Arizona Tourism offers the opportunity to see one of the greatest assets in the Natural World and one of the Seven Wonders of the World with the Grand Canyon. This vast expanse of natural beauty has 277 miles of canyon floor to see. The trip to the Canyon has an abundance of interesting things to see so plan to make the trip more than just a one day outing.

You may begin your trip in Flagstaff where the beauty of the mountains surrounds you. There is shopping, dining or live music to enjoy in downtown Flagstaff’s downtown area. Maybe you will be there for the Oldest Hopi Art Show in the World which will showcase the art, music and culture of the Hopi Indians. Or maybe you will want to visit the Meteor Crater Center which displays the never-ending process of impacts and collisions in our solar system by the Meteors. Take time to visit the Painted Forest where nature has created the beauty of petrified wood in stunning colors, a true work of Mother Nature’s handiwork.

Head out on Hwy 90 toward Hwy 64 as you head for the Canyon. You will arrive at the East entrance which is far less crowded than the others. You will enjoy the experience more not having to wait so long to find a parking spot of to get in. Once you arrive, before you park, take the Desert View Drive route to see the Canyon. This is the longest stretch of road open to the public along the South Rim. In the evening sit back and enjoy the stunning sun setting over the Canyon. Unbelievable.

After spending the night near the Canyon you may want to travel to John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum to learn about his Colorado River Voyages from the 1800′s. At the museum you will be able to see an oversized, yet accurate, replica of the long boat they used on the river. Inside you will see sketches, photos and other memorabilia of Powell’s journey on the river from 1869 and 1871. There are also Native American and pioneer artifacts to bring history to life for you.

After your visit to the museum you may be in the mood for a boat trip on the great Lake Powell. You can find everything you need at Page which over looks the dramatic vistas of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. It is also adjacent to the fabulous Navajo Nation which will take another day to truly see and enjoy.

Lake Powell is over 180 miles long with over ninety canyons to explore and fantastic water adventures to participate with such as boating, fishing, skiing or just relaxing.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument offers stunning vista views. Take a jeep tour of the canyon where you can see sheer cliffs and hundreds of Anasazi ruins. The Anaszi Indians are the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians. They settled in this area between about AD 1 and AD 1300. They were known for their fine basket making, pottery, cloth ornaments and tools. The homes they left behind have revealed a wide array of artifacts for your learning pleasure.

Your Arizona vacation offers you a great choice of options to do. Even though you may start in the Northeast you will want to come back often to see the rest of the states beauty. There is so much to see in each region of the state ranging from culture to history to western art.