Top Places to visit in Central Arizona

This is a continuation of my top places to visit in Arizona article, which is broken down into three parts, Northern Arizona, Central Arizona and Southern Arizona.

Top Places to visit in Central Arizona

1) Sedona

Sedona is one of those magical places that should be on everyone’s bucket list.  The brilliance of the red rock spires, the adventure of exploration and the spiritual feeling one gets when meditating on the serene banks of Oak Creek is just amazing.

2) Oak Creek Canyon

Oak Creek Canyon is just north of Sedona on the way to Flagstaff. It’s most notable feature is the Slide Rock State Park, but just driving through the canyon will take your breath away.

3) Jerome

Jerome is an old mining town turned into a vibrate artistic community and popular tourist destination. This quirky place is full of nooks, crannies and textures that just make you want to explore.

4) Tuzigoot National Monument

Between Sedona and Jerome, just outside the town of Clarksdale, lies a small national monument known as Tuzigoot, which is one of several sites south of Flagstaff where the 12th century Sinagua Indian dwellings are preserved. Unlike the Montezuma Castle twenty miles to the southeast, Tuzigoot comprises a cluster of buildings on top of a small sandstone ridge near the Verde River.

5) Desert Botanical Garden

The Southwest is truly a wondrous place and there is no better venue to see such a unique display of Sonoran plant-life than the Desert Botanical Garden. Click here to read more.

6) Montezuma Castle National Monument

Montezuma Castle is one of Arizona’s many historical treasures—it’s a domicile that will captivate you with age old design that has stood the test of time. Click the following link to learn more about visiting Montezuma Castle.

7) Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Located near the old mining town of Superior, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one of the top places to visit in Central Arizona. The venue has plant-life from different deserts around the world. There is a large greenhouse, shaded picnic area and seasonal water that runs through the nearly 400 acre site.

8) London Bridge

Believe it or not, the London Bridge is located in Arizona, not London. In 1971 it was dismantled brick-by-brick and reconstructed in Arizona. Click the following link to read more about Lake Havasu City and the London Bridge.

9) Apache Junction

Apache Junction (AJ) is considered the Gateway to the Superstition Mountains (home of the Lost Goldmine) and is located about forty miles east of downtown Phoenix. Apache Junction is steeped in history, legends and lore. Click the following link to read more about Apache Junction.

10) Taliesin West

Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most prolific architects in modern history. Taliesin West was his home, studio and school, which now doubles as is museum paying homage to Mr. Wright’s architectural philosophies.

11) Watson Lake

Along scenic Highway 89A just north of Prescott is Watson Lake, a geological oddity where a small body of water is littered with giant granite boulders. This recreational lake is a great place to rent a kayak and go exploring, often down narrow stretches of water in between massive granite formations.

12) Old Town Scottsdale

During its early days, Scottsdale was a tiny farming community rife with orange groves and olive trees. Old Town was a beacon for artists. Today, it’s a mecca of art galleries, museums and hip restaurants. 

Click the following links to see the top places to visit in Northern Arizona and Southern Arizona.