Arizona Travel Guide

The Grand Canyon gets all the publicity, and it is truly amazing to see in person, but there is much more to see in Arizona than just that spectacular water-worn hole in the earth. The Petrified Forest National Park and Sunset Crater National Monument are just two more in a long list of incredible sights in Arizona.

If you are looking for a place with perfect warm and dry weather between January and May, and especially a place where everyone speaks English, Arizona has a resort for you. The extreme heat is tolerable in small doses even during the summer, but people from all over flock to water recreation spots along the Colorado River, especially the portion known as Lake Havasu, which is the current home of the famed London Bridge.

Sprawling Phoenix and smaller-and-quirkier Tucson are both growing fast and also worth a visit, particularly if you like to play golf or see armies of cactus both in and outside of the cities. In the north and much closer to the Grand Canyon you'll find the charming mountain town of Flagstaff and not far away are the red rocks of the stunning city of Sedona, which is home to more mysticism and new-age spirituality than you can shake a crystal-encrusted pyramid at. Whether you are a believer or not, Sedona is one of the most breathtaking settings in the country and a jeep tour there will be an unforgettable experience.

Getting There

To visit the Grand Canyon from more than a few hundred miles away you'll want to either fly into Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport or Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport. Tucson has a medium-size airport and Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon have small airports, but you're almost always best off flying into the larger ones and then renting a car because you'll need one anyway since there isn't much in the way of public transportation.

Where to Stay

At the moment there are only a few hostels in Arizona, but more are appearing all the time so we expect Arizona will be adding a few in the near future. The good news is that affordable hotels are never far away. Phoenix and Tucson have some ultra-posh resorts, but there are motels and other cheaper options just around the corner from nearly all of them.

And bring sunscreen.

Our friends at USA Tourist have guides to various U.S. cities, including a Phoenix Travel Guide, specifically geared toward visitors from outside the country.

Find ratings and reviews for Arizona vacations from sites like Expedia, Hotels.com, and VirtualTourist all in one place.

If you're looking to move to AZ or just want a snowbird second home, check out Arizona Homes For Sale from our friends at Roost.