Grand Canyon: Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park, your family can take a leisurely burro ride into the canyon or stand high above this natural wonder on the skywalk at the visitors’ center. There are campgrounds, as well as hotel lodging which means you can take your time exploring this amazing natural wonder.

Lake Powell: Outdoor activities are plentiful in Arizona. Lake Powell provides water sports, a striking landscape and views of the night sky that are breathtaking. Houseboat rentals, campsites and nearby modern motels provide lodging options ranging from primitive to state of the art.

Monument National Park: Located in the northeastern area of the state, Monument National Park delights visitors with its renowned mesa’s and plateaus. Hot Air balloon and helicopter tours of the home of Wiley Coyote and the Roadrunner are available. Your family can visit Anasazi ruins and have lunch with the local cowboys while visiting Mesa Verde.

Painted Desert: Breathtaking scenery and color will delight any one visiting the Painted Desert. Sunrises and sunsets that have inspired many a professional and amateur artist will astound anyone who takes a moment to look skyward. Encompassing more than 93,000 miles this protected wilderness area is dotted with camping facilities, bed and breakfast locations and modern motels.

Petrified Forest: The Petrified Forest National Park is only a short drive from the Painted Desert. See first hand the forest where dinosaurs once roamed. Preserved for generations to come, petrified trunks of gigantic trees are just a few of the variety of fossils that have been discovered here. Hiking trails take visitors through the Giant Forest, all ending at the Agate House Museum.

Meteor Crater Park: Meteor Crater Park features educational programs for young and old alike. Newly remodeled, the former Museum of Astrology allows guests to see how meteor collisions and impacts are constantly changing the universe. The Meteor Crater Interactive Learning Center has state of the art graphics of collisions, daily movies in the 80 seat theater as well as guided crater tours.

Tombstone: The “Town too tough to die,” Tombstone welcomes visitors to take part in a Wild West shootout, sip sarsaparilla in the local saloon and stroll along wooden plank sidewalks. Special programs throughout the year include the Rendezvous of Gunfighters in September; Wyatt Earp’s Vendetta Ride in October; and the Tombstone Western Music Festival held in November.

Castle and Coasters: Roller coaster and thrill ride lovers will find Arizona has an amusement park just for them. Castle and Coasters in Phoenix has a water park, rides and a miniature golf course. The Old Tucson Studio brings the best of the old west to life. Antique car rides; a train ride that includes a staged robbery and hands-on activities for the children makes this a definite place to keep in mind when planning your visit to the great state of Arizona.

2009 marks the 70th year for Arizona’s Hollywood in the Desert! To commemorate this milestone, Film Historian PJ Lawton has assembled a 30-minute presentation of never before seen movie stills spanning our amazing history. Enjoy this short preview, which just touches the surface of what is included in our onsite presentation.
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Arizona Scenic Drives

It’s almost easier to say “what’s not scenic in Arizona?” We’ve picked just a few of the amazing vistas to visit by RV in the Grand Canyon State.

Red Rock Scenic Road: If you travel to Sedona, don’t miss this fifteen miles of spectacular canyon scenery. Along State Route 179 from Phoenix to Sedona, the Red Rock Scenic Road takes travelers past towering red rock spires and fantastic hiking trails. While you’re in the area, also take the time to drive the Dry Creek and Mingus Mountain Scenic Roads. RV campgrounds in beautiful mountain settings abound in the area around Sedona, so why not plan to linger in north central Arizona? Kaibab Plateau/North Rim Parkway: Travel State Route 67 from Jacob Lake to the North Rim Area of the Grand Canyon and you will have a vacation’s worth of photo opportunities! Make your way through gloriously scenic Kaibab National Forest to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There you’ll find once-in-a-lifetime views of the Canyon from the higher elevations of the North Rim. Camp at Jacob Lake, in the National Forest itself or at one of the RV camping venues near the North Rim. White River Scenic Road: Delve into Native American culture on the enormous White River Apache Reservation in southern Arizona. The White River Scenic Road rolls through awe-inspiring meadows and parallels the river all the way to historic Fort Apache and the Kinishiba Ruins. Also plan to spend time at the Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery and Hon-Dah, the Apache tribal casino resort at the beginning of the trail.

Arizona Family RV Camping Destinations

Travelling with the kids? You’re going to find plenty to keep them occupied in Arizona. Not only will they be exposed to fascinating Old West and Native American history, they can also play outdoors to their hearts’ content.

Lake Mead National Recreational Area offers plenty of fishing, hiking, RV camping and wildlife photography opportunities. Older kids will love hiking the rugged trails, while the little ones will want to take turns naming all the animals you spy. RV campsites are abundant in this National Park site, but be sure to make your reservations early.

For a break from the road as you pass through Phoenix, CrackerJac Family Fun and Sports Park features acres of exciting activities. Visit the Bungee Dome or the multi-level, award-winning mini golf park while you’re there. The kids are going to love this place!

If your RV camping trip takes you through Tucson, don’t miss the Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum, a zoo full of desert wildlife to fascinate your family. Wild West buffs in your group will also want to stop at Old Tucson Studios, a theme park filled with Wild West entertainment where movies are still being filmed.

One more suggestion for Arizona family RV camping—Homolovi Ruins State Park in northeastern Arizona gives a glimpse into fifteenth century Anasazi tribal life. The ruins of this ancient Native American culture are spread throughout the state park along the Little Colorado River. Camp at one of the Park’s convenient RV campsites and then take a trip back in time to learn more about the ancestors of today’s Hopi tribes.

Arizona RV camping destinations offer something for everyone in your RV. Bring the family or explore the Grand Canyon State with friends. Either way, your RV camping experience in Arizona will be absolutely memorable.

Some of the nearby destinations worth checking out include:

The Grand Canyon – This national treasure is only about 200 miles north of Phoenix. It is feasible to turn this into a single day trip. Leave in the morning and enjoy lunch looking at the amazing sights and you can still make it home in time for bed. The canyon is a popular destination for sightseeing, hiking and more. For a longer stay, consider taking the tour provided by the Grand Canyon Railways. This train through the canyon does involve a full day, but it is worth the time.

The Pima Air and Space Museum – Located just over 100 miles south of Phoenix, this destination boasts more than 250 different aircraft on display. It covers some 80 acres of land with displays, too.

Sunset Crater – This famous crater is found about 240 miles from Phoenix. It was created by volcanic activity in the 1100s AD. Tours are available daily.

The Verde Canyon Railroad – Found in Clarkdale, Arizona, this destination is about two hours north of Phoenix. The railroad provides a great opportunity to take in the canyon’s sights, including the many raptors that make the area home. Clarkdale, by the way, is about 25 minutes from Sedona, which is a great city to tour, too. It is near the famous Montezuma Castle national monument and boasts its share of red rock views, restaurants, shopping areas and more.

Scottsdale – This city is only a few minutes away from Phoenix, but it can take up an entire day or more to tour. It is noted for its many art galleries and shops that make up the Old Town area of the city.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum – This destination is about an hour east of Phoenix in Superior. It covers some 320 acres and is a great place to learn about the desert fauna and flora that make Arizona so special.

Guadalupe – Founedd about 20 minutes outside of Phoenix, this destination is a Native American and Hispanic settlement. It was founded more than 100 years ago by the Yaqui Indians. The town is noted for its shops and authentic eateries and bakeries.

Old Tucson Studios – This destination about 125 miles south of Phoenix was created in the 1930s by Columbia Pictures. The old studio features a replica of what downtown Tucson looked like in the 1860s. The site was used for filming by such stars as Bing Crosby, Gene Autrey and Jimmy Stewart.

Getting away from the bustle of Phoenix only requires a car and a little bit of time to drive. From the Grand Canyon to old time Hollywood magic, the areas surrounding this city have plenty of attractions well worth visiting.

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Let’s start in northern Arizona, in Page, which not only enjoys its own scenic sights, but also serves as a hub for several different popular destinations known as the “Grand Circle”. A few short minutes drive north of Page is Lake Powell, where you can book a boat tour that lets you take in a wealth of scenic grandeur from beautiful Tapestry Canyon to the Rainbow Bridge.

Of course, no trip to Arizona is complete without at least a day at the Grand Canyon, which is only about a two-hour drive from Page. For the adventurous and physically fit, a variety of hikes await you, but if savoring spectacular scenery and souvenir shopping is more to your liking, you’ll find plenty of that here as well.

About two hours south of the Grand Canyon lies Sedona, Arizona. Famous for its red-rock formations, Sedona is also a must-see destination for visitors and residents alike, since the scenery and topography of the entire area, which includes the magnificence of Oak Creek Canyon, is quite simply breathtaking. Consider taking a guided tour in a four-wheel-drive vehicle; these trusty beasts-of-burden are known to clamber up and down some of the most stunning boulder-strewn landscape.

Closer to central Arizona, the Phoenix metropolitan area is filled with museums, theaters, sports stadiums, and shopping and dining venues. A fun day’s itinerary might include the Phoenix Zoo, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesen West and a visit to downtown Scottsdale, where upscale art galleries perfectly mix with old-fashioned cowboy charisma. If you’re here in March, take in a Major League Baseball spring training game, and end your day in Glendale’s Catlin Court, where old-world charm and historic homes have been converted into tasty eateries and delightful boutiques.

Southern Arizona is awash with the majesties of Mother Nature, and is also home to uniquely themed exhibits, including the Titan Missile Museum, which focuses on providing an education about the history of nuclear conflict around the time of the Cold War. Movie buffs should definitely check out Old Tucson Studios; situated just fifteen minutes from Tucson, this old frontier town has been the film-site for numerous Hollywood westerns, including movies starring John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. As you explore the grounds, you can watch a cowboy gunfight, enjoy a musical revue, take a ride on a miniature train into the surrounding desert or visit the Old Tucson Story Museum, home to a number of original costumes worn on television shows such as Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza.

Old Tucson Movie Studios is the second most popular western movie set, out side of Hollywood, in the world@ John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Gene Hackman and many, many more movie stars have done films here.
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If you own a house in Arizona, youngsters can enjoy a lot. There are lots of places for them to enjoy. Like, Karchner Caverns in south of Tucson. It is a living, breathing cave. Cave tours change between the throne room and the big room. Other places to visit are Sonora desert museum in Tucson, Grand Canyon, off roading in the Arizona desert, tombstone, Pima Air Museum, ghost town, phoenix zoo, Bisbee’s Copper Queen mine and Montezuma’s Castle national monument. If you buy a house here you can enjoy 365 days. Major cities and towns of Arizona are as follows. Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona. Tucson is Arizona’s second largest city. The city is home to the University of Arizona and the davis-monthan air force base. The third largest metropolitan area is Yuma. Yuma is one of the hottest cities in the entire U.S.  The largest city in northern Arizona is flagstaff. It is a home to northern Arizona University’s primary campus.

Arizona has a good education system. It has three major universities like the University of Arizona, Arizona state university, and northern Arizona University. University of phoenix is the large private university in the U.S. Buy Arizona has eight primary commercial airports: bullhead city, flagstaff, grand canyon/tusayan, page, peach springs, phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. Commercial airline service is available in Lake Havasu, phoenix mesa, Prescott and show low. Arizona also has 47 reliever and general aviation airports scattered throughout the state. Tourism is a huge industry in Arizona, as lot of people throughout the country come to this pace throughout the year. Dairy, lettuce, mining, machinery, food processing and transportation equipment are all huge contributors to economic well being. Tucson and phoenix are large metropolitan area that has good pubic bus transit systems. Yuma and flagstaff also have their own public bus systems. Greyhound serves these two cities as well as flagstaff, Yuma and countless smaller communities throughout the state.
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To wit: Oro Valley is the home of five championship golf courses – El Conquistador Country Club, Golf Club at Vistoso, Oro Valley Country Club, Stone Canyon Club and Sun City Vistoso Golf Club. Each presents its own challenges and thrills, offering hardcore golf enthusiasts several options, while also allowing more easy-going players to find the course that best suits their skill-set. Oro Valley has garnered national attention for these courses; in fact, Golf Club at Vistoso has been rated as the best public course in southern Arizona, while the Stone Canyon Club boasts rankings such as No. 21 of the “Top 100 Residential Courses” by Golfweek, No. 68 on Golf Digest’s “Greatest 100 Golf Courses in the USA,” and No. 2 in the state of Arizona by Golf Digest.

The town of Oro Valley is served by the Amphitheater School District, which is the home of many highly rated educational opportunities. In addition, the nearby Tucson area enjoys a number of private and charter schools if that better suits the needs of your family.

If you’re looking to take in a movie, eat out, or just do some shopping, be sure to check out the Oro Valley Marketplace, which is located in the northern part of Oro Valley. Home to three large shopping plazas in the span of just a few city blocks, the Marketplace is the area to find pretty much anything and everything for everyday living. If you want a more high-end shopping experience, don’t pass up a visit to La Encantada or the Casas Adobes Plaza.

Along with playing host to a variety of nationally recognized events including televised golf tournaments, Oro Valley is also the annual home of the Oro Valley Festival of the Arts, the El Tour de Tucson bicycle race and the Cactus Speed Classic for inline skating. These events help ensure that there will always be something going on in or near Tucson, Arizona to capture the interest of anyone who’s looking for something fun and entertaining to do in the great outdoors.

plants animals trip to desert museum tucson saguaro cactus vegetation flowers critters bugs wildlife
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Meanwhile, the Phoenix Zoo and Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo are both excellent places for a family day-trip, as is the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, near Camp Verde. And for distinctly natural habitats, it’s hard to beat Tucson’s huge Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, while mostly critter-free but filled with indigenous plant life are Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden and Tucson’s Sabino Canyon, which includes a tram ride to the top.

For a taste of the REALLY Old West, Deer Valley Rock Art Center is a great place to ponder the mysteries of ancient Native American artwork…and it’s located right off the Loop 101 in north Phoenix, just a hop, skip and jump from Scottsdale. Or you could visit the Pueblo Grande Museum, which is the site of 1,500 year-old Hohokam village ruins located inside the Phoenix city limits. Spread across 102 acres, the Museum allows you to explore an 800 year-old Hohokam platform mound or you can stroll the grounds and check out a Hohokam excavated ballcourt and full-scale reproductions of prehistoric Hohokam homes. The site also includes some of the last remaining intact Hohokam irrigation canals.

For a more contemporary — let’s say 1800′s — Old West experience, book a stay at one of the state’s dude ranches or visit historic Tombstone, where many buildings have bullet holes and there are daily shootouts at the O.K. Corral. If your munchkins are more rambunctious, kids can be as rowdy as they like at such Western town replicas as Rawhide near Phoenix and Old Tucson Studios, where many classic cowboy films were made.

With so many outdoor classrooms, the wide open real estate of Arizona offers numerous science and history lessons. At Petrified Forest National Park, you can see dinosaur bones and pieces of the trees that grew when dinosaurs roamed the area. The living cave system at Kartchner Caverns State Park was kept secret by its discoverers for years so it wouldn’t be spoiled and Tucson’s Colossal Cave is so big it’s never been fully explored. If you don’t have claustrophobia, you can even go underground and tour the Queen Mine in Bisbee.

When it comes to night skies, among the places where you can peer through telescopes are the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Kitt Peak National Observatory west of Tucson and the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium in Tucson. Some resorts in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Tucson and Greater Phoenix also offer astronomy programs that are open to guests as well as the general public.

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Snow skiing? Yes, skiing is available on Mount Lemmon, just an hour away, in the pine-covered Santa Catalina mountain range. Mt. Lemon is home to the country’s southernmost ski resort.

Maybe snow skiing is not your style. Perhaps you would like to challenge your game on one of Tucson’s more than 39 exceptional golf courses. Tennis your game? We have a multitude of tennis courts too. Did you know Tucson is the second best cycling city in the nation according to Bicycling magazine in 2006. Many tucsonans and other cyclists from all over the world compete annually in the El Tour de Tucson, one of the country’s largest cycling events.

Tucson also has it share of spectator sports as well. The city is home to spring training for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ AAA team, the Tucson Sidewinders, provides for a great family summer evening at Tucson Electric Park. In September ’06, the Sidewinders earned their first Pacific Coast League Championship title. Also, only days later, they became the 2006 AAA Champions defeating the International League Toledo MudHens.

For college fans, the University of Arizona, a member of the prestigious Pac-10 Conference, has teams in all major men’s and women’s NCAA sports. Men’s basketball and women’s softball have been recent national champions.

For many years, Tucson has already been home to two professional tour events, the Chrysler Classic PGA Tournament and the PING/Welch’s Championship LPGA event. Starting in February 2007, Tucson will host the Accenture Match Play championship. Sixty-four of the world’s top-ranked golfers will compete, on the breathtaking Gallery at Dove Mountain golf course in Marana, and take aim at the .5 million purse.

Gates Pass – West TucsonOther great events include NASCAR, horse and greyhound races, and the annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the largest mid-winter rodeo in the U.S. Tucson has a lot to offer all outdoors enthusiasts.

After a long day of activity, you can still relax and enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

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It has become a retirement community for elderly citizens that appreciate the year round warm weather and inexpensive living.

It is less congested than Phoenix and well situated for tourists wishing to explore the many surrounding attractions.

The climate in Tucson is always dry with temperatures ranging from warm to extremely hot. The city normally receives less than 25 cm of rainfall per year. Daytime temperatures can exceed 45 during the summer with a much more pleasant 20 during the winter months. High tourist season extends from November through March. Fall and spring are good times to visit this area if you want to avoid the tourist crowds.

The surrounding desert is filled with giant Saguaro cactuses that stand up to 10 meters high. You can drive through forests of these cactuses or hike the many trails in Saguaro National Park located just outside of the city.

The Arizona Desert Museum, located about 15 miles west of the city near Old Tucson at the southern entry to Saguaro National Park, is a great place to experience the flora and fauna of the surrounding desert.

Old Tucson is a simulated western town originally constructed as a film set for cowboy movies. Today it is a theme park with entertainment, restaurants, gift shops and many actors dressed in western costumes.

For a very different experience, visit the Pima Air Museum just south of the city. In addition to viewing their wonderful collection of military and civilian aircraft, you can take guided tours of the Bone yards at neighbouring Davis Monthan Air Force Base. Over 5000 military aircraft including hundreds of huge B 52 bombers awaiting destruction are parked in endless rows at the Aerospace Maintenance and Reconstruction Centre. It is hard to even imagine so many aircraft parked in one place.

There are huge open pit copper mines near Sahuarita just south of Tucson and in Bisbee south of Tombstone. Both mines offer public tours. A 29 mile road winds its way up the Catalina Mountains to the 3000 meter high peak of mount Lemmon where temperatures average 10 lower than the city below.

La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo is held in late February. The Easter Ceremony combining Native American traditions with Christian beliefs occurs during Easter week in early spring. The Tucson International Gem and Mineral Show is held in late February. It is the largest such event in the world, so hotel accommodations will be hard to find during those two weeks.

“CFI TUCSON” REAL AVIATION….simulation free A quick low MB short Video tour of THE WRIGHT STUFF Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona With Captain ME Nerves alias The Nervesman CFI. The Temp was 120 degrees in the shade One thousand drydock jets on Parade.
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