What to do and see in Central Arizona, Central Arizona: The Best Historical & Heritage Tours

June 28, 2021 Marianna Hollaway

Home to the Phoenix metropolitan area and its more than 3.4 million residents, Central Arizona offers an amazing array of museums, cultural venues and outdoor adventures. The Valley of the Sun boasts hopping nightlife and a thrilling selection of restaurants, resorts and spas. Discover Old West and Native American history. Hike among the cactus in the Sonoran desert. Try your hand at ranching in Glendale. Drive the Superstition Mountains. Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale.
Restaurants in Central Arizona

1. Sedona and Grand Canyon Single Day Tour

Arizona Scenic Tours - Day Tours
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5.0 based on 26 reviews

This 13 to 14 hour tour takes you to BOTH Sedona and the Grand Canyon. See Sedona and the Grand Canyon via a small group of up to five passengers maximum. This small group tour gives you a more personal and comfortable experience as you make your way through the red rocks of Sedona to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. In Sedona, you will visit Bell Rock Vista for photos, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and a bit of time in Uptown Sedona for some unique shops and more scenery. Then on to the Grand Canyon National Park for about a 3 hour visit including 2 unique views of the Canyon at a minimum.

Inclusions: National Park fees, Bottled water, Driver/guide, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Exclusions: Lunch, Gratuities

Reviewed By D8750FEnicolel

Steve from Arizona Scenic Tours was AMAZING to work with!! EXTREMELY personal service THE ABSOLUTE BEST Customer Service I have received in a LOOOOONG time!! Thank you so much Steve for your thorough communication it was SO VERY APPRECIATED!!

2. Small Group or Private Verde Canyon Railroad and Historic Jerome Tour

Phoenix, AZ, USA DETOURS of Arizona
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5.0 based on 14 reviews

Take a trip to the beautiful Verde Valley in Central Arizona. Experience the history of the old ghost town of Jerome which sits atop Cleopatra Hill and enjoy a tour of the Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale. The highlight of your trip will be a picturesque ride in first class aboard the historic Verde Canyon Railroad.

Inclusions: Lunch, Appetizers aboard the Verde Canyon Railway, Unlimited Bottled Water, All Taxes, Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Guide Gratuities, Third Party Activities

Reviewed By jp8140

My husband and I enjoyed everything about this trip! Our tour guide,Jason, gave much information about history and nature along the way.

3. Private Grand Canyon Day Tour from Phoenix & Scottsdale

Scottsdale, AZ, USA DukOUT Adventures
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5.0 based on 6 reviews

The name says it all, “The Grand Canyon”, one of the World’s most magnificent natural wonders. This full day tour includes transportation from Phoenix/Scottsdale to the Grand Canyon where you will see the most incredible views of the Canyon, learn about its immense history, and enjoy lunch (included) looking out over one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. The profound history, culture, and local artistry will give you a sense of stepping back in time. The tour also detours through the Sedona Red Rock region to offer great views of the iconic rock formations as well as a short detour down historic Route 66 into Williams for a short stop at in this historic town.

Inclusions: National Park fees, Bottled water, Lunch, Snacks, Professional guide, Live commentary on board, Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By jjrush

Tyler made our day fun- a great, moderate, scenic hike with a quintessential western lunch. We stopped at lovely wineries with great wine. But best of all was Tyler..... he was the best date we ever paid for!!! ????

4. Phoenix Legends Bike Tour

1202 N 3rd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA Arizona "ING" Tours
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5.0 based on 22 reviews

Wander off the beaten path and into the heart of Phoenix to discover the ancient and modern legends hiding in charming historic neighborhoods, breathtaking architecture, iconic landmarks, mural filled alleys and more!

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, All riders will be provided with a bicycle, helmet, and water bottle. Options for for food purchases will be available along the way.

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Reviewed By 76DLM

My husband and I really enjoyed this tour. The tour guide was very informative and answered all our questions. I highly recommend this tour if you're looking for something to do. BE SURE TO WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES! It's not a bad walk just a lot of walking.

5. Scottsdale Segway Tour - Evening

4140 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA Scottsdale Segway Tours
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5.0 based on 7 reviews

Experience our longest ride through Scottsdale on your own personal Segway transporter, taking in the the beautiful scenery and several art installations, while learning about the historical background of Old Town and the culture which still remains. After a brief training session in a controlled parking lot, our guide will whisk you through Downtown Scottsdale, including Old Town, the Arts District, and the Waterfront. With more than 30 points of interests on this 7-mile route, you will walk away from the tour with several suggestions (and our exclusive Passport to Savings!) for local food, activities, and places to visit to help occupy the rest of your trip.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Use of Segway

Exclusions: Gratuities

Reviewed By 406megw

Shane was the absolute best tour guide. We had a ton of fun and saw parts of Scottsdale we may have missed on our own.

6. Private Verde Canyon Railroad and Historic Jerome Tour

DETOURS of Arizona
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Highlights of this day tour include the mining town of Jerome, the historic Copper Art Museum in Clarkdale, and stunning views from your first-class seat and a delicious lunch at the Verde Canyon Railroad. After the pickup, our first major tour stop will be the historic mining town of Jerome. Soon after we'll visit the copper mining mecca of Clarkdale and the Arizona Copper Art Museum. From the museum, we will tour the historic Verde Canyon Railroad for a chance to be a part of that history. The very first tracks were put down over 100 years ago to transport local workers and ore mined from the surrounding Jerome mountains and are still in use today. With stunning views of the Verde Valley from either your first-class seats or your open-air viewing car, the casual elegance of the train allows guests to discover the heritage uniqueness of the landscape and its diverse ecosystem.

Inclusions: Bottled water, Appetizers aboard the Verde Canyon Railway, All Fees and Taxes, Professional, local guide, Pickup and Dropoff, Verde Canyon Railroad First-Class Tickets

Exclusions: Gratuities, Third Party Activities, Food unless specified above

Reviewed By jp8140

My husband and I enjoyed everything about this trip! Our tour guide,Jason, gave much information about history and nature along the way.

7. Private Tombstone Arizona and San Xavier Mission Day Trip

DETOURS of Arizona
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Travel back in time to one of the most famous Old West towns with a day on the streets of Tombstone. The home of the famous OK Corral lets you experience the lives of outlaws, businessmen, miners, and cattlemen who flocked to the area for a chance to strike it rich on the frontier. A ride straight from your hotel takes you out of the city for your visit to the historic town. While you're in Tombstone, pay a visit to the original gathering spots for outlaws and gunmen, like Big Nose Kate's Saloon and the Bird Cage Theatre, which earned a reputation as the wickedest nightspot between Basin Street and the Barbary Coast. True to the reputation of the Wild West, gunfights and stand-offs were a regular occurrence, and many of their victims are buried at the infamous Boot Hill Cemetery—named for the men who died and were buried, with their boots still on. On your way back, visit the White Dove of the Desert; one of the Southwest's best-preserved missions at San Xavier del Bac.

Inclusions: Pickup and Dropoff , Professional, local guide, Bottled water, Boothill admission

Exclusions: Gratuities, Lunch, Third Party Vendors and Attractions unless specified above

Reviewed By jp8140

My husband and I enjoyed everything about this trip! Our tour guide,Jason, gave much information about history and nature along the way.

8. Scottsdale Hiking Tour

31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262, USA Off-Road Jeep Adventures
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

TripAdvisor's 2019-2020 #1 ranked outdoor activity. Experience the Sonoran desert on the scenic trails of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Your professional tour guide will teach you about Sonoran desert flora, fauna and Native American history throughout the Granite Mountain hike. Covid-19 precautions: The entire activity will occur outdoors. All non-cohabitating hikers must stand at least 6 feet away from other non-cohabitating hikers and the Tour Guides. Difficulty: Moderate, rocky and loose terrain. Every hiker must have a moderate physical fitness level and no medical conditions or physical limitations that would preclude them from safely completing a moderate hike.

Inclusions: Tour Guide, Bottled water

Exclusions: Closed-toed hiking shoes, Contactless gratuity through the Venmo app

Reviewed By 217brianap

My partner and I joined Stephen and another couple on a 2-hr Desert Jeep tour and it was truly the highlight of our trip. I recommend this tour for anyone not familiar with the desert (like me). I'm sure he saved me a trip to the emergency room as I initially wanted to touch everything haha. Stephen was such a joy to ride with. He made us feel confident and safe on the tour as he is a retired pilot. He is knowledgeable about the area and you could tell he has a real passion and respect for Arizona. If you are second guessing it, go right along and book it. And ask for Stephen.

9. Full-Day Guided Trip to The Grand Canyon from Phoenix

Starbucks, 550 E Willetta St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA Elegant Travel LLC
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5.0 based on 6 reviews

You will see some of the most beautiful places in the world all in one day! We will meet at Starbucks at 8am, and head to the gorgeous red rocks of Sedona. Not only is Sedona absolutely stunning, it is thought to have healing powers from the magnetic vortices located there. We will visit the site of an actual vortex, Chapel of the Holy Cross overlooking Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock. Then we'll grab a bite to eat before we head to Flagstaff traveling on one of the most scenic highways in America, 89A. We will stop at Oak Creek Canyon Vista, a gorgeous scenic viewpoint where there is a Native American Crafts Market run by local Native Americans, and then we will head out to view one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon! We will arrive at the Grand Canyon in the afternoon to take in this magnificent and breathtaking sight! Then you will enjoy the best sunset in the world, an Arizona sunset, on our drive back to Phoenix!

Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water

Exclusions: Dinner, Lunch

Reviewed By briannarenee222

The number of times I said, "WOOOOOW!" on this trip was insane. I couldn't get over the natural features of the landscape. Naala was so informative, attentive, and thoughtful. She made sure to communicate with me through the sixteen-hour trip (it was just the two of us.) I had the chance to see Red Rocks, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona, scenic HWY 89a, Oak Creek Canyon, Flagstaff, and Horseshoe Bend at the Golden Hour and oh boy this is a trip that'll be hard to forget. On our way back to Phoenix, I tried sitting back and taking a nap, but I couldn't stop envisioning the beautiful scenery I had seen. Naala, thank you for a fantastic experience that I'll never forget, YOU ROCK and I'LL BE BACK!

10. Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments Tour from Phoenix

Historic Arizona Tours Arizona
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

This day tour gives you the chance to venture north from the Phoenix area to see several historical sites that visitors come from around the world to see. This allows you to experience several very old locations that are so important in the history of Arizona. Luckily they have been preserved so visitors can still enjoy them as they have for hundreds of years. This makes a great day tour when the temperatures are rising in the Phoenix area as we climb to the cooler higher altitudes of the state. - Wupatki National Monument - Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Third Stop Options: - Museum of Northern Arizona or - Riordan Mansion State Historical Park or - Lowell Observatory - The Home of Pluto - Lunch included

Inclusions: Being in Arizona we always carry water for our clients.

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