Arizona attractions

With its snow-white adobe bell towers and ornate facade rising out of the cacti-studded Sonoran Desert, Mission San Xavier del Bac embodies its nickname—the “White Dove of the Desert.” Founded by Jesuit missionaries in 1626, it’s among the oldest Catholic sites in the US, renowned for its unique architecture and rich iconography.

Surrounded by the cacti-dotted valleys of the Sonoran Desert, the jagged peaks and sheer cliffs of the Superstition Mountains are one of Arizona’s most photographed natural wonders. Hugging the southern borders of the Tonto National Forest and reaching heights of 6,266 ft (1,910 meters, the mountains are a firm favorite among hikers and rock climbers.

Known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, Williams is nestled in the pine trees of Northern Arizona and offers access to countless outdoor adventures. Set along historic Route 66, the town has an eclectic wild-west persona, complete with a historic downtown, Grand Canyon Railway Depot, saloons, and Americana-style shops and restaurants.

Set in the arid landscape just outside Tucson, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum showcases the desert’s flora, fauna, and history through live-animal and multimedia exhibits. The museum spreads across 98 acres (39.7 hectares) of natural desert landscape and contains more than 230 species of animals and 1,200 kinds of plants.

Featuring some of the area’s top boutiques and shops, Scottsdale Fashion Square is Arizona’s largest shopping destination with more than 200 stores, some of which cannot be found elsewhere in the state. In addition to a range of different retailers, including luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co., Prada, Neiman Marcus, Jimmy Choo, and Burberry, there are plenty of dining options and a movie theater.

With views of ruddy cliffs everywhere you look, Red Rock State Park is a sight to behold. Trails slice through this 286-acre (116-hectare) nature preserve, winding through manzanita juniper shrubs toward the banks of Oak Creek. The visitor center offers numerous daily activities for guests, including nature walks and naturalist activities.

Note: The North Rim is closed to visitors following the impact of the Dragon Bravo Fire in July 2025. A reopening date is yet to be confirmed. \ The North Rim draws travelers seeking a less crowded Grand Canyon experience. While the area lacks the South Rim’s extensive infrastructure and attractions, scenic drives and hikes abound amid the high-altitude landscape of leafy forests, unspoiled nature, and big views. Plus, you may spot wildlife including mule deer and elk, or even the herd of bison that wanders its aspen-wrapped meadows.

In Scottsdale's Old Town, this small but mighty museum is best known for the Knight Rise skyspace by acclaimed artist James Turrell—an outdoor enclosure with a concrete bench and open ceiling that lets you observe the sky. The minimalist museum also boasts four galleries dedicated to contemporary art, architecture, and design.

Built in 1931 to appeal to an increasing number of visitors arriving by car, this 26-mile (42-kilometer driving route is a visual delight, showing off the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Hugging the rim of one of America’s most epic natural wonders, the road leads to several scenic pullouts and viewpoints.

Stretching for 200 miles from Arizona to New Mexico, the Mogollon Rim is a spectacular aerial playground. A rocky escarpment—a plateau, essentially—rising over 2,000 feet (610 meters) above the desert below, up here you’ll find verdant canyons, fishing lakes, dramatic white cliffs, tunnels of pine, trails and campgrounds, and adventure galore.

For exceptional views out over Oak Creek Canyon, make your way to Oak Creek Vista, just off Route 89A between Flagstaff and Sedona. While the views alone are worth a visit, there’s also an artisan market led by Native American craftspeople to visit plus a seasonal information booth run by the Arizona National History Association to see.

The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest non-government aerospace museums in the world. Spread across 80 acres (32 hectares) and five indoor hangars, the grounds display some 125,000 artifacts and 300 aircraft, including the world’s smallest biplane, presidential planes, MiGs, a German buzz bomb, and an SR-71A Blackbird.

Named after the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine from Old West lore, Lost Dutchman State Park is a scenic public park in the Sonoran Desert about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Phoenix. Situated on the Apache Trail—a former stagecoach route officially known as Arizona State Route 99—the park is popular for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and periodic ranger-led moonlight hikes.

If you gaze at Snoopy Rock from the right angle, the red rock formation resembles the famousPeanuts dog lying on his back with Woodstock on his nose. This rock—one of the most famous in Sedona—can be spotted from a number of viewpoints, such as Marg’s Draw Trail, and the shops, restaurants, galleries, and cafés of uptown.

Occupying one of the oldest residential areas in Phoenix, Heritage Square comprises 10 fully restored Victorian buildings dating back to the original townsite in the 19th and 20th centuries. Visitors can tour house museums, dine at award-winning restaurants, or even catch a ballgame at Chase Field next door.

At six stories tall and 82 feet wide (25 meters), the screen of the Grand Canyon IMAX is grand, perfect for a screening of Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets in the 487-person theater. The 34-minute show takes travelers into the canyon with historical commentary and incredible aerial views—a perfect introduction to the real thing.

On the historic 43-acre (17-hectare) Pendley Homestead, just north of Sedona, Slide Rock State Park is considered one of the top swimming holes in America—it’s most famous for its 80-foot (24-meter) natural water slide. The park, set in Oak Creek Canyon, is also home to an apple orchard, historic sites, picnic areas, hiking trails, and volleyball courts.

The outdoorsy town of Flagstaff wouldn't be the same without the San Francisco Peaks, a volcanic mountain range located north of town. Known locally as "The Peaks," this is where adventurers come to ski, hike, camp, view wildlife, and rejuvenate in nature. The six summits are remnants of an ancient stratovolcano that rose 16,000 feet (4,877 meters) high.

One of the largest urban parks on the planet, South Mountain Park straddles a swath of south Phoenix from South Mountain Village to Ahwatukee Foothills Village. A local point of pride, the park and desert nature preserve has popular hiking, biking, and horseback trails. Inside the park, visitors will find multiple lookouts, the Mystery Castle stone mansion, and an environmental education center.

Straddling Maricopa and Yavapai counties on the northern outskirts of Phoenix, Lake Pleasant Regional Park is a popular recreation area where you can go fishing, hiking, boating, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, camping—and even scuba diving. Its highlight is Lake Pleasant, an artificial lake and part of the Central Arizona Project waterway system of Arizona.

A recreation mecca outside Phoenix, Saguaro Lake provides boating, fishing, camping, and picnicking opportunities in a setting surrounded by groves of saguaro cacti. The lake was formed by the Stewart Mountain Dam, creating an oasis in the desert. Cool off in the water, enjoy a lakeside meal, and partake in activities at the marina.

The Hualapai have been living in the Grand Canyon area for generations, and today the tribe offers some of the area’s best experiences at Hualapai Ranch. Enjoy cowboy shows, cookouts, and wagon rides; visit Indian Village to learn fascinating history; and brave the Skywalk, a platform extending 70 feet (21 meters) out over the canyon.

Deep-dive into the wonders of the world’s oceans at the SEA LIFE® Aquarium Arizona. Located in Phoenix, it’s a favorite destination for families and home to more than 5,000 fish and marine life; expect to see sharks, sea turtles, rays, octopus, and more.

With red-rock cliffs in all directions, Canyon Lake is quite the watery jewel—and it’s just 45 minutes east of Phoenix, in Tonto National Forest. Ten miles (16 kilometers) long with 28 miles of shoreline, this little oasis in the desert attracts water skiers, boaters, swimmers, anglers, hikers, and those simply looking for an accessible slice of Mother Nature.

Sabino Canyon is a popular South Arizona recreation area outside of Tucson at the feet of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The area is known as a picnicking spot. It's also a hiker’s paradise with first-rate trails, such as the Seven Falls trail through Bear Canyon. The Sabino Canyon Crawler, an electric tram rolling through the canyon, is popular, too.

The Arizona Science Center, set within picturesque Heritage and Science Park in Downtown Phoenix, comprises 140,000 square feet (13,000 square meters) of hands-on exhibits designed to educate and entertain. The complex also includes a planetarium and 5-story-tall screen within the Irene P. Flinn Theater.

Find some of the most inspiring scenic views in the American Southwest at Horseshoe Bend. The site’s scenic overlook sits on a clifftop 1,000 feet (300 meters) above the Colorado River, offering a bird’s-eye vista of the horseshoe-shaped curve in the sandstone canyon below created by the rushing river over five million years.

Enjoy the ultimate indoor LEGO® adventure at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona. Located in the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, this interactive LEGO-themed entertainment park features a dozen rides, build-and-play zones, games, workshops, a café, shop, and a 4D cinema, and offers hours of educational fun for kids and their families.

Filled with American Indian artifacts, fine art, and natural science displays, the Museum of Northern Arizona is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Colorado Plateau. Visit the 200-acre (80-hectare) campus to explore the vast array of exhibits as well as the museum’s majestic surroundings.

Enjoy an evening of improv comedy and laughter at the National Comedy Theatre (NCT) in Phoenix. Inspired by the hit television showWhose Line Is It Anyway, the NCT offers a spontaneous comedy show with plenty of audience interaction. See two teams of professional comedians perform scenes and compete to be the winner of the show.