Whitish salt marsh foothills, rocky mountains, the Grand Canyon, reddish-red deserts – this is Arizona. The edge of the great canyons is located in the southwestern United States. Although most of the territory of this state is occupied by mountains and deserts, among the sandy expanses and bizarre rocks, like amazing oases, there are stunningly beautiful green valleys.
Wild nature untouched by civilization, the integrity of which is protected by many national parks, a meteorite crater, the likes of which cannot be found in the whole world, mountain rivers and lakes – this is what attracts tourists from all over the world. And also real Indian tribes, occupying more than a third of the entire territory of the state, a variety of shops, markets and galleries, and restaurants with real American cuisine. And all this is Arizona – the state of the Grand Canyon.
Real Indian tribes, a variety of shops, markets and galleries and restaurants with real American cuisine. And all this is Arizona – the state of the Grand Canyon.
The capital of Arizona, Phoenix , is located in the hot and arid Sonoran Desert. However, this city is ready to surprise you with the diversity of flora and fauna, formed here not only due to two rainy seasons a year, but also due to the special attention of the authorities to the development and “greening” of the city. By the way, 2 more largest cities in the state of Tucson and Yuma are also located in Sonora. Please note that all hiking trails start in Tucson. It is he who is considered a favorite place for travelers and adventurers.
- Countryaah – Cities in Arizona: List of all municipalities in the state of Arizona, including cities and towns of Arizona.
How to get there
Phoenix International Airport is ready to receive tourists from all over the world. However, there are no direct flights from Moscow, you will have to fly with connections in Los Angeles or New York if you choose Aeroflot. Most often, such trips last about a day, but there are flights that take 18 hours.
On the flight, in addition to full board, you will also be offered packages for relaxation and entertainment, so it is quite possible that time will fly by unnoticed.
For those who expect to move around the state a lot, it is highly recommended to rent a car. You can get to some remote areas of Arizona only by a private car, the rental of which will cost from 30 USD per day, and the quality of local roads will pleasantly surprise even the most sophisticated and demanding motorists. It will also be a pleasant surprise that you will almost never see traffic jams on intercity routes.
Weather in Arizona
Arizona has a temperate climate with very hot summers and mild winters. As a rule, from autumn to spring the temperature is +16 °C, but in the summer months it can rise to +52 °C. Travelers who decide to visit Arizona in the summer should take into account that they are in for a very strong temperature fluctuation – if it is usually warm during the day, then frosts can often be at night – and be sure to take warm clothes and shoes with you. Do not forget that the monsoon season begins in July-August with wind, thunderstorms, heavy rains and floods, so it is better to refrain from traveling to Arizona at this time. Come here from March to June!
Attractions and attractions in Arizona
Arizona attracts tourists primarily with the opportunity to see the famous Grand Canyon. Undoubtedly, the largest river canyon in the world is the main attraction of this state. But besides him, there is something to see here.
Arizona is famous for its protected areas such as the Painted Desert National Park, the Pueblo Archaeological Site, the Tonto National Monument, and the Saguaro National Park. Only in Arizona can you see a meteorite crater with a diameter of 1250 m and visit a museum dedicated to American astronautics and meteorites.
And rest in Arizona is a helicopter tour over the canyon, rafting down the Colorado River, visiting the Tusayan Archaeological Museum, walking through the Petrified Forest and Rainbow Forest reserves, fishing on the picturesque artificial lake Powell (Mead) and much more.
By the way, the city of Tucson is home to the world-famous Reid Zoo, which is rightfully considered one of the best on the planet.
Grand canyon
One of the seven natural wonders of the world was created by the Colorado River over a million years ago. This colorful gorge, carved by a turbulent river in the thickness of limestone, shale and sandstone, stretches for 446 km in length and up to 29 km in width, and the depth of the gorge is 1800 m. forms.
The bizarre beauty of the canyon will not leave you indifferent – thanks to different types of sandstone, the gorge shimmers with different colors, water and wind painted whole pictures on the sheer walls of the canyon – you can see towers, pyramids, pagodas here.
There are many viewing points, buses run every 10-15 minutes. Tourists love to mule down the canyon, raft down the Colorado, and fly helicopters over the canyon. Well, especially hardy extreme lovers go down on their own, on their own two feet and enjoy not only the landscape, but also physical activity, adrenaline and the opportunity to tell friends about the conquest of the Great Gorge.
Despite the wide variety of routes and excursions, the Sky Path remains the most favorite among travelers – it is an observation bridge with a glass floor in the shape of a horseshoe, suspended at an altitude of 1219 m. sensations – the beauty and grandeur of the canyon is breathtaking!
Observation bridge The heavenly path seems to hover over the abyss, and everyone standing on it experiences incomparable sensations.
Meteor Crater Barringer Meteor Crater
A huge fiery heat of iron and nickel weighing 300 thousand tons crashed into the Earth 50 thousand years ago, moving at a speed of 19 km per second, and left behind a gaping funnel in the Arizona desert, which tourists from all over the world come to see.
Devil’s Canyon, as the crater is called, is located 30 km west of the city of Winslow (follow federal highway 40). It is a gigantic earthen bowl 1200 m long and 180 m deep. Not to mention the museum located nearby, where you can get acquainted with the history of American astronautics.
Do not forget to bring a piece of meteorite as a souvenir to your friends, which are sold here at every turn – the “space object” costs a dollar per gram of weight.
Arizona cities
In the state capital of Phoenix, the Arizona Museum, founded in 1929, the Aerd Museum of Art, and the Arizona Head Mormon Temple are worth a visit. There is also a large Science Center, which includes more than 300 exhibitions dedicated to a variety of thematic areas. And one of the favorite vacation spots for tourists is Papago Park, which also has an excellent zoo and a huge number of recreation areas.
Do not miss the opportunity to visit the delightful Tucson Botanical Gardens, the beauty of which destroys all stereotypes and ideas about the meager nature of the desert.
Tucson is not deprived of sights, the most visited cultural site of which is the Museum of Art of the University of Arizona. In the immediate vicinity of Tucson is the San Javier reservation, on the territory of which many monuments of the colonial period have been preserved. The Spanish conquerors lived here for a long time, not indifferent to luxurious apartments, and the palaces and villas they built became a worthy decoration of the picturesque nature of Arizona. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the delightful Tucson Botanical Gardens, the beauty of which destroys all stereotypes and ideas about the meager nature of the desert. The small town of Flagstaff also deserves attention – it is known for three things: the famous observatory, filming and surprisingly rich in terms of natural beauty surroundings.
Events
If you are going to Arizona in February, be sure to plan a visit to the Renaissance Festival, dedicated to the traditions of a bygone era. The venue for the festival is an enchanting valley nestled among mountains and desert landscapes in the immediate vicinity of Phoenix.
The festival starts in February and usually lasts until the end of March. The program of the festival is incredibly rich and varied. Impressive historical installations and an abundance of people in beautiful old clothes, fun fairs and tasting of delicious medieval dishes, performances by musicians and street artists – these are just some of the entertainments that are available to holiday guests.
And at the end of March, an unforgettable sight awaits you – the Ostrich Festival. For three days here you can see various animal shows, concerts, an exotic zoo, many attractions and, of course, the highlight of the program – ostrich races. A sea of impressions is guaranteed!
