Arizona Travel Guide

Arizona  is one of the states covered in our United States travel guide for city-wise travel inspiration.

There​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is a vast and cinematic feel to Arizona, a state where the elements of space, light, and silence impact the travelling more than the landmarks. The palette of nature such as the fiery desert sunsets, the fresh pine forests, and the cool shadows of the valleys, has always a sense of scale which the traveller carries with himself/her/they after the journey has ended.

As one might guess, Arizona is a state where deserts capes, striking geological features, and rich cultural heritage play a major role. While much of the state is characterized by dry land, red sandstone formations, and broad open skies, the landscapes here are more diverse than most people think.

Areas at high altitude enjoy cooler weather, forested mountains, and sometimes snow in winter whereas the southern deserts remain warm and bright in most of the year. Such a polar-set-up gives the state a clear seasonal beat and commendable local diversity.

Life in cities takes place mainly in Phoenix where the modern residential areas, resorts, and an up and coming food scene thrive alongside the desert parks that are the habitats of wild animals.

Up north of Phoenix, the vibe is totally different in Flagstaff which is reputed for its fresh mountain air, ancient cobblestoned streets, and access to trails in the forests. Close by, hikers, photographers, and artists/wellness enthusiasts visit Sedona which is known for its spectacularly beautiful red rock formations.

The unparalleled natural feature most representative of Arizona is the Grand Canyon, one that affords amazing, almost other-worldly vistas that extend endlessly in a spectrum of colours and depths.

The routes for the rides around the area make accessible the desert highways, the towns along the historic Route 66, and the remote corners whose beauty is a reward for the leisurely explorer.

The Native American history and culture of these lands are what create the very meaning of the places, if not the absolute culture of the state itself, out of which everything from architectural styles to the menu at restaurants is fashioned.

Arizona is an excellent choice for four main groups of visitors that are road trippers, outdoor lovers, photographers and those who seek bold landscapes and the vast open spaces. Hiking, scenic driving, visiting cultural sites and spending quiet moments in the desert are activities around which couples, single travelers as well as families can organize their experience.

The main thing about traveling across Arizona is that it makes you reflect — it has the effect of staying still in vast places, being ‘small’ in the nicest sense, and finding out how motionless, colour and light together produce a trip which will remain both a source of spiritual nourishment and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌unforgettable.