Recommended Points of Interest

Sunset view with tree silhouette and building structures in foreground.

Clay wind chimes hanging from a tree with green leaves and a clear blue sky.

Hillside with modern, architectural buildings and tall trees under clear sky.

Arcosanti – Arconsanti

Every year, tens of thousands of people visit Arcosanti in person, and you could be one of them. When you step onto our mesa, you are entering an ongoing experiment in architecture, ecology, art, and community that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

With daily public tours (and specialty architectural, archives, and sustainability tours), live demonstrations in our bronze foundry and ceramics apse, a gift shop and gallery, overnight guest rooms, hiking trails, workshops, events, and more, a trip to Arcosanti is an experience not to be missed.

Tours and guest rooms fill fast, so reservations are strongly recommended.

Chapel of the Holy Cross – Sedona

The Chapel was commissioned by local rancher and sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, who had been inspired in 1932 by the newly constructed Empire State Building to build such a church.

After an attempt to do so in Budapest, Hungary (with the help of Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright) was aborted due to the outbreak of World War II, she decided to build the church in her native region.Richard Hein was chosen as project architect, and the design was executed by architect August K. Strotz, both from the firm of Anshen & Allen.The chapel is built on Coconino National Forest land; the late Senator Barry Goldwater assisted Staude in obtaining a special-use permit.The construction supervisor was Fred Courkos, who built the chapel in 18 months at a cost of US$300,000.The chapel was completed in 1956.

Crucifix sculpture in church with a large window and blue sky backdrop.

Modern chapel built into red rock formations at sunset in Sedona, Arizona.

Priest leads service in church with stained glass window and seated congregation.

Lowell Observatory lit up at night with starry sky and people outside.

Small observatory at night with red-lit interior and open door, surrounded by trees.

Night view of Lowell Observatory with telescopes and starry sky in the background.

Large telescope building under a starry night sky with glowing red windows.

Lowell Observatory – Flagstaff

Tours and guest rooms fill fast, so reservations are strongly recommended.

Meteor Crater – Winslow

Meteor Crater is one of the world’s best preserved meteorite impact sites, offering an unforgettable glimpse into the powerful asteroid strike that shaped Arizona’s landscape. Visitors can explore the massive crater, enjoy interactive exhibits, and experience hands on space science at the Discovery Center.

A visit promises adventure, education, and a breathtaking encounter with a real piece of Earth’s cosmic history.

Meteor crater under a starry night sky with red rocky foreground.

Foggy canyon landscape with rocky foreground and cloudy sky.

Empty theater with screen showing a nature scene and rows of seats.

Group of hikers walking along a rocky desert hillside.

People observe artifacts in a museum exhibit showcasing baskets and pottery.

Display with Havasupai text, woven baskets, and a black-and-white photo of a man.

Stone building with terracotta roof surrounded by trees under a cloudy sky.

Rock with fossilized animal tracks next to a hammer for scale.

Museum of Northern Arizona – Flagstaff

Nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, the Museum of Northern Arizona brings the wonder of the Colorado Plateau to life. V

isitors explore rich galleries filled with Native American art and artifacts, fossils and geology displays, and contemporary exhibits that celebrate the region’s culture, nature, and history. MNA offers a vibrant, immersive window into the people, landscapes, and living heritage of northern Arizona and beyond.

Petrified Forest National Park – East of Winslow

Petrified Forest National Park preserves one of the largest and most spectacular concentrations of fossilized trees on Earth — with ancient logs turned to vibrant stone over 200 million years ago.

Visitors can wander through the surreal badlands of the Painted Desert, stroll short trails amidst petrified wood, and drive scenic routes along historic U.S. Route 66 — combining geology, history, and striking desert landscapes in one unforgettable experience.

Sign for Petrified Forest National Park under a sky with star trails at night.

Landscape of rocky terrain with petrified wood and striped hills under a clear sky.

Red beetle on yellow flower with buds in background.

Petrified logs under blue sky with two people walking in the background.

Pathway lined with lanterns and a tree decorated with string lights in a garden setting.

Couple walking under trees adorned with string lights at night.

Sunset over desert garden with various cacti and pink sky.

Phoenix Botanical Garden – Phoenix

Desert Botanical Garden is a 140-acre living museum in Phoenix that showcases over 50,000 desert plants from around the world, offering visitors a stunning look at the vibrant life thriving in arid climates.

Its beautifully maintained trails, seasonal exhibits, and immersive events make it a perfect destination for nature lovers, families, and anyone curious about desert ecology and conservation.

Red Rock State Park – Sedona

Red Rock State Park is a 286-acre nature preserve and environmental education center nestled among the iconic red-rock formations of Sedona, with lush riparian habitat centered on Oak Creek.
Visitors can enjoy over 5 miles of scenic hiking trails, peaceful creek-side strolls, and stunning vistas of rust-colored cliffs contrasted by verdant creek-side greenery.

The park features a visitor center with educational exhibits, guided nature walks, picnic and ramada areas, and regular programs — making it a perfect spot to explore, learn about local ecology, or just soak in the natural beauty of Sedona.

Large wooden cabin with stone foundation and multiple windows under a partly cloudy sky.

Group of people and a dog posing on a mountain trail holding a T-shirt with a scenic view in the background.

Smiling woman in a green volunteer polo shirt stands outside near desert plants.

Distant view of a volcanic crater with green vegetation and reddish earth at sunrise.

Mountain with trees and a cloudy sky in the background, illuminated by sunlight.

Curved pathway through volcanic landscape with cloudy sky and distant mountains.

A cooled lava flow with a crusty, cracked surface and dark, uneven texture on volcanic rock.

Sunset Crater – Flagstaff

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument preserves the youngest volcanic landscape on the Colorado Plateau — an ancient eruption about 900–1,000 years ago threw lava flows and cinders across northern Arizona, leaving behind a dramatic terrain of black lava fields, cinder cones, and hardened basalt.
Today, the monument showcases nature’s resilience: wildflowers, pines, and wildlife slowly reclaim the scarred earth, offering a powerful glimpse into ecological rebirth.

Visitors can explore lava-flow trails, enjoy forested vistas, and immerse themselves in both geologic history and renewed wilderness — a hauntingly beautiful reminder of Earth’s changing face.

Tuzigoot – Clarkdale

Tuzigoot National Monument preserves a dramatic, 1,000-year-old hillside pueblo built by the Sinagua people — a 110-room stone settlement perched above the Verde River valley.

Visitors can stroll through the ancient ruins and explore the museum filled with artifacts that reveal daily life, trade, and culture of the original inhabitants.
With panoramic views over lush wetlands and rolling desert hills, Tuzigoot offers a unique mix of history, nature, and scenic beauty for all who visit.

Panoramic view of ancient stone ruins against a cloudy sky and distant landscape at sunset.