Top Things to do in Arizona
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The 10 Best Specialty Museums in Arizona, United States
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.
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1. Rock Art Canyon Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 142 reviews
Offers tours of some of the best preserved petroglyphs in the country.
Reviewed By noworries2000 - Federal Way, United States
OMG! I have travelled all over the world and this is one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Brantley Baird is a piece of living history of the West. He and his family have a 5000 acre working ranch outside of Winslow and they will happily share the history of how their family helped settle the area and show you many amazing artifacts they've kept in their family from the 1800s and early 1900s. After sharing that amazing history they will take you out and show you some of the archaeological dig sites, and let you roam the area on your own and explore the canyons with the pottery, tools, and petroglyphs from the natives who inhabited the area 9000 years ago. I spent an entire day in the canyons exploring the artifacts the natives left behind and I likely missed half of them. Call ahead and make a reservation - they keep the groups small so they can personalize the tours. Take along comfortable hiking shoes, plenty of water, a good camera, good binoculars, and a cooler of munchies. There is an excellent picnic spot above the canyon that is a great rest stop before/after you climb into the canyon. The steps are steep - not good for people who are even partially immobile. I took hundreds of pictures down in the canyon and even swam in the pools of water to cool off. Please respect the area and resist the urge to pick up pottery shards or stone tools that you will surely see walking around. The place is a national heritage site and Brantley and his family have done a great job preserving and protecting it. When you make reservations, be sure to have them text you the simple driving instructions and map that will easily guide you to the ranch (about 40 minutes outside of Winslow). Don't rely on your GPS to find the place - you will likely not find it. (Online maps and directions from search engines such as Google or Bing are wrong.) Plan to spend the day, or even ask about staying overnight. The roads driving around the ranch itself are a bit rough, so make sure your car has good tires and clearance. There is so much to explore, you won't see it all in just a few hours. Above all, these are some of the nicest people you will ever meet! Enjoy!
2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,558 reviews
The renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is everything you could want in a Sonoran Desert adventure! Mostly outdoors and comprised of an AZA-accredited zoo, extensive botanical garden, two art galleries, and a natural history museum, the Desert Museum sits on 98 acres of pristine desert landscape. The Museum showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, featuring wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep in their natural settings. Bird lovers delight in visiting the Museum's two aviaries, one dedicated to hummingbirds! Kids love the interactive Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch exhibits, learning to appreciate our unique environment from a young age. The Museum's gift shops offer an incredible bounty of books, jewelry, crafts, and more. This family-friendly establishment offers something for everyone!
Reviewed By Eiregirl
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the few "must-see" things that we consistently recommend to *everyone* who visits the area. Young kids, teens, enthusiastic adults, tired/jaded adults, older folks who aren't as spry as they used to be - it's really a place for everyone. The Museum is accessible, welcoming, and it always receives rave reviews across the board from our visitors. Key highlights - --The "Museum" is really a combination of things. It does have indoor exhibits and the hands-on demonstrations that you'll find in other national museums, but that's just a fraction of what it offers. The Desert Museum is also a zoo with over 230 native animals - and it's one of the top-ranked public gardens in the U.S - and there is an aquarium - and a cool raptor area where trainers fly native birds of prey - and outdoor trails, etc. --The Museum setting is gorgeous. It's a short drive west of Tucson over Gate's Pass, and it sits smack in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Every inch of the place takes advantage of this unique setting, and it's the best place in town to learn more about the surrounding flora & fauna. --The Desert Museum has a team of top-notch scientists on their staff. In addition to their work with public visitors, many of them are also actively engaged in their field's specialty research and/or education. There is always someone out on the museum pathway with an interesting animal, native plant display, or other engaging story/tidbit of new information. (My kids' top memory - a 'scorpion wall' search around dusk.) You know what you see/hear in the Museum is coming from people who know their stuff. Be sure to carve out at least half a day to visit the Desert Museum while you're in the area. It's well worth your time.
3. Musical Instrument Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6,330 reviews
The World's Only Global Musical Instrument Museum. Home of the MIM Music Theater--a 300-seat acoustically superb performance space--as well as the award-winning Café Allegro (open 11 am - 2 pm daily) and the MIM Museum Store. The average guest spends nearly four hours at MIM. Please allow plenty of time to fully enjoy MIM's galleries and exhibits. Open daily, 9 am - 5 pm; Closed Thanksgiving; Open Christmas, 11 am - 5 pm. General Admission: $20; Teens (ages 13-19): $15; Children (ages 4-12): $10; Children 3 and under: Free. Hours and prices are subject to change.
Reviewed By P1520TPandrewk
1. Expect to spend at least five hours or more! 2. Wear comfortable shoes! 3. Take your camera, phone charger etc.. 4. For Musicians, music lovers etc... 5. Bucket List Item 6. All styles of music represented 7. 777 Jackpot Rating! Go and see this place!
4. Arizona Copper Art Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 494 reviews
--Winner of the Arizona Tourism Award!-- The Copper Art Museum is one of the most interesting in the USA, purposely located in the former copper town of Clarkdale - a USA City Beautiful Movement town founded in 1912. Clarkdale was built by Senator W. A. Clark "America's Copper King." The collection on display is massive with over 5000 artifacts and hundreds dating to the 1500-1800's, Galleries; Special Historical Information, Military Art, Art and Architecture, Kitchen Collection, Drinking Collection and Winery and Distillery Collection. You will be amazed by this museum!
Reviewed By tbone4 - Scottsdale, United States
An education around every corner. This museum is immaculately maintained and has wonderful self guided signs throughout. The feeling is cool, quiet and peaceful. They have worked hard to create this space. Plan on spending a couple of hours if you want to stroll through....longer if you want to read every sign. Every question you might have about copper and this museum is answered somewhere within these walls. Loved it! There's few places to eat while in Clarkdale. However we took a stroll around this cute little town. We went back to historic Cottonwood for lunch. There's a lot of places to stop there.
5. Dwarf Car Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By wendymetcalf - Brooks, Canada
AMAZING place to visit. Leave yourself a couple of hours to check out this wonderful musuem!!! Everytime you look around - you see something new! Owner was amazing - will answer any questions you have. Highly recommend stopping here!
6. ASU Museum Ceramics Center and Brickyard Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By AZnearnative
Grand opening of "Look to Nature" featuring the works of Toshiko Takaezu. Her family and former students will be doing online interviews tonight. Garage was closed so we parked in adjacent city lot. Forehead temp check first.
7. Museum of Northern Arizona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 590 reviews
One of the great regional museums of our world, surrounded by tremendous geological, biological, and cultural resources in one of Earth's most spectacular landscapes. With a long and illustrious history, MNA evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau and serves as a gateway to understanding this unique region. Whatever your time frame, this museum will enhance your experience of the richly diverse cultures, landscapes, and ecology of the Plateau. Nine permanent and changing exhibit galleries present Native cultures, tribal lifeways, natural sciences, and fine arts. Ventures and custom tours explore the Four Corners Region of the American Southwest. Award-winning Museum Shop & Bookstore onsite. Self-guided Rio de Flag Nature Trail. Tickets are for a specific entry time starting at 10:00 am, with the last booking at 2:00pm.
Reviewed By 1lacrosse - Yarmouth, United States
We were very impressed by the breadth of this museum. Great staff, carefully designed displays, and excellent presentation of archeology, anthropology, geology, indigenous peoples, ethnography and Native American artwork. Two hours minimum required to do the museum justice. Docents are very helpful to get context for the displays, although individual learning is well facilitated by the descriptions provided. Don’t miss this museum if your travels take you through Flagstaff!
8. Rose Tree Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 244 reviews
Famous for having the world's largest rose bush, this former residence has been turned into a museum.
Reviewed By curio51 - Payson, United States
The Rose Museum is a must-very nicely laid out museum of artifacts from the day. Lots of history as well. It's a lot bigger than it looks! The worlds largest and oldest rose tree is amazing and you can purchase a potted plant cut directly from it. I did so and can't wait to plant it next spring-we visited in early December.
9. Pima Air and Space Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,763 reviews
400+ aircraft, 80 acres, 6 indoor air-cooled hangars... just plane awesome! We’re one of the world's largest aircraft collections including 3 hangars of WWII planes, the SR-71, the world's smallest biplane, and many other unique private, military, and commercial air & spacecraft documenting the evolution of flight. There’s something for the everyone from a “flight simulator” Boeing 720 cockpit, the Women in Flight Gallery, and an all around mecca for the aviation aficionado. We give the only tour of the "Boneyard"/AMARG (M-F, no holidays, 16-day advanced reservations required) plus a tram tour of the museum's 80 acres and one-of-a-kind planes. You can actually touch aviation history like "Freedom One" (that flew American hostages home after 444 days in Iran), presidential planes, others with wingspans the near the length of a football field... ogle helicopters, MiGs, an Oscar, a rare German buzz bomb, a moon rock, and much more!
Reviewed By SunDogUSA - Bangor, United States
This is a lifetime bucket tour absolute must. Please take young folks, children and grandchildren. It is a very, very important life changing history lesson for all ages. It is an excellent museum collection in a great, clean, well organized setting. It is a world class history lesson. Tip: You need 2 days to do this museum justice. Having a military aviation background, I expected it to be mainly based on aircraft from the adjacent boneyard. But is is way more. They have a Boeing 787 Dreamliner as well as a rare, one of a kind photo-recon Spitfire. The exhibits are unique and comprehensive. The Docents are knowledgeable and everywhere, asking if they can help. The aircraft and facility are clean and well maintained. The restorations are very high quality. Restrooms are clean and plentiful. Parking is plentiful and near the entrance. There is a restaurant but we did not dine there. You must go to Tucson You must go to the museum You must take the boneyard tour Please make a donation so that they build more buildings to house aircraft as well as pay for the restorations. There are plentiful modern hotels nearby. When you go to Phoenix to play golf plan 2 days in Tucson with the family for this museum.
10. Heard Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,899 reviews
The foremost showcase of Native American art and culture in the U.S., the Heard Museum reveals the cultures of tribes in the region through exhibits, demonstrations and live performances and displays the work of contemporary Native American artists. Artists demonstrate their work during the week and musicians perform on most weekends.
Reviewed By MsInformedALWAYS - Las Vegas, United States
This place was a real surprise, nice architecture, beautifully displayed/housed native America goods from clothes, baskets, paintings, and general artifacts in excellent condition. Very well laid out with a nice bookstore AND gift shop (a bit pricey) Most enjoyable visit and stands out above and beyond most I've seen (I'm a fan of native American indian works - I've been to a half dozen wonderful museums...)
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