Expert Advice
Four tourism pros pick their Arizona essentials.
Sherry Henry, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism, suggests five spots to explore outside of the Valley…
Go Up in Altitude in Flagstaff. Take the family up the Arizona Snowbowl’s Summer Scenic Skyride for great wildlife viewing and an unforgettable glimpse of the surrounding area. arizonasnowbowl.com
Enjoy the Natural Beauty of Patagonia. Venture to the friendly town of Patagonia, a crossroads for avian enthusiasts and nature lovers from all over the world. Tucked away in the rolling hills of southern Arizona, Patagonia Lake State Park offers a quiet reprieve for the day. Rent a canoe or rowboat, and enjoy the plethora of wildlife viewing and shoreside stroll—or cast a line to fish for bass, bluegill, freshwater trout and catfish. azstateparks.itinio.com/patagonialake.
Explore Infamous Territory in Yuma. On July 1, 1876, seven inmates entered Arizona Territory's first prison—the Territorial Prison at Yuma—and were locked into the new cells they'd built themselves. Now a museum, you can walk through the actual strap-iron cells and solitary chamber, and experience the life they had to endure. yumaprison.org.
Discover Geological Wonders in Payson. Tucked away in a tiny valley surrounded by pine, The Tonto Natural Bridge geological wonder is believed to be the world's largest natural travertine bridge, with 150-foot-wide arches that expand 183 feet above the sparkling Pine Creek. Stand on top of the bridge at any of the four observation points, scale the rocks in the 400-foot tunnel running through the bridge’s center or explore the canyon areas nearby. azstateparks.com/parks/TONA.
Hike the Chiricahuas. Explore the "Wonderland of Rock" in the Chiricahua National Monument, situated two hours Southeast of Tucson. Approximately 17 miles of trails make Chiricahua National Monument a favored excursion for hikers and birders. During a visit, tour the historic pioneer homestead known as Faraway Ranch. The ranch house, once inhabited by the Erickson family—the region's earliest European settlers—offers a glimpse into Arizona's pioneer history. You can also take the eight-mile paved drive, which unveils a scenic view of the park's natural beauty and diverse wildlife. nps.gov/chir.
Lynne Eve Kleinschmidt, concierge manager at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, suggests these five excursions…
A waterfall taller than Niagara Falls: Grand Falls (or Chocolate Falls). navajonationparks.org/htm/grandfalls.htm.
Where the wild burro roam: Alamo Lake State Park. azstateparks.com/Parks/ALLA.
Largest and oldest botanical garden in Arizona: Boyce Thompson Arboretum. arboretum.ag.arizona.edu.
Outdoor dreamland, from sunshine to snowfall: Greer, Arizona. greerarizona.com.
One of the most photographed spots on earth: Monument Valley. navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.
Emily Ginzl, senior manager of marketing at Scottsdale Fashion Square, suggests three of the Valley’s most luxurious shopping experiences…
Luxury Service Personified: The Shopping Center Concierge
Mirroring resort-level hospitality, Concierge Desks at premier Macerich shopping centers serve as one-stop-shops offering visitor information, courtesy of the city convention and visitors bureau, package carry-out assistance and other welcome personal touches. And no one does it better than Peter Harden, Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Roving Concierge, who truly is luxury service personified. For example, Harden has done everything from shop with comedian Robin Williams to seek out the perfect pair of earrings for an unsure gentleman to hold packages for shoppers while they use the dressing room. Harden makes it his business to deliver the ultimate in customer service to shoppers at Scottsdale Fashion Square, Arizona’s largest retail powerhouse. Why should travelers seek out this luxury experience? The VIP treatment, of course. which always delivers smiles. fashionsquare.com.
Experiential Shopping Packages
Whether visitors are best friends, a mother-daughter pair or spouses of busy business travelers, Macerich shopping centers offer unique and tailored experiences via Shop America Tours. These experiential shopping packages combine elements like retailer services, amenities, attractions and restaurants. Packages include SHOP & PLAY, SHOP & SPA, SHOP & SEE and SHOP & EXPLORE and range in price from $15 to $125. shopamericatours.com.
Luxury Shopping Tours provided by Spree! The Art of Shopping
Experience the red-carpet rollout during this three-hour excursion including transportation, shopping guide and personalized itinerary including the best-of-the-best from one-of-a-kind boutiques to internationally recognized stores. Tours start at $295. azshoppingspree.com.
Diane Morris, lead concierge at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain, suggests four Valley spots…
The Apache Trail is a beautiful 40 mile drive that follows an old stagecoach trail through the rugged Superstition Mountains. Highlights along the route include a ghost town, desert lakes, the town of Tortilla Flat, Roosevelt Dam and Native American ruins. Drive the entire route or turn around when the road changes from pavement to gravel. apachetrailarizona.com.
Taliesin West is a National Historic Landmark situated in the foothills of North Scottsdale. It was built in 1937 as Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home studio, and school of architecture. Guides take visitors around the property and into buildings where they will experience Frank Lloyd Wright’s design genius firsthand. franklloydwright.org.
The Musical Instrument Museum in North Phoenixis the world’s only global musical instrument museum. More than 6,000 instruments from around the world are on display. Visitors to the MIM can see, hear, and play instruments in the museum or enjoy live performances in the acoustically superb music theater. mim.org.
The Heard Museum in Downtown Phoenix is internationally recognized for its collections of Native American artifacts and contemporary art. Visitors delight in their ever-changing exhibits, excellent shopping and cultural festivals. heard.org.
TALIESIN WEST, ABOVE. COURTESY OF ANDREW PIELAGE
