As a lifelong learner, you’ve always been drawn to trips that really immerse you in a place, where you have time to get to know the local culture, geography and history before jetting off back home. You’re selective about places you go – off-the-beaten-path museums, guided tours of natural wonders allure, and you always read every sign. Arizona is replete with places to do just this: Here are seven to start with.

1. Tour the depths of the Grand Canyon

Supplied

There might be as many factoids about the Grand Canyon as there are vantage points: Did you know that it’s bigger than the state of Rhode Island? Ten miles wide, 277 miles long from end to end and almost one mile deep at points, buttes, ravines, rocky walls, outcroppings and coloured plateaus are truly awe-inspiring, and many of them have yet to be discovered at all. Activities here are endless, too, with guided hiking, backpacking and white water rafting tours and even mule rides on offer to ensure a full appreciation of this remarkable site. Choose your preferred mode of transportation and pair guided insight with the unmatched experience of being at the heart of the canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

2. Travel through time immemorial at the Heard Museum

Supplied

Four Indigenous communities – the O’odham and Diné (Navajo Nation), the Central Yup’ik and the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy) – came together to create an immersive storytelling experience, Substance of Stars, at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. This permanent exhibition in the museum’s 360-degree Sky-Dome explores the relationship between native knowledge and Mother Earth. Images, audio and art contributed by the Indigenous communities deepen the visitor’s understanding of the inspiration, logic and wisdom underlying Indigenous art and storytelling, including a Haudenosaunee creation story of Sky Woman, which describes the creation of Turtle Island (aka North America). Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum is renowned for its dedication to Indigenous art and related programming, as well as its innovative, nationally-recognized Courtyard Café which offers local Indigenous foods and heritage grains.

3. Visit Horseshoe Bend, millions of years of geology in the making

Supplied

The Colorado River hugs what was an impassable escarpment at Horseshoe Bend, circling the sandstone feature and creating exhilarating scenery in a state where jaw-dropping views are the norm. Here, you’ll catch a breathtaking look at the 270-degree canyon curve, formed over millions of years. Book a private or semi-private tour by car or kayak and learn about this geological marvel up close. Spectacular sunsets over azure waters are an everyday occurrence here not to be missed. Visit the nearby Glen Canyon Dam, the second-highest concrete arch dam in the country and another man-made wonder, Lake Powell, for a range of water sports – and more terrific views. You might just want to make a weekend of it.

4. Get to know the Mission Garden’s rich roots

Supplied

For locals and visitors alike, one of the most beloved spots in Tucson is the Mission Garden, a plot of land on the city’s floodplain where farming has been ongoing for four thousand years. Corn, squash and beans were originally cultivated by Indigenous peoples there, in the acequia irrigation channels built off the Santa Cruz River. The Spaniards subsequently built a mission on the site, and, after hundreds of years, the garden has more recently flourished through the efforts of the multiple local and Indigenous communities committed to its stewardship. Today, it’s a working garden, with both ancient and modern crops: agave and figs grow alongside amaranth, quince, barley and wheat. The same style of channels run through the garden now, a testament to the ancient ingenuity of the Hohokam and O’odham.

5. Drive through dreamy sandstone at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Supplied

The Monument Valley formations in the middle of the northern Arizona desert in Navajo Nation mirror the rich natural crimson and clay of the mesa and butte landscapes. One of the most beautiful drives in the world, the 17-mile dirt loop brings you through an otherworldly landscape that has long inspired painters, adventurers, photographers and filmmakers. A three-mile loop trail hike takes you to the iconic Mitten and Merrick Buttes, where you can see these steep sandstone hills up close. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with the artisans carrying on Navajo traditions of silversmithing, pottery and weaving on the roads of the park or at the trading post.

6. Spot breathtaking biodiversity by foot or bike at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Supplied

Hikers and nature lovers alike will love the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, where views of the Ajo Mountains and some of the state’s oldest silver and gold mines reward those seeking a more off-the-beaten path outdoor experience. This UNESCO biosphere also welcomes bikepackers on the park’s wide Ajo Mountain Drive trail, which includes a chance to camp under the stars. Bird, plant, reptile and amphibian enthusiasts will marvel at the remarkable biodiversity here, with more than 300 bird and 100 species of reptiles – not to mention the vast numbers of picturesque organ pipe cacti and over 2,000 plant varieties thriving in this green, arid landscape.

7. Tour Walnut Canyon’s ancient cliffside homes

Supplied

Birders delight in the hikes around Walnut Canyon, where over 100 species flourish. The 300+ cliff dwellings here were abandoned 800 years ago, but wildlife – coyotes, mule deer, rabbits and squirrels – thrive in this dry ecosystem with limited human intervention. The curved canyon walls, stone steps and rock art hold the history of its inhabitants. Following the trails around the remarkable geological formations of the canyon, archaeology aficionados can see partially rebuilt pueblos and well-preserved rooms and imagine what life was like here a long, long time ago. Stop by the Visitor Center on your way in or out, where you can take in panoramic views of the cliffs and tour the park’s museum to learn more about the area’s original tenants.

When you think about your next vacation, do you find yourself drawn to destinations based on their food scene? Look no further than Arizona, where traditional roots share the table with innovative fine dining, showcasing a unique blend of cuisines from the people who call this state home. Explore Indigenous dishes and ingredients, hop onto the Fresh Foodie Trail to see how citrus, olives, heritage grains and more star ingredients are grown and processed and tap into the award-winning restaurant communities of Tucson and Phoenix at these eight spots.

1. Big flavours are abundant at Bacanora

Lauren Opal Miller

Bacanora brings the varied tastes of the fertile Sonoran Desert to downtown Phoenix, winning accolades along the way. Elotes – fire-roasted grilled corn smothered in spicy crema – are only the beginning of a menu featuring traditional mains like burritos, steaks and pollo asado (grilled chicken), veering into refreshing small off-menu plates like fresh fish prepared aguachile or crudo style. The best part of this James Beard semi-finalist restaurant’s menu may well be the piñata section, where a range of paper, clay, or “made to be broken” piñatas made by their artisan designer friends at Mañana Republic are listed for purchase.

2. At BATA, local ingredients are prepared up-close

BATA

Tucson’s BATA is the place to go for award-winning live fire cooking – but don’t expect a steakhouse. Inspired by Japanese robata grill technique and preparation approaches, these folks focus on the bounty of vegetables grown within 400 miles of the restaurant. Oak fire touches every dish on the fun, vegetable-centric, three-part menu – which includes food to eat with your hands, savoury dishes that require silverware and desserts. Expect an expansive industrial space and an ever-changing menu based on the seasons (even the micro-seasons, they say) and a spirit of adventure.

3.Sample tastes from across Thailand at Lom Wong

Alju

Yotaka and Alex Martin met in Thailand and moved to Arizona, committed to sharing the foods of the Thai regions they came to know well from Yotaka’s childhood and Alex’s 12 years of work and study there. Lom Wong started as a pop-up in their backyard, replete with fairy lights by the pool and a presentation explaining the origins of each dish. Now in their own brick-and-mortar location in Phoenix, there’s no Power Point at dinnertime, only a varied menu with handmade spice pastes touching on classic and less familiar dishes from northern Thailand (Chiang Rai) to Kanchanburi in the west. If you’re travelling in a group, show up for the “Arai Kodai,” or, “down for whatever,” experience – where the chefs prepare a unique menu for you, an homage to their days hosting dinner parties in their living room.

4. Soul food legend lives on at Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café

@courtneyeats

What’s the golden rule at Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café? Plenty of good, old-fashioned comfort food, said founder Elizabeth White, a Phoenix culinary legend. Opened in 1964 when she was a single mother with a zero-interest loan to start her business, Mrs. White met her goal of feeding classic soul food dishes to hungry diners, and then some. The menu features family recipes of catfish, southern fried chicken and pork chops – with a smothered gravy option – sides of black eye peas, red beans, cabbage, sweet potatoes and mac and cheese. White’s son Larry Jr. has his own small empire, too, thanks to his mom’s recipes: check out Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles, Monroe’s Hot Chicken and the Brunch & Sip.

5. Delight in decades of Mexican cuisine at Panadería La Purisima

@Tsyriouseats

La Purisima Bakery, with locations in Glendale and Phoenix, has been making classic Mexican breads, pastries and cakes for almost 40 years, including everything from fresh flour tortillas to artful conchas, melt-in-your mouth Mexican pastries with a crumbly topping. Try all four varieties of their tamales: pork, green or red chile, rajas with roasted chilies and cheese or sweet tamales with raisins and coconut. La Purisima also sells the masa – nixtamalized corn – to make your own pastries at home. Don’t leave without their branded concha T-shirt.

6. Agritopia Farm’s produce, pastries and craftwork won’t disappoint

Visit Mesa

What started as a family farm in the town of Gilbert in 1927 is now a flourishing urban farming community centred on celebrating agricultural traditions. Agritopia Farm is at the heart of a planned village an hour southeast of Phoenix: A farm shop featuring organic produce and local food – everything from artichokes to zucchini, grains and honey – a restaurant showcasing what’s grown on the land and seasonal farm tours are just part of what’s on offer here. For those who love artisans, Barnone, a community of makers on the grounds of the farm, features the work of chefs and bakers, winemakers, brewers, letterpress printers and even a cooking tool maker.

7. Taste a Tohono O’Odham culinary tradition at The Fry Bread House

Visit Phoenix

Fry bread - a fried wheat flatbread that comes from the creative use of rations sent to uprooted Indigenous communities by the U.S. government as a replacement for their native corn – is one of the must-eats for visitors to the state. The Fry Bread House, the first Native American restaurant to win a James Beard award, opened in 1992. Founded by a Tohono O’odham Nation family as a gathering place for urban Indians, the restaurant has shared the Nation’s specialties (including red chili beef) alongside regional Mexican dishes like tortillas (here called chumuth), menudo and tamales ever since. Staffed by members of the community, The Fry Bread House is renowned for their fry bread tacos – as well as the social justice principles that guide the restaurant to this day.

8. Sip your way across Arizona wine country

Supplied

Keep the tasting going with the free virtual Arizona Wine Trail Passport, featuring more than 120 wineries and tasting tours spanning six regions across the state, which will teach you about the varietals and blends in this American Viticulture Area (AVA). Vin de Filles (which translates to girls’ wine in French), crafted at Page Springs Cellars by three women vintners and their all-women team, is perfect first stop for a DIY wine tour. Inspired by the women grape harvesters at the winery and sprung from a desire to highlight feminine strength within the world of wine, Vin de Filles is a wild fermentation mix of House Mountain Syrah and Dos Padres Malvasia. Wine tasting, touring the vineyards, yoga and massage and a bistro are all on offer at Page Spring Cellars near Cornville, AZ, with profits supporting the work of the Verde Valley Sanctuary, a grassroots anti-domestic violence group.

You’ve been looking for a fun-filled getaway, one that your kids – and maybe their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles – can all enjoy in turn. With a range of climates replete with views and adventures alike, a slew of sports games and heritage sites galore, there are activities in Arizona to suit all ages. Take a week (or two) to explore this diverse state, and it’ll be one of the most memorable vacations that your wild bunch ever takes.

1. Traverse National Parks and spot wild species

Supplied

As an incredibly biodiverse state, Arizona is home to many species that are completely different from those your kids see at home. Arizona is home to 52 species of snake, 49 species of lizard and more than one-third of the world’s rattlesnakes – more than any other U.S. state – to marvel at, from a safe distance. Although you’ll no doubt see plenty on your day-to-day explorations, many state and national parks offer awesome ways to observe wildlife in their natural habitats. At Hassayampa River Preserve, just an hour’s drive north of Phoenix, park rangers offer "Creatures of the Night Walks" where you’ll see intriguing nocturnal wildlife like owls, javelinas and scorpions at their most active. At Tonto National Forest, you’ll spot wild horses, and at Grand Canyon National Park, bison herds. Stop by the park at dusk and stay ‘til just before bedtime to gaze upon a sky streaked with stars.

2. Get lost in a maze of museums

Supplied

For its interactive and kid-centred exhibits, the Arizona museum scene scores high. Younger ones will adore clambering the enormous play structure made from recycled materials, a pretend grocery store and numerous hands-on exhibits at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. Just a short walk away, the Arizona Science Center has a massive IMAX theatre and planetarium. The Dinosaur Hall at the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa is seriously impressive, and from there, you can pop into the Arizona Through Time exhibit too. And in addition to its major museums, Arizona has its share of quirky spots too, like the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures' in Tucson, which holds 500 antique and modern dollhouses and roomboxes, and the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley, where you can visit the U.S.’s only nuclear missile silo, and missile sans warhead, open to the public.

3. Learn about Navajo history and culture

Supplied

The ancient cliff dwellings built into sandstone alcoves at Navajo National Monument may not have been inhabited for centuries, but they’re marvelously well-preserved and free to tour with an expert guide. Seeing them in person is most definitely a moving experience whatever age you are – and, with three different lookout points on offer, each along a route of varying length and difficulty, there are options for each age group. This park offers a unique perspective on the lives of the local Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Zuni and Navajo peoples that inhabited the canyons for centuries. Or, if you’re on the eastern edge of Arizona, stop by the expansive Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, which offers kid-focused arts and cultural programming, history lessons strewn across weavings, archeological finds and more than 40,000 photographs.

4. Find fun for the foodies in your family

Supplied

There’s so much great food to be eaten in Arizona (and what kid – or adult – doesn’t love tacos?) at inspired spots that serve fabulous meals while still catering to kids. Take Luci’s at the Orchard in Phoenix, which not only serves up wood-fired pizza and cocktails but also has a splash pad, a dog-friendly patio and a vast citrus tree-lined outdoor space for your children to run around. At Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, diners are serenaded by a 6000-pipe Wurlitzer organ, and there’s an on-site arcade and ice cream parlour. Plenty of the state’s breweries are family-friendly too, offering outdoor space to run and play across seasons.

5. Explore wild terrains and out-of-this-world views

Supplied

Arizona is home to breathtaking views unlike anywhere else in the country – your kids would be remiss to skip them while in the southwest. The Grand Canyon is always going to be an Arizona bucket-list item, but there are plenty more world-class natural spots to check out, too. Walk among prehistoric petrified trees and towering rock structures in Petrified Forest National Park near Winslow while admiring the stratified beauty of the Painted Desert that weaves through the park. Take a tour of other-worldly Antelope Canyon, near Page, located on private land in the Navajo Nation, that feels more like Mars than anywhere on Earth. Or, stand in the shadow of giant cactus at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo in the Sonoran Desert, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

6. Find adventure sports unlike anywhere else

Supplied

Depending on the ages and abilities of your kids, Arizona offers amazing biking, hiking and water sports. Head to Lake Havasu, a clear-blue reservoir on the western border with California, for paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, jet skiing, kite-surfing and even scuba diving. You can surf the dunes or tear around on an ATV tour at Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation Area in Yuma, a super neat location that’s been used for countless movies and TV shows, including Star Wars Episode V: Return of the Jedi.

7. The Wild West is alive and well in Tombstone

Supplied

Step back in time in Tombstone, where the town’s historic Allen Street still looks like the set of a classic western movie, and there are cowboy shootout re-enactments at the O.K. Corral Historic Complex designed to thrill audiences of all ages. There are working ranches across the state that offer horseback riding adventures through the dramatic desert landscape, some set up for longer stays, with fine dining restaurants and plenty of family-orientated activities.

8. Fun for every sports fan

Supplied

Whatever sport your family loves to watch most, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Arizona. The state is home to MLB, NHL, NFL, NBA and WNBA teams, not to mention the State Farm stadium in Glendale, which hosted the Super Bowl LVII, and the Phoenix Raceway, home to the annual NASCAR championships. Plus, plenty of baseball teams flock to Arizona between February and March to train in the off-season across the state’s 10 stadiums, so you’ll find a full schedule of games and a chance to see all-star players enjoying the sunshine as part of the Cactus League Spring Training.

You’re the kind of traveller who wants to come home from vacation feeling rejuvenated – when you take time off, you want to make the most of the opportunity to unwind and unplug. Arizona’s sun-soaked temperatures, pleasant dry heat and expansive desert sky makes it the perfect place to rest and recharge after months of blistering Canadian cold. Opportunities for self-care abound: seek serenity at the spa, mix relaxation with nature at the hot springs or unwind at some of the world’s best golf courses.

1. Find your zen at Miraval

Supplied

Arizona is home to some of North America’s most impressive spas. At Miraval in the Sonoran Desert, guests check in to the highest levels of luxury where a diverse range of experiences are at your fingertips, from the classics – yoga, meditation and horseback riding – to the more unique offerings like beekeeping, archery, tarot readings and aerial courses. Between activities you’re pampered with indulgent spa treatments, nutritionist-prepared meals and have access to on-site counselors there to help you achieve your wellness goals.

2. Seek serenity in a heavenly Arizona hot spring

Supplied

What could be more satisfying than a glorious hike through a cactus-studded desert that leads you to a natural hot spring? There are hot springs scattered throughout the state, though some require more effort than others to find. There are two hikes (roughly four kilometres, one easier than the other) that lead to Arizona Hot Spring at Lake Mead Recreation Area, also home to an on-site campground where you can enjoy starlit nights, too.

Prefer your hot springs sans hike? Essence of Tranquility in Safford offers communal and private, clothing-optional hot spring-fed pools and on-site massages. The luxe resort at Castle Hot Springs, an hour north of Phoenix, offers the hottest non-volcanic hot springs in the world at 49 degrees Celsius.

3. Take a swing on the green

Supplied

There are more than 370 golf courses in Arizona; it is no wonder that so many pro golfers choose the state to call home. All serve up incredible vistas, carved into the desert landscape, and of course, perfect sunny days are just short of guaranteed at any tee time. Wondering how to choose between so many courses? Golf Digest lists the following Arizona courses as editors’ choice for the best in the Southwest: The Boulders Resort and Spa in Carefree; Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North and Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson; Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in Marana; and We-ko-pa Casino Resort in Scottsdale.

4. Enter meditative bliss in Sedona

Supplied

If you’re looking for a spiritual connection, there’s no finer place to find it than in staggeringly beautiful Arizona, where alternative healers are on hand to guide you toward your deeper self. Red Earth Adventures in Sedona – a place considered by some to have sacred energy – offers private and semi-private healing vortex tours that can also include medicine wheel ceremonies, reiki and guided meditation as well as side trips to wineries. Sedona Mago offers spiritual development retreat programs concentrating on meditation, Tao healing and QiGong, a camp of traditional Chinese medicine.

5. Sip your way through a renowned wine region

Supplied

The first grapevines were planted in Arizona back in the 1600s, but it’s only in the past decade that the state’s wineries have begun to get the attention they so rightly deserve. There are three main wine regions to tour – Sonoita/Elgin, Willcox and the Verde Valley – each with unique scenery and terroirs unto themselves. Start at one of almost 30 wineries along the Verde Valley Wine Trail in the north of the state, known for its red sandstone rock formations. Caduceus Cellars in Jerome is famed for both single-varietal small-batch family-made wines, such as the Nagual del Judith Aglianico, one of its well-regarded reds, and the fact it is owned by Tool and A Perfect Circle front man Maynard James Keenan. Chateau Tumbleweed, down the street, turns locally-sourced grapes grown at high-elevation into youthful, creative wines — highly reflective of its owners, two husband-wife teams who take their cellars more seriously than themselves. Or, if you’re in town in May, try pours from 16 Willcox wineries at the region’s annual wine festival.

6. Camp out under the stars

Supplied

With the headquarters of the Dark Sky Movement – a push to reduce light pollution and preserve the beauty of the night’s stars – based in Tucson, it’s no surprise that Arizona is the perfect place to stargaze. In fact, Flagstaff, Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Camp Verde and the Kaibab Paiute Indian Reservation all hold designated dark sky region status. Pitch your tent in one of the stunningly beautiful parks in these regions and be treated to amazing, non-light polluted skies, with nary a soul (nor a streetlight) around.

Prefer more comfortable lodgings but still want to admire the night skies? Several operators in and around Grand Canyon National Park offer stay and stargaze packages, including Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs, and Grand Canyon National Park Lodges, where you go out with astronomers and learn about the twinkling stars and planets overhead. Under Canvas Grand Canyon offers glamping in tents with clear roof panels (as well as king-sized beds and private bathrooms).