Phoenix/Scottsdale
The greater Phoenix-Scottsdale area is one of the most popular holiday and leisure regions in the USA. The “Valley of the Sun”, as the area is also called, counts more than 300 summer days per year. Over 190 golf courses, the multitude of luxury resorts and the wealth of historical, cultural and natural attractions mean that the leisure options here are almost limitless.
According to Itypetravel, Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the economic and cultural center of the American Southwest. Downtown Phoenix features a mix of tall office buildings, old historic buildings, shady green spaces, and sporting and cultural venues.
Located east of Phoenix, Scottsdale is known for its five-star luxury resorts. The traditions of Mexican, Native American and Old West cultures are particularly evident in the center of the city, in Old Town Scottsdale. The well-preserved facades and buildings convey the flair of an old western town with restaurants, bars, exclusive art galleries and shops offering Indian handicrafts and complete western equipment.
North Central Arizona
The 600 meter high and 320 km long Mogollon Rim stretches across central Arizona. The mountain range stands out clearly from the surrounding landscape. The landscape of the White Mountains is characterized by ponderosa pines and aspens, fresh mountain air, sparkling lakes and babbling mountain streams. Four distinct seasons characterize Arizona’s High Country, which, with its more than 40 mountain lakes, offers every kind of activity for outdoor enthusiasts such as fishing, camping, hiking, golfing and skiing in the winter. Large parts of the High Country belong to the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation, the Fort Apache Reservation or belong to the National Forest Service.
Arizona West Coast
The “West Coast” of Arizona is formed by the Colorado River and some huge lakes. The plentiful sun in the area between the Grand Canyon and Yuma primarily attracts anglers, desert enthusiasts and water sports enthusiasts. A popular attraction is the Hoover Dam, built in the 1930s and part of the largest construction project in the world at the time. The dam, which rises 238 meters above the river bed, uses the power of the Colorado River to generate electricity for the western United States. Anyone interested in the technical details and construction of the building can find out more at the visitor center. The Lake Mead National Recreation Areawith the 177 km long Lake Mead was created by the dam. The area invites for swimming, water skiing, sailing, fishing and camping.
Northern Arizona
The seemingly endless expanses with towering rock formations, spectacular canyons, a dramatic desert landscape and green forested mountains under a deep blue sky are characteristic of north-eastern Arizona. Native Americans once lived in Indian Country, leaving behind archaeological treasures and the cultural heritage of today’s Hopi, Navajo and White Mountain Apache Indians. Visitors to Indian Country will find numerous historic sites, national parks, tribal areas and monuments. The spectacular red sandstone monoliths of Monument Valley Tribal Park rise from the desert landscape into the sky.
The only point in the United States where four states meet – Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico – is Four Corners National Monument to the east.
A 90+ mile long maze of scenic sheer canyons, home to a variety of unique prehistoric rock dwellings, encompasses the Canyon de Chelly National Monument area .
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is a geological wonder formed over millions of years, dropping 446 kilometers to 1,600 meters in depth. It was created by the Colorado River, which makes its way from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The most visited area of the canyon is the South Rim, in addition to spectacular viewpoints, this side has a wide range of visitor attractions. The Grand Canyon was one of America’s first national parks and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.
Tucson & Southeast Arizona
The atmosphere of the Old West lives on in the gold rush towns of Tombstone and Bisbee. Here in southeastern Arizona, Spanish conquerors, Indians and cowboys, gamblers and prospectors have all left their mark. The pristine desert of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument can also be explored, and shop to your heart’s content in Mexico’s border towns.
For a glimpse of the real American West, visit Tucson with its one-of-a-kind attractions. Some of the most exclusive resorts in the world can be found here and more than 80 golf courses, some of them spectacular, in the vicinity. West of downtown is the Desert Museum with over 1400 different plant species. Adjacent to the museum is Saguaro National Park West , established to protect and preserve the rich population of unique cacti and their surroundings.
Not far from there are the Old Tucson Studios , which serve partly as a theme park and partly as a film set and will look familiar to true Western fans. The studio buildings are packed with movie props, and during the day mock gunfights, street shows, and dance shows keep visitors entertained.
Located 70 miles southeast of Tucson, Tombstone is considered the quintessential old western town. This is where many legends of the Wild West originated. Much of the original building has been preserved downtown. At the entrance to the city is Boot Hill, where bandits and outlaws used to be buried after being hanged. The tombstones provide a telling testimony of their misdeeds.
