Fodors - Fodors Arizona & the Grand Canyon 2014

Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. Rising where the Sonoran Desert meets the Superstition Mountains, the Valley of the Sun is filled with resorts and spas, shops and restaurants, and more than 200 golf courses.

Grand Canyon National Park. One of natures longest-running works in progress, the canyon both exalts and humbles the human spirit. Whether you select the popular South Rim or the remote North Rim, dont just peer over the edgetake the plunge into the canyon on a mule train, on foot, or on a raft trip.

North-Central Arizona. Cool, laid-back towns here are as bewitching as the high-country landscape they inhabit. There are quaint escapes such as Prescott and Jerome, Sedona with its red-rock buttes, and the vibrant university town of Flagstaff.

Northeast Arizona. This remote area includes the stunning surroundings of Monument Valley. Alongside todays Navajo and Hopi communities, the breathtaking Canyon de Chelly and Navajo National Monument are reminders of how ancient peoples lived with the land.

Eastern Arizona. Summer visitors flock to the lush, green White Mountains and the warm colors of the Painted Desert. Petrified Forest National Park protects trees that stood when dinosaurs walked Earth.

Tucson. The modern history of Arizona begins here, where Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American cultures became intertwined in the 17th century and still are today. Farther out, city slickers enjoy horseback rides at some of the regions many guest ranches, or luxury pampering at world-class spas.

Southern Arizona. Splendid mountain and desert scenery evokes the romanticized spirit of the Wild West. Enduring pockets of westward expansion are the largest draw today: notorious Tombstone and the mining boomtown Bisbee.

Northwest Arizona and Southeast Nevada. This underexplored corner of Arizona includes Lake Havasu City and its bit of Britannia in the form of London Bridge; old-fashioned Americana around Kingman, a hub on legendary Route 66; and Hoover Dam and Laughlins casinos, just a short jaunt away in Nevada.

High season at the resorts of Phoenix and Tucson is winter, when the snowbirds fly south. Expect the best temperaturesand the highest pricesfrom November through March, when nearly every weekend is filled with outdoor festivals. Spring wildflowers are best from March until May. If youre on a budget, the posh desert resorts drop their pricessometimes by more than halffrom June through September. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Sedona are busy year-round, but least busy during the winter months.

For a statewide excursion, keep in mind that Arizonas climate is extreme. While a winter visit might be most comfortable in Phoenix, remember that the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and SedonaArizonas high countrywill be quite cold then. Also take note that areas such as eastern Arizona are designed for summer travelers, thus many shops and restaurants are closed in the winter months. Remember that the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is closed in winter, from mid-October to mid-May.

Getting Here: Phoenix and Tucson have international airports. Amtrak lines service Flagstaff and Tucson. Car rental is available at airports in Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff.

Getting Around: Youll need a car to properly explore Arizona. Deceptively vast, Arizona is the nations sixth-largest state at nearly 114,000 square miles. No matter where you start your journey, expect to spend a good portion of your time in the car. Fortunately, Arizona offers an attractive canvas that ranges from desert to forest. It surprises some visitors that the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon takes at least a half dayand thats without stopping or taking side roads.

Road conditions vary by season and location, so expect anything: you can start your day in 100F heat in Phoenix and end it in near-freezing temperatures in the Grand Canyon. Be sure to plan accordingly for the weather: if driving in the desert in summer, keep bottled water in the car; in winter in the high country, be prepared for icy roads. And remember that violent flash floods and dust storms can pepper the desert during the summer monsoons. Storms usually pass quickly. For road information, the Arizona Department of Transportation has a travelers assistance line. Just dial 511 from any phone.

Thanks to extreme climates and Western informality, you can go almost anywhere in Arizona in a pair of jeans.

• Bring layers for trips north or east, particularly when temperatures dip after the sun sets.
• For formal dining, call ahead for attire requirements. In most places, a shirt and dress slacks will be more than sufficient.
• Depending on your desired level of activity, youll need to pack different gear: golf shoes, hiking boots, or flip-flops. Most golf courses offer club and golf-cart rentals, but plan on bringing your own shoes. If the slopes are your destination, you can rent all your ski or snowboard gear before hitting the lifts.