Arizona Vacations Idea #1: For family fun in Phoenix check out
The Enchanted Island Amusement Park located in the heart of picturesque Encanto Park. The Encanto Carousel is the oldest continuously-operating carousel in Arizona and has charmed riders for over 50 years. Enchanted Island is filled with charm and magic, offering nine fanciful rides and a variety of popular attractions geared especially toward children aged 2 to 10.
Arizona Vacations Idea #2:Black Canyon National Park is the country's newest national park, gaining that status on October 21, 1999. It is centered on the 48 mile long, 2 million year old canyon that provides visitors with spectacular views of near vertical, half mile high walls. There are hiking trails along the two rims and backpack hiking down into the canyon along with trout fishing and rock climbing.
Arizona Vacations Idea #3:See the
London Bridge, called the "world's largest antique", in
Lake Havasu City. The bridge, which was slowly sinking into London's Thames River, was disassembled and each block of granite carefully marked with a number. The bridge was reassembled at Lake Havasu, and Bridgewater Channel was dredged underneath it to create an island. Dedicated in October 1971, the bridge has become one of Arizona's most-visited attractions. An annual celebration, London Bridge Days, commemorates the dedication with a parade, concerts and a full-fledged Renaissance Festival.
Arizona Vacations Idea #4: The Great Western Tube Float is a 5-mile long inner tube race on the Colorado River near Parker. Whether you participate or remain a spectator, this yearly event is loads of fun. You can compete as singles, groups or teams.
Parker has over 30 major special events each year.
Vacation Ideas in Arizona #5:Every July Prescott holds its
Prescott Frontier Days where you can find the
World's Oldest Rodeo. Since 1888 bulls, broncos and clowns have been entertaining while world-class cowboys have been competing for the coveted Championship Buckle. Besides bull riding you can enjoy Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Wild Horse Racing, Barrel Racing, Specialty Acts, Bullfighters and Barrelman Clowns.
Vacation Ideas in Arizona #6:Verde Canyon Railroad, in Clarkdale, is a narrated, four-hour, round trip railroad, historical, and nature tour. Ideal for everyone, especially train buffs. Ride in comfort through the red-rocked unspoiled wilderness of Verde Canyon, past prehistoric cliff dwellings, over a covered railroad trestle, and through a 680 foot man-made tunnel.
Arizona Vacations Idea #7:Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, contains 146 square miles of petrified wood and quartz rock. This is a great place for day hikes but since there are no developed trails it is all done cross country. Guided tours are available as well as special activities such as the Junior Ranger program.
Vacation Ideas in Arizona #8:Take a vacation in Phoenix, Arizona and you can stay at one of the oldest resort hotels in the U.S.
The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa is also the only existing hotel that can claim Frank Loyd Wright as one of its designers. It was built in 1929 and today it sits in the heart of Phoenix providing the city with a destination spot known around the world as the "Jewel of the Desert". This is 39 acres of lush gardens, pools, tennis courts and spas all at the foot of the beautiful Phoenix Mountain Preserve.
Arizona Vacations Idea #9:Coconino National Forest, in Arizona, is a great place to go four-wheeling on your next vacation. Right across the street from Coconino National Forest is Quadmanor where you can rent a 3 bedroom cabin for your vacation stay. They've got 4 wheel ATVs available and there are plenty of scenic trails and forestry roads to go riding on. Quadmanor has everything the family will need including cable television, DVD and VCR and high speed internet along with a computer. The quads or a Yamaha Rhino are also included. This is a great spot for an outdoor family adventure vacation.
Arizona Vacations Idea #9:Bisbee, Arizona is the place to go where you can take a tour of one of the richest copper mines in history. You put on a miner's helmet with headlamp and a miner's slicker and head on down into the subterranean tunnels and mine shafts for a
Queen Mine Tour. Above ground, Bisbee is an interesting and historical spot. The
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is a Smithsonian museum that celebrates the miners and the town that is
The Queen of the Copper Camps. The town of Bisbee is a fun place with craft shops, western wares, a one-of-a-kind Old Bisbee Ghost Tour, a Repertory Theater, the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, bird tours and the Southern Institute for Culture & Art.
Arizona Vacations Idea #10:At the
Arizona Cowboy College, you can spend a week fulfilling that childhood dream of being a cowboy. The Cowboy College is a working cattle ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona. On your cowboy vacation adventure you will spend the first two days learning the skills that every cowboy needs to know like riding, roping and equine safety. You will learn how to handle your horse. Then the next four days will be spent out working alongside real cowboys. You will be eating, working and camping out on the open range. If this sounds like your idea of fun then head out to the Arizona Cowboy College.
Arizona Vacations Idea #11:The
Coronado Trail Scenic Byway is a great place for a scenic road trip. About 450 years ago the explorer Coronado took this same route searching for the fabled for the "Seven Cities of Cibola". Today this 120 mile scenic drive is an excellent way to view all the beautiful Arizona landscapes. There are lots of places to stop along the way. The path runs next to Apache Sitgreaves National Forest where you can camp and fish. About mid-point is the the
Blue Vista Overlook and
Mogollon Rim. These are two popular spots provide excellent views overlooking the Arizona desert. In the fall, the small community of Nutrioso is a great spot to view the wonderful array of colors as the forest trees shed their leaves for the season. The Coronado Trail Scenic Byway will give you plenty of opportunity to for nature photography.
