Arizona

It’s all here in Arizona – but how exactly do you get from here to there and there to here? Don’t worry – getting around the Grand Canyon State is a breeze. Transportation options include car, bus, rail, plane, and for the truly adventurous, a hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert. Fly into Phoenix or Tucson from major UK airports via U.S. hubs, then hit the road – Arizona was made for epic drives and spontaneous detours. No duck boats here, but with red rocks, saguaros, and Route 66, who needs them?

Experience Him-Dak EcoMuseum’s Ak-Chin heritage and culture and Arizona State Museum’s Native cultures of Arizona, the American Southwest, and northern Mexico. View Pima Air and Space Museum’s 400 historic aircraft and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s desert wildlife up close in Tucson. Explore Heard Museum’s Native American art and culture and play musical instruments from around the globe at Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Watch Broadway shows and concerts at Tempe’s iconic ASU Gammage and downtown Phoenix’s beautifully restored Orpheum Theatre.

Take a seat at Tucson’s famous Mexican restaurants, Phoenix’s alfresco cafes, Scottsdale’s culinary hot spots, and the state’s mom-and-pop eateries. Dine at a classic restaurant showcasing 100+ years of culinary delights or a modern eatery with a fresh spin on gastronomy. Experience James Beard award-winning chefs, farm-to-table restaurants, crave-worthy hole-in-the-wall joints, and big-name chains. Pair your meal with wine from Arizona’s Verde Valley, Willcox, and Sonoita wine regions. Sample an Arizona microbrew made with prickly pear cactus fruit or Arizona’s signature cocktail – Tequila Sunrise.

Get hands-on with the kids at I.D.E.A. Museum, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona, and Arizona Science Center. Catch sight of bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and migrating birds aboard Canyon Lake’s Dolly Steamboat. Trot through the creosote, mesquite, and saguaro-filled Estrella Mountain Regional Park on horseback. Drive three miles through Bearzonia Wildlife Park’s untamed Arizona wilderness to encounter black bears, bison, and wolves. Bounce your life away at Sky Zone indoor trampoline park and ride high-speed electric carts at Octane Raceway and roller coasters at Castles N’ Coasters.

Flagstaff sits alongside Route 66 and Sante Fe Railroad’s tracks and is gateway to the Grand Canyon, Northern Arizona’s thrilling outdoor adventures, the first designated dark sky community, and Lowell Observatory. Fresh-air fun brings downhill skiers to Arizona Snowbowl, cross-country skiers to Arizona Nordic Village, and hikers to the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Downtown boasts Heritage Square’s live music, award-winning dining, and craft beer and coffee joints. Out of town; visit Walnut Canyon National Monument’s cliff dwellings and the free-standing Wupatki National Monument.

Tucson, Arizona’s second-largest city, is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a year-round outdoor playground. Delve into the vibrant central core; home to the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue, and vibrant downtown. Warm summer days lead to golfing, adventures at Mount Lemmon’s Sky Island, and power walking along The Loop. Step back through history at Mission San Xavier del Bac and Barrio Viejo. Tuck into world-renowned dining using native ingredients like tepary beans, chiltepin, and prickly pear and, of course, try the famous Sonoran hot dogs.

Red Rock State Park leads to a wonderland of red boulders; while Lost Dutchman State Park lets you search out the rumoured gold hidden in the 1870s by Jacob Waltz. Experience Catalina State Park’s 5,000 saguaro cactuses and Patagonia State Park’s sand beach and water sports. Go star gazing at Oracle State Park or witness Karchner Caverns’ underground beauty. See Montezuma Castle National Monument’s well-preserved cliff dwellings, Chiricahua National Monument’s unique rock formations, and Canyon de Chelly National Monument’s 230m-tall Spider Rock.

Phoenix nestles in the Sonoran Desert and is Arizona’s state capital. Hike up Camelback Mountain’s Cholla Trail or meet the challenge of Piestewa’s Summit Trail for 360-degree vistas. Cheer on MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field or NBA’s Phoenix Sun at the Footprint Center. Head to Downtown Phoenix to experience Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall and top class shows at Herberger Theatre Centre. Feast on farm-to-diner fare at Matt’s Big Breakfast and Porterhouse steaks at Durant’s or impress your date at Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn.

East of Phoenix is Scottsdale’s desert-like landscapes, vibrant arts scene, luxury resorts, and golf courses. Mountain bike or horseback ride along trails in McDowell Mountain’s foothills. Explore the delights of Old Town’s nine neighbourhoods – from the Arts District’s weekly ArtWalk to Fifth Avenue’s shopping. Tour architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, SMoCA’s thought-provoking exhibitions, Wonder spaces Arizona’s interactive displays, and Desert Botanical Garden’s thematic trails and art exhibits. Play a round of golf at the top-calibre TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, and Grayhawk courses.