Arizona is a state your family should see at least once. There are simply too many things to see and do here not to come and sample it at least once. However, there are also so many options that analysis paralysis can bog down your vacation planning fast. That’s why you need to know five must-see places to include in your Arizona adventure.
5 Arizona Places Your Family Needs to See
Do you need to be told to see the Grand Canyon? That should have been the first thing you arranged. Your question might be what to see other than the Grand Canyon, and here are five possibilities:
1. Sedona Scenic Rim Tour: If your kids play with Jeep toys but have never actually ridden in one, then you can treat them to a day of adventure. Let them ride in style over natural and remarkable terrain while seeing physical formations most other states are jealous of. Most of these tours can do pick-ups right from your hotel and carry passengers over the age of 3.
2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: If your travels take you through Tucson, then enjoy air conditioning and education at the same time here. Suitable for kids of all ages, this facility has a natural history museum and botanical garden. There are also a zoo and aquarium. For an interesting twist, it also has an art gallery.
3. Castles and Coasters: This theme park in Phoenix is vibrant and often whimsical. Kids of all ages love the variety of arcades, attractions, and rides. Sneak in a day here somewhere around the middle of your trip to let your children recharge on pure childhood joy before lugging them around the rest of the state.
4. Take a Quick Safari: Camp Verde has safari-style day trips where the family can learn about zebras, giraffes, and even tigers. This place isn’t just a wildlife reserve but also has live animal shows sure to entertain and educate at the same time.
5. Antelope Canyon: This canyon certainly has a different vibe than the Grand Canyon. To be sure, it’s smaller, but that can also make it a much more intimate and up-close experience. If you happen to get there when the light beams are at their best and brightest, then you can personally experience what images and photos can never really convey.
Catching the Light Beams
If you want the best time to visit Antelope Canyon to catch the light beams made famous in so much photography and cinematography, then you need to brave the summer heat. June, July, and August have the highest sun of the year. Days in these three months, especially from 11 in the morning until about 1:30 in the afternoon, are the peak times to catch the angular radiance you can only dream of.
Best Ways to Get to Arizona
If you live in an adjoining state, then driving might be your best way to get to Arizona. Enter from California via Interstates 8, 10, or 40. Residents of Nevada and Utah can use Interstate 15, and people coming in from New Mexico can use Interstates 10 and 40 on the eastern border of the state.
Flying might be better if you’re coming in from a longer distance, and your likely destination will be Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Visit Arizona says that this airport has nonstop flights from over 100 American cities.
There are also dozens of nonstop flights in and out of airports in Phoenix-Mesa Gateway and the airport in Tucson. A smaller number of flights come in and out of Yuma and Flagstaff.
The Best Time to Visit
Figuring out the best time to visit the state of Arizona can actually be a lively debate. Part of it depends on where you are coming from because people from northern states might not like the summer heat. People from areas with high humidity might actually enjoy dry heat, however. While fall, winter, and spring might mean milder temperatures and weather, your kids might also be in school. Come whenever you can, because you won’t regret it.
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