Top Things to do in Arizona
10 Things to do Good for Kids in Arizona That You Shouldn't Miss
The state of Arizona is one that features a fantastic diversity of landscapes and areas of geological interest. North Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, a colorful chasm with steep rocky walls more than a mile deep and stretching some 277 miles alongside the Colorado River. Other notable destinations in North Arizona include Flagstaff set alongside the San Francisco Peaks which has the largest ponderosa pine forest, Museum of Northern Arizona, and is close to a number of national parks and monuments. On the south side of Arizona lies the city of Phoenix, the largest in Arizona. Notable day trips in Phoenix include the Heard Museum which is one of America's largest collections of Native American art, Phoenix Museum of History, as well as the Desert Botanical garden which has a great collection of desert plants.
Restaurants in Arizona
1. Grand Canyon South Rim
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 23,049 reviews
The most developed area of Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim offers amenities such as bus service, hotels and water stations, but is also more crowded than the North Rim. Scenic highlights include Pipe Creek Vista and Yavapai Point.
Reviewed By E9542BPjeffh - Toronto, Canada
Just came back from 3 days at the Grand Canyon. We did 3 wonderful tours, including the Sunset tour along the south rim to see the spectacular sunset on the canyon, the desert view tour to explore the native history, and the all day 4 by 4 inner rim tour from Williams down into the canyon to the Colorado river. What an experience....rugged beauty, hiking and wildlife....not to be missed in your lifetime!
2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,558 reviews
The renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is everything you could want in a Sonoran Desert adventure! Mostly outdoors and comprised of an AZA-accredited zoo, extensive botanical garden, two art galleries, and a natural history museum, the Desert Museum sits on 98 acres of pristine desert landscape. The Museum showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, featuring wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep in their natural settings. Bird lovers delight in visiting the Museum's two aviaries, one dedicated to hummingbirds! Kids love the interactive Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch exhibits, learning to appreciate our unique environment from a young age. The Museum's gift shops offer an incredible bounty of books, jewelry, crafts, and more. This family-friendly establishment offers something for everyone!
Reviewed By Eiregirl
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the few "must-see" things that we consistently recommend to *everyone* who visits the area. Young kids, teens, enthusiastic adults, tired/jaded adults, older folks who aren't as spry as they used to be - it's really a place for everyone. The Museum is accessible, welcoming, and it always receives rave reviews across the board from our visitors. Key highlights - --The "Museum" is really a combination of things. It does have indoor exhibits and the hands-on demonstrations that you'll find in other national museums, but that's just a fraction of what it offers. The Desert Museum is also a zoo with over 230 native animals - and it's one of the top-ranked public gardens in the U.S - and there is an aquarium - and a cool raptor area where trainers fly native birds of prey - and outdoor trails, etc. --The Museum setting is gorgeous. It's a short drive west of Tucson over Gate's Pass, and it sits smack in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Every inch of the place takes advantage of this unique setting, and it's the best place in town to learn more about the surrounding flora & fauna. --The Desert Museum has a team of top-notch scientists on their staff. In addition to their work with public visitors, many of them are also actively engaged in their field's specialty research and/or education. There is always someone out on the museum pathway with an interesting animal, native plant display, or other engaging story/tidbit of new information. (My kids' top memory - a 'scorpion wall' search around dusk.) You know what you see/hear in the Museum is coming from people who know their stuff. Be sure to carve out at least half a day to visit the Desert Museum while you're in the area. It's well worth your time.
3. Musical Instrument Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,330 reviews
The World's Only Global Musical Instrument Museum. Home of the MIM Music Theater--a 300-seat acoustically superb performance space--as well as the award-winning Café Allegro (open 11 am - 2 pm daily) and the MIM Museum Store. The average guest spends nearly four hours at MIM. Please allow plenty of time to fully enjoy MIM's galleries and exhibits. Open daily, 9 am - 5 pm; Closed Thanksgiving; Open Christmas, 11 am - 5 pm. General Admission: $20; Teens (ages 13-19): $15; Children (ages 4-12): $10; Children 3 and under: Free. Hours and prices are subject to change.
Reviewed By P1520TPandrewk
1. Expect to spend at least five hours or more! 2. Wear comfortable shoes! 3. Take your camera, phone charger etc.. 4. For Musicians, music lovers etc... 5. Bucket List Item 6. All styles of music represented 7. 777 Jackpot Rating! Go and see this place!
4. Lower Antelope Canyon
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,659 reviews
Reviewed By 160rebeccal
We did the early morning tour with Dixie Ellis’ and it was so beautiful! Our tour guide, Dominic, was excellent and provided all sorts of information ranging from local plants, the shaping of the canyon, historical uses of the canyon, and not-to-be -missed photo ops. We are completely satisfied and highly recommend it!
5. London Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,766 reviews
The original bridge from England was purchased by the founder of Lake Havasu City and reconstructed at Lake Havasu in 1971.
Reviewed By NiniBakes - Sudbury, Canada
Those granite blocks have an amazing story to tell! The tour boat operators provide great information as to why, how and when the bridge came to Lake Havasu, and the museum's display rounds out the story. The visitor's center also has great information too. The excellent walking paths along the channel offer great views from both sides, and of course you can walk and drive over it too. To say Mr. McCullough and his team had a great idea would be an understatement. The only downside in the area is that the shops in the English Village are suffering economic woes and need some sprucing up.
6. Antelope Canyon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,236 reviews
Located near Lake Powell, this "slot" canyon is considered sacred by the Navajo.
Reviewed By 267mabell - San Diego, United States
We joined the Antelope Canyon Navajo tour for the Upper Canyon 2 days ago We did the 12pm noon tour. The sandstone formation is amazing Our guide Lorita told us the history and geological facts and showed us how to take pictures with our smartphone camera in every corners and angles and how to take advantage of the light that come through the top It made this the highlight of this road trip I highly recommend this tour.
7. O.K. Corral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,505 reviews
Actual site of the famous 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, AZ. Subject of numerous Hollywood movies. See Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday in daily reenactments. Stand where the legendary Gunfight began. Visit Doc Holliday's room. View over 100 photos of 1880s Tombstone and the Apache Geronimo taken by famous Tombstone photographer C.S. Fly. Open daily 9-5.
Reviewed By marijune27 - Bend, United States
What a great show! The actors obviously have fun and audience participation is a must!! Share in the making of history as the outlaws & in-laws fight to the bitter end!!
8. Walnut Canyon National Monument
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,639 reviews
See millions of years of history unraveled in the geology of the rocks at this popular scenic and historic hiking area, once populated by the Sinagua Indians.
Reviewed By potatofisher - Rapid City, United States
I debated actually stopping here, as we had had a long day of travels already, but I'm so glad we did. The canyon dwellings are amazing. The museum is closed, but the gift shop is open, and you can get your passport stamp there. There are 2 trails: the rim trail, which is paved and flat and follows the canyon rim, and the island trail, which goes down and then back up 180 steps into the canyon to get you up close to the cliff dwellings. If you can manage it, I highly recommend the Island Trail. The steps are almost all at the beginning/end (it's a loop trail), and the entire middle is a really nice stroll right along the ledge where the dwellings are. Many of the dwellings are open for you to enter as well! It's like walking through another world. Please note: since the park closes at 4:30, they will not allow you to start the Island Trail after 3:30pm, so make sure to arrive before then if you want to do it.
9. Lake Havasu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 750 reviews
Created when the Parker Dam was built in 1938, this lake is actually a Colorado River reservoir popular for water-skiing, boating and other recreational water sports.
Reviewed By BecRecks - Grand Junction, United States
The London bridge is so beautiful, there are excellent boat trips here with narration and there are a ton of lighthouses around the Lake that are actual smaller replicas of real lighthouses. THe Lake had tons of swimming areas and lots of rental options for water craft. November was in the MID 80s -perfect time to go, not crowded AT ALL(don't go there in the summer!) Bring some water toys if you go. Lots of great breweries around - friendly people. Just a really neat place to go. But drink extra water as it is super dry there....
10. Tonto National Forest
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
This forest occupies approximately three million acres of wilderness for exploration via hiking, backpacking and horseback riding.
Reviewed By 859heidij - Seville, United States
If you're in the Phoenix/Tucson area and are looking for a day trip, drive through here. Lost Dutchman State Park is on 88. Then follow it north. Due to a landslide, 88 does not go all the way to Roosevelt. But the drive to Tortilla Flat is amazing. We drove until the road ended then got out and walked around. We flew the drone for some amazing videos. It's stunning - we definitely were not expecting to find the scenery this drive offers. The pull offs always offer beautiful view. We saw many people camping through the area and would love to do the same someday.
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