Arizona Holidays

Arizona breaks are perfect for anyone that has a love for the outdoors and unique finds. Luckily, Arizona has plenty to offer, especially when it comes to exploration of its natural landscapes. Best-known for its desert locations, Arizona has hiking trails galore and amazing views. Whether you want to get in on the action or just watch from afar, Arizona holidays are jam-packed full of fun.

• Grand Canyon National Park – Providing fantastic views, you can hike, take a mule ride and even take part in some rafting.
• Antelope Canyon – A truly fascinating sight, these sandstone formations feature light shafts and rippling shapes.
• Oak Creek Canyon – This river gorge makes for a great setting for camping, fishing and even swimming.
• Coconino National Forest – A nature reserve which is best-known for its red coloured rocks and pine forests.  
• Monument Valley – Perhaps one of the best-known areas on the Navajo Nation Reservation features red foothills.  

Arizona holidays are great anytime of the year. But, the summer time definitely attracts huge crowds of people. As there are plenty of sights which bring in loads of crowds, you might when to avoid the summer in order to dodge the queues and groups of people. Instead, head to Arizona in the spring or autumn when the temperatures are still warm, especially in the desert. During the winter, Arizona experiences lower temperatures but it is still warm compared to other destinations. However, the evenings can feel a little chilly, so it is best to still back a couple of jumpers.

Average monthly weather (°C) (Based on Phoenix):

• January: 19° / 4°
• February: 21° / 6°
• March: 24° / 8°
• April: 29° / 11°
• May: 34° / 16°
• June: 39° / 20°
• July: 41° / 25°
• August: 40° / 24°
• September: 37° / 21°
• October: 31° / 14°
• November: 24° / 8°
• December: 19° / 4°

In Arizona, you’ll no doubt come across your usual spots which serve culinary favourites like burgers and pizzas. But, due to the state’s close proximity to Mexico, Arizona’s cuisine has definitely enjoyed influences from its Mexican settlers. As a result, popular Mexican dishes can be found in various restaurants throughout the state. Burritos with a meaty filling are a classic fast food favourite along with delicious chimichangas topped with cheese. During your Arizona holiday, check out these top places to eat:

• The Mission
• Barrio Café
• The Capital Grille
• St. Francis
• Butters Pancakes and Café

Arizona’s has a different vibe for every holidaymaker to enjoy. Whether you enjoy a night on the town, drinking a couple of cocktails at a bar or dancing the night away in a club, Scottsdale is the place for you. Enjoying a range of bars and lounges as well as night clubs, Scottsdale is for those who come out at night. On the other hand, for a more artsy vibe, Phoenix offers laid-back bars and venues which include life music performances. The younger crowd will enjoy the Mill Avenue area, close to Arizona State University. Make sure you check out these top nightlife spots:

• Crescent Ballroom
• Linger Longer Lounge
• The Mint Ultra Lounge
• Kazimierz Wine Bar
• Mill Cue Club

One of the most amazing things about Arizona has to be its cultural influences. Resting along the Mexican border, there are multiple Mexican influences throughout Arizona thanks to early Mexican settlers. Arizona’s cuisine is heavily inspired by Mexico and their dishes. As well as the obvious Western influences, Arizona is also the home of many Native American sites. The Navajo Nation Reservation is in fact the largest land area retained by a Native American community. Moreover, visitors are welcome to embark on tours of Native American sites in major cities and settlements like Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.

• Canyon de Chelly – The poignant red cliffs of this canyon mark one of the longest populated regions by the Native American community.
• Tonto National Monument – This monument was occupied between the 13^th and 15^th-centuries. Visitors are able to take a self-guided tour thanks to the site’s preservation.
• Navajo National Monument – This iconic landmark was built in 1250 and is open to guided tours as you can’t visit them without a Native American guide.

No doubt, one of the main attractions of Arizona is the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River has helped carve the marvel into what it is today, and it continues to be a popular tourist attraction. There are plenty of tours available, so you can explore the Grand Canyon close up or from a birds-eye view. Take off in a small plane or helicopter where you can admire the views from above or hop on a mule to get a closer look at the canyon. Covering a 277-mile stretch, there is plenty of the Grand Canyon to go around, meaning you can choose from the north, south, east or west sections of it to investigate.