Old West cowboy country and New Age vortex healing. Fine dining and casual comfort foods. Upscale shopping next to thrift stores. American Indian dwellings, the Mexican border and Spanish architecture. The Grand Canyon and slot canyons. Hiking, biking, whitewater rafting and lazy lake boating — or just kicking back and soaking up the sun, which is available in abundance.
In short, there’s something from A to Z for everyone to be found in Arizona. A-Z, get it? Here’s where to get it.
A is for ahhh: the sound you’ll make after you come out of the many A-plus experiences at the Golden Doors Spa at The Boulders Resort in Carefree, at the edge of Scottsdale (34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, 866-397-6520, .). The staff is adept at pampering, and not only is the Eucalyptus line of products delightful, but the little “snail shell” private showers and Japanese-style O’Furo soaking pool make it hard to leave after your treatments.
B is for barrio: the Lost Barrio shopping district in Tucson, on Park Avenue south of Broadway. Prices range from cheap and reasonable to “if you have to ask . . .” — and the options in this old warehouse district are as varied as there are countries around the world. Favorites include Aqui Esta! (204 S. Park Ave., 520-798-3605), which features locally made Mexican furniture and art, and the aptly named Bohemia (2920 E. Broadway, 520-299-3889), where wandering among the eclectic offerings yields one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, candles, dishes and great gifts, also locally made, from about 200 artists.
C is for Crack-in-Rock Pueblo at Wupatki National Monument, a hot, desolate and dramatically beautiful area about 30 miles north of Flagstaff that features Ancestral Puebloan (a.k.a. Anasazi) sites, unusual because they are freestanding rather than nestled along cliffs or in caves. Of them, Crack- in-Rock is the least seen because not only do you have to visit on a weekend in April or October, you also must win the lottery to be one of the 13 people allowed on each 16-mile (round-trip) overnight hike. You have to carry a 40-pound pack, which will contain all of your water for two days. You need to be in good physical shape, because this is not a little jaunt — it’s strenuous and exposed, and rain or wind can turn the terrain ugly (there’s no trail). The reward? Petroglyphs, a “calendar wall” and other rare glimpses into the past. Get there: Take U.S. 89 north for 12 miles and turn right at the sign for the monument. The visitor center is 21 miles from the junction. Cost: $50 for the guided hike. Call 928-679-2365 or visit
D is for dessert lounge, as in the Something Sweet in Tucson (5319 E. Speedway Blvd., 520-881-7735, ). Giant slices of the most decadent cakes and pies are available in an unassuming plaza space on the Speedway. The “oh my god you have got to be kidding” chocolate eclair (yes, that’s what it’s called) is the size of a small dog, but it’s also delicious, as is the red velvet cake. And the pecan pie. And the brownie. And we may also have tasted the honey ricotta cheesecake. They offer a sugar-free item or two each day, along with a couple of tasty gluten-free ones as well. Free Wi-Fi means once you have your sugar buzz on, you can surf online to your heart’s content, and if you don’t have your laptop along, they have computers for $2 an hour. Bonus: Open until midnight weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, and they have good coffee too.
E is for Elements, the restaurant at the Sanctuary at Camelback Resort in Paradise Valley (5700 E. McDonald Drive, 800-245-2051, ), where chef Beau MacMillan serves up Asian-inspired dishes that never fail to impress. The eatery, which has always been a comfortable, casually elegant room with a view of one end of Camelback, as well as the surrounding valley, has been renovated, and one delicious result is a private chef’s table for 12 where MacMillan can wow with a custom-made menu. Meal highlights include the hamachi carpaccio, the foie gras pudding with black truffle meringue and the Arctic char — but don’t forget dessert, which should include the peanut butter mousse layered with dark chocolate ice cream.
F is for Fry Canyon, a seldom-hiked side canyon near Oak Creek Canyon off Forest Road 535 in Sedona. Fall is the best time to check it out — the abundance of oak and maple trees mean stunning colors — but the spring can be spectacular too, with the greenery providing a photogenic backdrop to the surrounding limestone and red rock. The whole hike is a little more than 5 miles round-trip, but it’s a moderate out-and-back along a craggy creek bed.
G is for Grand Canyon, the granddaddy of them all. State license plates say “Grand Canyon State” — reason enough to know that the big hole is a big deal, and a big enough draw year-round. When the temperatures creep toward triple digits, hiking down into the canyon can be a bit of a hot mess, but it’s still the most intimate way to experience the canyon. A permit is required for overnight camping (recommended if you’re going all the way down) but not for day hiking. Take lots and lots of water, and read the National Park Service’s recommendations closely ().
H is for Havasupai Indian Reservation, a beautiful area contained within the Grand Canyon, its tribal headquarters in Supai run by the Havasu ‘Baaja people. It requires a steep, 8-mile hike to access. You can camp there or stay at the lodge, but the place has become so popular that despite the somewhat strenuous hike, reservations are necessary. Even when it’s full, though, Havasu Canyon, with its waterfalls and lush foliage fed by seeps, is a peaceful, relaxing place. There is a $35 per person fee to enter the area; call 928-448-2121 or visit for lodging info.
I is for Ironwood Forest National Monument near Tucson, one of the country’s newer monuments, created by then-President Bill Clinton in 2000. Hike to your heart’s content around the more than 129,000 acres worth of ironwood, mesquite and palo verde trees — not to mention the innumerable saguaro that also dot the landscape of this Sonoran Desert locale. There’s primitive camping, remnants of an old mission from the Hohokam tribe, and more than 200 other ancient sites to explore. Entrance is free ().
J is for Japanese Friendship Garden (1125 N. Third Ave., Phoenix; 602-256-3204, ). It’s a shared project between Phoenix and its sister city in Himeji, Japan. Wander the 3 1/2 acres of shrubs, flowers and trees (including impeccably manicured bonsai). Don’t miss the koi pond or the tea house, which offers a monthly public tea ceremony (reservations required). Closed Mondays. Admission: $5 adults, $3 students (under 12 free).
K is for Keet Seel at remote Navajo National Monument near Monument Valley and Four Corners. Keet Seel is one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan sites still in existence, a well-preserved pueblo that can be reached only by taking the guided, 17-mile backcountry hike (you can do it in one day, but it’s a rough trek; most people camp in the primitive spaces). Other options at Navajo National Monument include the free 5-mile hike to Betatakin pueblo. The monument is open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Admission is free, as these sites are regarded as sacred ().
L is for London Bridge. Not the London Bridge — the falling-down one, that is — but a London Bridge that was purchased in 1968 by developer Robert McCulloch for $2.46 million. He had it taken apart, stone by stone, and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, where it anchors a British theme park and Tudor-style shopping mall. After you’ve walked across the bridge, stop in one of the pubs for some fish and chips, and then go find something water-oriented to do at Lake Havasu Marina, because the lake itself offers some terrific fishing, boating and water-skiing (1100 McCulloch Blvd. N., 928-855-2159, ).
M is for Miraval Resort in Tucson (5000 E. Via Estancia, 800-825-4000, ), a true getaway that not only offers elaborate spa services — including outdoor massages and healing ceremonies — but also yoga and meditation classes, stress-reduction seminars and other workshops aimed at getting your physical and mental health back on track (it helps that Dr. Andrew Weil is the resort’s director of integrative health and healing). The relaxing spot, in the shadow of the Santa Catalina Mountains, is all-inclusive, which means once you arrive, you don’t have to think about anything but wellness (it’s a non-tipping property). Now, breathe . . .
N is for Navajo Nation Fair (), held annually in Window Rock around Labor Day. It’s the largest Indian event in the world, offering rodeos, parades, singing and dancing, an inter-tribal powwow, food, and vendors selling crafts, jewelry, rugs and other goods. It’s quite the scene, with tribes vying for rodeo bragging rights and some of the most gorgeous horses you’ll see anywhere.
O is for OK Corral, site of the famous shootout in Tombstone, and still one of the most visited spots in Arizona (326 E. Allen St., 520-457-3456, ). Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, the authentically dusty spot does a re-enactment of the 1881 battle at 2 p.m., and you can take a photo next to life-size replicas of the Earps and Doc Holliday, and then check out photos and a film from the Historama next door. Then visit the museum of Arizona’s oldest newspaper, the Epitaph, which will give you a free reprint of the original report of the shootout. Admission to OK Corral $6 museum, $10 gunfight (under 6 free).
P is for Phippen Museum of Western Art in Prescott (4701 Arizona 89 N., 928-778-1385, ), which is named after cowboy artist George Phippen and houses an impressive collection of painting, photos and sculptures. And if cowboys are your weakness in general, be sure to swing by Whiskey Row in town, once a line of 40 drinking establishments dedicated to the ruination of cowboys and miners, but now a fine place to grab a bite to eat or a drink. And you might run into a modern rancher or two.
Q is for Quartzsite, one of those sleepy towns that becomes a madhouse for a short period of time because of some craze that brings in crowds, in this case, mid-January to mid-February for the annual gem show, which turns the quiet desert spot into a sea of RVs, dotted with stagecoach rides, carnival-type attractions and other amusements meant to occupy the visitors. If you’re a jewelry aficionado, this is a must-do at least once. On your way in or out, grab a brochure on seeking out the area’s many hidden petroglyphs and ruins.
R is for Rainbow Bridge National Monument in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s the world’s largest natural bridge and a sight to behold. Technically, it’s located in Utah, but you get to it from Arizona — you can backpack to it across the Navajo Nation (permit required) or boat to it on Lake Powell (a 2-mile hike is still necessary), but either way, bring the camera.
S is for Sierra Vista, one of the small towns that makes a good place to settle in as you explore the unsung southeastern part of the state, where the lovely Huachuca and Chiricahua mountains preside. Stay in one of Sierra Vista’s cheap motels and head over to Ramsey Canyon Preserve (), a birder’s paradise and home to more than a dozen hummingbird species. Or to try your luck at spotting more than 100 bird species, head over to the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (), where the San Pedro River, the longest undammed river in Arizona, also supports more than 80 species of mammals and 40 types of reptiles and amphibians.
T is for the Toros, Tucson’s team in the Golden Baseball League (520-325-1010, ). Catch their games starting May 19 when they play the Edmonton Capitals at 7 p.m. at Hi Corbett Field in Reid Park. The season runs through Sept. 6; it’s the only pro league with teams in Canada, Mexico, the continental United States and Hawaii.
U is for University of Arizona in Tucson, a cultural smorgasbord that houses the Center for Creative Photography (1030 N. Olive Road, 520-621-7968, ), Flandrau Science Center, Planetarium & Mineral Museum (1601 E. University Blvd., 520-621-7827, ), the Arizona Historical Society Museum (949 E. Second St., 520-628-5774, ) and the Museum of Art (1031 N. Olive Road, 520-621-7567, ). If that’s not enough to keep you busy for a couple of days, add on the Arizona State Museum (1013 E. University Blvd., 520- 621-6302, ).
V is for Verde Canyon Railroad, a year-round train that goes from the old mining town of Clarkdale to the ghost ranch of Perkinsville and back. The route winds along the Verde River, with views of the surrounding national forests and wilderness areas, and the train, powered by two FP7 locomotives, offers first-class (complete with a champagne toast and Southwestern snacks) or coach service. Open-air cars between the passenger ones and a boxcar set up like a museum offer more chances to soak up the scenery and history. Throughout the year, the train features themed treks around area festivals and holidays. Prices start at $55 (adult coach) and $35 (under 12 coach). Visit or call 800-293-7245.
W is for the Wildflower Bread Co. (), which has 10 locations around the state, including Sedona, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Chandler and Gilbert. No matter where you try this friendly, casual eatery, though, you’re likely to encounter fast service — order at the counter; the staff brings it out — and well-executed fare. Three meals a day, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and simple preparations, from banana walnut pancakes with hot maple syrup to roasted garlic tomato soup to butternut squash ravioli with roasted walnut cream sauce. And don’t forget the baked items, made fresh daily — everything from breads and scones to danishes, cookies and cakes. The sandwiches and salads are enormous, but sharing is tough — you’ll want every bite for yourself.
X is for X-Change, as in the Coffee X-Change in Tucson (2443 N. Campbell Ave., 520-327-6783 and two other locations), a locals favorite for refueling and picking up free Wi-Fi. All three locations offer long hours (at least 6 a.m. to midnight), free Wi-Fi and excellent lattes, but the North Campbell Avenue shop is open 2 4/7 and always has plenty of seating, which means people aren’t standing around looking longingly at you or trying to read your laptop over your shoulder.
Y is for Yuma, a sunny, cheerful and welcoming city, the third-largest in the state, and once known mostly for its prison, which is now a state park that you can visit ( ). You can actually see the gruesome cells up close (which kids love), but the area now is known more for its many wildlife refuges and river tours. Keep your eyes peeled for folks who have little signs out by the side of the road for things like “Dates!” and “Blood Oranges!” — people grow produce all over the place, and it’s a great way to meet locals and make something fresh for dinner.
Z is for zoos; there are several from which to choose. The Phoenix Zoo (455 N. Galvin Parkway., 602-273-1341, ) counts more than 200 endangered species among its 1,300 animals, and boasts some of the more natural habitats in the country. Also in Phoenix (in suburban Litchfield Park), the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium (16501 W. Northern Ave., 623-935-9453, ) houses such exotic animals as white tigers, and the aquarium is jam-packed with cool crocodiles, eels and sharks. The Reid Park Zoo in Tucson (1100 S. Randolph Way, 520-791-4022, ) offers 7 acres of shady trees and paved pathways — plus lions and tigers and zebras, oh my. The daily giraffe feeding is a favorite.
Kyle Wagner: 303-954-1599 or travel@denverpost.com.
