What are the best things to do in Arizona?

Arizona offers an extraordinary range of experiences. Visit the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Hike Camelback Mountain or Cathedral Rock in Sedona. Explore Old Town Scottsdale's 100+ art galleries and boutiques. Tour ancient cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Experience the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. Attend Cactus League Spring Training games across the Phoenix metro area. Drive the Arizona stretch of historic Route 66 through Flagstaff, Williams, and Seligman.

What is the best time to visit Arizona?

The best time to visit Arizona depends on your destination. For Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson, October through April offers ideal temperatures (60-85°F) and is peak season for golf, hiking, and outdoor dining. Spring (March-April) is perfect for Cactus League baseball and wildflower blooms. Summer is best for northern Arizona - Sedona, Flagstaff (elevation 7,000 ft), and the Grand Canyon stay 15-20°F cooler than the desert. Fall brings pleasant temperatures statewide and fewer crowds.

What are the best neighborhoods in Scottsdale?

Old Town Scottsdale is the vibrant heart of the city, packed with art galleries along the Scottsdale ArtWalk, upscale dining at FnB and Citizen Public House, and lively nightlife. The Scottsdale Arts District features the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and the Scottsdale Civic Center. North Scottsdale offers luxury desert resorts like The Phoenician and Four Seasons, championship golf at TPC Scottsdale, and stunning McDowell Sonoran Preserve trails. South Scottsdale has a growing craft brewery and restaurant scene along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt.

What are the best hiking trails in Arizona?

Arizona's top hiking trails include Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon (9.5 miles to the Colorado River), Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon Trail in Phoenix (1.2 miles, strenuous), Cathedral Rock Trail in Sedona (1.2 miles with red-rock scrambling), Humphreys Peak Trail near Flagstaff (Arizona's highest point at 12,633 ft), Havasu Falls (10 miles to stunning turquoise waterfalls), and Tom's Thumb Trail in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. For easier hikes, try Papago Park's Hole in the Rock in Phoenix or the Devil's Bridge Trail in Sedona.

What are the best restaurants in Phoenix?

Phoenix's dining scene features James Beard Award nominees and diverse cuisines. Top picks include Binkley's Restaurant in Cave Creek for contemporary American tasting menus, Barrio Café for elevated Mexican cuisine, Pizzeria Bianco (nationally acclaimed pizza), Kai at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass for Native American-inspired fine dining, and Hana Japanese Eatery for omakase. For casual dining, try The Larder + The Delta for Southern comfort food, Tacos Chiwas for Chihuahua-style tacos, and Cornish Pasty Co. for eclectic pub food. Phoenix also boasts vibrant food halls like The Churchill and Uptown Farmers Market.

What are the best desert resorts in Arizona?

Arizona is home to world-renowned desert resorts. The Phoenician in Scottsdale offers a luxury spa, golf course, and Camelback Mountain views. Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain features boutique casita-style rooms and the acclaimed elements restaurant. The Boulders Resort in Carefree sits among dramatic 12-million-year-old granite formations. Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North provides secluded desert luxury with Pinnacle Peak views. Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa in Tucson is a top-ranked wellness destination. L'Auberge de Sedona offers creekside luxury amid Sedona's red rocks.

What events are happening in Arizona in 2026?

Arizona's 2026 event calendar features major highlights: Cactus League Spring Training (February-March) with 15 MLB teams across 10 Phoenix-area stadiums. The WM Phoenix Open golf tournament (February) at TPC Scottsdale is the best-attended event in golf. Scottsdale Culinary Festival (April) showcases Arizona's dining scene. The Arizona Renaissance Festival (February-March) runs weekends in Gold Canyon. Sedona International Film Festival (February) draws filmmakers worldwide. Country Thunder Arizona (April) brings four days of country music to Florence. Arizona Diamondbacks and Phoenix Suns provide year-round professional sports action.

Is Arizona good for a family vacation?

Arizona is an excellent family destination year-round. Top family attractions include the Phoenix Zoo (one of the largest nonprofit zoos in the U.S.), Arizona Science Center, Children's Museum of Phoenix, and OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale. For outdoor fun, visit Slide Rock State Park near Sedona, Lake Powell for houseboat adventures, or Kartchner Caverns State Park for underground tours. The Grand Canyon Junior Ranger program engages kids at all ages. Many Scottsdale and Phoenix resorts offer kids' clubs and family pool areas. Tucson's Pima Air & Space Museum has 400+ aircraft on display.

What are the best day trips from Phoenix?

Phoenix is ideally located for Arizona day trips. Sedona (2 hours north) offers red-rock hiking and vortex sites. The Grand Canyon South Rim is a 3.5-hour drive. Tucson (1.5 hours south) features Saguaro National Park and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Jerome, a former copper mining ghost town, sits 1.5 hours north with art galleries and the Jerome Grand Hotel. Prescott (1.5 hours) has Whiskey Row saloons and Watson Lake. Montezuma Castle (1.5 hours) showcases 800-year-old cliff dwellings. Apache Trail east of Phoenix offers Tortilla Flat, Canyon Lake, and the Superstition Mountains.

What is there to do in Sedona?

Sedona offers a unique blend of outdoor adventure, spirituality, and arts. Hike to Cathedral Rock, Devil's Bridge, or Bell Rock for iconic red-rock views. Visit the four main vortex sites (Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Boynton Canyon) believed to radiate healing energy. Explore Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village for galleries and Southwestern art. Take a Pink Jeep Tour through the backcountry. Visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the red rocks. Sedona's dining scene includes Elote Cafe (Mexican-inspired), Mariposa (Latin-inspired with panoramic views), and Cress on Oak Creek. The Sedona International Film Festival runs annually in February.

Arizona Trip Itineraries

Curated three-day plans built around the best of the Grand Canyon State

Come See Arizona publishes six curated three-day Arizona itineraries: Natural Wonders (Grand Canyon, Sedona, Monument Valley), Arts and Culture (Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson), Arizona Dining (Tucson UNESCO gastronomy through Scottsdale fine dining), Golf Paradise (TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, We-Ko-Pa), Family Fun (Phoenix Zoo, OdySea Aquarium, Slide Rock), and Old West History (Tombstone, Bisbee, Jerome). Each includes day-by-day plans with specific stops, trails, and restaurants.

Each itinerary below is a complete three-day plan with specific stops, trails, restaurants, and timing built in. Pick the one that matches your travel style, or combine two for a longer trip. Every plan starts from the Phoenix metro area unless noted, and all of them work year-round with seasonal adjustments for summer heat.

3 Days of Arizona's Natural Wonders

Arizona is home to some of the most breathtaking natural landscapes on the planet. From the mile-deep Grand Canyon to the towering red rock formations of Sedona and the iconic mesas of Monument Valley, this itinerary...

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3 Days of Arts and Culture

Arizona has a thriving arts and culture scene that spans Native American heritage, Western art traditions, contemporary galleries, and vibrant street art. This itinerary guides you through the creative heart of the...

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3 Days of Arizona Dining

Arizona's food scene has grown into one of the most exciting and diverse in the country. Tucson holds the distinction of being the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, and Phoenix and Scottsdale are home...

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3 Days of Golf Paradise

With over 300 days of sunshine each year and more than 200 golf courses across the state, Arizona is one of the premier golf destinations in the world. The Scottsdale and Phoenix corridor alone is home to dozens of...

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3 Days of Family Fun

Arizona is packed with family-friendly attractions that go far beyond the desert scenery. From world-class zoos and aquariums to hands-on science exhibits and outdoor adventures, there is something to captivate every...

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3 Days of Old West History

Arizona played a central role in the story of the American frontier, and the echoes of that era still ring through its mining towns, ghost towns, and historic main streets. This itinerary takes you to the places where...

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Need Help Planning?

Start with our visitor information guide for weather, safety, and seasonal advice, then browse things to do and hiking trails to customize any itinerary. For places to stay along the way, see our lodging guide.