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| Ah, Arizona | Published Jan/Feb 2005 | ||||||
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Wide open spaces, native cultures and outdoor recreation
opportunities make Arizona a great winter destination. By Karen Gibson |
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| When winter follows the chaos of the holiday season, we can be left feeling a little down in the dumps. Seek the perfect cure of vivid blue skies and open spaces as far as the eye can see in Arizona. Here, a delightful mix of different cultures and landscapes provide a place to recharge and rejuvenate. Nature’s wonders Arizona is aptly called the Grand Canyon State. The 277-mile-long canyon draws approximately 4 million visitors each year. The good news is that you won’t see most of them during late winter or early spring. The road into the North Rim is closed from November to May, so your destination will have to be the more developed South Rim. Great views from the South Rim can be found along Bright Angel Trail and Yavapai Point. Lucky visitors may see some California Condors. Nearly extinct in the 1980s, this soaring bird has been reintroduced to the Grand Canyon area, making an impressive sight with its nine-foot-long wing span. Perched on a cliff is Canyon View Center, the main visitors center, offering its own spectacular views, along with everything you ever wanted to know about the Grand Canyon. Travelers not up for hiking may want to consider seeing the Grand Canyon from above. Charters, such as Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, offer a different perspective. Or take the vintage Grand Canyon Railway from Williams for a leisurely day trip. Both offer 10-percent discounts off fares to AAA members. In addition, an exclusive AAA package, “Rails to the Rim,” is offered by the Grand Canyon Railway. Travel southeast of the canyon to find more natural wonders: the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. Grouped together under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, both possess a strange beauty. The unique shading of the Painted Desert opens the artistic eye in us, while the Petrified Forest presents a time capsule of fossilized wood and dinosaur remains. Remember that it is illegal to pick up any souvenirs on park grounds. Nearby gift stores offer petrified wood from private lands. Happy hamlets Northern Arizona has a wealth of towns to explore. The forests surrounding Flagstaff play host to Arizona’s highest mountains, the San Francisco Peaks. Once home to prehistoric people, the mountains are actually a volcanic field with hundreds of cinder cones. Sunset Crater is perhaps the most well-known of the cones. Red rocks command the landscape, drawing hikers and artists to the town of Sedona. Artists want to capture the sandstone cliffs on canvas or film, while hikers simply enjoy the view of stone arches and spires. Even in town, sites like Tlaquepaque are impressive. This Mexican-style village offers a healthy dose of charm with its many galleries and restaurants. The town of Holbrook once became an important stop on the Mother Road and still contains Route 66 landmarks. And anyone older than 35 probably remembers the Eagle’s song, “Take It Easy,” about “standing on a corner in Winslow, Ariz.” Dozens of people do that each day at Standin’ on the Corner Park in Winslow. Native culture Arizona is home to 21 Native American tribes. The Navajo reservation straddles Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “duh shay”) near Chinle is a remarkably well-preserved settlement where Anasazi once lived. Perhaps the most well-known part of the Navajo Reservation is Monument Valley Tribal Park. Both areas offer self-guided tours, but Navajo guides give an up-close and personal look of the area. The oldest continually operating trading post on the reservation is Hubbell Trading Post. A National Historic Site, Hubbell has been providing goods to customers for 126 years. Navajo crafts are often demonstrated on the site. Window Rock is the Navajo Nation capital and home to one of the largest Native American museums in the United States. The Navajo Tribal Museum includes exhibits about Navajo history and culture. The Hopi Reservation encompasses 1.5 million acres in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. Signs will lead travelers to 12 villages that lie on top of three mesas on the Hopi Reservation. Consider taking a tour of the ancient settlement of Walpi on First Mesa. Don’t miss the Hopi Cultural Museum. Action and adventure For a more active getaway, Arizona is a recreational playground that offers skiing, hiking and golf. The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort located seven miles northwest of Flagstaff turns forest roads into cross-country ski trails in the winter. Lake Mead and Lake Powell in far northern Arizona offer opportunities for almost any water sport. Favorite hiking places surround Sedona, especially the West Fork of Oak Creek. And don’t forget fly-fishing and biking. Lake Mead and Lake Powell in far northern Arizona offer opportunities for almost any water sport. More than 300 golf courses can be found throughout Arizona, including Sedona and Flagstaff. Make time to soothe body and soul after all that holiday activity at one of Arizona’s famous spas. Culture, natural beauty and adventure: an Arizona winter vacation has it all. Karen Gibson is a contributor from Norman, Okla. |
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| Terrific Three By Karen Gibson T he East Valley of central Arizona offers more than the convenience of being minutes from Phoenix. Look to the Terrific Three–Mesa, Tempe and Chandler–for a great time. |
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