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Best Things to Do in Arizona — Hidden Gems, Scenic Drives & Bucket-List Views
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items I’ve spent so much time exploring the corners of the Grand Canyon State, and honestly, the "tourist traps" don't even scratch the surface of why I love it here. This list is a collection of the places that actually took my breath away, the ones I tel...
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Beyond the Beaten Path: The Arizona Hikes That Actually Blew My Mind
Beyond the Trail: My Favorite Roadside Stops and Old West Time Capsules
Beyond the Beaten Path: The Arizona Hikes That Actually Blew My Mind
Arizona is so much more than just the Grand Canyon, and if you're willing to lace up your boots, you’ll find some of the most insane landscapes in the world here. I’ve spent countless hours on these trails, from the red dust of Sedona to the jagged p...
I’m not going to lie to you, the last half-mile of this trail is basically a vertical scramble, but the payoff is one of the coolest things I've seen in Arizona. Standing inside that massive rock "wave" and looking out over the desert floor makes you...
The Best View in the Superstitions: Why the Wave Cave is Worth the Burn
Every time I head to Sedona, this is the one spot I can’t skip, even with the crowds. Standing out on that natural sandstone bridge is a total adrenaline rush, but it’s actually much wider than it looks in photos, so don't be too nervous! The secret ...
Walking on Air at Devil’s Bridge: My Tips for the Most Iconic Photo in Sedona
If you want that classic Sedona energy without the massive crowds at the more popular spots, this is where I’m sending you. The hike in is actually pretty mellow and flat, but once you reach the “cave”, which is more like a giant, teardrop-shaped alc...
Sedona’s Best Kept Secret: Finding the Hidden View at the Birthing Cave
This is the hike I recommend to everyone who wants to see the "real" desert. It’s not just about the workout; it’s about the reward at the end. You hike through these massive saguaros and eventually hit a rocky canyon filled with hundreds of ancient ...
Ancient History and Hidden Pools: Why Hieroglyphic Spring is My Favorite Superstition Scramble
If you only have one evening in the Phoenix area, this is where I’m telling you to go. There’s something about the way the sun hits the jagged face of the Superstition Mountains that makes the whole desert glow bright orange, it’s honestly surreal. I...
Sunset Magic at the Superstitions: Why Lost Dutchman State Park is a 10/10 Must
This is the ultimate "right place, right time" hike. It’s located on the north side of the Superstitions, but the catch is that the waterfalls are seasonal, you really need to head out right after a heavy rain or during the spring snowmelt to see it ...
Arizona’s Secret Oasis: Chasing the Seasonal Magic at Canyon of the Waterfalls
This is widely considered the "best hike in Tucson" for a reason. It’s an absolute classic that ends at a massive, seven-tiered waterfall with pools you can actually swim in. The hike itself is about 8 miles round trip from the visitor center, but he...
Seven Falls: The Ultimate Reward for Your Seven Stream Crossings
When I need a break from the steep climbs and just want to take in some incredible scenery, this is my go-to spot in Prescott. The Peavine is a "rails-to-trails" path, so it’s wide and relatively flat, making it perfect for a long walk or a bike ride...
The Best of the Dells: Why I Love the Granite Views on the Peavine Trail
Whenever I’m in the Flagstaff area, I make it a point to stop by Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. It is honestly one of the most surreal places in Arizona, you’re basically walking through a giant, frozen lava field that looks like it belongs...
Walking on a Volcano: My Guide to the Lunar Landscapes of Sunset Crater
Don’t let the "tourist attraction" signs on I-40 fool you, this isn't some kitschy roadside trap. Standing on the edge of Meteor Crater Natural Landmark is a legitimately humbling experience. It’s the best-preserved impact site on the planet, and see...
A Mile-Wide Reminder of Our Place in the Universe: Why I Still Stop for Meteor Crater
I honestly think the Painted Desert is one of the most underrated landscapes in the Southwest. Every time I drive through, the colors look different depending on how the sun hits the hills, it’s like a giant watercolor painting that stretches for mil...
Nature’s Canvas: Why the Painted Desert is the Most Colorful Road Trip Stop
I’ll be the first to tell you: seeing Antelope Canyon in person is a spiritual experience. The way the light filters down through those narrow, swirling sandstone walls makes everything look like it’s glowing from the inside. Yes, it’s popular and yo...
The Sandstone Cathedral: My Advice for Seeing the Magic of Antelope Canyon
You’ve definitely seen the photos, but standing on the edge of Horseshoe Bend and looking 1,000 feet straight down at the emerald-green Colorado River is a whole different feeling. It’s a short, 1.5-mile round-trip walk on a well-maintained path, so ...
Worth the Hype: How to Actually Enjoy the View at Horseshoe Bend
If you’re looking for a spot that feels like a total escape from the desert heat, Apache Falls is a literal hidden gem. Located deep in the Salt River Canyon on San Carlos Apache land, it’s one of those places that most people drive right over withou...
Arizona's Best Kept Secret: Finding the Emerald Pools at Apache Falls
I know "rest area" usually means a quick bathroom break and a stretch, but the Salt River Canyon Rest Area is honestly a destination in its own right. Located right at the bottom of the "Mini Grand Canyon," this spot gives you an incredible ground-le...
More Than Just a Pit Stop: Why You Have to Pull Over at the Salt River Canyon Rest Area
Beyond the Trail: My Favorite Roadside Stops and Old West Time Capsules
Sometimes you just want the views without the sweat, or you want to dive into the weird and wonderful history that makes Arizona so unique. When I’m not on a trail, these are the places I’m heading. I love this side of the state, it’s full of kitschy...
If you want to feel like you’ve walked straight onto a 1890s movie set, Goldfield Ghost Town is a total blast. It’s located right on the edge of the Superstitions, and while it's definitely a bit touristy, the history here is real, it was a booming g...
Step Back into the Wild West: Why Goldfield Ghost Town is My Favorite Road Trip Time Capsule
I already loved the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, but their "Dinos in the Desert" exhibit takes it to a whole new level. It is so cool to turn a corner on a desert trail and come face-to-face with a life-sized, animatronic T-Rex or a Triceratops nest...
Roaring Through the Saguaro: Why You Have to See the Dinos in the Desert
If you’ve ever watched a classic Western and thought, "I wish I could go there," Old Tucson is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a legendary film location where hundreds of movies and TV shows like Tombstone and Little House on the Prairie were f...
Walking Through Movie History: Why Old Tucson is a Western Fan’s Dream
If you want to walk the same dusty streets as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, Tombstone is as real as it gets. It’s not just a tourist stop; it’s a legendary piece of American history where the wooden boardwalks and sun-bleached buildings make you feel ...
The Town Too Tough to Die: Why Tombstone is the Ultimate Wild West Pilgrimage
Tombstone has always been a town for the bold and the defiant, and the Trump Store fits that "outlaw" energy to a T. Right in the heart of the historic district on Allen Street, this place is a high-octane explosion of red, white, and blue that you l...
Unapologetic and Loud: The Trump Store is the New Outlaw Icon of Tombstone
You can’t drive through Northern Arizona without stopping to "stand on the corner" in Winslow. This town is the definition of Route 66 nostalgia, and they’ve done an incredible job leaning into that classic Eagles song. It’s one of those places that ...
Take It Easy: Why You Have to Stand on the Most Famous Corner in Arizona
If you’re looking for a place with a serious "vibe," Jerome Grand Hotel is it. Perched at the very top of the town of Jerome, this massive building used to be a state-of-the-art hospital back in the 1920s, and honestly, it still feels like it. It’s c...
Sleep With One Eye Open: My Night at the Haunted Jerome Grand Hotel
If you’re a fan of urban exploration or just love the eerie side of Route 66, you have to pull over at Twin Arrows. This used to be a bustling trading post and diner back in the day, but now it’s a beautiful, decaying ruin that tells the story of how...
Abandoned and Iconic: Why Twin Arrows is My Favorite Route 66 Ghost Stop