3 Arizona Bucket List Experiences You Can’t Miss
Arizona is a state made for explorers. Nearly 300 days of sunshine each year make it a year-round destination. The state also has the most sun-drenched city in the world, Yuma, which holds the record as the “Sunniest City on Earth,” with sunshine about 90 percent of daylight hours.
If you’re planning a trip, these three stops are the bucket list experiences in Arizona you absolutely can’t miss.
Sedona Red Rocks And Vortexes
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The town of Sedona was built right into nature’s artwork. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Snoopy Rock can be seen above, and their shapes and colors shift as the sunlight changes.
Nearly three million visitors make their way here each year to enjoy hikes, join Jeep tours, or wander through Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Trails like Devil’s Bridge bring a good challenge and sweeping views, while Oak Creek Canyon’s West Fork trail provides an easier option, shaded by trees.
Beyond hiking, Sedona has earned fame as Arizona’s “New Age Capital.” Visitors travel here to connect with vortex sites thought to hold healing energy. These sites are so rare that others are only found at places like Machu Picchu and the Great Pyramids.
Adventure seekers can also canoe or kayak along the Verde River, cast for trout, or even float high above the valley in a hot air balloon. At night, clear skies filled with stars make the whole visit worth it.
Grand Canyon Views And Adventures
Grand Canyon National Park is often the first thing people think of when they think of Arizona, and it never disappoints. The canyon stretches roughly 278 miles along the Colorado River and saw more than 4.9 million visitors in 2024.
Tourism here took off in 1901 with the arrival of the railway, and today you can still ride the Grand Canyon Railway on a 4½-hour round trip from Williams. Passengers get three hours to take in the South Rim before heading back.
People experience the canyon in different ways. There’s white-water rafting for thrill-seekers and smoother rafting trips that let them admire the layers of rock at a slower pace. Looking out over the canyon edge is unforgettable, but seeing it from inside the river adds a whole new perspective.
Monument Valley Movie Set Magic
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Monument Valley, located on the Arizona-Utah border, symbolizes the American West since John Ford filmed “Stagecoach” here in 1939. Crimson mesas and towering sandstone buttes stretch across the horizon.
The 17-mile Scenic Drive takes you past highlights like The Mittens, Three Sisters, John Ford’s Point, and Totem Pole. Signs mark the viewpoints, but it’s also smart to download maps ahead of time since cell service is limited. The Scenic Drive can be done in your own car, but Navajo-guided tours provide access to areas that aren’t open otherwise and share stories passed down through generations.
Entry costs $20 per vehicle, and the money supports the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation. The best times to visit are spring and fall, when temperatures are comfortable and crowds are lighter. For those who want to wake up with sandstone formations outside their window, The View Hotel inside the park offers rooms with some of the most iconic sights in the country.