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Arizona
is a state surrounded by hulking mountains and Native-American history.
Bears, elk, and deer roam the mountains, whereas pronghorn antelope,
rattlesnakes, jackrabbits, scorpions, tarantulas, and roadrunners inhabit the
more arid areas of the state. Phoenix,
Arizona’s capital and fastest growing desert city, has several mega-resorts
and many dude ranches. Phoenix is
also a baseball mecca from late February through early April - several major
league teams train here. Some of
the more popular attractions are Pueblo Grande and Montezuma Castle, which
are 800-year-old ruins of an ancient Native-American civilization and are
located a little more than an hour from Phoenix.
Tours of Taliesin west (the fascinating school created by Frank Lloyd
Wright), and the Cosanti Foundation (the futuristic workshop created by Paolo
Soleri), are all available for visitors to see throughout the year. Tucson
is an extremely popular city during the winter months for its dude ranches,
resorts, and the ecologically sealed community, Biosphere 2.
Just west of town is the old Tucson Studios.
This studio was used to shoot many of the popular western films.
Tucson also has many museums that feature Native-American art.
Also located close to the city is Saguaro National Monument, which
showcases its giant cacti. These
Saguaro Cacti can live for more than 200 years and grow well over 50 feet tall!
About 100 miles southeast of Tucson is the town of Tombstone.
Here you can experience the old west as it must have been.
Tombstone is complete with the legendary O.K. Corral (site of the
shootout between the Clantons and the Earps), Boot Hill (the most famous
graveyard in the West – hardly anyone died of natural causes), and the Bird
Cage Theater (a saloon, gambling den, and brothel).
The
Grand Canyon National Park is possibly the
most famous natural landmark in the United States.
The canyon’s depths can be viewed by riding a mule, hiking, rafting
down the Colorado River, or by flying over.
The south rim is by far the most breathtaking because it offers the best
views, but is the most popular area and during the summer months can be found
jam-packed with tourists. Some Arizona resorts in the north close in the winter, whereas those in the south may close during the summer months. Most hotels are open all year and may drastically lower their rates during the off-season. Lodging in Phoenix is clustered downtown and north near the metro center. Check out the luxurious Arizona Biltmore Resort designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In Scottsdale is the Phoenician, a glitzy resort carved out of the side of the mountain.
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Arizona
If you plan to hike
into the Grand Canyon remember that starting out is easy but the return trip is
much more difficult. Bring lots of water!