Arizona (the Grand Canyon State) was the final State to join the original United States, in 1912. This South West State renowned for its famous desert scenery has a very low rainfall.

Grand Canyon

Sharing a southern border with Mexico to the south of Tucson, Arizona meets Utah to the North at Monument Valley where the magnificent flat top rock formations have provided the backdrop to many a western movie. On the edge of the Rockies, New Mexico is its easterly neighbour. The Colorado River Nevada and California are neighbours to the west.

The spectacular Grand Canyon and Tuba City, the Painted Desert and the Plateau lure thousands of tourists to the State, which covers 113,645 square miles. A quarter of the territory is deemed a Reserve for native Apache Indians whose ancestors moved here from Canada during the 16th century. Cattle rearing, dairy farming, cotton and vegetable growing are the main agricultural industries with copper, silver, gold and uranium being mined. Tourism gives the greatest boost to the economy.

The Four Corners where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet is where visitors become contortionists in order to get a limb in each State for the compulsory photograph.

Hydroelectric power is harnessed from the Salt and Gila Rivers. Phoenix, capital and heart of the State occupies the valley of the Salt River and is a Mecca for retirees and tourists due to its warm climate. Heritage Square is a restoration project of Victorian Houses, many of which are museums and art and science centres. Twelve miles away is Scottsdale, now “Retail Heaven” although it retains at a distance the older quiet leafy town in its desert setting that inspired Frank Lloyd Wright in his visionary architecture. Taliesin West, once his studio is now a school and studio for architects.


Tucson

Due to its dry, sunny climate, Tucson is also popular with the over sixties. Sixty miles north of the Mexican border, Tucson lies on the boundary of the Sonoran Desert, surrounded by mountains. Here you’ll find the El Presidio Historic District, built on an original Spanish fortress site, and has a Spanish Colonial style cathedral. Old Tucson Studio is a Wild West theme park occupying a former film set.


Tucson Rodeo

In Central Arizona Jerome and Sedona in the Verde River region are popular destinations for visitors. Redbrick buildings and relics of former mining works can be seen here. Two ancient monuments are also worth visiting. The first, Tuzigoot, is a ruined hilltop pueblo, and the second is Montezuma Castle ruins that date from 1100.

Heading North West for the Canyons, Flagstaff in the San Francisco Peak district has a lovely old redbrick and historic downtown.

The Canyon and River run across the North West top of Arizona; south west is the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest and along the Utah border lies the magnificent Canyon de Chelly.


Grand Canyon Skywalk

One of the Wonders of the World, the ever-changing colours of the rock, and the subtleties of light and shade make the Grand Canyon totally unforgettable. Grand Canyon National Park covers nearly 2,000 square miles and Grand Canyon Village has hotels and all tourist facilities. It is from here that hikes are led, mule convoys start, and the steam train travels from Williams. The majority of visitors enter the South Rim to start their exploring. The North Rim, being higher, offers a cooler option but its entrance is closed during the winter when ice and snow make visits impossible.

Getting there

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is the largest airport in Arizona followed by Tucson International Airport. There are several smaller airports also serving the State.

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