Previously a part of Mexico and the sixth largest state in the United States at present, Arizona is perhaps best known for its desert lands and as the location of the Grand Canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. It is also home to more than 300,000 Navajo citizens, the largest Native American population in the country.
You could start with your Internet search fora souvenir shop in Phoenix, AZ because here are some of the reasons why you should spend your next vacation days in the Copper State.
Rich history
Arizona is one of the youngest states to join the union—after all, it was the third to the last to become a part of the United States officially. However, despite its relative newness to statehood, it has long been an inhabited region. The first people who flourished and lived in the area that is now known as Arizona are Native American tribes like the Ancestral Puebloan, Mogollon, and Hohokam cultures. Historically, part of the territory belonged to Mexico. However, their claim to much of this area was ceded to the United States after their defeat in the Mexican-American War. Finally, the territory was completed when the southernmost part of the state was acquired through the Gadsden Purchase. At present, many of the rock paintings, pueblos, cliffside dwellings, and a variety of other prehistoric treasures of the American Indians as well as the ruins of villages erected by Catholic missionaries have stood the test of time and are attracting droves of tourists every year.
Natural wonders
Also known as the Grand Canyon State, Arizona boasts of a number of picturesque landscapes including the majestic wonder of the natural world, the Grand Canyon. Aside from this well-known tourist spot, visitors could also marvel at the world’s longest stalactite formation in the Kartchner Caverns or the Monument Valley’s surreal sandstone towers in the Navajo Tribal Park. Meanwhile, scenic red rocks await tourists in Sedona cocooned within the Coconino National Forest. For those looking for more water-related activities, you could head off to Fossil Creek, a tributary of the Verde River and a collection of natural springs found at the foot of a 1,600-foot canyon, or make your way through a creek in the Aravaipa Canyon. For the more adventurous, you could try whitewater rafting in the Upper Salt River in spring.
Plenty of activities for everyone
Whether you’re looking for a place where you could relax or somewhere to shop at, the Copper State has something in store to offer everyone. You could head off to the Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino for the best casino gaming, entertainment, and dining experience in this part of the desert. For those looking for more outdoor activities, you could visit the White Stallion Ranch, a 3,000-acre secluded area adjacent to the Saguarao National Park where guests could do some horseback riding. For a more family-friendly itinerary, the Circle Pines KOA Campgrounds & Cabins offers fun activities for the family like mini-golf, indoor swimming, and go-kart riding.
Vacation time is limited and precious. Thus, you have to make sure that you would be able to spend it wisely. To ensure an enjoyable time off, you could visit the sixth largest state in the US. Home to a variety of scenic and historical landscapes, the Copper State has plenty to offer visitors that come to their lands.