The state of Arizona is famous for its desert terrain, cactus plants and spectac

ular sunsets. It is all this and more and an Arizona travel guide may contain a
few surprises. There is a cultural heritage here, much influenced by the Native
American community and by neighboring Mexico. This is reflected in the local cui
sine and art work. Many activities are catered for, including fishing and sailin
g and there is fun for all the family at water parks and zoos.
Many westerns have been shot in the area and the desert is a familiar image but
a good Arizona travel guide will also point out that there are more than 300 gol
f courses here. Some of these courses host competitions in the FBR Open. Winter
sports enthusiasts also like to visit and there are three main resorts for skiin
g and snowboarding. These are the Arizona Snowbowl in the northern area of the S
an Francisco Peaks, the Mount Lemmon Ski Valley near Tucson and the Sunrise Ski
resort in the eastern part of the state. A recent development has been the thriv
ing wine industry, which came into being with the opening of the first vineyard
in 1973.
The state is home to many artist colonies and there are an abundance of art gall
eries. One of the most well known ones is the Heard Museum, which promotes Nativ
e American art. This is located in the state capital of Phoenix. As can be seen
in any Arizona travel guide, the city is an interesting place to visit with vari
ed attractions. One of the most popular features is the Saint Mary's Basilica, a
n historic church feted for its stained glass windows. There are several museums
, including the Arizona Science Center, which contains a planetarium and an IMAX
Theatre. Exhibits include information on the mining industry, the fascinating g
eology of the area and aerospace and energy conservation.
The city of Tucson is another city, well worth a visit. It too has many museums
and these include the Pima Air and Space Museum and the Museum of the Horse Sold
ier. There are a number of downtown buildings of architectural interest, includi
ng the Art Deco style Fox Tucson Theatre, the Rialto Theatre dating from 1920, a
nd the St. Augustine Cathedral, which was finished in 1896.
Of course, the major attraction of any vacation to this state is the Grand Canyo
n. No Arizona travel guide photograph can do justice to this geological wonder,
evolved over 2 billion years. The Colorado River carved out the colorful rocks i
n the gorge, enjoyed now by thousands of tourists every year. Visitors can go on
guided tours, walk on the trails or try white water rafting. There are numerous
animals to spot, including mountain lions, lynx and coyote.