Although best known as home to one of the great wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, Arizona offers a dizzying array of tour and destination choices to suit any taste or budget. The cactus-dotted deserts, the cool pine forests surrounding Flagstaff, the red rocks of Sedona, the cosmopolitan sprawl of Phoenix and the sublime beauty of Monument Valley are all part of the Arizona experience.

Canyon Country
Arizona's northwest and north-central regions boast some of the world's most awe-inspiring natural beauty, including the Grand Canyon, Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon, and the mountain community of Flagstaff. Each season brings a different palette of colors to Canyon Country and a new slate of vacation activities, from hiking and rafting to skiing and sledding.

Valley of the Sun
Covering over 400 square miles, the thriving Phoenix metropolitan area encompasses more than 20 communities including Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale and Chandler. Known as the "Valley of the Sun," the area is home to dozens of luxurious resorts, more than 150 golf courses, world-class shopping, dining, sporting events, and entertainment for year-round vacation fun.

Central Territory
Prescott, the capital of old territorial Arizona, lies at the heart of this region, where the varied terrain ranges from high desert and rolling grassland to pine-studded mountains. Central Arizona offers a peek into the past at such popular vacation spots as the former ghost town of Jerome, a fully restored turn-of-the-century railway, and the ancient Native American civilizations of the Verde Valley.

Indian Country
Steeped in centuries-old tradition, the Navajo and Hopi nations of northeastern Arizona provide visitors with a fascinating look at the culture and ceremonial artifacts of these Native Americans. The region is characterized by sweeping plateaus, towering mesas and scenic canyons, and is home to well-known attractions such as Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert and Lake Powell.

High Country
The lofty mountain peaks, trout-filled streams and thick ponderosa pine forests that distinguish this east-central Arizona region, pleasantly surprise many first-time visitors. The cooler temperatures in the mountain retreats of Payson, Pinetop-Lakeside, Greer and Springerville make them ideal summer vacation headquarters for hiking, fishing or exploring. Between November and March, the region is transformed into a winter nirvana for snow sports enthusiasts.

Old West Country
	The traditional West comes alive in southern Arizona's Old West Country. From the cosmopolitan city of Tucson, home to posh resorts and lively western guest ranches, to the enchanting mining towns of Bisbee and Tombstone, this region is appealing to visitors of all ages. Authentic 19th-century missions, country vineyards, bird-watching habitats, hiking, and colorful festivals are all part of the Old West vacation experience.

Arizona's West Coast
Despite being a landlocked state, the hundreds of miles of lakeshore—from the western end of the Grand Canyon to Yuma—offer limitless opportunities for water sports enthusiasts. The communities of Lake Havasu City (home of the London Bridge), Bullhead City, Parker and Kingman (along old Route 66) host the avid boaters and water-skiers.

Art Scene
Art aficionados should know that Arizona offers a large array of galleries, art museums and artist communities. Scottsdale is a nationally known center for Western and Native American art. The city offers block after block of galleries stocked with fine art ranging from large paintings to bronze sculptures. Sedona, Arizona's original artists' community, is second only to Scottsdale in number of art establishments. Other destinations for art lovers should include Tubac and Bisbee. Both towns have well-established art communities that feature galleries, studios and shops tucked in among quaint, narrow streets.

Biking
The possibilities for road or mountain biking in Arizona are virtually endless. Popular spots include South Mountain Park (Phoenix), the White Mountains (eastern Arizona), Kaibab National Forest (northern Arizona) and both rims of the Grand Canyon. The city of Tucson is also a particularly friendly place for bicyclists.

Bird Watching
Bird watchers will find a veritable paradise in southeastern Arizona. According to the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO), the combination of mild climate, proximity to the Mexican border and diverse habitats, including 9000-foot mountains and the last free-flowing river in the Southwest, make southeastern Arizona a major hotspot for many rare and unusual animals and plants. Lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Nature Conservancy offer a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities.

Cacti Adventures
Arizona is well known for its deserts and the cacti that call them home. There are a number of places you should visit to get up close and personal with these famous desert plants. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is both a zoo and a botanical park with the accent on the Sonoran Desert. It’s located in Tucson. The Desert Botanical Garden is located next to the Phoenix Zoo, and garden displays more than 20,000 plants from all over the world.

The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is also worth seeing, as is the Saguaro National Park, another good place for learning about Sonoran Desert plant and animal life. The latter has one of the world's largest saguaro stands, and is located near Tucson.

Fish & Game
If you're into fishing, Arizona offers everything from Apache Trout to Humpback Chub to Yellow Perch. With millions of acres of woodlands and mountains, Arizona is filled with wild game including antelope, black bear, big horn sheep, elk, mule deer and mountain lions.

Golf
If golf is your life, then life is good in Arizona. The sheer number of courses and variety of design found in the Grand Canyon State make it one of the best golf destinations in the world. At last count, you have a choice of more than 275 courses that range from traditional to desert target settings. The vast majority of the courses are accessible to the public.

Hiking & Backpacking
Despite its reputation as a desert state, Arizona actually has 6 distinct habitat zones ranging from the Lower Sonoran Zone (sea level to 4,500 feet) to the Alpine Zone (above 11,500 feet). It is therefore important for hikers to know where they're going and plan accordingly. Map and compass skills are important. Since much of Arizona is blanketed by National Forests, good USGS Quad maps are easy to find. Whether you're hiking in the desert (where daytime temperatures can be extreme) or in the Alpine Zone, having a sufficient water supply is essential.

Native American Attractions
Native American culture is extensive and diverse in Arizona. Scenic destinations on Indian lands such as Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly are well worth exploring. The Native American Tourism Center in Scottsdale is a great place to learn more about this rich culture. In Phoenix, the Heard Museum is a world-renowned museum devoted to Native American art and culture.

Old West Attractions
Arizona's Old West Country is filled with cultural attractions that portray the region's heritage and its time under the governments of Spain and Mexico. From the early days of the Kino missions to rowdy frontier days at the OK Corral, the state's Old West regions have many stories to tell. Old Tucson Studios, located just outside Tucson, has been the setting for some of Hollywood's finest Western films. The movie Tombstone was filmed here, as were classics like John Wayne's Rio Bravo. Dude ranches are another great way to experience the Old West in Arizona. Most offer horseback rides through scenic desert backlands, cookouts and even cattle drives.

Skiing
Snow is one of Arizona's best-kept secrets. In winter, Mother Nature dependably transforms over 2 million acres of pine trees, meadows, and gorges into cross-country ski heaven. For downhill skiers and snowboarders, Arizona boasts four ski resorts where you can leisurely cruise the slopes or blast through the moguls. The most popular ski resorts are Arizona Snowbowl and Sunrise Ski Park. Arizona's "normal" winter season starts in late November and ends in mid-April. In the northern mountain regions, temperatures average in the low 20s (Fahrenheit) during the day and regularly plummet to the single digits at night. At the higher elevations near Flagstaff, subzero temperatures are not uncommon.

Statehood: Admitted to the union in 1912 as the 48th state.

State Size: 114,000 square miles; about 340 miles wide and 400 miles in length.

Population: 5 million.

State Capital: Phoenix.

Highest Point: Humphreys Peak, 12,643 feet, located in the San Francisco Mountains north of Flagstaff.

Grand Canyon: Located in north central Arizona, the Canyon is 277 miles long, 600 feet to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep.

State Bird: Cactus wren.

State Flower: Saguaro cactus bloom.

State Tree: Palo verde.

State Gemstone: Turquoise, varying in color from sky blue to shades of green. The stone has been used for centuries in Native American jewelry.