Arizona

Tucson, Arizona is significantly older than Phoenix. It holds a strong historical tradition. Tucson is the second largest city in the state. Tucson is known as the “Old Pueblo” and is well-known for its western hospitality and friendliness of its residents. It is located in a valley and is a little cooler than Phoenix. Elevation is 2,584 feet. Tucson is surrounded by mountains on all sides and is part of the Sonoran Desert. The mountains are the Santa Catalinas, the Rincons, the Tucson Mountains and the Santa Ritas. In the summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees, but the winters are very mild. Tucson is the home of the University of Arizona and Flandrau Planetarium, Tucson is an outdoor, active lifestyle community in the desert and people dress casually in Tucson. Tucson is famous for elegant spas and salons such as Canyon Ranch. Tucson is a great place if you like to go hiking, biking or running. Golfing, tennis and swimming are enjoyed anytime of the year. It is just a hop, skip and a jump to the Nogales, Mexico border. Kitt Peak National Observatory and many other attractions are within driving distance to Tucson. Tucson tourist industry attracts many winter visitors.

Scottsdale, Arizona is located in the “Valley of the Sun,” in Arizona. Scottsdale borders the city of Phoenix, Arizona and town of Paradise Valley to the west. Tempe, Arizona is located to the south and Fountain Hills to the east. Whether you are in Scottsdale, Arizona for business or to simply enjoy the relaxing, friendly environment, you will certainly enjoy the climate in the winter, but summers are very hot in northern reaches of the Sonoran Desert.

Scottsdale’s primary employer is tourism and it’s widely known as a premier destination for golf and rated number one for spas in the country. Upscale shopping with unique brand stores is available. Contemporary and Western Art can be found in Scottsdale; especially in downtown Scottsdale and the Civic Center Mall. Scottsdale’s Art Walk is every Thursday night. Here you can stroll the streets of downtown Scottsdale and enjoy special exhibits. Old Town Scottsdale is at the heart of the city’s art scene.

Did you know, a Frank Lloyd Wright memorial stands in North Scottsdale and a major street bears his name? The Scottsdale Culinary Festival draws many visitors looking to enjoy fabulous food, fun and festivities. Whether you come to Scottsdale for business or pleasure, there is certainly something to see or due to suit everyone.

Firebird Lake on the Gila Indian Reservation is a man-made lake in Maricopa County in the state of Arizona. Firebird International Raceway is south of Phoenix on I-10 at the Maricopa Road exit. If you’re into racing, there is plenty to get excited about in the Phoenix area. Some of the best drag boats in North America run on Firebird Raceway. Firebird Lake offers great conditions for water-sports tournaments and boat-testing. It is home of the ASU Water Ski team. Firebird Lake hosts boat racing in April and November.

Besides motor boat racing, Firebird International has a 1/4 mile drag strip and 4 distinct road courses. Drag racing is in February, April, June, September, and October. Firebird holds monthly and weekly drag racing programs for the benefit of the amateur racer as well. Firebird is currently home to the Bob Bondurant School or Racing. Former sports car and Formula One racer Bob Bondurant has run one of the best-known racing and street-driving schools since the late 1960s. The school offers street driving, grand prix racing and executive anti-terrorist maneuvers. What man could resist all this place has to offer!

.

Willcox, Arizona is just 75 east of Tucson, Arizona and is located in Cochise County. Willcox is a rural community known as an “apple-growing town” and hometown of the “Arizona Cowboy,” Rex Allen. Be sure and visit the Rex Allen Museum and Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame on your trip.

Apple harvesting in Arizona begins in August and runs through October. It’s traditional for many Arizona families to drive over to Willcox for the day to have some old-fashioned fun apple picking. There are dozens of U-Pick-It farms in Willcox. You can pick your own peaches, pears and apples. There is nothing like picking your own organic tree-ripened fruit. Peaches, pears, apple bread, apple pies, apple cider and apple butter are also produced en mass in the kitchens of these farms. If you don’t want to explore the fields and orchards, many farmers sell just-picked fruits and vegetables from roadside stands. This agricultural community along with traditional crops, also has pistachio and pecan groves, grape vineyards. One summer when I was in Willcox, I picked my own beautiful bouquet of zinnias from a huge field of colorful flowers. In the summer we brought home green beans, squash, corn and of course, tomatoes.

In October the pumpkin patches are harvested. You can pick your own pumpkin and enjoy pumpkin pie at one of the many farms. One of the farms even offers a traditional hayride for the kids to enjoy. It is a great way to get away from the stress and traffic of living in the big city and have some old-fashioned fun.

Tuzigoot National Monument is a magnificent place to visit. There is a fee to enter the area. There is museum exhibiting Sinaguan artifacts in Arizona. There is also a small bookstore in the Visitor Center. Summers are generally hot and dry. Tuzigoot National Monument is 52 miles south of Flagstaff and 90 miles north of Phoenix and is located in Yavapai County, Arizona. The ancient village is located near the towns of Clarkdale and Cottonwood. The ruins are close to the Verde River valley. Tuzigoot is the largest and best-preserved of the many Sinagua pueblo ruins in the Verde Valley. At Tuzigoot there is a cluster of buildings on top of a small ridge. This ridge sits above Arizona’s Verde River. Tuzigoot is an Apache word meaning “crooked water”.

At Tuzigoot you will find the ruins of the Sinagua Indians and; these ruins are dated between 1100 and 1450 AD. The ruins consisted of two stories and 110 rooms. The Sinagua people were peaceful prehistoric people who were farmers as well as hunters. They grew corn, beans and squash. Sinagua is the Spanish word for “without water”. The origins of the Sinagua people are uncertain as well as why they vanished.

Set in an incrediblly lush Sonoran Desert landscape, with views of nearby mountains, spectacular sunsets, and views of the Phoenix North Valley, Anthem, Arizona, a master planned community is located just north of Phoenix, Arizona. Take Interstate 17 north about 34 miles. I-17 is a congested road and traffic slows down as you leave Phoenix heading north. Located in Maricopa County Arizona, Anthem is built on the foothills of Daisy Mountain. The town’s elevation ranges from 1,760 to 2,428 feet. Anthem is currently an unincorporated community that opened in 1998. The quiet residential community has two championship golf courses winding thru the desert and the Anthem community. It is a community of about 35,000 people.

Anthem is being built on 5,856 acres, or nearly 10 square miles. Anthem award winning master planned community, is located in a desert setting that has diverse desert vegetation and animals. Anthem is planned for approximately 10,000 homes. Anthem offers a wide variety of housing, medical, commercial, recreational and educational facilities. It one of the best places to live in Arizona. You can participate in golf, tennis, swimming, baseball, basketball, rock climbing, hiking, walking trails, fishing, skating, fitness gym, the waterpark, train rides. They even have community park with stocked lakes for catch & release fishing, The area is close to other desirable areas, such as Cave Creek and Sun City and Anthem is a great place to appreciate the mountains, deserts and lakes in the region. For shopping there is the Anthem Outlet Mall.

Nogales, Arizona is Arizona’s largest international border town. Nogales, Arizona is a small town with a small population. It is mainly a freight crossing place and a place for tourists to cross the border into Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Nogales takes its name from the Spanish word for “walnut”. Nogales, Arizona sits across the border from its “twin city” of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Head south on Interstate 19 from Tucson, Arizona and within an hour you will arrive in Nogales, Arizona. The town of Nogales, Sonora has hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. You can step across the border from one town to the other in a matter of minutes and a huge contrast of cultures is notable. It is suggested that you park your car on the American side and walk across the border. There are pay parking lots near the border. Most American insurance policies do not cover their vehicles when driving into Mexico. If you feel you need your car be sure and purchase Mexican insurance to protect yourself and your vehicle. The town is home to a wide array of unique shops and restaurants. Nogales is a wonderful place to experience the Mexican culture and traditions. Nogales is an interesting and festive town and well worth a quick trip across the border to see it. No passport is needed. Be advised, do not drink the water or use ice in your drinks or you may risk an intestinal upset called Montezuma’s Revenge. Do not eat food from street vendors carts. The climate in Nogales is delightful all year round. Most of Nogales’ economy is based on agribusiness and produce distributors. Billions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables cross through the Nogales Port of Entry each year. The neighboring towns are Tubac, Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin.

Historic Route 66 passes through Flagstaff, the largest city in Northern Arizona. Flagstaff has an elevation of 7,000 feet. Unlike southern Arizona deserts, Flagstaff has a four-season climate. Flagstaff’s early economy was based on the lumber, railroad, and ranching industries but now also includes the tourist industry. Flagstaff offers hotels, bed & breakfasts, lodging choices and dining. The are many shops to visit in the downtown area and along route 66. Grand Canyon National Park is about 75 miles north of Flagstaff. Many people make Flagstaff their headquarters for daytrips. Sunset Crater Volcano and Meteor Crater are all within easy driving distance. Flagstaff is home to Northern Arizona University, Coconino Community College, Arizona Snow Bowl, and Lowell Observatory.

In summer there is hiking and mountain biking in the cool air of the Coconino Forest, and it won’t take you long to spot deer and elk in the summer months. In the winter there is cross country skiing, snowmobiling and downhill skiing at the Snow Bowl. Flagstaff has panoramic views of the San Francisco Peaks. The highest summit in the range is Humphreys Peak. It is the highest point in the state of Arizona. Seasoned hikers often hike Humphreys Peak.

Celebrate the seasons in the scenic White Mountains of Arizona, one of the state’s best getaways. The White Mountains of Arizona is a mountain range in the northeastern part of the state. It is approximately 225 miles from Phoenix. Many Phoenix and Tucson residents escape the heat of the desert and urban living by vacationing in the White Mountains. Rim Country and the White Mountains of Arizona are mountain lifestyle living. You will feel more relaxed in the tall pines and cooler temperatures. Deer, elk. black bear and lots of other wildlife, including wild turkeys can be seen in this area. There are charming cabins available to rent and they are the perfect summer getaway.

The slopes at nearby Sunrise has one of Arizona’s largest ski resorts. In the winter you can try cross-country skiing or snowmobiling. Arizona residents can apply for a permit from the U.S. Forest Service to cut their own Christmas tree in mountains. Pinetop, Lakeside, Eager, Greer, Springerville, Show Low, and Snowflake are just a few of the towns located in the White Mountains. The White Mountains stretches from Payson’s Rim Country through Show Low and points beyond. Campsites, lodges and rental cabins ensure that almost anyone can enjoy the White Mountains. You can hike along mountains streams under the Ponderosa pines. You can fish one of the areas 65 lakes. Many cabin owners have opened their vacation retreats to anyone interested in renting them. If you are looking for natural beauty and something to do during any time of the year, plan a trip to the White Mountains.

Page, Arizona is a small town of about 10,000 people and is located about 120 miles northeast of the Grand Canyon North Rim. It is the “Gateway” to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, the hottest destination for water recreation in the state of Arizona. Page has an interesting history. The city of Page offers numerous visitor services and is centrally located in Canyon Country. Page is within driving distance to numerous national parks and state parks including, Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon. What separates Lake Powell from other lakes is the unique geological formations. You can rent motorboats, houseboats and kayaks and explore the lake and its 96 major side canyons. Water recreation, boating, hiking, sightseeing, lakeside lodging, water sport adventures, and RV/camping are just a few of the fun activities that visitors participate in. Parks and campgrounds are fully equipped to meet your needs. Each year three million visitors flock to the Page, Arizona area. There is always something interesting going on in Page.