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Greater Phoenix, with its
convenient central location and top international airport, is
ideally positioned for day trips around the state. Arizona is
often described as a land of
contrasts because of the changing scenery and activities it
offers. You can swim and play tennis in the morning in Phoenix,
and spend the afternoon fishing, hiking or sightseeing in the
cool pines of Flagstaff or the White Mountains. In the spring,
you can even snow ski in the morning and attend a Major League
Baseball game the same evening.
The following driving tours are
easily accessible from Phoenix and will add to the enjoyment of
your visit.
Grand Canyon
One of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon
offers
spectacular vistas of multicolored canyon walls that have been
sculpted from the earth over the millennia by the mighty
Colorado River. The shifting sun creates a palette of constantly
changing colors, from deep russet to pale pink, from washed
granite to golden brown. The South Rim is open year-round.
Experience it through nature
walks and mule rides into the Canyon, or by driving around its
scenic edge. The North Rim is open from mid-May through October,
depending on weather conditions. Lodging is available for those
who want to devote more time to their Grand Canyon discovery.
The Grand Canyon is a four-hour
drive from Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to
Flagstaff. From Flagstaff take Route 180 northwest to the
Canyon.
Sedona / Oak Creek Canyon
The cultural community of Sedona is a mecca for art lovers and
collectors. Surrounded by the towering red sandstone cliffs of
Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona's deep red-rock buttes provide a
beautiful backdrop to boutiques and art galleries selling
authentic Native American and Southwestern arts and crafts.
Visit Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tah-la-key-pock-ee), a shopping
village named after a small Mexican town that was once that country's leading producer of crafts and glassware.
While in Sedona, explore the
area via an airplane or helicopter tour, a hot-air balloon ride
or a jeep tour. Sedona is a two-hour drive from Phoenix. Take
Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to Junction 179. Exit for
Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon and enjoy the pure, breathtaking beauty
of the Oak Creek Canyon area.
Prescott
The small community of Prescott, founded after the discovery of
gold in 1863, was the first permanent capital of the Arizona
Territory. While in Prescott, stop at the Sharlot Hall Museum
complex. See the first territorial governor's mansion, the
historic 1857 John C. Fremont House and the restored
100-year-old Bashford House.
Another point of interest is the
charming town square, home of the Yavapai County Courthouse. The
blocks surrounding the town square are filled with antique
shops, restaurants and hotels. But, the most famous section of
the square is Whiskey Row, located on Montezuma Street. Whiskey
Row got its nickname during the mining days when nothing but
saloons occupied the street.
The fastest route to Prescott
from Phoenix is north on the Black Canyon
Freeway (Interstate 17) to Cordes Junction, then northwest on
State Route 69. On Route 69 you'll pass through the old
stage-stop town of Mayer. Prescott is approximately a two-hour
drive from Phoenix.
Flagstaff
Home of Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff is located 146
miles north of Phoenix on Interstate 17. A visit to the Lowell
Observatory atop Mars Hill, where the planet Pluto was
discovered in 1930, is recommended. The Museum of Northern
Arizona features an extensive exhibit of Native American art.
Snow skiers will find some of the best conditions in the country
at Arizona Snowbowl, located in the majestic San Francisco
Peaks. Flagstaff is just 2-1/2 hours from Phoenix.
White Mountains
Arizona's White
Mountains, located in the eastern part of the state, offers a
variety of attractions in a climate some 30 degrees cooler than
Phoenix. With an elevation of 9,000 feet, summer activities
include golfing, camping, fishing, mountain biking, hiking,
horseback riding and just relaxing.
During the winter months, the
White Mountains become just that - white. Sunrise Ski Resort
offers outstanding ski runs and other winter sports
opportunities, including snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross
country skiing.
Much of the White Mountain area
is on Indian land, including the Hon-Dah Casino. Rodeos,
cultural festivals and parades are common events in the White
Mountain region.
The White Mountain area is a
short four-hour drive from Phoenix. A wide range
of accommodations are available.
Apache Trail
This world-famous trail was used by Apache Indians as a
short-cut through the mountains to reach early Salt River
settlers. The trail twists through the back side of the
Superstition Mountains from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake
and the town of Globe. The majority of the trail is unpaved but
can be easily driven by most vehicles. The trail features
volcanic debris, cliff-sided canyons, sparkling lakes, towering
Saguaro cacti and a vast array of wildflowers. The mountains are
generally uninhabited, so take along plenty of water.
The ghost town of Goldfield, the
Old Western town of Tortilla Flat (population 6), the
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum, Tonto National Monument and Weavers
Needle Lookout are a few interesting points along the trail.
Other scenic stops include The Lost Dutchman State Park (perhaps
you can find the legendary lost gold mine) and Roosevelt Dam.
The Apache Trail is a four-hour
round trip from Phoenix. Directions: Leave
Phoenix via U.S. 60 and 89 east to the Apache Trail. Turn left
on Arizona
Highway 88 to the Apache Trail. After passing Roosevelt Dam and
Tonto National Monument, make the return loop to Phoenix via
U.S. 60.
Mogollon Rim
This magnificent
geological fault, named after Jean Ignacio Flores Mogollon,
governor of Mexico (1712-1715), is referred to locally as the
"rim." The dramatic face of the rim is a multi-colored
wall of rock, dotted by pine, manzanita and shrub oak. This
giant wall of rock jutted upward a mile above sea level when the
earth's surface shifted 1,000 years ago.
The rim was made famous by
author Zane Grey who hunted and fished in this beautiful area.
It served as inspiration for many of his novels.
From Phoenix the rim is about a
two-hour drive. Take Highway 87 northeast of Phoenix to Payson.
Just beyond Payson, turn right on Highway 260. Continue 31 miles
past Tonto Creek (a great place to picnic) to the Woods Canyon
Lake exit. Turn left at the sign and you'll be on the Old Rim
Road. The road becomes an unsurfaced forest highway and
frequently winds within a few feet of the fault line, providing
a breathtaking view of the rim.
Lake Powell
Located 282 miles from
Phoenix (about a five-hour drive) is Lake Powell. While a bit
farther from Phoenix than some destinations, the drive to Lake
Powell is well worth the time.
The lake is 186 miles long and
claims 1,960 miles of shoreline, more than the entire United
States Pacific Coast. The lake is held back by Glen Canyon Dam,
which has enough concrete to build a four-lane highway from
Phoenix to Chicago.
Water sports of all kinds are
popular on the lake - fishing, water skiing, boating, swimming,
etc. While Wahweap Lodge and Marina provides outstanding
accommodations with spectacular views of the lake, adventurous
types may opt for a houseboat rental. Houseboats range from a
36-foot vessel with basic amenities to a 56-foot craft with
everything you'd find at a resort hotel.
Lake Powell is one of the
most-popular attractions in the National Park Service system,
attracting 3.5 million visitors a year.
Montezuma Castle and Well
This impressive ancient Native American cliff dwelling is
nestled high above Beaver Creek and is more than six centuries
old. The Aztec emperor, Montezuma, for whom the castle is named,
never saw the famous structure. The Sinaguas, Pueblo Indians who
moved into Greater Phoenix during the 12th century, built the
dwelling from limestone and adobe. When the white settlers saw
it years later, they concluded only the Aztecs could have
designed the castle, and named it accordingly. The structure was
built on a steep cliff to protect the Native Americans' property
rights.
About seven miles northeast of
the castle on the Park Service Road is
Montezuma Well, a limestone sink hole with a natural spring used
by Native Americans for irrigation. The well still provides
nearby Beaver Creek with a daily water supply of more than a
million gallons. The well is 55 feet deep and 470 feet wide.
From the parking lot at the well, follow the trail to the
surrounding plateaus- the result of volcanic lava flows.
To get to Montezuma Castle, take
Interstate 17 north to the Montezuma Castle turnoff just past
the beautiful Verde Valley. This is a three-hour round-trip.
Tucson
Just 111 miles south of
Phoenix, amid rolling foothill terrain, is Tucson,
affectionately known as the "Old Pueblo." Where Pima
Indians, Spanish
conquistadors and adventurous Mexican settlers once lived,
stands a culturally rich city that celebrates its past with
colorful festivals and fiestas. Among the intriguing excursions
enticing visitors are a drive to Sabino Canyon and the
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum ("probably the most
distinctive zoo in the United States" according to the New
York Times).
South of Tucson is the San
Xavier del Bac Mission, the "White Dove of the
Desert." Built almost 300 years ago by Spanish
missionaries, the statuesque white church is still used as a
spiritual center for the Papago Indians. Visitors are welcome to
explore this remarkable blend of architectural styles that is
considered one of the finest Spanish colonial structures in the
United States.
Tucson is two hours south of
Phoenix on Interstate 10.
Biosphere 2
The 31.5-acre,
glass-enclosed environment is fast-becoming one of Arizona's
most popular tourist attractions. What started out as a
scientific experiment is expected to attract 500,000 visitors a
year, in addition to the groups who will be using the adjacent
conference center.
Biosphere 2 is designed to
support 3,800 species of plants and animals for 100 years in its
own self-sustaining biological systems.
Just a two-hour drive south from
Phoenix, Tours of the Biosphere are available daily.
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