Arizona

Vintage postcard of the Grand Canyon

 Arizona is known world wide as the state where you see the Grand Canyon.  It is awesome but there is so much more to Arizona than the Grand Canyon.  One of the most enjoyable trips for me was one to Arizona.  We made the Grand Canyon our main destination but unfortunately, neither of us was young enough and able enough to make the hike down to the bottom and back.  We ruled out other means of reaching the bottom and decided finally that we had enjoyed seeing the canyon but were ready to find something we could explore more easily. 



Wupatki Pueblo
near Flagstaff

Even though the internet is a marvelous resource, I still enjoy getting a map at the visitor center as we arrive in each new state.  They can be fun to look at just to see what silly names have been given to towns, rivers, lakes and mountains.  If I’m the passenger in the car it also gives me something to do...to find someplace to discover along our route.  So I pulled out our map of Arizona and started looking at all the attractions that were shown on the map….the little places that are not so well known.



Montezuma's Castle

Montezuma's Well

The rest of our trip became an adventure in finding the places that sounded like fun enough to visit.  My husband has always been interested in the cultures of ancient peoples so we explored quite a few Native American cave dwellings.  We learned about these early Americans and enjoyed some beautiful scenery along the way.  Montezuma's Well may not be as well known as Montezuma's Castle but we found it to be just as interesting in a different way.  It was like an oasis in the middle of the desert.  Following the pathways nearby we discovered some cool peaceful areas with plant life and a little spring with some clear, cold water.

Tonto National Monument

In Arizona the landscape changes dramatically at times.  Within just a few miles you can go from mountains and forests to a desert that is barren except for cacti and scrub bushes.   The cactus plants are sometimes very large and have a beauty all their own.  The sandstone that creates the wonder of The Grand Canyon  has also formed slot canyons, and unusual looking formations.  The cliff dwellings at Tonto National Monument were surrounded by many large saguaro cacti as you can see in the attached photo.

Our last stop on our “what’s next on the map?” trip was Tombstone, Arizona.  We needed a place to find lunch and thought that would be a good place.  We had no idea what we were about to stumble upon. Southwest of Tucson and not really on the way to anywhere else, Tombstone is a destination worth going out of your way to visit.   Instead of just spending an hour for lunch, we spent the remainder of the day in this small town. 

World's largest rosebush

Tombstone is where the Wild West was Wild!  Boot Hill is just outside of town as you are approaching from Tucson, and worth the stop just to read the carvings on some of the gravestones.  If you are a Western Movie enthusiast this might be a great place for you to spend a day but it’s a fun place for anyone.  In town you will find The Crystal Palace Saloon, The Bird Cage Theater, and the O.K. Corral where one of the most famous western gun fights took place.  The Historama provides an overview of the town and its history. When we were there we were given “tickets” for discounts and other items  like a free sarsaparilla drink at the Crystal Palace.  There are a number of shops unique to Tombstone and many unusual things to see.   You can check out their website at tombstoneweb.com for all the information you need to visit and enjoy Tombstone, Arizona. 

For more information on a trip to the state of Arizona, the official website is arizonaguide.com and you can even send an epostcard to someone while you are exploring their website.