There are Arizona vacations and then there are Arizona vacations! You will want to see the stunning Grand Canyon which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and one of the greatest assets of the Natural World. This canyon is huge; the floor runs 277 miles with stunning views from any area of the Canyon you visit.
With lots of other things to see in Arizona you will want to visit the city of Flagstaff and see the beautiful mountains surrounding it. There you can enjoy shopping, music and wonderful dining as well as visit the Meteor Crater Center where you will see displays of the never-ending process of impacts and collisions in our solar system by the Meteors. If you are there at the right time of year you will be able to see the Oldest Hopi Art Show. Of course there is also the Painted Forest in the area which shows the beauty created in petrified wood by nature.
The begin your day headed for the Grand Canyon where you will drive north of Flagstaff on Hwy 89 toward Hwy 64. The reason for going this route is that it takes you to the less crowded East entrance of the park. You won’t have to fight so many people to find parking and begin your adventure at the Canyon. When you arrive at the Canyon take the leisurely drive on Desert View Drive. This is the longest stretch of road open to the public along the South Rim of the Canyon. In the evening you will want to catch the sunset as it sets on the Grand Canyon with all the vibrant colors and majesty.
If you spend the night near the Canyon take off for the John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum in the morning. You will learn about this explorer’s Colorado River Voyages. At the museum you will be able to see the oversized replica of the long boat they used on the river. In the museum you will see some sketches, photos and other memorabilia of Powell’s adventures on the river from 1869 0 1871. Amid the displays are also Native American and pioneer artifacts.
Now you may want to take a ride on a boat at Lake Powell. You can find different offers in Page. This community overlooks the dramatic views of the great Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. Page also is right next to the Navajo Nation where you may want to spend another day, visiting the area and learning about the Navajo history. That is for tomorrow for today enjoy your boat ride on the 180 mile long Lake Powell with its over 90 canyon to explore and beautiful scenery of the shoreline.
Lake Powell is over 180 miles long with over ninety canyons to explore and fantastic water adventures to participate with such as boating, fishing, skiing or just relaxing.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument offers stunning vista views. Take a jeep tour of the canyon where you can see sheer cliffs and hundreds of Anasazi ruins. The Anaszi Indians are the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians. They settled in this area between about AD 1 and AD 1300. They were known for their fine basket making, pottery, cloth ornaments and tools. The homes they left behind have revealed a wide array of artifacts for your learning pleasure.
Your Arizona vacation offers you a great choice of options to do. Even though you may start in the Northeast you will want to come back often to see the rest of the states beauty. There is so much to see in each region of the state ranging from culture to history to western art.
Tags: camping