Arizona is home to some of the “wonders of the world.”
…I’ve heard there are some canyons here.
And some cacti, and mountains, and stuff. Some old, like, Indian drawings? And some wood that’s rock… or rock that’s wood, or something.
Yes, I made up these statements. But time and time again, as I meet Arizonans more native than myself, I’m shocked at how little land they have covered in their own state. Petrified what? And yeah, I went to the Grand Canyon when I was six. I remember it was pretty big.
I didn’t do a scientific study, but of the students at Arizona State who grew up here, I would say roughly half have been to the Grand Canyon. Other attractions, such as the San Francisco Peaks or the Petrified Forest, only garner tiny percentages of these people. Data from the state parks supports this — only 43% of state park visitors are from Arizona.
This shocked me. Now, I have met people who have traveled to all of Arizona’s backcountry secrets like Jerome, Bisbee, Greer and other areas. But the majority who have not? Granted, perhaps people travel more after they are done with school. But don’t families take their kids to the outdoors anymore?
Have you been to an amazing place in Arizona that you don’t think is common knowledge? Email me or comment!
I won’t bore you with all of the amazing place I’ve seen, myself, in Arizona. But I’ll give you the rundown that you should see (including some I wish I’ve seen!) that you might not have known about.
Day Trips From the Valley
Sometimes, I read in Valley magazines that it is possible to make it to Lake Havasu and back in a day. This is, quite simply, impossible for your average human, who generally exists without the ability to teleport. Here are a few of my favorite actual day trips from the Phoenix area.
1. Prescott
Distance: 2 hours
People tend to discount Prescott, especially since the drive from the I-17 to the town is packed
Watson Lake. By Jake Stein.
with Arby’s and Walmarts. However, the historic district of the former territorial capital is well worth it. Centered around the beautiful courthouse, built in 1885, the district is filled with dozens of antique shops, gorgeous Victorian-style homes from the early 20th century and some great restaurants. Notable is the Raven Cafe, which has great coffee, food, and live music most weekend nights.
But, back to the outdoors. Watson Lake and Granite Dells are my favorite areas in Prescott. Watson Lake has kayaks and other water sport rentals, while Granite Dells sports an extensive network of trails as part of the Granite Dells Wilderness Area.
2. Lost Dutchman State Park
Distance: 45 minutes from downtown; closer to East Valley cities
Los Dutchman State Park, Superstition Mountains. By Cassie Strauss.
I can’t emphasize how close this is. From Tempe, a hike, including the drive, takes only 3 hours or so. And the views. The views. You come to Lost Dutchman for the views. And the weird little establishments on the way, including the Blue Bird Gift Shop, where I bought some petrified wood for a few dollars. Since the penalty for taking the same stuff from the Petrified Forest is probably a lot more than that, plus the forest is at least five hours away, that’s a steal—pun intended.
I recommend to time your hike so you get to the zenith right before sunset. You then have to hustle to get back to your car before it gets completely dark, but Dutchman, unlike some other parks, does not close the gates at dusk.
