Uniquely Arizona video: 10 weirdest things to see and do
From Chloride to Santa Claus to a giant green tiki head perfect for selfie stops, Arizona is full of unexpected things to see. Here are the 10 best.
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With August already in full swing, the return to school and the shift from summer to fall are just around the corner. The countdown to the end of vacation time has begun, but there’s still a window of opportunity to soak up the last rays of summer.
Whether you’re looking to squeeze in one more adventure or already planning your next road trip, you might want to check out these Arizona hidden gems.
From serene escapes to thrilling outdoor experiences, here are eight must-see spots to make the most of the season before it slips away.
Watch the sunset at Papago Park
Papago Park is an iconic spot among locals. Known for its iconic rock formations, the park offers unique desert landscapes and a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for easy hiking, picnicking, or watching the sunset close to the city.
This local gem made it to the top 15 in a recent Mixbook list of America’s hidden gems. Papago Park placed 12th for its scenic views and its serene feel.
If you can, go at sunset time and enjoy the views at Hole in the Rock, a spot in one of the rock formations that is an easy hike and has one of Phoenix’s most stunning views of the city skyline. Stay the whole time until the sun goes down, as the show offers multiple colors as the sun sets behind the mountains. Several secluded picnic areas also remain off the beaten path where you can enjoy a peaceful time with loved ones.
Enjoy a picnic by Granite Basin Lake
Here are 5 Arizona lakes to visit
As the city heats up, plan a day trip to one of these nearby lakes in Arizona to cool off.
The Republic
Surrounded by towering pines and granite boulders, Granite Basin provides a serene and picturesque setting for family gatherings.
Located near Prescott, Granite Basin Lake is just a two-hour drive from Phoenix. It offers year-round recreation opportunities including hiking, horse riding, non-motorized boating, rock climbing, fishing, camping, and picnicking at the quiet spots by the water. This hidden gem also made it to Mixbook’s list, on spot No. 76.
Explore Mount Lemmon and Catalina State Park
Mount Lemmon is the perfect escape from the summer heat, as the top is usually 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in Tucson. The peak on Mount Lemmon rises 6,000 feet from the base of the mountain, sitting at 9,171 feet and is the highest peak in the Catalina Mountain range, according to Visit Arizona.
Located in Coronado National Forest, Mount Lemmon is just one hour from Tucson and about 3 hours from Phoenix. Visitors can drive up the 27 miles of the Sky Island Scenic Byway, traversing across an array of ecosystems including the Sonoran Desert, semidesert grassland, pine-oak woodland, Ponderosa pine forest and mixed-conifer forest.
You can stop along the way to catch some breathtaking views, try out the different hiking trails, or stop at one of the picnic areas. One popular tourist spot is the Windy Point Vista with a view of the Tucson basin and adjacent mountain ranges.
At the top of the mountain, visitors can grab a chair lift year-round at Ski Valley and explore Summerhaven, a tiny mountain town with lots of gift shop and cozy restaurants to explore.
At the foot of the mountain, you will find another gem: Catalina State Park. While known for its hiking trails, the park has many lesser-known picnic areas tucked away from the main trails.
The park offers stunning views of the Santa Catalina Mountains, making it a peaceful and scenic spot for a family picnic. This spot placed #75 on Mixbook’s list.
Catch a natural water slide at Slide Rock State Park
Put a natural water slide amid stunning scenery and you have a tourist magnet.
Located seven miles north of Sedona, Slide Rock State Park is well worth the trip, but think about visiting during the week or arriving very early on a weekend. You’ll know you’re too late if there isn’t a single place to park.
Fodor’s Travel named it one of “America’s 10 Best State Parks” where you can “slip down the smooth, red-sandstone water slide and be carried over the surface by a cooling creek into the swimming hole below.” If you have some extra time, stroll along the Pendley Homestead Trail to see apple orchards, the original Pendley homestead and barn, and beautiful canyon views.
Wander through Goldfield Ghost Town
This former mining hub at the base of the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction was founded in 1892. Visitors can keep cool on a 25-minute tour of a mine shaft as a guide talks about the “good ol’ days” before the gold played out.
The town includes a museum, LuLu’s Bordello, livery stables, photo galleries, a coffee shop, a steak house, a saloon, a reptile exhibit, and a mystery shack where objects seem to defy gravity.
There are more weekend activities available, including panning for gold, a shooting gallery, rides on a zip line, train or horseback riding. Gunfight shows are also held from November through April.
Watch bats at the Arizona Canal
Bats aren’t picky about their homes, as long as there is peace, quiet, and a cozy place to dangle upside-down.
If you head to the deck off 40th Street, north of Camelback Road, you might be able to catch thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats. The bats occupy a tunnel in a diversion channel along the Arizona Canal, providing a convenient way to watch them take off as the sun goes down.
Bats are plentiful during the maternity season, which runs from spring through late summer. The path to the tunnel is on the northern side of the Arizona Canal. Walk west on the path about 200 yards, past office buildings and a parking garage, then head north about 20 feet to a paved path that leads to a viewing area. There you’ll find interpretive signs. Morning people may want to visit at sunrise to see them return.
Trek through Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s stunning nature
This local gem is more zoo than museum, with a healthy dose of botanical garden. Still, the “Arizona-Sonora Desert” part is right on target. Visitors will see hundreds of species native to this little corner of the world, from hummingbirds to mountain lions across its two miles of paths that wind through its 97 acres (47 of which are developed).
The Warden Aquarium showcases the inhabitants of Sonoran rivers and seas. Kids will love the 30-minute Running Wild show, which brings a skunk, ringtail cat, porcupine, pelican and a few macaws on stage. The hour-long “Live and (Sort of) on the Loose” program introduces visitors to venomous reptiles of the Southwest.
Journey through a living cave at Kartchner Caverns State Park
Any conversation of the most amazing caves in Arizona begins and ends with Kartchner Caverns. After all, Kartchner is the only living cave, where formations continue to grow.
Located in Benson, Kartchner is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Phoenix. The park boasts the longest known cave straw in the country, measuring 21 feet, 3 inches, traversing across stalactites, stalagmites, and walls that seem to flow like water. Great care has been taken to preserve the cave in its natural state, even as concrete walkways were installed. For that reason, visitors enter through airlocks that maintain the cave’s humidity.
Two half-mile guided tours are offered. The 90-minute Rotunda Tour examines the role water plays in creating the caverns and features Kubla Khan, a breathtaking, theatrically revealed 58-foot-tall column. Due to the summer bat population, the Big Room Tour will not be open again until October. It focuses on cave fauna, living and long gone.
An interactive museum, hiking trails, campground, picnic ramadas and the Bat Cave Cafe are on site. Advance purchase of timed tickets is recommended.
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Publish date : 2024-08-14 02:00:00
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