Petrified Forest National Park, Phoenix

Located in the northeastern corner of Arizona, Petrified Forest National Park was designated a national monument in 1906. The trees within the park are over 225 million years old, and have over that period transformed into brilliantly-coloured minerals, the world's largest concentration of petrified wood. Aside from the trees, there is a variety of wildlife to see in the park, including bobcats, coyotes, owls, porcupines, mule deer, and various desert lizards and rodents. There are several trails leading to popular sites in the park, making it a great place for desert hiking. Visitors should be aware that it is illegal to remove petrified wood from Petrified Forest National Park.

Opening Times:
Opening hours vary according to season. Check the website for specific dates.

Admission:
$10 per vehicle, valid for seven days.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, Phoenix

Located surprisingly close to downtown Phoenix is the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park, the site of a 1,500-year-old Hohokam village ruin. Mysteriously abandoned around 1450, all that remains of the village is a small museum with artefacts and exhibits showing daily life in the settlement. Hiking trails wind around the ruins themselves, so visitors should be prepared for the hot weather of southern Arizona. The site hosts the Pueblo Grande Indian Market each December, featuring more than 250 local artisans.

Valley of the Moon, Tucson

Delve into fantasyland in the desert, with historic Western sites in a magical setting, created by George Phar Legler in the 1920s. Mineralised rock cliffs, caves, pools and garden miniatures have merged with tropic and desert flora to make what Mr. Legler called the "Fantasy Touch of Three", referring to Edgar Allen Poe, Lewis Carroll, and Robert Louis Stevenson. There are tours, shows and a gift shop on site. The Calley of the Moon also hosts events ranging from weddings to concerts and yoga retreats.

Getting There:
On East Allen Road, between Tucson Boulevard and Cactus Boulevard.

Funtasticks Family Fun Park, Tucson

This is a great place to visit when the kids have had enough of sightseeing. There is exciting go-karting and laser tag for the older children and adults, and the little ones will love the rides in Kiddie Land. With two mini golf courses, batting cages and a huge arcade, there's enough here to keep a family entertained for hours. Special packages are available for birthday parties and groups.

Getting There:
On East Wetmore Road, between 1st Avenue and Oracle Road.

Opening Times:
Monday to Thursday 10pm-8pm, Friday 10pm-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, Sunday 10am-8pm.

Admission:
Three-hour unlimited ride wristbands are $20.99. Other packages are available.

Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson

The Tucson Botanical Gardens are a major attraction, not just for the rich collection of cactus and desert wildflowers. An educational walk highlights the history of the native Tohono O'odham Indians and the work local scientists have done to preserve native seeds. Be sure to visit the traditional Mexican-American neighbourhood garden ( Nuestro Jardin), and relax on the shaded restaurant patio.

Getting There:
Located on Alvernon Way between Pima Street and Grant Road.

Opening Times:
Open daily 8:30am-4:30pm, closed January 1 and 4, Thanksgiving and December 24-25.

Admission:
$8 (adults), $4 (children under 12).

Philabaum Glass, Tucson

Tom Philabaum is well known as one of America's foremost glass artists, with exhibits throughout the western world. His gallery embraces this reputation, exhibiting over 100 nationally and internationally celebrated artists. Aside from viewing the extraordinary exhibits, visitors can also watch glassblowing and learn more about the development of the studio glass movement.

Getting There:
Located on 6th Avenue, between 18th Street and Broadway.

Opening Times:
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm.

Sabino Canyon, Tucson

Of the many natural attractions in the Tucson vicinity, Sabino Canyon is one of the most popular. This gaping divide in the Santa Catalina Mountains is the site where ancient Hohokam people constructed irrigation dams while mammoths still roamed the area. After a six-mile (9.6km) hike, enjoy swimming in the crystal clear pools at Seven Falls. When the weather is a little too hot for hiking, visitors can take a ride on the Sabino Canyon Tram, which takes a 45-minute tour with nine stops along the canyon.

Getting There:
Located in the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson.

Opening Times:
The park is open daily from dawn till dusk.

Admission:
$8 adults, $4 children under 12.

Reid Park Zoo, Tucson

While maybe not the best zoo in the world, Reid Park Zoo is still one of the foremost attractions in Tucson. The animals are comfortably at home in pleasant natural surroundings; envy the little polar bear cubs as they happily float in ice-cold water while it's 100ºF (38ºC) in the scorching Tucson summer. Kids can hand-feed giraffes, and there is also an interactive wet play area for kids (you'd better bring a towel)! Because of its relatively small size, the zoo can be explored leisurely in less than two hours.

Getting There:
Off Randolph Way, north of 22nd Street

Opening Times:
Open daily from 9am-4pm. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Admission:
$7 (adults), $3 (children aged 2-14).

Kartchner Caverns State Park, Tucson

Kartchner Caverns State Park is home to one of the great natural wonders of the American west; there is no known record of the huge living cave being seen before the 1970s and the pristine conditions within have been carefully preserved. A remarkable feature of this cave is that it's a 'wet' or 'living' cave; the calcite formations are still growing and display a stunning variety of multicoloured cave formations. Tours of the caves are available, however there is a lot of walking involved and they are unfortunately not handicapped accessible. Tours take between 90 minutes and two hours.

Getting There:
The park is located nine miles south of I-10, off State Hwy 90, exit 302.

Admission:
$6 per car. Cave tour: $22.95 adults, $12.95 children.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson

This world-renowned museum is more like a zoo, showcasing the surrounding desert's creatures in their natural habitats. Exhibits include mountain lions, otters, coyotes, bighorn sheep and lizards, and there's a walk-in aviary. Located in the Sonoran Desert, the setting of the museum also offers awesome views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The gift shop has an excellent selection of Sonoran desert souvenirs. This is a must for any visitor staying in Tucson for more than just one day.

Getting There:
The Desert Museum is about 2.5 miles (4km) down Kinney Road.

Opening Times:
March to September 7:30am-5pm, October to February 8:30am-5pm. No entry after 4:15pm. open until 10pm Saturdays in June, July and August.

Admission:
June to August adults $12, children $3. September to May adults $14.50, children $4.50.

Kingman, Phoenix

Kingman is a nostalgic tourist destination in Arizona. Located in the northeastern corner of Arizona between the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, the city is a popular fuelling stop between the two destinations; however, Kingman is known for having been a major stop along the famous Route 66. There are a few old buildings and museums dedicated to this era, and though most of the road has been replaced by Interstate I-40, the longest remaining stretch runs from Kingman to Ash Fork.

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix

If you don't particularly like cacti before your visit, there is a good chance you'll fall in love with them by the time you leave. These Desert Botanical Gardens get high ratings not only for the size and range of the botanical collection - 21,000 plants, representing 139 species - but due the inventive way visitors get to experience them. Founded in 1939, the garden provides visitors with a fascinating and colourful introduction to the ethnobotany of the region. A highlight is the Plants and People of the Sonoran Desert Trail which allows you to make your own yucca-fibre brush and grind corn as the Native Americans once did. Over November and December the gardens are lit up at night by beautiful luminarias(candles inside small bags).

Opening Times:
Open daily 8am-8pm.

Admission:
$18 (adults), $8 (children).

The Hopi Reservation, Phoenix

The Hopi Reservation, also referred to as simply Hopi, is the site of the oldest Hopi settlements in the world. Located in a remote region of flat-topped mesas and completely surrounded by the Navajo Nation are the two main villages, Walpi and Old Oraibi. While the villages are mostly just collections of houses, it is possible to see a glimpse of traditional pueblo culture and buy handcrafted souvenirs made by local residents. Visitors to The Hopi Reservation should be respectful of local culture, and ask permission before photographing anyone.

Taliesin West, Phoenix

Taliesin West was legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school from 1937 until he died in 1959, aged 91. Today the facility can be visited as the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation with tours providing a general introduction to Wright and his hugely influential theories of architecture. The building is built of natural stone, a reflection of Wright's philosophy that local materials should be used design wherever possible. There are a range of tours available to suit your level of interest: for the rookie, a basic introductory tour is recommended, while devotees will want the behind-the-scenes exposé.

Opening Times:
Daily 9am-4pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

Admission:
Tours start at $24 adults, $10 children.

The Grand Canyon, Phoenix

A mile deep, 277 miles (446km) long and up to 18 miles (29km) wide, the breathtaking grandeur of the Grand Canyon is so impressive that pictures or words simply cannot do it justice. One of the great natural wonders of the world, it was formed by the cutting action of the Colorado River over millions of years. The hard rock formations survive as great cliffs, pinnacles and buttes, and the different layers of rock span a range of colours: from purple, fiery-red and pastel-pink, to yellow, brown, grey and soft tones of blue.

Whether by foot or on horseback, from a plane or helicopter, aboard a raft down the mighty Colorado River or by merely gazing in awe from the rim, the canyon's seemingly infinite depths can be experienced in a variety of ways and is a sight not to be missed however one chooses to see it. The park receives hoards of visitors from around the world, who never fail to be transfixed by the sculpted rock shapes, the shifting colours that change with the light, and a tiny glimpse of the Colorado River far below.

The Grand Canyon National Park comprises two separate areas: the South Rim and the more remote North Rim. Separated by the 10-mile (16km) width of the canyon, it is a 215-mile (346km) drive from one Visitor Centre to the other. The South Rim is the most accessible and has more facilities, and as a result it attracts the bulk of visitors to its boundaries. The North Rim is higher in elevation, wetter, with thicker surrounding forests, is further to access, and is cut off by snowfall from October to May. Many people however, prefer its comparative peacefulness and less-crowded lookouts.

Both rims have numerous drives and walkways along the edge with various scenic viewpoints, and some hiking trails into the canyon where one can overnight at Phantom Ranch on the canyon floor. The impact of the more than four million visitors a year to the South Rim, especially during the busy summer months, is one of overcrowding and traffic congestion; but to see for oneself one of the most spectacular examples of natural erosion in the world more than makes up for the inconvenience.

There are also several educational and cultural attractions at the Grand Canyon, including the Tusayan Museum and Ruin (near Desert View), the Yavapai Museum of Geology, and the Verkamps Visitors Center.

Grand Canyon West has recently opened the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottomed, horseshoe shaped deck that juts almost 70 feet (21m) from the canyon's rim. It gives visitors the sensation of being suspended amid the canyon's towering red rock walls above a faint sliver of Colorado River flowing 4,000 feet (1,219m) below. There is an additional charge for the Skywalk, which is not for those with a fear of heights. Another great way to tour the Grand Grand Canyon is on the Grand Canyon Railway, a vintage steam train that winds its way around the area.

Getting There:
Shuttle services operate between Phoenix and Flagstaff, and between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. Free shuttle buses also operate from Grand Canyon Village to the South Rim. A shuttle service is provided between the north and south rim in season. It is a four-hour journey from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon

Opening Times:
South Rim is open 24 hours daily, all year; Information Plaza 8am-5pm. The North Rim is open mid-May to mid-October, and the visitor centre 8am-6pm.

Admission:
Entrance to the park is $25 per vehicle or $12 for pedestrians and cyclists, valid for seven days on either rim. The Skywalk is accessed by a shuttle bus and $30 is charged to walk out on the deck (concessions are available).

Colossal Cave Mountain Park, Tucson

In 1923, the first proper tours of Colossal Cave were conducted using ropes and lanterns; today more advanced options are offered. The cave is considered dry or dormant as it is no longer 'growing' crystal formations, due to a lack of water. The preserved stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone are beautiful to see, and the temperature inside the cave is always comfortably warm. Touring the whole cave takes just under and hour.

Getting There:
Take I-10 east from Tucson to exit 279 (the Vail/Wentworth exit), turn north and follow the signs for about 7 miles (11km).

Opening Times:
Open daily. 16 March to 15 September 8am-5pm, 16 September to 15 March 9am-5pm.

Admission:
Park fee: $5 per car ($1 for every person more than six people). Cave tours: $13 (adults), $6.50 (children).

Tombstone, Tucson

Tombstone is the most famous town in the Wild West, and attracts thousands of tourists with its old wooden Western-style buildings, swinging saloon doors, stagecoach rides, gunslingers, dusty streets and shootout re-enactments. Many Hollywood movies have been shot here against the rugged mountain backdrop. Originally a silver boomtown in 1877, it rose to notoriety in 1881, when lawmen Wyatt Earp, his two brothers, and Doc Holliday confronted a band of outlaws and a gunfight ensued. This event has come to epitomise the Wild West and the star attraction of the town is the OK Corral, one of southern Arizona's most visited tourist sites. There is a staged 30-second shootout each day at 2pm, and exhibits relating to the event inside the corral. The Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park features an old west courtroom where several renowned trials took place, as well as some excellent exhibits, including alternative versions of the OK Corral shootout and a museum dedicated to the Tombstone Epitaph, the oldest newspaper in Arizona. Although a classic tourist-trap town, with souvenir shops and restaurants galore, many people love the Wild West atmosphere and the rugged setting, and relish the chance to play cowboy for a day.

Opening Times:
The O.K Corral is open daily 9:30am-5pm; gunfight re-enactments at 2pm daily.

The Mission San Xavier del Bac, Tucson

This historic Spanish mission in the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation is located 10 miles (16km) south of the city and was founded by Father Kino in the 1660s. The present building dates back to the 18th century and the mission is still actively functional, providing great religious and cultural insight to visitors. The mission has a small museum, which showcased artefacts and multimedia presentations on the Mission's history.

Getting There:
About 20 minutes from the city, heading out on the I-10 West towards Phoenix.

Opening Times:
Open daily. Mission: 7am-5pm. Museum: 8:30am-4:30pm.

Admission:
Free

Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, Tucson

At the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, pioneer artefacts and a re-created Western Main Street represent what Tucson looked like, and what it had to offer in the way of businesses and services, back in the old days of the Wild West. The museum also has an inventory of 150 vehicles, with everything from small buggies to wagons and coaches on display. The museum hosts the Tucson Rodeo Parade each February.

Getting There:
Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is located on the northeast corner of South 6th Avenue and Irvington.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 9:30am-3pm. Closed Sundays and public holidays.

Admission:
Minimum donation of $10 (adults), $2 (child).

University of Arizona Art Museum, Tucson

As part of the Edward J. Gallagher Memorial Collection, the University of Arizona Art Museum is home to works by Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and Mark Rothko. The museum also houses the C. Leonard Pfeiffer Collection of American paintings and the Samuel H. Kress Collection of European works, from the 14th to the 19th century. The University of Arizona campus is also the location of the Center for Creative Photography, displaying various works by leading artists such as Edward Weston and Ansel Adams.

Getting There:
Located at the University of Arizona, on the northwest corner intersection of Campbell Avenue and 6th Street.

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. Closed Mondays and university holidays.

Admission:
Adults $5, children free

Heard Museum, Phoenix

The Heard Museum is home to America's finest collection of Native American art, making this an essential attraction for visitors looking to gain an understanding of the west's original inhabitants. In total there are over 39,000 works of cultural and fine art ranging across textiles, katsina dolls, pottery, jewellery, baskets, cradleboards, paintings and sculpture. There are also 10 galleries with dynamic and imaginatively curated exhibitions. Don't miss the annual Guild Indian Fair and Market (March) which includes traditional dance performances along with arts and crafts. The museums signature exhibition is Home: Native People in the Southwest, which uses a variety of media to take visitors on an unforgettable journey through the region and the vibrant arts and cultures of its Native peoples.

Opening Times:
Monday to Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm.

Admission:
$15 (adults), $7.50 (children aged 6-12).

Trail Dust Town, Tucson

Trail Dust Town is built on the site of a 1950s western movie set; home to a vintage 1920s Fiesta del Presidiocarousel and a museum dedicated to Western cavalry and dragoon military units. Designed as a replica of a 19th century Western town, it has Old West souvenir shops, galleries and restaurants, as well as a custom leather store, wooden sidewalks, a central plaza, shooting gallery and a C.P. Huntington train. Hosting Wild West stunt shows, and an annual cowboy show in late February, Trail Dust Town is a great place to visit.

Getting There:
Located on East Tanque Verde Road, just before the intersection with East Grant Road.

Opening Times:
Store hours vary and amusements run into the evening.

Admission:
Free

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, Tucson

The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is an iconic Tucson landmark located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Established by the famous artist, Ettore DeGrazia, the property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features a museum of DeGrazia's work and an adobe chapel, called the Mission in the Sun, as well as striking murals, gardens and the artist's home and grave site. Free public tours are available, but must be scheduled in advance.

Getting There:
From downtown follow Broadway Boulevard five miles (8km), turn right at Swan Road and drive straight seven miles (11km).

Opening Times:
Open daily 10am-4pm, except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.