Arizona

Northern Arizona

• Flagstaff
  • Museum Club – Club inside a log cabin/taxidermy shop hybrid.
  • Lowell Observatory – Historic observatory with retro vibes.
  • Meteor City Trading Post – Ruins of Route 66-era trading post with murals.
  • Walnut Canyon National Monument – Cliff dwellings and stunning canyon views.
  • Lava River Cave – A mile-long lava tube cave to explore.
  • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument – Unique volcanic landscape with trails and wildflowers.
  • Meteor Crater – One of the best-preserved impact craters in the world.
  • Riordan Mansion State Historic Park – Historic mansion showcasing early 1900s Flagstaff.
  • Northern Arizona University Heritage Center – Museum detailing the university’s and region’s history.
  • The Arboretum at Flagstaff – A high-altitude arboretum with diverse plant life and educational exhibits.
  • The Pioneer Museum – Museum housed in the old county hospital with local history exhibits.
• Holbrook
  • Wigwam Motel – Iconic Route 66 motel with concrete teepees.
  • Dinosaur statues – Large roadside dinos dotting the town.
  • Rainbow Rock Shop – Dinosaur statues and colorful rock displays.
  • The Big Texan Steak Ranch – Famous Route 66 roadside restaurant serving massive steaks.
  • Standin’ on the Corner Park – Tribute to the Eagles song with statue and mural.
  • The Holbrook Petrified Forest – Ancient petrified trees preserved in time.
• Jerome
  • Jerome Grand Hotel – Former hospital turned haunted hotel.
  • Sliding Jail – Jailhouse that slid downhill due to unstable ground.
  • Nellie Bly Kaleidoscope Store – Huge collection of artistic kaleidoscopes.
  • Jerome State Historic Park – Preserved historic mining town with museum exhibits.
• Page
  • The Wave – Striking sandstone rock formations with swirling patterns.
  • Glen Canyon Dam Overlook – Stunning view of the Colorado River and the dam.
• Payson
  • Tonto Natural Bridge State Park – Home to the world’s largest natural travertine bridge, with local historical context.
  • Payson Historical Society Museum – Featuring early settler history and the development of Payson.
• Sedona
  • Chapel of the Holy Cross – A church built into red rock formations.
  • Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village – Beautiful arts village with a rustic vibe.
  • Red Rock State Park – Beautiful red rock formations with hiking and wildlife watching.
  • Cathedral Rock – Iconic rock formation and popular hiking spot.
  • Oak Creek Canyon – Scenic drive with views of natural rock formations, trees, and water.
  • Slide Rock State Park – Natural water slide in Oak Creek.
• Williams
  • Bearizona – Drive-thru wildlife park with odd signs and setups.
  • Pete’s Gas Station Museum – Tiny restored gas station filled with memorabilia.
  • Route 66 Zipline – Experience the thrill of soaring above historic Route 66.
• Winslow
  • Standin’ on the Corner Park – Famous for the Eagles song and quirky statues.
  • La Posada Hotel – Restored Harvey House with Southwest art and culture.
• Grand Canyon
  • Grand Canyon Railway Depot – Historic train station offering rides to the canyon.
  • Grand Canyon Village – Historic district featuring early 20th-century architecture.
  • Bright Angel Trailhead – Historic trail to the Colorado River with early paths from the 1800s.
  • Havasu Falls – Stunning waterfall in the Havasupai Indian Reservation, known for its blue-green waters.
  • Desert View Watchtower – Scenic views of the canyon with a historic tower.
• Petrified Forest National Park
  • Blue Mesa – Scenic views of colorful petrified logs and rock formations.
  • Agate Bridge – A petrified log arch bridging a natural gap in the landscape.
• Monument Valley
  • Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park – Iconic red sandstone buttes, mesas, and wide desert vistas.

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Central Arizona

• Casa Grande
  • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument – Ancient ruins of the Hohokam people, dating back to 1350 CE.
• Cave Creek
  • Cave Creek Museum – Preserves the history of early settlers and mining towns in the area.
• Glendale
  • Sahuaro Ranch Park Historic Area – 19th-century ranch with historic buildings and orchards.
  • Glendale Historic District – A collection of restored early 20th-century homes and buildings.
• Mesa
  • Arizona Museum of Natural History – Known for quirky dinosaur fossils and fun exhibits that appeal to both kids and adults.
  • Mesa Historical Museum – Focused on the history of Mesa and early pioneers.
• Phoenix
  • South Mountain Park – The largest municipal park in the U.S. with hiking, biking, and scenic views.
  • Camelback Mountain – A challenging hike with stunning city views.
  • Desert Botanical Garden – Desert plant exhibits showcasing Arizona’s unique flora.
  • Papago Park – Known for its red sandstone formations and hiking trails.
  • Mystery Castle – Eccentric castle built of junk and stone.
  • The Legend City Theme Park Site – Abandoned theme park with remnants of old rides and buildings.
  • Tovrea Castle – Wedding cake-shaped historic mansion.
  • The Thing? – A quirky roadside attraction featuring a mysterious, unknown exhibit that has intrigued travelers for years.
  • Heritage Square – Historical block showcasing Victorian-era buildings.
  • Arizona State Capitol Museum – Former state capitol building housing historical exhibits.
  • Rosson House Museum – A Victorian mansion offering insight into Phoenix’s early days.
  • Heard Museum – Known for its Native American art and exhibits on Arizona’s indigenous culture.
  • Pioneer Living History Museum – A historic village recreating Arizona’s pioneer days.
  • First Baptist Church – Historic church dating back to the late 1800s.
• Scottsdale
  • McDowell Sonoran Preserve – A vast natural area with hiking and biking trails.
  • Camelback Mountain – Popular hiking destination offering sweeping city views.
  • Cosanti Originals – Paolo Soleri’s experimental architecture studio.
  • McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park – Quirky park with model trains and a carousel.
  • The Arizona Historical Society Museum – Focuses on Arizona’s early statehood and indigenous cultures.
  • Old Adobe Mission – Historic adobe church built in the 1930s, representing Arizona’s early missionary roots.
• Superior
  • World’s Smallest Museum – Tiny museum off the highway showcasing quirky historical memorabilia.
• Superstition Mountains
  • Lost Dutchman State Park – Famous for hiking and the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine.
  • Weaver’s Needle – A prominent rock spire in the Superstition Mountains.
• Tonto National Forest
  • Lake Roosevelt – A reservoir surrounded by desert cliffs with boating and fishing opportunities.
  • Pine Creek Canyon – A scenic, rocky canyon in the Tonto National Forest.
• Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
  • Tonto Natural Bridge – The world’s largest natural travertine bridge.
• Wickenburg
  • Desert Caballeros Western Museum – Quirky western museum filled with artifacts from Arizona’s cowboy history.

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Southern Arizona

• Benson
  • The Famous Potato Chip Factory – A quirky stop where you can try out various unique flavors of chips.
• Bisbee
  • The Lavender Pit – A massive open-pit copper mine surrounded by desert landscapes.
  • Cochise Stronghold – Rocky cliffs and hiking trails in the Dragoon Mountains.
  • The Bisbee 1000 – Famous annual stair climb through Bisbee’s steep streets.
  • Queen Mine Tour – Underground mine tour showcasing Bisbee’s copper mining history.
  • The Bisbee Historical Museum – A museum in a former hospital detailing Bisbee’s mining history.
• Kartchner Caverns State Park
  • Kartchner Caverns – Underground limestone caves with guided tours and striking formations.
• Madera Canyon
  • Madera Canyon – Beautiful high-desert canyon with birdwatching, hiking, and wildflowers.
  • Proctor Trail – A popular trail offering lush riparian habitats and views of the Santa Rita Mountains.
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
  • Ajo Mountain Drive – Scenic drive through a field of Organ Pipe cacti.
  • Senita Basin – Beautiful spot to observe desert flora and fauna.
• Saguaro National Park
  • East District (Rincon Mountain) – Known for its dense forests of giant saguaro cacti.
  • West District (Tucson Mountain) – Features cactus forests and desert scenery.
  • Cactus Forest Drive – A scenic drive through the heart of Saguaro National Park.
• Tombstone
  • Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park – A former courthouse turned museum with quirky exhibits on the Wild West.
  • Big Nose Kate’s Saloon – A historic bar offering a taste of the Wild West with quirky decor.
  • Boothill Graveyard – The burial ground for Tombstone’s early residents, including famous gunfighters.
  • Big Nose Kate’s Saloon – Historic saloon that was a gathering place during Tombstone’s heyday.
  • OK Corral – Famous site of the infamous 1881 gunfight between lawmen and outlaws.
• Tucson
  • Sabino Canyon – Beautiful desert canyon with hiking, wildlife viewing, and scenic vistas.
  • Tumamoc Hill – A hill offering panoramic views of Tucson and its surrounding deserts.
  • Mount Lemmon – The southernmost ski resort in the U.S. and hiking trails with alpine views.
  • Valley of the Moon – Fantasy garden with folk-art sculptures.
  • Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures – Rooms of tiny whimsical worlds.
  • Skeleton Museum – Home of decorated skeletons.
  • The Thing? – A quirky roadside attraction featuring a mysterious, unknown exhibit that has intrigued travelers for years.
  • Mission San Xavier del Bac – Beautiful 18th-century Spanish Catholic mission.
  • Tucson Presidio – Historic fort and museum showcasing Tucson’s military past.
  • The Arizona Historical Society Museum – Dedicated to preserving Arizona’s history, including the civil war period.
  • Old Tucson Studios – Historic movie set where many classic westerns were filmed.
  • Pima Air & Space Museum – Historic aviation museum with military aircraft and spacecraft on display.
  • The University of Arizona Museum of Art – Featuring important historical and contemporary art collections.

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Northwest Arizona

• Burro Creek
  • Arizona Telephone Booth – Isolated phone booth standing in the middle of the desert, a quirky roadside find.
• Kingman
  • Route 66 Museum – A kitsch-heavy history of the Mother Road.
  • Mohave Museum of History and Arts – Exhibits about the early pioneers and the development of Kingman.
  • Giganticus Headicus – Giant tiki-style head statue.

• Lake Havasu City
  • London Bridge – The historic bridge that was relocated from London, now standing in Arizona.
  • Lake Havasu Museum of History – Focused on the town’s founding and development, including the relocation of London Bridge.
  • The London Bridge Beach – Relax by the water under the bridge with a playful, quirky atmosphere.
• Lake Mead National Recreation Area
  • Lake Mead – A vast reservoir with opportunities for boating, fishing, and hiking.
  • Hoover Dam – The famous dam located on the border of Nevada and Arizona.
• Wikieup Area
  • Shoe Tree – A tree decorated with hanging shoes, drawing travelers for quirky photo ops.

• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  • Lake Powell – Scenic reservoir with opportunities for water recreation and scenic cruises.
  • Antelope Canyon – Famous for its narrow passageways and light beams, this slot canyon is a photographer’s dream.
• Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument
  • Mount Trumbull – Views of volcanic landscapes and diverse wildlife.
  • Whitmore Canyon – A rugged, remote area on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
• Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
  • Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge – A haven for migratory birds and wildlife along the Colorado River.

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Western Arizona

• Bouse
  • Bouse Fisherman’s Monument – A memorial to local fishers in early desert communities.
  • Bouse WW2 Military Museum – Museum featuring artifacts from Arizona’s military history.
• Colorado River
  • Colorado River – A major waterway offering recreational activities like kayaking, fishing, and rafting.
• Desert Bar
  • Desert Bar – A quirky, rustic bar built into the desert with natural surrounding landscapes.
• Gila Bend
  • Gila Bend Mountains – Rugged mountain range with trails and wildlife.
  • The Space Age Lodge – Quirky lodging featuring space-age decor and designs.
• Goffs (near AZ-CA border)
  • Goffs Bottle House – House made of glass bottles, quirky and colorful.
• Lake Havasu City
  • Lake Havasu – A large reservoir surrounded by mountains, ideal for water sports and relaxing beaches.
• Quartzsite
  • Hi Jolly Monument – Memorial to a camel driver who played a role in early desert expeditions.
  • La Posa Plain – A vast desert area popular for off-roading and stargazing.
  • Quartzsite Museum – Small museum chronicling the history of Quartzsite and its role in early desert exploration.
  • Reader’s Oasis Bookstore – Formerly home to naked bookseller Paul Winer, this bookstore is quirky, charming, and unique.
• Yuma
  • Yuma Territorial Prison – Old West prison with quirky museum displays and tales of history.
  • Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area – The site where the Colorado River was crossed, rich in history of early settlements.
  • The Colorado River State Historic Park – Focuses on Yuma’s history as a crossing point on the Colorado River.
  • Center of the World Pyramid – Monument just across the border in Felicity, CA.