Yaki Point is beloved by Grand Canyon visitors for two reasons: It offers a phenomenal panorama over the canyon, and it’s not accessible by car. In other words, it’s less busy than most of the overlooks along the South Rim and the park at large. The views are gorgeous from sunrise to sunset, and the free park shuttle will take you right there.
This public university in Flagstaff has a picturesque campus set amid mountains, canyons, and desert, with the benefit of close proximity to outdoor adventure, including the countless hiking trails of nearby Sedona. Tours are available for prospective students, and the campus is also part of larger Flagstaff tours for non-students.
Named for the now empty Hayden Flour Mill at the northern end of the strip, Mill Avenue is a magnet for bar-hoppers and night owls. Its position near Arizona State University in downtown Tempe ensures a constant stream of lively fun-seekers and a somewhat bohemian atmosphere, complete with shops, restaurants, bars, and festivals.
You’ve seen these dusty streets before—Old Tucson has been the backdrop for some 300+ movies and TV shows. Part movie studio, part theme park, this 1860s Tucson lookalike fully recreates the Wild West—think gritty saloons and gunslinging stunts, along with historian-led talks on icons like the American cowboy. Tours, shows, rides, and special events bring the crowds into this storied world of the past.
With views stretching to the North Rim, bookended by Mather and Yaki points, Pipe Creek Vista is a premier overlook in Grand Canyon National Park. Take in the soaring Brahma Temple summit, sandstone O'Neill Butte, and picturesque Pipe Creek Canyon. Access the paved Canyon Rim Trail to walk west along the canyon’s rim to Mather Point or east to South Kaibab Trailhead.
Enjoy an action-packed day at Castles N’ Coasters in Phoenix. Spanning 10 acres (four hectares), the theme park offers a wide range of attractions that appeal to the young and old, including roller coasters, a carousel, mini-golf courses, go-kart, bumper cars and boats, an arcade, ziplines, an obstacle course, and more.
Though typically the home of Tucson's Scottish Rite—a Masonic organization—the Scottish Rite Grand Parlour is also a sizable venue, hosting everything from private events and weddings to illusionist shows, which are ticketed events. It features a stage, piano, and capacity topping 500 guests.
Mystery Castle is located in South Phoenix, in the foothills of South Mountain Park. Boyce Luther Gulley, who moved to the southwest to treat his tuberculosis, built the castle in the 1930s for his daughter, Mary Lou. Today, it is considered a Phoenix Point of Pride, one of 33 attractions representing the best of Phoenix.
The Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC) is a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center in the Sonoran Desert in the far north of Scottsdale. A rehab center, medical clinic, and sanctuary for animals that cannot return to the wild, the private center provides access to the public with educational programs and tours that help visitors learn about local wildlife and see some of the permanent residents.
Best done as a drive since it’s 17 miles (27 kilometers) from State Route 67, Arizona’s Point Sublime offers views of the Grand Canyon’s North Rim that are hard to forget. The bumpy, off-road drive offers clusters of old-growth ponderosa pines, meadows, and wildflowers before you reach the canyon views. The scarcity of other people and vehicles is another wonder.
Beaver Street Brewery & Whistle Stop Café is Flagstaff's first brewpub, attracting mountain bikers, hikers, river rafting guides, skiers, and just about anyone who loves award-winning craft beer. Following the success of Beaver Street Brewery, which opened in 1994, Lumberyard Brewery followed in 2010. Lumberyard is the flagship brewery where Beaver Street's beloved beers are brewed.
Birdwatching, short hiking trails, and Indigenous history bring visitors to Homolovi State Park, also called the "Place of the Little Hills," the Hopi name for the land near Winslow, Arizona, where the state park lies. The park is a significant community site for the Hopi and is home to two ancient Anasazi archaeological sites with petroglyphs and traditional pit houses.
Perched 3000 feet (914 meters) above the Colorado River on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, Toroweap Point reveals sweeping views far from the crowds that gather at more popular overlooks. The area’s sheer red rock cliffs and numerous trails reward those who make the trip with excellent hiking, photography, and picnicking opportunities.
Offering gorgeous views of forests, canyons, and rock formations, Wilson Mountain is an excellent place for experienced hikers looking for a full-day hike. Once you reach the top, you'll get to take in sweeping vistas out over Oak Creek Canyon and Sterling Canyon along with Coffee Pot Rock, Capitol Butte, and Sedona.
Built in 1962, this tiny A-frame chapel has played host to countless weddings, moments of reflection, and spontaneous stops for travelers en route to the Grand Canyon. A touch bigger than its little front door suggests, the light-filled chapel has enough seating for about a dozen people. Its all-glass back wall frames quite the view: ponderosa pine trees aplenty and the San Francisco Peaks beyond.
For those emboldened travelers opting for the Grand Canyon’s less crowded—and more remote—North Rim, spots like Roosevelt Point prove why the “road less traveled” is worth it. Named after America’s 26th president, this overlook requires a quick 10-minute trek through woodlands to an open, red-rock view as long as it is spectacular. As Roosevelt said: “Leave it as it is.”
