Top 10 Destination Spots in Arizona
November 6, 2007 – 8:01 am
Traveling somewhere in Arizona might not seem as exciting as jetting off to distant locales. But before you start looking around the country for places for visit, consider that you don’t have to go far to find a worthy destination. In fact, you don’t have to leave the state.
Today, the top 10 destinations. You can kayak on Lake Powell, hike through a cactus forest at Saguaro National Park, and get your kicks on Route 66.
No. 1: Grand Canyon National Park
One of the seven natural wonders of the world is a four-hour drive from Phoenix. That’s one of seven. In the whole, wide world. Read why.
No. 2: Sedona
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Sedona is one of Arizona’s must-see wonders. At the end of Oak Creek Canyon, another scenic destination, the town is known not only for rock formations such as Coffee Pot Rock, Cathedral Rock and Courthouse Butte, but also for its hiking and biking trails, art galleries and spiritual-energy vortexes.
THINGS TO DO
On Arizona 179 between the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona, stop at the Chapel of the Holy Cross for an indescribable view of Sedona’s red rocks. Sedona is a mecca for hikers, climbers and cyclists, as well as shoppers. Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village is on Arizona 179 where it crosses Oak Creek. This weekend is the Golden Age Spiritual Realization New Year’s Eve Festival. The International Sedona Film Festival (sedonafilmfestival.com) is Feb. 28-March 4.
WHERE TO EAT
René at Tlaquepaque: An upscale restaurant in picturesque Tlaquepaque. It’s considered one of the city’s most romantic eateries.
Cowboy Club Grille & Spirits:
Here’s the place where you can order rattlesnake or buffalo.
Heartline Café: You can dine in the cozy main room or outside by an open fireplace on fresh, organic food.
WHERE TO STAY
L’Auberge de Sedona: This upscale, intimate resort is within walking distance of downtown Sedona and Oak Creek. You can sip wine on a patio beside the bubbling stream.
No. 3: Heard Museum
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Since 1929, the vibrancy of era-spanning Native American art and hands-on exhibits has wowed Arizonans and out-of-state visitors.
THINGS TO DO
The 21,000-square-foot signature exhibit “HOME: Native People of the Southwest,” featuring the finest works from the Heard’s permanent collection of about 39,000 pieces, is a must-see.
WHERE TO EAT
The on-site Arcadia Farms Cafe serves Southwest-influenced dishes such as posole and tamales, plus soups, salads, artisan-bread sandwiches and desserts.
WHERE TO STAY
Several hotels are nearby, among them the Clarendon Hotel + Suites, a boutique hotel with swimming pool, the Camus restaurant and 24-hour fitness-center and business-center access.
No. 4: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Take desert creatures such as prairie dogs and Gila monsters and put them in a nearly natural outdoor setting. Add a dose of natural history and you have the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
THINGS TO DO
The museum has two miles of paths covering 21 acres of desert, so bring comfy shoes and plan to spend a couple of hours wandering through the interpretive displays of Sonoran Desert plants and creatures.
WHERE TO EAT
The museum features the Ironwood Terrace, a self-serve grill, and the Ocotillo Cafe, which offers a more upscale option.
WHERE TO STAY
The expansive JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is about a 20-minute drive from the museum. Amenities include a spa and three golf courses.
No. 5: Saguaro National Park
WHY IT’S WORTHY
This park in Tucson comprises 91,000 acres set aside as a preserve for the giant saguaro cactus, whose blossoms are the Arizona state flower. The saguaro is native to the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Sonoran Desert is a cactus-friendly environment with two rainy seasons, which make this one of the most lush deserts in the world and bring biodiversity to the region.
THINGS TO DO
The park is divided into two districts: the Tucson Mountain District, on the west side of Tucson, and the Rincon Mountain District, on the east side. The drive between the districts takes about an hour. Inside the park are 150 miles of trails for hikers and equestrians. No horse vendors operate in the park, but riders with their own mounts are welcome. The Cactus Garden Trail, at the center of the park, travels a paved walkway through a collection of desert plants. The Desert Discovery Nature Trail follows a half mile along the gently sloping foot of the Tucson Mountains. In the Rincon Mountain District, the 8-mile Cactus Forest Loop Drive snakes through the heart of a saguaro forest and offers an up-close look at a variety of Sonoran Desert life. The paved one-way road begins at the visitor center. Development is kept to a minimum in the park. There are no food sales, so bring a lunch to enjoy at one of the picnic areas. Each has tables, grills and pit toilets. Visitors also can explore the nearby Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is a zoo and botanical garden, just south of the Tucson Mountain District.
WHERE TO EAT
Saguaro Corners: This popular restaurant is near the entrance to the park’s eastern district.
Cafe Poca Cosa: This charming little downtown restaurant has upscale Mexico City cuisine and affordable prices.
El Charro: This restaurant, in the historic El Presidio neighborhood, is considered the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Arizona.
WHERE TO STAY
Tuck yourself into an 1878 Victorian home in historic downtown Tucson at the Royal Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast Inn, The adobe building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Details: 204 S. Scott Ave. 1-(520)-670-9022.
No. 6: Lowell Observatory
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Founded in 1894, Lowell Observatory is one of the oldest research institutions in the United States and a National Historic Landmark. There are two large telescopes, including the original 24-inch telescope, for public viewing. Lowell is building the 4.2-meter Discovery Channel Telescope, which will be operational in 2010.
THINGS TO DO
Public programs are offered day and night, and include a tour of the campus, including the site of the telescope used to discover Pluto. Evening programs usually include telescope viewing, depending on the weather. A new space theater, which will feature research from Lowell’s astronomers, is scheduled to open in early spring. Consider booking a private stargazing workshop, where you’ll learn about aspects of astronomy and what’s going on in the night sky.
WHERE TO EAT
Cottage Place Restaurant: Enjoy upscale dining in a 1909 bungalow. Pistachio-crusted pork chop and rack of lamb for two are on the menu.
Macy’s European Coffeehouse, Bakery & Vegetarian Restaurant: Find brownies, pies and vegan fare at this casual downtown spot.
WHERE TO STAY
The Inn at 410: This exquisite bed-and-breakfast has nine units, some with Jacuzzis or fireplaces. The owners have a wealth of information on what to do in Flagstaff.
Arizona Sled Dog Inn: This rustic bed-and-breakfast features a huge fireplace, a hot tub and a sauna. The name comes from the owners’ love of huskies.
No. 7: Boyce Thompson Arboretum
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Arizona’s largest and oldest botanical garden features 323 acres of trails and gardens galore, including cactus, herbs, hummingbirds/butterflies, desert legumes and roses.
THINGS TO DO
Next Saturday offers a great reason to visit. The arboretum marks the 50th anniversary of Arizona State Parks with half-price admission. Guided tours will be given from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the Web site for more special events. The Main Trail is about 1.5 miles and takes 90 minutes to hike, but one could spend a morning or afternoon exploring side trails. The High Trail is a half-mile climb that levels off and parallels Queen Creek, giving a bird’s-eye view of the riparian corridor and towering volcanic-rock formations. Pack a picnic; the arboretum sports a serene picnic spot with tables and charcoal grills. Leashed dogs are welcome.
WHERE TO EAT
Cafe Piedra Roja: Inexpensive, innovative Mexican cuisine with mounds of guacamole. Locals recommend the grilled chicken and mango salad.
Buckboard City Cafe: Ample breakfasts, Western and American fare. The “Southwesty,” a burger smothered with green chiles, is a lunch favorite.
Los Hermanos Restaurant & Lounge: Valley residents drive here just to take home the tortillas, made on-site. Folks can drink beer and shoot pool, too.
WHERE TO STAY
Noftsger Hill Inn: Visitors planning to stay the night might consider the Noftsger Hill Inn in Globe, about 24 miles east of Superior. This 17,000-square-foot building served as Globe’s elementary school from the 1940s through the 1980s. Now, former classrooms have been turned into bedrooms packed with antiques.
No. 8: Tombstone & Bisbee
WHY THEY’RE WORTHY
Though they share a region (southeastern Arizona) and a legacy (mining), Tombstone and Bisbee are on opposite ends of the tourist spectrum. Tombstone’s rough-and-tumble past appeals to the outlaw in all of us. The shoot- out at OK Corral put the town on the map and continues to draw visitors, who can watch daily re-enactments of the gunfight. Tombstone also claims the world’s largest rosebush, worth a look once you’ve spent enough time along Toughnut Street and Boot Hill. Bisbee, a quirky art town perched along cliffs, embraces its independent spirit (a popular hotel is composed of 1950s travel trailers) and vertical nature (dozens of staircases are among the fastest, and most traveled, routes in town). Enjoy the galleries, and then descend into a copper mine to see how Bisbee came to be.
THINGS TO DO IN TOMBSTONE
Just about everyone stops at the OK Corral (on Allen Street between Third and Fourth streets) to stand next to the mannequins of gunfight participants. Wait long enough and you’ll see someone draw an index finger and start shooting. Make sure you see the Bird Cage Theatre Museum (Sixth and Allen streets), which was a gambling hall, saloon and house of ill repute rolled into one building. Several bullet holes remain and, according to local legend, so do the spirits of a few former patrons.
THINGS TO DO IN BISBEE
Queen Mine Tour: Ride into the depths of the mine, where you’ll be given a hat, slicker and lantern. A mine car takes you 1,500 feet into the man-made tunnel, where it is always 47 degrees.
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum: Get a better feel for mining history at this museum in a historic building. Don’t miss the second-floor “Digging In” exhibit, created in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution.
WHERE TO EAT IN TOMBSTONE
The OK Cafe: Come on, how can you resist? This cozy place open for breakfast and lunch is far enough off the tourist path that it’s a great place to rub elbows with the locals.
Big Nose Kate’s Saloon: This reportedly haunted restaurant is a former hotel where some of the gunfight participants stayed before that fateful October day in 1881. Now, it’s a historic place to have a beer and a buffalo burger.
WHERE TO EAT IN BISBEE
Prickly Pear Cafe: A solid selection of soups, salads and wraps makes this a popular choice with visitors as well as locals. There’s also a darn fine Philly cheesesteak.
Cafe Roka: Take a seat inside this brick building built in 1907 and enjoy a four-course gourmet meal by owner and chef Rod Kass.
WHERE TO STAY IN TOMBSTONE
Katie’s Cozy Cabins: Stay within walking distance of the OK Corral and Bird Cage Theatre. Each air-conditioned cabin has a kitchen- ette, cable TV and porch.
San Jose House: You know who slept here? No, not Washington. Even better. The town’s most famous gunslingers, including the Earps and Clantons. The adobe boardinghouse was built in 1879.
WHERE TO STAY IN BISBEE
Copper Queen Hotel: The belle of the lodging ball remains the Copper Queen Hotel. The 48-room hotel was built in 1902 and is considered the state’s oldest continuously operating hotel.
Shady Dell: Go retro at this kitschy place, a collection of nine 1950s trailers, a 60-year-old bus and a 47-foot yacht.
No. 9: Lake Powell
WHY IT’S WORTHY
The second-largest man-made lake in America (after Lake Mead), and one of the most beautiful in the world, Lake Powell is a boater’s paradise. Bordered by sandstone canyons, the lake is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which covers hundreds of miles in Arizona and Utah.
THINGS TO DO
There’s boating, boating and boating. There’s also camping, hiking and mountain biking. There are four marinas, two of which rent watercraft. The boating can be low-key – rent a kayak for a few hours – or upscale – go for broke and rent a luxury houseboat. Lake Powell Resort offers several lodging/activity packages that include kayaking, water skiing, boating and cultural activities, starting at about $600 for two people.
When you tire of boating, take a photographic tour of the haunting Antelope Canyon, led by Navajo guides.
WHERE TO EAT
The Rainbow Room: This glass-walled restaurant offers a spectacular view along with such upscale fare as sweet potato pancakes and striped bass.
Canyon King Dinner Cruise: A 2 1/2-hour cruise with a prime-rib dinner on the lake. Tickets cost $63 and the cruise runs daily June 1-Sept. 30.
WHERE TO STAY
Houseboat: For the ultimate water view, rent a houseboat
Canyon Colors Bed & Breakfast: This inn near downtown Page has a pool and a grill on the patio so guests can make their own dinner. Summer rates are about $95 for two per night, $125 for three, and include a full breakfast.
No. 10: Route 66
WHY IT’S WORTHY
Route 66 has been described as the “world’s longest small town.” Millions of drivers who have followed the route since it was commissioned in 1926 have discovered the flavor of America as this two-lane road linked early highways, farm-to-market roads and city boulevards in states from the Midwest to the Pacific Ocean. Visiting a few towns along Route 66, which generally follows present-day Interstate 40 across northern Arizona, is an easy, practical alternative to traveling the entire length of “the mother road” from Chicago to Los Angeles. Here are things to do in three towns along the route.
THINGS TO DO
Holbrook was a small, sleepy village in 1927 when Route 66 came to town. Tourism flourished until gas shortages during World War II. After the war, tourism and the local economy picked up again. Not far from Holbrook is Petrified Forest National Park, which includes the Painted Desert. Visitors can see colorful vistas, huge petrified logs, petroglyphs and an Anasazi ruin.
WHERE TO EAT
Joe & Aggie’s Cafe: A small, family-owned Mexican-American restaurant.
Snow Cap Drive-In: A fun little burger joint with lots of charm.
WHERE TO STAY
Wigwam Motel: TripAdvisor.com called this motel, built in the 1950s, one of the world’s 10 quirkiest. In September, Oprah Winfrey mentioned that during her summer cross-country trip, also known as “Oprah & Gayle’s Big Adventure,” the two friends (Oprah and Gayle King have been best friends for about 30 years, Oprah says) planned to stay at the Wigwam Motel. That is, until Winfrey learned that the motel’s 15 wigwams could not accommodate her entire camera crew, so they made other arrangements.
Quality Inn: Features a corridor dedicated to Route 66 pictures, signs and other memorabilia.
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