A CAnAdiAn’s Guide To
ARIZONA
DESERT MYSTERIES
ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO SEE & DO
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CONTENTS 8
ARIZONA 2013
6 NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH It’s No Wonder People Have Long Been Drawn To Arizona
8 BIG CITY PLEASURES
Arizona’s Valley Of The Sun Has Absolutely Everything You Want
18 THE SWEET SPOT
Southern Arizona Is A Perfect Blend Of History & Adventure
26 A RIVER RUNS BY IT
Arizona’s West Coast Boasts Route 66 & Aquatic Desert Playgrounds
30 LAND LESS TRAVELLED
Explore Northern Arizona’s Monuments, Canyons & Mesas
36 A PLACE FOR ALL SEASONS
Forests, Mountains, Deserts – North Central Arizona Has It All
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A CANADIAN’S GUIDE TO ARIZONA - A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SEPTEMBER 2013 ISSUE OF CT PUBLISHED 12 TIMES A YEAR BY
CANADIAN TRAVELLER Travel Agent Edition
WRITTEN BY:
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Josephine Matyas
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Contents © 2013 by ACT Communications Inc. All rights reserved
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SEPT 2013 (25) CANADIANTRAVELLER.NET
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ARIZONA Intro
NOWHERE ELSE ON EARTH IT’S NO WONDER PEOPLE HAVE LONG BEEN DRAWN TO ARIZONA
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Grand Canyon: One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a must-see stop on every itinerary.
MAIN PHOTO: GRAND CANYON NPS . SIDEBAR: FLAGSTAFF CVB, PHOTOS: ARIZONA OFFICE OF TOURISM, TUCSON CVB, SCOTTSDALE CVB, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
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Only In ARIZONA
HERE are enormous monoliths, made of red sandstone that appear to be on fire when the sun makes contact. A long escarpment splashed with such a rainbow of colours that is known as the Painted Desert. A world-renowned canyon so wide and so deep that it has exposed rocks that are 1.84 billion years old. Forests of towering Saguaro cacti, the giant sentinels of the arid Sonoran Desert. Heat in the desert and, yes, even snow in the mountains. And, speaking of mountains and desert – air so clean and a sky so dark that is hailed as being the spot to experience some of the continent’s best astronomy. From north to south through Arizona, it’s said that a traveller passes through six life zones. It’s a landscape that has fascinated scientists, archaeologists, anthropologists…and tourists. People have long been drawn to this desert and mountain landscape. The Anasazi (the ancient ones) built communities – some of which defied all logic, built into the sides of towering cliffs. The protected remains of cliff dwellings and pueblo societies can be explored. These ancient cultures still thrive – the Hopi, Navajo and the Zuni are a major part of Arizona’s vibrant, cultural milieu. Across the state, you’ll find a mingling of Native American traditions, Hispanic influences from south of the border, and the gumption of the settlers and frontiersmen who came to plant their roots in the west. Fast-forward to today and you’ll see that Arizona is fully present – world class sports teams, chefs and food producers practicing their art at the cutting edge of the culinary scene, adventure sports that challenge and spas that heal. Golf and sunshine! Need we say more? Open the door and come on in. Arizona has exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Only In Arizona
An old Spanish proverb promises “the lands of the sun expand the soul.” With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, Arizona is that land; the region’s extraordinary character can seduce even the most casual visitor and be experienced at these “only in Arizona” stops:
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1. Canyon de Chelly National Monument: This labyrinth of canyons holds a record of human history from the the Anasazi to the Navajo who still call this sacred site home. 2. Kartchner Caverns State Park: A “living” cave –where water still sculpts the rock and the colourful minerals and formations continue to grow. 3. Saguaro Cactus: Trademark of the Sonoran Desert, and found nowhere else on Earth. Best place to find them? Saguaro National Park near Tucson. 4. Red Rocks of Sedona: Native Americans have revered the rocks for centuries; New Age gurus claim that they contain high-energy called vortexes. 5. Hubbell Trading Post: A bridge between two cultures, the trading post is THE to find quality jewelry, Navajo rugs and Native arts and crafts. SEPT 2013 (27) CANADIANTRAVELLER.NET
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ARIZONA Central
BIG CITY PLEASURES F your recent holiday experiences are feeling a bit too much like an extension of your hectic everyday life, it’s time to get yourself to the Valley of the Sun – the aptly-named part of Central Arizona with Phoenix at the hub. With 300+ days of sunshine each year, it’s difficult to even recall the last grey and cloudy day. A trip to central Arizona begins with a string of pleasant surprises. They have everything needed to slow down, breathe deeply, restore perspective and get your body and mind back on track. There are world-class resorts, some of nation’s best golf, the beauty of the surrounding desert and mountains, restaurants and shopping. Nature and entertainment live side-by-side in the valley. There is so much packed into the communities of this region, that a primer to describe who’s who may be in order: Phoenix gets it. At the heart of the Sonoran Desert sits the country’s fifth largest city, encircled by red rock buttes, craggy mountains and desert forests of towering saguaro cacti. There’s something about the spectacular vistas and the spectrum of activities that makes Phoenix the kind of place that anyone can claim for their own. Your chi needs some fine-tuning and your chakras are blocked. Thank goodness for the beautiful desert setting, the sporting life, the spas and wellness programs of Scottsdale. Set in the heart of the lush Sonoran Desert, this community is the perfect backdrop for a rejuvenation – whether a desert hike, 18 holes of golf, a Wild West horseback adventure or the latest and greatest spa treatment. Known for college sports, Tempe attracts fans and athletes, families looking for 8
ARIZONA
some quality time together, and lovers of festivals, the visual and performing arts. Getting close to the natural bounty of the Sonoran Desert is a snap when you are based in Mesa, the region’s next vacation hot spot. Foodies are close to Mesa’s citrus fields and farmers’ markets. “Big” city services sit right next door to some of the Southwest’s best outdoor recreation areas. Access to Mesa is super-fast via the easily navigable Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
MUST SEE, MUST DO 1. Lift off in the early dawn and float over the Sonoran Desert in a hot air balloon. After landing, indulge in gourmet foods and a glass of fine champagne – a tradition dating back to early French balloonists. 2. Connect with your inner cowboy or cowgirl and crisscross the trails of South Mountain Park on horseback. 3. Take a musical trip around the world at the Musical Instrument Museum. Shake the Thunder Tube – the internal springs make a musical sound that sounds like a cross between a gong and a didgeridoo. 4. Find a taste of prickly pear cactus – harvested in the surrounding desert. The prickly pear fruit shows up in drinks, ice cream and desserts. 5. Experience a valley landmark: Take water and hike to the top of granite and sandstone Camelback Mountain for a sweeping 360-degree panoramic vista. The trail up Camelback Mountain is the most popular hiking destination in the Valley of the Sun.
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PHOTO: GREATER PHOENIX CVB
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ARIZONA’S VALLEY OF THE SUN HAS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING YOU WANT
Relax: the Valley of the sun has a fine collection of world-class resorts.
ARIZONA Central
This image: Must See: Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix. Below Left: Soup’s On: the roots of the region’s food history run deep. Below: Go Green: there are 200+ golf clubs in the Valley of the Sun to play.
BRING THE KIDS
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“Phoenix’s First Friday is the largest, self-guided art walk through arts districts in the U.S. The monthly event showcases more than 70 galleries and arts venues.” Museum of Natural History all offer free admission one day a month. Kids go crazy over the paleo dig pit and the dinosaur skeletons at the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Phoenix and the surrounding communities are awash with museums and art collections. The world-renowned Heard Museum is known for its collection of authentic Native American art and craftwork. The Musical Instrument Museum has more than 5,000 instruments and song from around the globe. The collection at the Phoenix Art Museum includes more than 17,000 works of art, sculpture and photography.
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Phoenix’s First Friday is the largest, self-guided art walk through arts districts in the U.S. The monthly event showcases more than 70 galleries and arts venues. Check out the 10 most celebrated pieces of the Scottsdale Public Art Program during a self-guided, 60-minute walking tour. Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours guides visitors into art galleries, studios and museums, and to the cutting edge architecture of some of the 20th century’s most acclaimed architects, including greats like Frank Lloyd Wright. A stroll through downtown Mesa will take you by the 38 pieces in the Mesa Permanent Sculpture Collection.
PHOTOS: MIM/BILL TIMMERMAN, THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA, GREATER PHOENIX CVB
Kids gravitate to the hands on activities at the We Are! Arizona’s First People exhibit at the Heard Museum. They can braid a traditional belt, craft a basket or make colourful flower decorations. All ages are welcome at MacDonald’s Ranch’s guided horseback rides, hayrides and cowboy cookouts. Make golf a family affair. At the Junior Golf Academy at Troon North Golf Club, young golfers learn important skills needed to improve their game on the club’s family-friendly Monument Express nine-hole course. Kierland Golf Club’s SNAG Golf program, teaches kids the fundamentals of the sport using modified equipment and specialized instruction methods. The Family Tee program at TPC Scottsdale opens the Champions Course into a shorter, more playable venue. Grayhawk Golf Club teaches the game fundamentals at summer junior golf camps for youth ages eight to 16. On Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, the Gallery of Scientific Exploration’s interactive exhibits and high-definition monitors display video from Earth-observing satellites and robotic probes of other worlds. Exhibits include a replica of the Mars Rover Curiosity, instruments used to measure earthquakes and a digital video globe that presents dynamic global and extraterrestrial information. The Arizona Museum for Youth (get in touch with the fine arts), the Children’s Museum of Phoenix (open-ended, imaginative play) and the Arizona
PHOTOS: MIM/BILL TIMMERMAN, THE WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA, GREATER PHOENIX CVB
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ARIZONA Central Phoenix’s Heard Museum hosts the annual World Championship Hoop Dance where dozens of hoop dancers from across North America showcase their skill and talent in this ancient dancing tradition. Acclaimed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright recognized the beauty of the Sonoran Desert and decided to build his own winter home just outside the city limits. Taliesin West is now recognized as a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public for guided tours.
DINING The valley is home to hundreds of eateries serving up every cuisine and style imaginable. And the roots of the region’s food history run deep – corn and squash of the Native peoples, mesquite-fired fare that was the staple of ranchers and frontiersmen, tasty Mexican dishes imported from south of the border, and the cutting edge fusion and
global flavours being played with by today’s top chefs. History and food are intertwined in the three-hour guided culinary tours offered by Destination Food Tours in Scottsdale. The Eats + Arts program brings together patrons of the arts, museum lovers and local eateries. Present a ticket stub from the Mesa Arts Center, Arizona Museum for Youth or the Arizona Museum of Natural History for special discounts at a long list of Mesa restaurants and bars. On Saturday evenings, the Food Truck Caravan in downtown Scottsdale features a rotation of eight gourmet food trucks with foods from around the world. Phoenix’s gourmet food trucks zip around town (you can track their whereabouts on Twitter), but on Fridays at lunchtime they gather by the Phoenix Public Market. Food festivals! Every April, thousands of dedicated foodies pass through the doors of the Scottsdale
Culinary Festival to take in cooking demonstrations, meet-and-greets with celebrity chefs and picnics. On offer at the Arizona Taco Festival: a chile pepper eating contest and gourmet tacos from 30 restaurants. At the Arizona Barbeque Festival teams grill, smoke and braise their way through the BBQ competitions. Producers and food artisans at the Scottsdale and Mesa Old Town Farmers’ Markets and the open-air Phoenix Public Market to sell seasonal goods such as cider, apples, local cheeses, artisan breads, jams and tamales.
PEOPLE AT PLAY Man cannot live by putters, drivers and hiking poles alone…but in Central Arizona, he sure can give it a good try. For starters, there are more than 200 golf clubs in the Valley of the Sun including dozens of courses ranked as Arizona’s top choices. The striking Sonoran
www.visitphoenix.com
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Phoenix’s newest MuseuM Ranked one of the top attractions in Phoenix on TripAdvisor.
Spend the day traveling the world through music. At MIM, you can explore over 350 exhibits featuring instruments and artifacts from around the globe.
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MIM.org | 480.478.6000 | Open Daily 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 (Corner of Tatum & Mayo Blvds., just south of Loop 101)
ARIZONA Central
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Desert marries the starkly beautiful arid landscape with sweeping fairways and lush putting greens. Add in the famously sunny, dry weather and you’re looking at year-round conditions on the links. And golf is just the start of a very long list of ways to play: Scottsdale hosts the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open, the best-attended golf tournament in the world, welcoming about 500,000 spectators a year. The Camelback Golf Club’s Ambiante course has been revamped with new bunkers and reconfigured water features. 360 Adventures at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch is a one-stop-shop for planning adventure activities including self-driven Tomcars, hot air balloon rides and scenic desert tours. Seeing the desert from above is possible with Arizona Powerchutes’ two-passenger, motorized carts, suspended below a gigantic parachute. Fly low to see desert plant and wildlife or high above the mountains for a panoramic vista. Aerial tours by small plane or helicopter cover a lot of ground in a very short timeframe. Day trips can be arranged to the red rocks of Sedona, Roosevelt Lake and the Grand Canyon. Scottsdale insiders rave about the city’s greenbelt, known as Indian Bend Wash, an interconnected string of four urban parks with lighted walking paths, fishing ponds, athletic fields, tennis courts, a skate park and dog park. Journey Arizona rents electric bikes that will add a pleasant twist to the usual day in the saddle – the bikes are quiet and make a day of pedalling a little bit easier. The mountains of the Phoenix area are a mecca for experienced climbers and canyoneers. Hot spots include the craggy slopes of the McDowell Mountains and the granite face at Pinnacle Peak Park. Early learners can enrol at The Boulders Resort private and group rock-climbing lessons, held on the resort’s massive granite rocks. With the highest rainfall of America’s four deserts, the Sonoran landscape has many lakes and rivers for boating, swimming, rafting and tubing. The working cattle ranch at the Arizona
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Cowboy College teaches greenhorns roping and riding skills before heading out on an overnight cattle drive. For winter-weary northerners, the springtime baseball Cactus League cannot come soon enough. Most popular is the Chicago Cubs spring workouts – in 2014 the Cubbies will be training from a brand new facility located between Mesa and Tempe. Thrill-seekers can step aboard vintage war birds at Mesa’s Commemorative Air Force Aviation Museum for an aerial flight over the scenic Salt River Canyon.
NATURAL RESOURCES The desert is a delicately balanced ecosystem featuring thousands of specially adapted plants and animals able to survive both searing summertime temperatures and infrequent rainfall. The Sonoran is home to some 60 mammal, 350 bird, 100+ reptile and 30 native fish species. Beyond its unique flora and fauna, the desert is a treasure trove of human history, including prehistoric ruins, Native American monuments and abandoned mining encampments. Tag along on a guided nature walk at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum to learn about the plants that thrive in arid environments. The eco-tour specialists at My Arizona Guide lead custom tours on desert geology, biology, mining history, local legends, Native American archaeology, history, culture and use of desert plants for sustenance and medicine. No 500-thread count sheets here (but lots of great tips for experiencing the heart of the Sonoran): Windwalker Expeditions leads desert survival courses from basic skills to an expertonly three-day challenge. The 3,430-hectare McDowell Sonoran Preserve is an outdoor lover’s dream with more than 160 kilometres of trails through rugged mountain terrain and the lush cacti “forests” of the desert. So close to urban chic Scottsdale, yet still a world away, the trails are a magnet for hikers, mountain bikers, rock climbers and horseback riders. The Desert Botanical Garden is a 50,000-plant oasis showcasing some of the world’s finest collections of desert flora, including 169 rare and endangered species. The Garden hosts nighttime
Central ARIZONA flashlight tours and a popular Music in the Garden series. Exploring the desert landscape can be as easy as settling into the back seat of a four-wheel drive vehicle – there are a number of motorized tours in vehicles custom-designed for powering over desert terrain. Birders love the riparian preserve at Gilbert Water Ranch, where almost 200 species have been spotted. The oldest botanical garden in the Southwest at Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park gives visiting birders an Arboretum Bird Checklist.
TOP SHOPS For vacationers, shopping is often at the top of their wish list. In the Valley of the Sun, there is no shortage of opportunities to find the perfect souvenir, piece of home décor or the latest fashions. Here is a guide to some of the more talked-about shopping spots: Scottsdale has a solid reputation as a shopper’s paradise – from outdoor promenades with one-of-a-kind boutiques to upscale fashion malls.
Walkable downtown Scottsdale is home to hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques. Scottsdale Arts District is a compact four-block downtown stretch filled with some of the nation’s finest galleries. Scottsdale’s The Mix at Southbridge is home to trendsetting fashion boutiques and eclectic shops. The Southwest’s largest shopping destination, Scottsdale Fashion Square has added several high-end retailers including Prada and Louis Vuitton. Scottsdale Quarter is an open-air centre with fashion, home and specialty retailers including Pottery Barn and True Food Kitchen. The lifestyle centre at Kierland Commons has a distinct Main Street feel – shoppers can stroll the palm-lined walkways while deciding if it’s going to be snack time or shopping time. In Phoenix, UNION – Biltmore Fashion Park’s hub of small, independent retail stores includes more than a dozen one-ofa-kind intimate boutiques. Collectors of Native American art can purchase quality pieces of pottery, kachina dolls, beadwork, weavings and jewelry at the Heard Museum shop.
The upscale shops at Dana Park Village Square in Mesa are a reflection of some of the city’s more refined neighbourhoods. Mesa’s largest retail centre is Mesa Riverview, home to all the shopping favourites like Marshall’s, Bath & Beyond and Bass Pro Shops. Downtown Mesa is one square mile of shopping pleasure – more than 100 boutiques, antique shops and speciality stores participate in the Downtown Mesa Gift Card program. Shopping tours led by the professional fashionistas at SPREE! The Art of Shopping are a must for serious style lovers. Shops will roll out the red carpet.
DIGITAL RESOURCES www.visitphoenix.com www.experiencescottsdale.com www.visitmesa.com www.tempetourism.com One stop to plan active Sonoran Desert outings: www.AdventureInScottsdale.com
COUNTLESS.
ENDLESS.
LIMITLESS. Breathless and matchless as you dine in an enchanting orchard. Explore the wonder of the Tonto National Forest. And tell stories about the catch that almost got away. Mesa, Arizona is more than a city, it’s an experience that knows no bounds. Book your warm, sunny and limitless holiday at
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ARIZONA Southern
THE SWEET
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SPOT
SOUTHERN ARIZONA IS A PERFECT BLEND OF HISTORY & ADVENTURE
RUE, northern Arizona may boast the Grand Canyon and the middle is infused with the energy of the big city, but as far as the perfect blend of culture and outdoors is concerned, Tucson hits the sweet spot. It’s just what happens when simple geography mixes with vibrant Native American, Spanish, Mexican and pioneer roots – five mountain ranges encircle the city, creating a basin swept by cooling breezes. Take a close look and you’ll fall in love with Southern Arizona, its communities and the landscape of mountains and rolling desert grasslands.
MUST SEE, MUST DO
STEP INTO HISTORY What’s not to love about a city so rich with history that it goes by the nickname the “Old Pueblo,” a turn of phrase honouring its importance as the crossroads in the settlement of the western frontier? Southern Arizona 18
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Melting Pot: Tucson is where cultures meet.
PHOTO: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
1. Hike the Cactus Forest Trail in Saguaro National Park after a summer monsoon rainstorm. 2. Tour the world class Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Arrive early – cool mornings are the best time to find the animals active. 3. Attend the “Christmas at San Xavier” concert featuring live performances by the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and Sons of Orpheus Choir at Mission San Xavier del Bac. 4. Watch a sunset from the scenic overlook at Gates Pass. 5. Dig into a Sonoran Hot Dog – a juicy all-beef frank topped with bacon, tomatoes, mayonnaise, beans, mustard, grilled onions and jalapeño sauce is a tradition at a University of Arizona Wildcats Baseball game.
PHOTO: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
ARIZONA Southern
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True Spirit: the work of Ettore DeGrazia at the DeGrazia Gallery.
was built to protect the settlers from Geronimo and his Apache followers. There are thousands of period photos and archives from Bisbee’s days of mining a the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum (a Smithsonian affiliate). The historic district – including neighbourhoods of well-reserved Victorian homes – can be explored on a self-guided walking tour, a walking haunted tour and a tour in a hearse. Bisbee was a magnet for businessmen of all stripes during the copper mining boom; today it’s known for its distinctive galleries and shops selling one-of-a-kind creations by local artisans. Each spring, scores of history enthusiasts arrive at Picacho Peak State Park (between Tucson and Casa Grande) to watch historic battle re-enactments of an Arizona Civil War skirmish and the New Mexico battles of Glorieta and Val Verde, complete with lifestyle demonstrations depicting soldiers in the 1860s Southwest. Douglas with a long history of cattle ranching and the copper industry, was
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once home to some of the West’s wildest frontier action. At the Slaughter Ranch Museum explore the restored adobe home of a cattle baron, the washhouse, granary and commissary to get an idea of ranch life of at the turn of the 20th century. Downtown, a piece of Old West history is captured at the 1907 Gadsden Hotel. Architectural highlights include a stained glass skylight, Tiffany window and the lobby’s huge faux marble pillars.
BRING THE KIDS A family vacation to Tucson brings a string of surprises. The website Livability. com has listed the city as a Top 10 Spring Break Destination for Families. Tucson was chosen because it offers families a host of activities for all age groups as well as kid-friendly travel amenities, such as restaurants with special menus, hotels with pools and family vacation deals. More family-friendly activities: Conde Nast Traveler named the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as one of the nation’s top museums with activities for “kids who love
PHOTOS: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
has deep roots in the ranching and homesteading traditions that opened up the West. It’s on dude ranches, working cattle ranches that open their gates to visitors, in mining towns like Bisbee and iconic Old West settlements like Tombstone. More steps into history: Look for the turquoise stripe on the sidewalk to follow history along the free Presidio Trail self-guided walking tour. The four-kilometre trail begins at The Tucson Presidio – the re-created adobe-walled fort that marks what once was the northern frontier of the Spanish empire in the Americas. The Presidio is also the site of Living History Days (October through April, excluding December) with demonstrations of pioneer skills, storytelling and military drills as practiced by 18th-century Spanish colonial soldiers. The Arizona State Museum is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the American Southwest. The museum is home to some of the state’s archaeological collections including more than 25,000 pieces of woven American Indian basketry, the world’s largest collection of whole vessel Southwest Indian pottery and one of the country’s top Navajo textile collections. The wide-open desert grasslands surrounding the town of Sierra Vista are rich with colonial and frontier history. Just to the south is the spot where Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado began his conquest for gold and the fabled Seven Cities of Cibola. This historical era is preserved at the Coronado National Monument where there are displays of recreated Spanish amour and weapons. From the moment you arrive in Willcox (132 kilometres east of Tucson), you know you’re someplace where care has been taken to preserve the heritage of the Old West. In 2013, Willcox placed third in True West Magazine’s list of Top 10 Western Towns – the town has a long history as a centre of the cattle industry. Every October, Willcox holds Rex Allen Days to celebrate the life of the hometown country and western singer. The National Historic Landmark of Fort Huachuca preserves an Old Post of the frontier era, a time in the late 1800s when the stone and adobe fort
PHOTOS: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
Natural Resources: The vast, lush Sonoran Desert is the only place to find giant saguaro cacti.
“Southern Arizona’s mountain and desert landscape has everything you need to restore your perspective and place you back in the moment. ”
Seeing Stars: Tucson is known as an “astronomy capital of the world.”
ARIZONA Southern Bring The Kids: relive the Wild West at gunfights shows and other re-enactments.
Nesting: Southern Arizona is known as one of North America’s birding hotspots.
dinosaurs.” Families also love the museum’s behind-the-scenes tour to learn about the snakes, lizards, frogs, toads and spiders of the desert. Kids will learn a bit about history, but the trip into the Copper Queen Mine, near Bisbee, is so cool that they’ll lap it up and want more. One-hour guided tours head deep into the mountain aboard an authentic narrow gauge train that once carried loads of copper. Flandrau Science Center (on the campus of the University of Arizona) is every science geek’s dream – kids love the planetarium and laser light shows. A new exhibit explores southern Arizona’s unique Sky Islands – the mountains that rise above the desert basins. Kids (of all ages) love the movie sets and memorabilia, the stunt shows, gunfights and slice of the Wild West at Old Tucson, Hollywood’s most famous western movie location. The recreation of a western frontier town has been the film site for more than 300 feature films and TV westerns. The Pima Air & Space Museum – one of the largest aviation museums in the world – features more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft, including many of the most historically significant and technically advanced craft ever produced. 22
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Kids love Gammons Gulch Movie Set & Museum in Benson, with its authentic Old West settings and action. Self-guided or personalized tours.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Tucson delivers on the culture front as well. It’s not just the number of events that impress, it’s the variety: think Native American artisans, Mexican music, Spanish cuisine and a touch of Old West fortitude. Galleries, plays, concerts exist in near-perfect harmony. More cultural connections: Arizona State Museum presents the annual Southwest Indian Art Fair, Southern Arizona’s premier art show and market of Native American crafts. More than 200 artists display their culture, performance, food and handmade artwork including pottery, Hopi katsina dolls, paintings, jewelry, baskets, rugs and blankets. The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show is now the largest gem and mineral show in the United States. More than 125 exhibitors sell all kinds of gems, minerals, fossils, lapidary items and jewelry. The horses outnumber the contestants at the annual Tucson Rodeo – also called La Fiesta de los Vaqueros/The Celebration of the Cowboys – one of the top-25
professional rodeos in North America. Since 1925, this major event has attracted visitors who come to experience an authentic frontier lifestyle. The Tucson Botanical Gardens (honoured as an America’s Best Secret Garden by Reader’s Digest) is an urban oasis of 17 specialty gardens built to showcase the responsible and appropriate use of plants and water in a desert environment. An architectural landmark in Tucson’s northern foothills, the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun National Historic District is a collection of the work of acclaimed Arizona artist Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia who was known for capturing the spirit of the Southwest in his artwork.
NATURAL RESOURCES Southern Arizona’s mountain and desert landscape has everything you need to restore your perspective and place you back in the moment. There’s a whole lot more of the right things here and less of the not so right things: affordable ways to connect with nature, crowds are almost non-existent, friendly locals who want to “show and tell” the best of Southern Arizona with visitors. More about nature: The new Rivers to the Sea exhibit at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum highlights water in the Sonoran Desert. The displays, galleries and tanks are all about the importance of the freshwater rivers of the Sonoran Desert and the Sea of Cortez, all of which are critical to
PHOTOS: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
“Tucson delivers on the culture front as well. It’s not just the number of events that impress, it’s the variety ”
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2013 Ca
300+ days of the year, “weather permitting”
doesn’t really apply.
PHOTOS: METROPOLITAN TUCSON CVB
Tucked amid sky islands that bump the blue at 2,740+ metres, Sierra Vista is marked with bright sunny days and star-studded nights. Rich with small town charm and packed with big city amenities, Sierra Vista is your holiday hub for exploring southeast Arizona’s history, wildlife, wine, and the great outdoors.
photo by Tony Battiste
Plan your adventure at
www. VisitSierraVista.com or call 1.800.288.3861
2013 Canadian Traveller Ad.indd 1
8/20/2013 3:05:33 PM
ARIZONA Southern this landscape’s status as the “lushest desert on earth.” The vast, lush Sonoran Desert is the only place to find giant saguaro cacti, famous symbol of the American West. More than 5,000 saguaro pepper the landscape in Catalina State Park on the western slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains, a 660-hectare nature preserve with trails, canyons and streams for hiking, biking, birding and horseback riding. At the “living cave” at Kartchner Caverns State Park, bizarre cave formations include icicle-like stalactites and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground. The cave stays at an average temperature of 22° Celsius and 99 per cent humidity year-round. Sabino Canyon (in the Coronado National Forest) serves up spectacular desert vistas and abundant wildlife. Locals know it as a favourite daytime hiking spot but it can also be visited on a nighttime tour – when nocturnal animals roam the cool desert floor. Ransey Canyon Preserve is renowned as a desert oasis right on the birds’
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migratory flyway. Almost 500 species of birds fly through the area, including more than a dozen of hummingbirds. The wilderness trails at Chiricahua National Monument (near Willcox) wind past pinnacles, spires and column rock formations formed by ancient volcanic eruptions. The remote Chiricahua Mountains are also known for spectacular, dark night skies. Tucked into the southwest corner of the state, the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a showcase of desert life and has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve. The park is home to 26 species of cactus that thrive in the parched conditions. With around 350 nights a year of clear skies, Tucson is known as an “astronomy capital of the world.” Kitt Peak boasts the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes. Nightly tours at the Mt. Lemmon Skycenter guide visitors through stars, planets and constellations with binoculars, sky charts and telescopes. The San Pedro Valley Observatory. The observatory is open to the public and offers packages
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available for families, wannabe and experienced astronomers. Southern Arizona is known as one of North America’s birding hotspots. Festivals and special events celebrate the abundance of bird species. Try the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival, the Tucson Audubon Society’s Tucson Bird & Wildlife Festival, Wings Over Willcox Birding and Nature Festival and Wake Up with the Birds guided walks for beginning birders. Douglas is surrounded by some of southern Arisona’s pristine wilderness. The San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge is home to hundreds of species of wildlife, including some of the best birding in the U.S. Yellow-billed cuckoo, Bell’s vireo, Lucy’s warbler, yellowbreasted chat, black-throated sparrow, summer tanager have been spotted.
DIGITAL RESOURCES www.visittucson.org www.explorecochise.com www.discoverbisbee.com www.visitsierravista.com
ARIZONA West Coast
A RIVER RUNS BY IT ARIZONA’S WEST COAST BOASTS ROUTE 66 & AQUATIC DESERT PLAYGROUNDS
W
HETHER you dress it up with Route 66 memorabilia or zone in on the cooling waters of the Colorado River, Western Arizona has exactly what it takes to turn the first-time visitor into a lifelong enthusiast. You don’t need a lot more than a swimsuit and a laidback mindset for a sublime adventure along Arizona’s “West Coast.” It’s the mighty Colorado that sets the pace: the river traces the Arizona border with Nevada and California; dams have created
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an aquatic desert playground of lakes and reservoirs with unlimited places to boat, fish, swim and connect with nature. Connected by the Colorado River, the West Coast communities each have their own storied past and distinct personality. Try one of these four vibrant stops: Kingman is a community bathed in history – it has been called the “Heart of Historic Route 66” and was once the site of bustling silver and gold mines. Kingman has a classic Old West downtown with dozens of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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The river water widens into an expansive lake at Lake Havasu City. Nicknamed the “Personal Watercraft Capital of the World,” it’s one of the Southwest’s premier spots to indulge in water play. Lake Havasu is the perfect environment for water and land enthusiasts alike, with boat rentals, water sports, outdoor adventures, golfing and shopping. Another popular stop for water babies is the city of Parker, located on the bank of the Colorado River south of Lake Havasu. Waters flow quickly along this stretch of the river, making
RIGHT: YUMA CVB, THIS PAGE: AOT
Must See: Route 66 memorabilia in Kingman.
RIGHT: YUMA CVB, THIS PAGE: AOT
Go With The Flow: the Colorado River carves Arizona’s West Coast.
ARIZONA West Coast People At Play: Tee time on the West Coast.
MUST SEE, MUST DO 1. Enormous coloured balloons float above the Sonoran Desert in Yuma during the annual Colorado River Crossing Hot Air Balloon Festival. 2. Stop at Lake Havasu to see the London Bridge. In the late 1960s, more than 10,000 stones of the original bridge were disassembled in London, England, shipped across the ocean and reassembled on Arizona’s West Coast as a major tourist attraction.
STEP INTO HISTORY From the Route 66 scenic overlook at Sitgreaves Pass near Kingman, there’s a birds-eye view over the states of Arizona, California and Nevada. The roadway is famous as a route for 28
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“You don’t need more than a swimsuit and a laidback mindset for a sublime adventure along the West Coast.” travtellers in the 1930s, heading west in search of opportunity, although the steep, hairpin turns of the Black Mountains were enough to elevate the heart rate of even the most confident driver. In downtown Kingman, murals and life size dioramas at the Powerhouse Route 66 Museum capture a snapshot of the evolution of Highway 66. One can only spend so much time splashing in the water. After the serious history buffs have towelled off, they’ll find their fix at the Lake Havasu Museum of History. The museum touches all the historical highlights – the local tribes, mining, steamboats, Parker Dam and the quirky placement of the famous London Bridge. The Mohave Museum of History & Arts in Kingman is filled with artifacts, dioramas and displays on the history of the ranching, mining and Native American culture of northwest Arizona.
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On a bluff overlooking the Colorado River at Yuma, the infamous Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park is a forbidding reminder of life behind bars in the late 19th century. The locks are now open and visitors can peek into the granite cellblocks and solitary chambers that once housed thousands of prisoners. Yuma’s Castle Dome Mines Museum is a snapshot in time, now a deserted town-turned-museum filled with weather beaten buildings; the restored townsite harkens back to the days of Arizona’s lucrative mining history.
BRING THE KIDS Kingman’s annual Mighty Mud Mania is a way for the kids to be filthy dirty and happy. Children and adults navigate through a muddy obstacle course to reach the finish line. The best part of staying in Lake Havasu City is being on the water. Active teens hunting for thrills
PHOTO: FLICKR/CHUCK COLLET
it a popular spot for river tubers, water skiers and fishermen. Just a stone’s throw from the international border with Mexico, Yuma has always played an important role in the history of Arizona. A landscape of flat desert, Yuma was the safest spot to cross the Colorado River, so many pioneers and explorers left their mark there.
West Coast ARIZONA will find them wakeboarding and waterskiing on the glassy waters near the south end of the lake. Lessons and equipment rentals are available. Getting waaaay underground will be just the jaw dropping experience for many bored kids. Walking tours of Grand Canyon Caverns head deep underground into the largest dry cavern in the U.S.
PEOPLE AT PLAY Just outside Parker, Copper Basin Dunes OHV Area is a large open area with riding landscapes that include sand dunes, canyonlands and trails throughout the broad bajada slopes. It’s easy to slip in a tee time at one of the West Coast’s courses. The challenge is finding the right balance of fishing, swimming, boating and golfing. Courses in the area offer excellent winter golfing conditions and reasonable green fees. Fishing has always been a major draw along Arizona’s West Coast. The waters around Bullhead City boast
the world’s record for the largest freshwater striped bass ever caught. Casting and trolling are popular all through the cold, fast-moving Colorado River and the larger, quieter lakes of the region. Wakeboard Island opened at Parker’s Blue Water Resort & Casino – a two-tower, cable pulley system that allows wake-boarders to experience a “skate-park style” wakeboard ride without the need for a boat.
NATURAL RESOURCES The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge near Parker protects 500 kilometres of Colorado River shoreline. In addition to being an important habitat for migratory birds, the length of water flowing through spectacular Topock Gorge is one of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado. There are parklands galore along the West Coast, ranging from Buckskin Mountain State Park’s unique blend of upland desert, marsh and desert riparian habitat to the bass fishing
depths of Lake Havasu’s Cattail Cove State Park. Paddlers looking for quiet waters will be happy at the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge near Parker. The stark but beautiful desert landscape has changed little since the pioneers first blazed their westward trails. The mountains of the desert meet the waters of the Colorado River near Yuma to create the backwater lakes and wetlands of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge’s more than 3,200 hectares protect a delicate wildlife habitat that’s popular with hikers and photographers.
DIGITAL RESOURCES www.visityuma.com www.gokingman.com www.golakehavasu.com The Road Trip 66 app (available through iTunes) uses GPS to track a route along the blacktop byway known as America’s Mother Road.
PHOTO: FLICKR/CHUCK COLLET
www.golakehavasu.com
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ARIZONA Northern
A LAND LESS
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PHOTO: NPS
EXPLORE NORTHERN ARIZONA’S MONUMENTS, CANYONS & MESAS
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Northern ARIZONA
N
OT all destinations are created equal: there are vacation spots outfitted to grab your attention – mega resorts, rock-climbing walls, water slides. But, these don’t come close to the real thing. Venturing into Northern Arizona – the Arizona less travelled – be prepared for a mesmerizing land of vast canyons, sculpted red stone mesas and unspoiled backcountry. There is nothing else like it on the continent; many visitors find themselves pulled into the magical and spiritual quality of this part of the state.
come with a badge – just like the regular park rangers wear. As “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” Williams is home to the depot of the century-old Grand Canyon Railway line, which makes daily trips to the park’s South Rim. Travel in refurbished historical passenger cars and dome cars. Night and day are both perfect times to visit the Lowell Observatory and peer through the nighttime telescope and the solar telescope. A special tour includes the Pluto telescope, used in the 1930s to discover the hypothetical ninth planet in the solar system.
MUST SEE, MUST DO
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
1. Head to the rim of the Grand Canyon at sunrise or sunset – the best time to watch the ancient rocks bathed in a rich red and orange glow. 2. Stand agog at the world-famous Mitten Buttes and Merrick Butte at Monument Valley. 3. Take a Navajo-guided hike into the canyon at Canyon de Chelly. Or gaze over Spider Rock – Navajo women warn their children to be good or Spider Woman will carry them off to her home atop the towering sandstone spire. 4. Rent a houseboat and soak up the solitude of Lake Powell. 5. Window shop for Navajo rugs at the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. The 1883 architecture is intact and it’s still the spot for high quality Navajo rugs, jewelry, and baskets. 6.Visit the Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa and learn about the oldest culture on the continent.
There’s something about this part of Arizona – known as the Four Corners – that renders many visitors speechless. It’s not just the dry open spaces, the strange landforms or the rainbow of colours. It’s also the melting pot of ancient cultures: to the Navajo, Hopi and Zuni, this spiritual land is sacred. For tastes of rich Four Corners culture: The images of Monument Valley are familiar from countless films, television commercials and postcards. It is the ancestral home of the Navajo people, who offer guided jeep tours and sell traditional Navajo arts, crafts, food and souvenirs. Flagstaff’s Museum of Northern Arizona displays the spectrum of baskets, kachina dolls, jewelry and textiles of the Zuni, Hopi and Navajo cultures. On the third Friday of each month there’s a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum’s collections. Wupatki National Monument is known for the rich archaeological remains at a thick-walled pueblo. Don’t miss the short trail leading to the geologic curiosity – a blowhole in the rock surface where air rushes in and out at velocities up to 55 kph. According to Native legend, this is where the Earth breathes. Close to the border with Utah, the ruins at Navajo National Monument contain two of the largest and best-preserved cliff dwellings in the Southwest. Centuries-old Hopi pueblo villages are grouped on the plateaus of First, Second and Third Mesa – the villages are home to an intensely spiritual
BRING THE KIDS
Must See: Monument Valley
If the end-of-the-day goal is to produce smiling kids who fall into bed, Northern Arizona delivers. There’s something about tales of the Wild West that produces a grin. And the chasm known as the Grand Canyon? Look for eyes as big as saucers. The sights and experiences of Northern Arizona are something that adults and children can experience and enjoy together. That’s how family memories are made. Kids can be sworn in as a Grand Canyon National Park Junior Ranger through the National Park Service Junior Ranger Program. The honours
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ARIZONA Northern Bring The Kids: Grand Canyon Railway
people who value their traditional ways. The Hopi Arts Trail is a way for visitors to connect with the artists and galleries on the Hopi mesas. Hopi art includes basket weaving, kachina doll carving, pottery and silversmithing. Canyon de Chelly National Monument protects one of the largest archaeological preserves in the country with more than a dozen major Anasazi ruins. It is considered one of the most spiritual spots to the Navajo. There’s a tree in the middle of the wooden dance floor at The Museum Club on Route 66 in Flagstaff. That’s just one of the quirky touches at the historic landmark that has hosted musical giants including Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Williams touches a different bit of a culture, with a large dose of Old West and Route 66 Americana. At the downtown intersection in Winslow, visitors stop to admire the mural and statue marking the lyrics – Take it easy – of the song made famous by The Eagles.
PEOPLE AT PLAY Man cannot live by canyon visits alone, 32
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and luckily Northern Arizona offers up a full menu of distractions for playing on land and in the water. In the high desert? At a cool summit elevation of 3,500 metres, Flagstaff’s Arizona Snowbowl boasts an average snowfall of 660 centimetres, 40 runs and a deliciously long ski season from mid-December to mid-April. The blue waters of Lake Powell – the second-largest manmade lake in the United States – are a playground for boating, fishing and camping. Houseboat rentals are especially popular.
NATURAL RESOURCES Whatever metric you pick to analyze the country’s natural wonders, it all falls aside when stacked up against the jaw dropping landscape of Northern Arizona. It has it all: canyons slicing deep into the Earth, ancient volcanoes, meteor craters and a “forest” of petrified wood. Creating a short list? Near impossible. The Grand Canyon – Arizona’s most distinguishable landmark and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – slices more than 1.6 kilometres deep and 445 kilometres long, cut by
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six million years of erosion. The more adventuresome can explore the park on hiking paths (along the rim and into the canyon), by bicycle, on muleback, by an open-top Jeep tour, in an airplane or helicopter, and by rafting trips on the Colorado River. Hike along the paths through the black jumble of lava flow at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. When the volcano erupted 900 years ago, it created a stark, otherworldly landscape. At the Petrified Forest National Park, ancient trees that grew 225 million years ago were buried in volcanic mud and changed into weirdly multi-coloured fossils. Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park contains some of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes: immense sandstone buttes, beautifully sculpted red mesas and pinnacles set against a brilliant blue sky.
DIGITAL RESOURCES www.experiencewilliams.com www.flagstaffarizona.org www.experiencewilliams.com
ONLY IN
ARIZONA EXPLORING THE MANY FACES OF THE GRAND CANYON
Northern ARIZONA
Redrock Vibes: there’s something very special about Sedona.
FORESTS, MOUNTAINS, DESERTS – NORTH CENTRAL ARIZONA HAS IT ALL
A PLACE FOR A
B
E forewarned: A trip to North Central Arizona involves hopping around between climate zones and landscapes. From cool forests to hot deserts to rough ‘n’ tumble mountains, this region has it all. Located north of the greater Phoenix area, North Central Arizona is a sprawling area of four distinct seasons. Winter skiing is surrounded by an alpine vista. Year-round, there are hiking opportunities through the brilliant red rocks of Sedona or the sprawling pine forests of Payson. 36
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But it’s not just the size of the place that impresses, it’s the variety. Each community has something unique to offer. Best to know a little bit about each: Those who know Sedona know the area has something very special about it – a mystical energy, the famous New Age vortexes, canyons and a panorama of the unforgettable red rocks. Sedona has always attracted artists and spiritualists – but it’s also known for its golf courses, world-class spas, hiking trails and outdoor recreation. At a mile high in elevation, Prescott’s four-season mountain setting makes it
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a magnet for outdoor adventurers. And there’s history here: the city also holds the distinction of having been Arizona’s first territorial capital with a town centre peppered with Victorian architecture. In Payson there is a national forest to discover, rugged mountain panoramas, creeks and streams to fish and a spider web of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding. Once called the “Wickedest Town in the West,” Jerome has a lively history as a copper mining town. When the copper market collapsed, Jerome faced fading away as a ghost town, but artists, galleries
North Central ARIZONA Cultural Connection: Sedona attracts spiritualists.
R ALL SEASONS and B&Bs have moved in to breathe life back into the historic community with the mile high views over the Verde Valley. Far from the bustle of the big city, communities like Globe and Show Low and Sunrise mark Arizona’s High Country. Globe was named for a huge nugget of silver resembling a globe that was dug from the area.
MUST SEE, MUST DO 1. Some of the best-preserved ruins in the Southwest are found at Montezuma Castle National Monument. The multi-level Sinagua
cliff dwelling is built into vertical canyon walls and was accessible only by ladders. 2. It’s a nail biter of a steep road in parts, but the 74-kilometre Apache Trail has been called one of America’s most scenic drives. The trail follows the old stagecoach route through the Superstition Mountains. 3. The Red Rock Scenic Byway Road outside of Sedona is Arizona’s first All-American Road. The 12-kilometre road winds through tall pine forests and past the area’s trademark red sandstone rocks.
4. Tackle the natural rock water slide into the swimming hole at Slide Rock State Park near Sedona.
STEP INTO HISTORY Driving into the forests, mountains and canyons of North Central Arizona, the calendar seems to shed more than a hundred years. Frontiersmen, a Wild West past and a history of silver and copper mining have all left their marks on the architecture and lifestyle of the area. Fort Verde State Historic Park was once the barracks occupied by U.S. Army troops in the 1870s during the
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ARIZONA North Central Back In Time: Wickenburg’s 200-year-old jail tree.
Central Arizona Indian Wars. The restored quarters are outfitted with authentic furnishings. Prescott’s history goes back to the days of the Wild West, when lawmen like Wyatt Earp cut their teeth here. The era is captured in the photos, maps and archives on display at the Sharlot Hall Museum. Once the territorial capital, Prescott has more than 700 homes and businesses listed in the National Register of Historic Places. One of the more colourful parts of that history is the 100 block of South Montezuma Street, known as Whiskey Row, lined with the saloons where Arizona’s gunslingers drank and fought. The authentic Wild West is also found in Wickenburg. A downtown historical walking tour stops by the two-century-old mesquite Jail Tree, where unfortunate lawbreakers might find themselves chained. By any yardstick, North Central Arizona has preserved the ruins of prehistoric pueblo cultures: A steep hiking trail leads to the Tuzigoot National Monument ruins of a 110-room hilltop Sinagua pueblo; visitors can explore the old abandoned pueblo at Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park; the Tonto 38
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National Monument preserves the remains of a 19-room masonry cliff dwelling; and the Kinishba Ruins are one of the largest and most complete Mogollon ruins in the state. Visitors to Sedona looking for a break from shopping and hiking can check out the Sedona Heritage Museum’s displays on pioneers, cowboy history and movies that were filmed in Sedona.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS Wickenburg’s Desert Caballeros Western Museum displays one of the state’s finest collections of Western art. Once a wild mining town, Jerome was saved from oblivion and reinvented by artists as an enclave of studios, shops and galleries. Sedona is known as a hub for centres of energy known as vortexes. New Age devotees come to take workshops, hike and indulge in energy-inspired spa treatments.
NATURAL RESOURCES In an area defined by dramatic landscapes, the opportunities for playing out of doors are unlimited. The Mogollon Rim is a long, uplifted slice of the Earth’s crust, a wilderness area of pine forests, mountains and deserts. The mountains overlook the long Verde Valley, home to both the startling
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red rocks and a rich mining past. Chances to get in touch with nature abound. The massive, rounded granite boulders at Granite Dells can create a bit of a hiking maze. The area is a popular camping spot. Payson is a perfect home base for anyone looking to explore the area’s national forests – Sitgreaves, Tonto and Coconino – as well as natural wonders like Tonto Natural Bridge, a 122-metre-long travertine bridge, carved by the water of the creek. Birders love Dead Horse Ranch State Park – along the Verde River. Sedona’s jeep tours delve deep off the beaten path and into the area’s towering red rocks. Various outfitters are based in downtown Sedona, offering day trips of Sedona and the surrounding region. The popular trail at West Fork of Oak Creek is located just north of Sedona and is a favourite with birders and hikers. The area is at the upper margin of the Sonoran Desert and has good birding any time of the year.
DIGITAL RESOURCES www.visitsedona.com www.azjerome.com www.visit-prescott.com
www.visitsedona.com A CANADIAN’S GUIDE TO
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