Hi friends! I always get a ton of DM’s about what to do when visiting Arizona so I wanted to round up ten ideas that I think are worth seeing/doing if you find yourself in Arizona! Let’s get right to it I think you all get it! ๐
1) The Glen Canyon National Recreational Area. I added this one to the list because it is possible to check off THREE really cool things in one day. Although it is worth spending more than one day around here if you have the time! But here you can see Lake Powell, parts of the Grand Canyon, AND the world famous Horseshoe Bend created by the Colorado River. It really is all worth seeing at least once in your life! The sheer size and beauty of the Grand Canyon is insane!!
2) Old Town Scottsdale Nightlife. Okay this one is not for everyone and I totally know that, I am not even much of a partier. However, the nightlife in Scottsdale is almost nationally recognized. From bachelorette parties to Dierks Bentley showing up at his bar Whiskey Row pretty often. I think you have to experience, or just see once, the craziness of Old Town Scottsdale on a Saturday night! It is definitely worth an adventure, just make sure and drinks lots of water and gatorade while partying! ๐
3) Hiking. Hiking in Arizona is amazing. There are so many different hikes that us locals love. There is hiking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale. There is South Mountain if you are staying in Phoenix. And there are the Superstition Mountain hikes as well. Which are beautiful in the winter and you can swing by Goldfield Ghost Town on your way back! Just make sure it is not too hot out and bring lots of water, you would be surprised how many people try to hike when its way too hot and it can be very dangerous!
4) Sedona! Sedona is one of my favorite places ever! The Red Rocks are some of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen in my life! The elevation and weather in Sedona make it almost perfect year round and there are so many beautiful hotel/resorts to stay at. Be sure to check out the Chapel of the Holy Cross, do some wine tasting, golf, hike, or go on the world famous Pink Jeep Tours!
5) Shopping in Scottsdale. Okay you all know I love my clothes, shoes and bags so I had to include shopping somewhere on this list. Shopping in Scottsdale is similar to shopping destinations like Vegas, New York, or LA. The Scottsdale Fashion Square is a luxury mall in downtown and the largest mall in Arizona. They have a Nordstrom, Apple, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and all of the brands you could think of! Make sure you set a spending limit, it’s easy to get carried away here LOL
6) Skiing or Summer Activities at Sunrise! Not a ton of people would think of skiing or snowboarding when they think of Arizona but we actually have two really good destinations in Northern Arizona, you’d be surprised! Sunrise Park Resort has some great skiing on groomed trails and over 1200 acres of resort! In the summer, they have scenic lift rides, mountain biking, zip lines, and it is BEAUTIFUL up in the White Mountains of Arizona. It reminds me of growing up in WA ๐
7) Stay at a Resort. Arizona is famous for having great weather when everyone else in the country is freezing their butts off! So one of the coolest times to visit is early winter or early spring to experience one of the many beautiful resorts AZ has to offer! If you need some sun during a long winter, my personal favorites are Omni Scottsdale, The Phoenician, and The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain. They can be pricey but for a once or twice a year treat, they are the perfect way to spoil yourself!
8) Golf! So I have to admit that I have really gotten into golf. G started golfing with his friends and I started out going to the range with him, but now we have actually gone golfing a few times and it is SO FUN. Especially if you go with a fun group. We have some of the best courses in the world in Arizona, like TPC Scottsdale. But if you just want to have fun at a local course or city course, there are golf courses about every 5 miles or so in Arizona! Hint: get a super early tee time to beat the heat and be finished in time for lunch and cocktails! ๐
9) Explore the Food in AZ! Arizona is known for its amazing food, especially southwest inspired trendy food spots! Some of my personal favorites are Blanco Tacos & Tequila, Chelsea’s Kitchen, Diego Pops, Pemberton PHX, Wren and Wolf, Elements at Sanctuary Resort, Postino, and Citizen Public House!
10) Relax and Get Some Vitamin D! I grew up in Washington until college and I was used to gloomy, rainy days and not seeing the sun much until summer. Little did I know how much I would fall in love with Arizona and it’s warm weather, sunny days, and almost year round (too hot in the summer) patio weather. While I miss the seasonal changes and different amazing things about WA, AZ has some of the best sunrises and sunsets I’ve ever seen. So have fun, stay cool, and if you are visiting make sure to soak up all the sun while you can! ๐