy and Greece. Today, Bisbee has a cosmopolitan air. It is home to many artists and urban refugees who have both helped restore Bisbee's old buildings and open small inns, restaurants, and galleries. Visit the Copper Queen Hotel; it's in the center of town. You can also take a Queen Mine Tour underground or a tour of the historic district.

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE

Arizona's largest city (Phoenix) lives by its name; it has risen from its ashes. Originally Phoenix was the ruins of an ancient Indian village. Today it is one of the largest metro areas in the country. It has become a corridor of upscale restaurants, shopping plazas, expensive homes and hotels. It also is know for its Diamondback Baseball Park with a retractable roof, and its NFL Arizona Cardinals Domed Stadium whose field is on rails and can be moved outside for the grass to grow, then inside for games.

In Scottsdale, luxury resorts are sprawling; golf courses and very upscale shopping centers and art galleries are constantly appearing, not to mention the elegant and luxurious homes that grace the streets. Scottsdale more resembles Beverly Hills than a Cow Town. With 300 days of sunshine, it's quite attractive if you can bear the summer heat.

THE GRAND CANYON

A powerful and inspiring landscape, the Grand Canyon can overwhelm you due to its immense size. Unique combinations of geologic color and erosional forms decorate a canyon that is 277 river miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep.

Carved out by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is the most spectacular gorge in the world. It cuts across the Grand Canyon National Park. It has been formed by the geological history of the past two billion years. It draws more than 10 million visitors a year. As one of the seven natural wonders of the world, this amazing landscape awes and inspires. More than 250 miles long, the Colorado River winds through its vast corridors. Drive or ride the Grand Canyon Railway as an titleernative to getting there. Park amenities include both rustic and upscale lodging. Fine dining is available at El Tovar. Admission is $20 USD per car.

The great gorge is accessible from two sides, north and south. Most of the more than five million visitors per year choose to go to the South Rim, which has more tourist facilities than the north side and gets overcrowded during the summer season.

The North Rim is a quieter and more remote place and preferred by people who wish for a more serene, less crowded experience. North Rim temperatures are cooler due to the higher elevation. Inner canyon temperatures are extreme. Daytime highs at the river often exceed 105°F. The road into the North Rim is closed from the first heavy snow in November or early December to mid-May. The access road to the North Rim is frequently closed during winter due to snow.

Grand Canyon Village: Your first stop inside the park should be the Park Headquarters and the Visitor Center where an abundance of books, films and slides will help you to get acquainted with the park. Rangers will be available to answer any Grand Canyon question you might have. The new Grand Canyon Skywalk offers a breathtaking view of the chasm through its glass bottom. From the village, you have the choice of exploring the canyon using either the West Rim or the East Rim Drive.

East Rim Drive: This 26-mile drive skirts most of the canyon's south rim, offering several overlooks to get a better view. West Rim Drive: This drive stays a little closer to the edge and also offers a greater variety of canyon views. It is closed to private vehicles in the summer, when a free shuttle service takes over transportation.

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