The 10 Best Sights & Landmarks in Arizona, United States

July 13, 2021 Merry Kessler

The state of Arizona is one that features a fantastic diversity of landscapes and areas of geological interest. North Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, a colorful chasm with steep rocky walls more than a mile deep and stretching some 277 miles alongside the Colorado River. Other notable destinations in North Arizona include Flagstaff set alongside the San Francisco Peaks which has the largest ponderosa pine forest, Museum of Northern Arizona, and is close to a number of national parks and monuments. On the south side of Arizona lies the city of Phoenix, the largest in Arizona. Notable day trips in Phoenix include the Heard Museum which is one of America's largest collections of Native American art, Phoenix Museum of History, as well as the Desert Botanical garden which has a great collection of desert plants.
Restaurants in Arizona

1. Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

8375 Az-179 Red Rock Visitor Center and Ranger Station, Sedona, AZ 86351 +1 928-203-2900 http://redrockscenicbyway.com
Excellent
85%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 4,151 reviews

Red Rock Scenic Byway (SR 179)

The Red Rock Scenic Byway is your Gateway to the world-famous Red Rock Country of Sedona, Arizona … just 110 miles north of Phoenix, about 40 miles south of Flagstaff, and only a few hours south of the Grand Canyon.

Reviewed By kathyfI6813BE - Big Water, United States

Beautiful drive in the red rocks..we stopped several times to take photos and do a bit of browsing at several arts and craft shows.

2. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway

Tucson, AZ +1 520-576-9147 http://hikelemmon.com/summerhaven
Excellent
83%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,150 reviews

Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway

Reviewed By seb36 - Tucson, United States

We did this drive during the Covid 19 scare and just before the big fire. It was a perfect outing during the Covid 19 outbreak. You can stay in your car, or stop at various pull-off or trails and basically be all alone with few other visitors on this drive. It is a really educational and beautiful drive, staring out at the desert level and gradually going through multiple nature zones and changes of vegetation, trees, bushes, birds, etc until you get to the top, which is a high mountain zone with lots of green and trees and other nature -- just like mountain areas in Colorado or Canada. It makes us feel like we are on vacation, with all the changes in scenery and temperature. It was 98 degrees at the bottom and 67 degrees at the top. There couldn't be a better half day drive for those of us who have been feeling so very house bound. Actually we do this drive almost every season change and always marvel at the new things we see and feel. There is also a wonderful smartphone app that really helps you to understand the miraculous changes you are experiencing. Going down is like having different scenery even though it is the sam road, so the whole adventure is quit uplifting no matter when you go. Our batteries really get recharged and the trapped feeling lifts for quite a while.

3. Caywood Farms

841 E Highway 287, Casa Grande, AZ 85194-8421 +1 520-560-1119 [email protected] http://caywoodfarms.com
Excellent
88%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 112 reviews

Caywood Farms

We offer farm tours relating to local agriculture including cotton and alfalfa. Learn how cotton is grown from seed to bale. This 2 1/2 to 3 hour tour includes an indoor presentation followed by a hayride out to the field. Cotton is planted in the spring and picked in the fall. We have cotton in the field until mid-February. You will see a cotton picker, cotton module builder and a cotton rood which picks up ground cotton. If cotton is not in the ground, we still offer tours. Please call for information on dates, times and reservations. Reservations are required.

Reviewed By jenniferzE5266LZ

We just visited here for a homeschool field trip while visiting from Oregon during Covid. Absolutely excellent tour. My kids ages 10-13 loved seeing the farm implements, watching the presentation to learn all about the cotton harvest, and especially picking and handling the cotton. She modifies the presentation for younger kids. Nancy is an excellent guide. Highly recommended!

4. Douglas Mansion

Route 89A, Jerome, Jerome, AZ +1 520-634-5381 http://azstateparks.com/Parks/JERO/index.html
Excellent
49%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 233 reviews

Douglas Mansion

This former home of a mining baron became a state park and a museum in 1965.

Reviewed By AZJoeW - Sun City, United States

The Douglas Mansion is the main feature of the Jerome State Historic Park. This is well worth the stop. It is a self-guided tour of the mansion and there is a 30-minute film about the history of Jerome, AZ. The views are also spectacular looking north towards Sedona. Unlike the rest of Jerome, parking here is easy.

5. London Bridge

1340 McCulloch Blvd N, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403-6550 +1 800-242-8278 http://www.golakehavasu.com/london-bridge
Excellent
48%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,766 reviews

London Bridge

The original bridge from England was purchased by the founder of Lake Havasu City and reconstructed at Lake Havasu in 1971.

Reviewed By NiniBakes - Sudbury, Canada

Those granite blocks have an amazing story to tell! The tour boat operators provide great information as to why, how and when the bridge came to Lake Havasu, and the museum's display rounds out the story. The visitor's center also has great information too. The excellent walking paths along the channel offer great views from both sides, and of course you can walk and drive over it too. To say Mr. McCullough and his team had a great idea would be an understatement. The only downside in the area is that the shops in the English Village are suffering economic woes and need some sprucing up.

6. Oak Creek Canyon

Route 89A, Sedona, AZ 83149 +1 928-282-4119 http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/oak-creek-scenic.shtml
Excellent
79%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,381 reviews

Oak Creek Canyon

Breathtaking in its red rock beauty, the Canyon is a spectacular 16-mile gorge with streams and waterfalls between sheer rock walls.

Reviewed By 51gloriab - Advance, United States

We hiked the West Fork trail and enjoyed the lush area with a well-defined trail for several miles. Our necks were stretched upward as we noted what we saw in the sandstone rock structures formed by wind over the centuries. At the start of the hike, it was a treat to learn about Mayhew Lodge that once was a retreat for politicians and movie stars. We saw squirrels, salamanders, butterflies, and hawks as they thrive in the riparian community.

7. Arizona Route 89A

Geographical Center of Route 89A, AZ 86324 +1 928-649-1858
Excellent
75%
Good
18%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 83 reviews

Arizona Route 89A

The Sedona area stretch of this drive has been heralded as one of the most beautiful in America.

Reviewed By scoot1862

great riding road. Twisting road with elevation changes, great scenery and safe to travel. Will be back

8. Wupatki National Monument

25137 N. Sunset Crater-Wupatki Loop Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86004-2759 +1 928-679-2365 [email protected] http://www.nps.gov/wupa/index.htm
Excellent
65%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,009 reviews

Wupatki National Monument

Explore this fascinating ancient pueblo, located near the San Francisco Peaks, which once housed almost 100 members of the Anasazi and Sinagua tribes.

Reviewed By kevingW5482NQ

Come in from the Sunset Crater side and stop at the first set of ruins. Perched atop a gigantic boulder, you’ll be able to get breathtaking views of the painted desert, the mountains, plains... stop next at the visitor center and walk down to the ruins there for more amazing scenery. There are other ruins on the way out toward the Grand Canyon, and they are all worth the stop and hike as well. This is amazing, American history and you won’t regret taking the time to contrast this monument with Sunset Crater, Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Walnut Canyon... every place we stopped, my wife said, “I didn’t think anything could compete with the last place we were...”

9. Downtown Historic Area

Prescott, AZ +1 928-445-2000 http://prescottdowntown.com
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,069 reviews

Downtown Historic Area

Many of Prescott's buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places are located downtown.

Reviewed By FritziesPop - Watford City, United States

From the unique stories of the storefront facades along Whiskey Row to the intriguing & vibrant Courthouse Square, downtown Prescott is a sure-fire hit with young & old alike (especially those of legal drinking age!).

10. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

220 N Prison Hill Rd Interstate 8 at Giss Parkway, Yuma, AZ 85364-2307 +1 928-783-4771 http://www.yumaprison.org/index.html
Excellent
58%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,418 reviews

Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park

On July 1, 1876, the first seven inmates entered the Territorial Prison at Yuma and were locked into the new cells they had built themselves. Today at Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park walk through the actual strap iron cells and solitary chamber of Arizona Territory’s first prison. Now a museum, the prison houses photographs and colorful exhibits of those who once “involuntarily” stayed there and the harsh life they had to endure.

Reviewed By Road_Tripper49

This is definitely a must see for anyone interested in understanding the early history of Arizona and Yuma. You take a self-guided tour around numerous buildings including the cell blocks and a great deal of artifacts from inmates. You can go at your own pace and will leave better understanding what prison life and the impacts of the environment both in prison and in the surrounding area, must have been like. Bravo to the community for ensuring this history lives on!

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.