Experience: Arizona

Welcome our first segment of Experience Arizona.

Arizona is a place of canyons (they may not all be “Grand” but they are all spectacular) mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, deserts, tabletop flat mesas, fall foliage, springtime blossoms and open roads. Whatever your riding style is you will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy it in Arizona.

With a Sunbelt climate that allows riding for much of the year and some the most incredible scenery in the country, Arizona is a place that you will want to visit time and again. Here are a few previews of articles and stories we will be featuring in future editions:

Mining Towns

Arizona ’s history and reason for settlement can be attributed, in large part, to mining. Areas where big “booms” happened started out strong, but as mining came to an end, many of these towns began a slow decline in population. An example is Bisbee, tucked in the Mule Mountains of southeastern Arizona. Bisbee’s look reminds some visitors of a small-scale San Francisco, with winding hills and unique architecture. Begin your journey with a tour at the Queen Mine, where visitors don hard hats with lights and yellow slickers. Then tour the Smithsonian-affiliated Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum before exploring some of the town’s unique shops. Bisbee is so well-preserved that the National Trust for Historic Preservation named it among “America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations” in 2005.

Fall Colors

Why worry about bundling up and possible rain when you just want to see Mother Nature at her best? Arizona’s mild climate and almost-guaranteed sunny days make viewing fall foliage ideal. Here are some favorite spots where visitors can enjoy Arizona’s amazing autumn colors:

WThe Desert in Bloom

Springtime in the desert is a remarkable experience as everything comes alive in a wild explosion of colors. If you love photography you owe it to yourself to be in Arizona when the deserts are in full bloom. The weather will be mild and pleasant and the scenery unmatched.

Unique Railways

Railroads bring back a certain sense of nostalgia from days gone by. These days, it can be difficult to escape the fast pace of life and experience those times again. The Grand Canyon State offers several one-of-a-kind railway destinations for kids of all ages. Hop on board and visit:

Eat Your Heart Out

Arizona is an incredibly diverse state with lots of land to cover-more than 113,000 square miles to be exact. The diverse geography and culture have heavily influenced the Grand Canyon State’s unique and evolving culinary scene. Loosen your belt a few notches and enjoy a true “foodie’s” tour of Arizona.

Saloons of the Old West

The Palace Saloon, located on Prescott’s famed Whiskey Row, used to be a favorite of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp. The saloon is so loved by its patrons that in 1900 when a fire was tearing through Whiskey Row,...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "Arizona". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of April / May 2007 where this article was originally published.

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