AZ Travel: Cool Things to See and Do

I love spending March in AZ - 15 MLB teams here for spring training, plenty of outdoor activities, and above all, instant 70-80 degree weather after a frigid winter in Chicago. But besides watching baseball and basking in the sun, what else is there to do? 

There’s more to Arizona than desert, golf, and baseball. The Phoenix area is an ideal place to hang one’s hat for a month with a plethora of things to do and places to see within the area or at least close enough for a day trip. Throughout the years when my friends venture out to AZ for spring training, a question they all have is, “What else should I do while I'm here?” Here you go: 

Grand Canyon South Rim Deemed the 3rd prettiest place in the U.S., a day trip to the Grand Canyon South Rim is a must-see and doable at 3 hours and 45 minutes (one way) from Phoenix. If you only have time for a short visit to the Canyon, you probably want to drive to Grand Canyon National Park and take in the view from Mather Point (gorgeous), enter from the east taking in viewpoints of the Little Colorado River Gorge - exploring the Desert View from the top of the watchtower, and/or drive or walk to Grand Canyon Village. Although this will only give you the Griswold version of “look at the big, beautiful hole and take some pictures”, it provides  some magnificent views in a short amount of time.  Personally, I prefer the non-touristy experience approach to travel. To REALLY get the best experience of what the Canyon has to offer, hike or take a mule ride down into the Canyon. (Don’t expect to do a round trip to the bottom and back in a day.) FYI the Canyon is at an elevation over 7,000 feet so if you visit Dec-Feb, you are going to hit snow and ice. Mule rides start at under $150 - go for a few hours or overnight.  Hiking is free (even better). 

Verde Canyon Railroad  For under $100, you can take a first class journey on a fully restored vintage train through the Verde Canyon. After boarding in Clarkdale (2 hours from Phoenix), you will travel 4 hours through native flora and fauna, beautiful desert and red rock, and experience spectacular vistas. In first class, you sit in living room-style seating, receive complimentary appetizers, a champagne toast, and can purchase cocktails throughout the trip. 

Bearizona Williams, AZ (2 hrs. 54 min. from Phoenix) is home to 160 acres of North American animals in their natural habitat. Yes, they have bears, and plenty of them.  It’s a drive-through experience (leave your windows up!) with an additional 20 acre walk-through area and well worth the trip to Williams. Visit Bearizona in the morning, have lunch in Williams at one of the many trendy restaurants (we liked Red Raven), and then drive up to the South Rim to see the amazing Grand Canyon. 

Queen Creek Olive Mill A little over an hour from Phoenix, in Queen Creek, there is an Olive Mill. You can take the 45 minute tour and learn everything you need to know about olive oil, you can shop the gourmet Marketplace, and/or sit and have breakfast or lunch under the beautiful olive trees. 

Butterfly Wonderland I’ve been to a few butterfly gardens, and this one is the best without question. 3000 butterflies and lush tropical plants and flowers make up this amazing conservatory, the largest in the U.S.  Butterfly Wonderland is located in Scottsdale at OdySea in the Desert, an entertainment destination that includes lots of attractions for adults and kids. 

Sedona If you’ve never been to Sedona, put it on your bucket list.  About 2 hours from Phoenix, drive into Sedona and you will be surrounded by magnificent red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls, and pine forests. What to do in Sedona? Take your pick - hike, bike, shop, eat, spa.  If you really want to experience the beautiful red rock without hiking or biking, take a Pink Jeep Tour - you’ll love it!  The Broken Arrow Tour is a favorite.

Hike No matter where you are staying in the Phoenix area - Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek - anywhere in the Phoenix area - you will find beautiful hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult.