Arizona holidays

If you only have time for one thing to do in Arizona, go see the Grand Canyon. At 446 kilometres long and up to 29 kilometres wide, there’s nothing like it anywhere on Earth. The towering sandstone formations of Monument Valley and Red Rock State Park will steal whatever breath you have left. Or head north to witness a massive 50,000-year-old meteor crater.

Arizona is an epic backdrop for outdoor adventures. There’s rafting, kayaking and waterskiing along the mighty Colorado River, and the scenic hiking trails stretch for literally thousands of kilometres. You can hop on a bike (or even a horse) to explore the high desert near Sedona. And to really raise the pulse, try skateboarding down Mount Lemmon.

Nothing can prepare you for the heart-stopping views of the Grand Canyon — come at sunset for a truly unforgettable experience. Explore a surreal landscape of fossilised trees in Petrified Forest National Park. On the state’s northern border, a 27-kilometre loop takes you past the rock formations of Monument Valley, some of which climb 300 metres into the air.

You’ll find gorgeous sandy beaches in Arizona’s state parks. They’re actually man-made reservoirs, and they offer boating and water sports. Sunbathe alongside herons at Patagonia Lake, or visit the famously relocated London Bridge at Lake Havasu. The Colorado riverbank is dotted with waterside spots, from Yuma’s family-focused West Wetlands Park to hidden swimming areas only reachable by hiking.

In the southern Sonoran Desert, cacti stand up to 12 metres tall against a backdrop of red rocks. Shooting 1,800 metres up from the desert floor, mountains create ‘sky islands’ where birds, butterflies and the rare coatimundi raccoon thrive. See the crystal-like trees that give the Petrified Forest National Park its name, or find the world’s largest ponderosa pine forest just an hour away.

Some of the greatest restaurants in Arizona are in Tucson, where Indigenous flavours meet influences from Mexico, Africa and China. The Sonoran Desert has its own special harvest — expect to find prickly pears in everything from jams to margaritas. North of Phoenix, the Verde Valley is an emerging wine country. Don’t leave without trying a ‘chimichanga’, a deep-fried burrito that was invented here.

Top-notch museums in Arizona range from its interactive science centre to the largest collection of musical instruments in the world. Many are based in the capital, like the Phoenix Art Museum, whose modernist building is a masterwork in its own right. Away from the cities, Arizona’s centuries-old history is yours to explore, from Spanish cathedrals and Hopi villages to cliff dwellings like Montezuma’s Castle.