Arizona Things to Do Tips by madamx

This place was one of the highlights of our trip. The name is a misnomer; it is actually a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden rolled into one. It is one of the top ten zoos in the US.

The area is organized and mapped out very well, so all you do is follow the footpaths. There are many volunteer interpreters present, and they are very helpful. Periodically, there are shaded areas and seats, as most of the Museum is outdoors. At some locations, volunteer docents short presentations. I highly recommend good walking shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring LOTS of water -- it was 90 degrees the day we were there. You also get a break from the sun by going in the indoor exhibits. Don't miss out on the daily talks, we went to an excellent one on venemous reptiles.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 520-883-2702
Address: 2021 N Kinney Road, Tucson
Directions: Located on the western outskirts of Tucson
Website: www.desertmuseum.org

Make sure to take this steep, twisting road to and from your trip to The Sonoran Desert Museum. It gives you a breathtaking view of endless saguaro and the Tucson Mountains. Make sure you pull over into the viewpoint so you can concentrate on taking it all in.

Leave a Comment

Directions: Starting from Tucson, just keep heading west along Speedway Blvd.

Located in Tucson, Saguaro National Monument was our first real experience with the desert, and it was fascinating.

I guess my idea of "desert" was big sand dunes like in the Sahara. Little did I know that the Sonoran desert is full of life and has a huge ecosystem. Also, it was fun to actually see the huge saguaro cactus close up -- my only experience with those was watching Bugs Bunny/Roadrunner cartoons.

We woke up at dawn (HUBBY'S idea) and went a short distance down the road from where we were staying for a beautiful, peaceful walk in the desert. It was like a paradise -- walking along in the cool morning breeze, watching the rising sun playing with the shadows and colors of the desert, all while being serenaded by birds.

There are two parts to the monument -- the eastern and western units, and both are located respectively on the eastern and western sides of Tucson. We mainly explored the eastern unit, and there were plenty of walking and biking trails. The western unit is by the Sonoran Desert Museum, and the saguaros are known to be larger there.

Saguaro National Monument is a total must-see

Leave a Comment

Phone: east unit 520-733-5153
Directions: The western unit is located south of the Sonoran Desert Museum. The eastern unit's visitor centre is at 3694 South Old Spanish Trail.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
Other Contact: west unit 520-733-5158

Known also as "The White Dove of the Desert", this Spanish mission was built between 1783 and 1797, and we thought there would be not that much to see. To our surpise we loved the church and it is breathtakingly beautiful.

Though never completed, the church was and still is active, and extensive renovations started a few years ago. There is a little tiny shopping centre with washrooms, souvenier shops, and a kiosk selling Indian Fry Bread nearby at the parking lot.

There isn't a whole lot of information about the place -- there wasn't a visitor centre or brochures we could see -- but there is a small room which is a tiny museum showing the history and restoration of the church.

What we had planned to be a short, maybe boring outing, turned out to be an awe-inspiring experience. Pictures do not do this place justice, you must come and see for yourself. It is truly remarkable.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 520-294-2624
Address: 1950 W. San Xavier Road
Directions: South of Tucson; take the I-19 south, then exit 92.

About an hour north of Phoenix, Sunset Point is actually a rest stop. As Canadians we were bemused that a rest stop would be so elaborate, complete with vending machines, clean flush toilets, and shaded picnic areas.

We initially stopped for a break from driving Tucson to Sedona, but were awed by the views, and made it a point to stop on our way back from Sedona to Phoenix just to enjoy it again.

Leave a Comment

Directions: About an hour north of Phoenix; look for a sign on the I-17

Driving into Sedona on scenic highway 179, we arrived at the perfect time -- late afternoon. My husband had trouble keeping the car on the road, as we craned endlessly to see the gorgeous red rocks, made even more beautiful with the golden late afternoon light.

There is quite a bit to do and see in Sedona and the surrounding area, plus plenty of shopping. Though I love shopping, I was kept busy enough with just touring the area taking in all the scenery! Did not a speck of shopping in Sedona. We particularly enjoyed the hiking, and would like to return to do more.

I must admit I have mixed feelings about Sedona -- we realized it was going to be "touristy", and we wanted to do all those "touristy" things on our first trip to Arizona. It is such a beautiful, natural area, and I love that. However, what I was not prepared for was the unfortunate crass commercialism of such a beautiful and spritual place. There are endless stores selling souveniers, the food was not exceptional, and we felt like another number at our luxury B and B.

I thought it would be busy, like Banff National Park near us. However, it was so much worse, and after a few days of fighting the traffic worthy of rush hour in any big city, we wanted to hightail it out of town, but we chose to stay.

After experiencing Sedona, I would recommend staying in the nearby village of Oak Creek, as it is quieter, but still scenic, and you are still close enough to enjoy what Sedona has to offer.

Leave a Comment

Directions: An hour north of Phoenix. Take the I-17 to scenic highway 179.

Weirdly pronounced by Sedona locals as MUG-ee-un, the Mogollon Rim is a 2,000 foot escarpment cutting diagonally across Arizona into New Mexico. There is a dramatic change going up to the rim: the top of the rim consists of ponderosa forest, consistent with a high mountain environment, while the bottom consists of lowland dessert.

You can view the dramatic scenery at the Oak Creek Canyon Vista, if you drive north of Sedona on Highway 89A. There is a large parking lot and view points to take it all in.

Also, if you are looking for some inexpensive souveniers, many native people have set up stalls and tables at the viewpoint. I don't really think a lot of the items are authentic, but they do have a nice selection.

Leave a Comment

Directions: Drive north of Sedona on Highway 89A, and watch for the sign, it just says "viewpoint"

One of my friends told me about how she made a trip to the Hopi Mesas, and I was instantly intrigued. If you love archeology and anthropology as I do, please take the time to tour this area, you will not disappointed.

The trip will most likely take up a whole day and I recommend that you book a small group tour with a native guide to get the best out of your experience. You will learn much more than actually driving out on your own, as we found our tour guides (who were part Cherokee) gave us much insight into the Hopi culture and surrounding natural areas.

If you are interested in learning more about the Hopi Mesas, please read about my experiences on my Second Mesa VT page. Please see the below website for more info on the Hopi.

Leave a Comment

Directions: The Hopi Reservation is located in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. You can drive to the Hopi villages by taking Highway 264, east of Tuba City. The highway is in good condition.
Website: http://www.hopi.nsn.us/

Wupatki National Monument is a set of 5 fairly well-preserved ancient ruins about 56 km northeast of Sunset Crater. We explored the main ruins, the Wupatki pueblo, which was occupied by an ancient aboriginals, called the Sinagua, in the 1100's. By 1182, the pueblo and surrounding area had a population of about 1000.

The visitor's centre was closed and being renovated while we were there, which was a disappointment, but should be open in May. However, the $1.00 guidebook that is available gives you a good perspective of the history of the area.

A very interesting feature of the Wupatki Pueblo is The Blowhole. The Sinagua thought it was the breath of one of their gods. Perhaps one of the reasons why the pueblo was built in this location, The Blowhole is a geological formation of underground channels. It acts as a barometor, and when it is very warm outside, the pressure causes it to blow out cold air from underground, which you can feel if you put your hand over it. It was very warm the day we were there, and the air was coming out with quite a bit of force, like a cold air blow dryer.

Entry to Wupatki is included with nearby Sunset Crater, and it only makes sense to do both together as they are on a loop road. It can take a couple of hours to a day to take in both sites, depending on the way you would want to experience it.

Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, and food, if needed, as you are literally out in the middle of nowhere.

Leave a Comment

Directions: About 15 minutes north of Flagstaff, on Highway 89. The exit is signed.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm

As you drive near the Flagstaff area, it will become apparent that this was a hotbed of volcanic activity long ago. Sunset Crater, north of Flagstaff, is a 900- year old cinder cone, and is considered relatively young. All the hills and mountains in a 2,200 square foot radius of the area are old volcanoes, and is known as the San Francisco Volcanic Field.

Sunset Crater last erupted in 1220, and today, you can drive and walk amongst the fascinating scenery of ancient lava flow. You cannot hike up Sunset Crater, but an interpretive footpath goes by it. If you want to hike an extinct volcano, you can hike up Lenox Crater, which is located right by Sunset Crater, and is signed on the main road.

Leave a Comment

Directions: About 15 minutes north of Flagstaff, on Highway 89. It is well-signed.
Website: http://www.nps.gov/sucr/