Visit Arizona: Two Sides to Savor

The Grand Canyon State satisfies both your need for wide-open spaces and your longing for modern luxuries in sophisticated settings.

Visit Arizona’s rugged side

Abundant sunshine, the raw beauty of the desert and relatively mild winters: It’s a notable trio that has helped make Arizona a reliably popular destination. And if you’re planning a getaway here, there’s a strong chance you’ll spend at least part of your time gazing at, hiking through or otherwise exploring the state’s amazing landscapes.

Few scenes drop jaws like the Grand Canyon. Some 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and a mile deep, it’s Arizona’s most-visited spot. Consider stopping by in March through May or September through November, when smaller crowds and cooler temperatures prevail. For a unique view, ride the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams before setting off along the South Rim trails in Grand Canyon National Park. If you plan to spend a few days, AAA Two Diamond-rated Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn is just seven miles from the South Rim.

Looking for a different canyon experience when you visit Arizona? Antelope Canyon—near Page, on the Arizona-Utah border—is a slot canyon. Over thousands of years, rainwater eroded the sandstone, carving a channel with vibrantly striated and swirled walls. A guided boat or walking tour is the best way to see these fascinating formations. Water from the canyon also flows into Lake Powell, a vast reservoir where you can spend a day wakeboarding or kayaking.

For another visual treat, check out The Wave, a sweeping sandstone rock formation in the nearby Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area. But keep in mind: There’s a limit of 20 visitors per day. Permits for 10 people are issued via an online lottery, and 10 more permits (for the next day) are given out via walk-in lottery.

Visit Arizona’s refined side

Beyond its rough-and-tumble exterior, Arizona reveals a sophisticated heart. Its cities and towns—from Phoenix and Scottsdale to Tucson and Sedona—are packed with buzzy culinary scenes, spas to aah over, world-class resort hotels and browse-worthy arts districts.

In downtown Phoenix, “RoRo”—officially the Roosevelt Row Arts District—is the place to be the first Friday of the month, when galleries and studios stay open late for an evening art walk. The town of Sedona ups Arizona’s art game with more than 80 galleries showcasing everything from contemporary jewelry to Native American weavings. And in Tucson, a stroll around downtown reveals some 45 murals.

Memorable meals are just as easy to find in a state filled with award-winning chefs and restaurants. Delicious options range from AAA Five Diamond-rated Kai in Chandler, where chefs use locally farmed and foraged indigenous ingredients like chiles, cactus, corn and berries, to AAA Three Diamond-rated FnB in Scottsdale, where eclectic comfort foods are served up with local seasonal sides.

If it’s a spa day you seek, Arizona’s hotel scene delivers: Phoenix is home to the iconic AAA Four Diamond-rated Arizona Biltmore, with its Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired architecture and inviting Spa Biltmore. The Well & Being Spa at AAA Five Diamond-rated Fairmont Scottsdale Princess beckons with indulgent offerings like aerial hammock yoga and customized aromatherapy massages. And at AAA Five Diamond-rated The Phoenician in Scottsdale, a rooftop pool awaits.