The American state of Arizona is popular with visitors all year round
due to its wonderful climate. There are numerous attractions in this
scenic part of the U.S., with these being 7 of the best.
1. Hoover Dam
(photo credit: dph1110)
The Hoover Dam, which was completed in 1935, is one of the most
famous engineering wonders
in the modern world. It features a curved wall that’s about 727 feet
high and 1244 feet in length. It’s also 660 feet thick at the base of
it. However, it’s only the second biggest dam in America.
The dam was originally named Boulder Dam and it’s located on the
Colorado River in the Black Canyon. Each year the dam is able to
generate 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power, which is
enough to serve the needs of about 1.3 million residents.
2. Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
(photo credit: stevengroves)
This amazing garden features about 50,000 desert plants that have
been collected from all across the globe. The beautiful site is located
close to the Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park. It features a
herb garden, yucca forest, and a wildflower path.
In December, it features Las Noches De Las Luminarias, which is a
presentation of 8000 lighted luminaria bags along with live musical
entertainment. It’s also home to many different colored cacti, with the
highest cactus being 22 feet tall.
3. Petrified Forest National Park
(photo credit: petrifiedforestranger)
This well known area isn’t really a forest; however it does feature
one of the biggest concentrations of fossils and petrified wood in the
world. It’s believed that many of the fossils here are close to
200-million years old.
There used to be a forest on the location, but it eroded over the
years due to volcanic eruptions which covered the trees in sediment and
ash. Over time, the erosion has created the
colourful petrified wood.
It’s quite a scenic spot and an ideal place to hike through. You’ll
also get some excellent views of Arizona’s Painted Desert from here.
4. The Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff
(photo credit:brewbooks)
If you’re into stargazing, astronomy, and science then you’ll love
the Lowell Observatory in the city of Flagstaff. The planet of Pluto was
actually discovered from here back in 1930 and the observatory houses
the
Discovery Channel telescope.
It’s an excellent lookout point due to the clear skies and the high
altitude in Northern Arizona. This is just one of Flagstaff’s many
wonderful attractions. You can also explore the historic downtown region
and catch free concerts at Heritage Square.
5. Taliesin West, Scottsdale
(photo credit: sixteen-miles)
This architectural wonder sits in the town of Scottsdale in the
foothills of the majestic McDowell Mountains. It was constructed back in
1937 by famous American architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright and
was used as his winter residence as well as an architectural training
ground and studio. The
Frank Lloyd Wright School of architecture
is still located here. There are several tours available inside the
magnificent residence. The building will be celebrating its 75th
anniversary in 2012.
6. Sedona
(photo credit: neepster)
The town of Sedona is surrounded by colourful red rocks that are
millions of years old. It’s quite a popular location with bikers and
hikers because of its
natural beauty and rich history,
especially Soldier Pass Trail. The town is believed to have magnetic hot
spots which give off heightened energy. The red rocks are fantastic,
but you can also pamper yourself in one of the town’s magnificent spas.
7. The Grand Canyon
(photo credit: titoxd)
This natural wonder can’t be missed on a trip to Arizona. It’s an
amazing sight that everybody should see if they have the chance. This
world-famous canyon is 277 miles in length and a mile deep.
Most of the visitors, about 4 million a year, head to the South Rim;
however the North Rim is home to the canyon’s highest lookout point. The
famous glass-bottomed Skywalk is on the West Rim and allows you to walk
over the canyon. You can also enjoy hikes from the South Rim to the
North Rim and take rafting trips down the mighty Colorado River.
