Discover 10 fun things to do in Arizona. Explore things to see in Arizona like the Sonora Desert Museum. Learn about popular things to do in Arizona.
Arizona is one of the most unique (and one of my favorite...) destinations in the United States. I've had the good fortune to visit Phoenix, Tucscon, Flagstaff, Sedona, the Grand Canyon and more over the years. In fact, Arizona is one of my favorite places in the U.S. for a road trip.
There are so many unique experiences to be had in Arizona, how can you choose what to add to your American Southwest itinerary? Never fear! I've got you covered with my top picks of fun things to do in Arizona.
Fun Things to do in Arizona at a Glance
Let's start by summarizing my top picks for things to do, see, and eat in Arizona. I list the closest major airport (with approximate driving time) in parentheses.- Channel Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Scottsdale (Phoenix, 30 min)
- Visit the Desert Botanical Gardens (Phoenix, 10 min)
- Hike the Grand Canyon South Rim in Arizona (Phoenix, ~4 hours)
- Get Swept up in a Mystical Vortex in Sedona (Phoenix, ~2 hours)
- Get Your Kicks on Route 66 in Arizona (Phoenix, ~2 hours)
- Name the Cacti in Saguaro National Park (Tucson, 30 min)
- Blast Off at Arizona's Titan Missile Museum (Tucson, 30 min)
- Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (Tucson, 30 min)
- Visit Arizona's Airplane Boneyard (Tucson, <30 min)
- Eat Cactus in Arizona (Tucson, 30 min)
Fun Things to do in Arizona in Detail
Now let's explore the list of unique places to visit and amazing Arizona experiences in more detail including helpful photos to inspire your trip to the American Southwest.1. Channel Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West near Phoenix
Frank Lloyd Wright, the famous architect, split his time between Wisconsin in the north and Taliesin West which is located in Scottsdale just outside of Phoenix. Take time out to explore his winter home and school in the Sonoran desert.
2. Visit the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix
The flora in Arizona is like no other place I've been in the world. The Desert Botanical Gardens near Phoenix is an ideal spot to see cactus and other native plants in all their glory.
3. Hike the Grand Canyon South Rim in Arizona
No trip to Arizona is complete without a a visit to the Grand Canyon. Sidle up to the south rim and stare off into infinity.
The Grand Canyon is a jaw-dropping sight to see. Consider taking time to hike down (at least partway) into the Grand Canyon.
- (a) the temperature gets hotter as you go down into the canyon
- (b) going down is the easy part; don't use up all your energy on the descent because you still need to climb back out of the Grand Canyon.
4. Get Swept up in a Mystical Vortex in Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is a new age-y town in Arizona's desert purported to be dotted with spiritual vortexes. You may be wondering, is the Sedona Vortex real?
5. Get Your Kicks on Route 66 in Arizona
Route 66 is an iconic route across the U.S. Route 66 was a series of major roads in its day but has now largely been left behind (except for determined tourists) in favor of the faster, more direct interstates.
6. Name the Cacti in Saguaro National Park Near Tucson
One of my favorite things to do in Arizona is hike around the saguaro cactus. Each one seems to have its own personality.
- (a) The Three Amigos!
- (b) Draw, Pard'ner! Standing back to back for a good old fashioned duel.
- (c) The three amigos on a walk through the valley
- (d) A friendly two-headed alien saying hello
- (e) A circus performer doing a hand-stand.
7. Blast Off at Arizona's Titan Missile Museum
Just a 30 minute drive from Tucson, you can revisit the atmosphere of the Cold War at the Titan Missile Museum. Did you know that this site is a National Historic Landmark?
8. Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
We made a more lighthearted stop at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum outside of Tucson. We strolled through the park checking out the local flora and fauna.
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9. Visit Arizona's Airplane Boneyard
We pulled off the road not far from Tucson for a quick gander at the Airplane Boneyard. A jumble of old planes sits just behind a tall barbed wire fence.
10. Eat Cactus in Arizona
We learned from the host at our Bed and Breakfast outside of Tucson that cactus fruit is edible right off the plant.
I decided to give it go and picked out an appetizing looking piece from a cactus on the property. Down the hatch!
Map of Fun Things to do in Arizona
Click on the image of the map below to open up an interactive version in Google Maps to help you pinpoint the various Arizona experiences outlined in this post.