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Be sure to check our\u00a0Arizona State Parks & Trails\u00a0<\/a>(ASPT) for a comprehensive list of places to visit and things to do. Their\u00a0Eight4Two Trail Challenge\u00a0<\/a>kicked off on Black Friday. Hike or bike eight different trails in at least four of your state parks, and you’ll receive two day-use passes and a limited-edition sticker!<\/p>\n ASPT offers regular events featuring bird and nature walks, photo tours, camping, and so much more!<\/p>\n Fun Fact<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 One of the ROTH staff members led tours of the\u00a0Riordan Mansion State Historic Park\u00a0<\/a>when she was a student at Northern Arizona University (NAU). Add that to your to-do list next time you visit Flagstaff.<\/p>\n Each ROTH staff member, affectionately known as \u201cthe Rosiebuds,\u201d has their favorite places to explore throughout our glorious state.<\/p>\n Bruce |\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>I love Kaibab National Forest, from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon to the forest south of Williams. My family and I enjoy camping up there for the natural beauty and the escape from the Valley\u2019s summer heat!<\/p>\n Garry |<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Red Rock State Park in Sedona with five miles of interconnecting trails among Sedona\u2019s red rock scenery. Plus, lush greenery along Oak Creek, pinon and juniper pine woods, it\u2019s a wonderful place the entire family can enjoy. I make it a point to visit every time I\u2019m in town.<\/p>\n Bonus Photo Opportunity:<\/em>\u00a0Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout. The best place to get a wide view with the Red Rocks behind you.<\/p>\n Jen<\/em>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/strong>I always liked going to Goldfield Ghost Town. It’s a fun place to take out of town family when they come to visit, and it’s enjoyable to be temporarily transported back in time. It\u2019s fun to, in a way, experience what folks back in the day would have seen, especially being so close to the Superstition Mountains.<\/p>\n Jennifer<\/em>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/strong>My favorite places have to do with riding my horse. My favorite days are when Rosie and I take our gaited horses out for a ride and take the dogs along to explore. In the winter months, I am fond of Tonto National Forest. The vistas are amazing, and the footing is perfect for gaiting the horses. There is a variety of plants and wildlife. We have seen owls, quail, deer, and jackrabbits galore.<\/p>\n In the summer, we like to go north to ride. The rim country affords beautiful overlooks and the cool shade of the pine trees. On one of our trips, we ran upon a herd of elk. It was a group of moms with a couple of babies. The moms started moving off, but the baby was curious; Rosie bugled to it, and it stayed and talked back to him for a few minutes! The mom soon had enough and whisked him away. We have so many great memories of just getting out to enjoy the big blue skies of Arizona!<\/p>\n Joanna |\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. This is one of our favorite day-trip adventures in Payson: Enjoy a short hike (easy enough for children) to one of the most beautiful natural\u00a0bridges in the United States, uniquely formed of travertine. Take a refreshing dip in one of many pools of natural spring water with views of the cascading waterfall. For an after-hike treat, be sure to stop at Old County Inn, in the neighboring town of Pine, for a slice of wood-fired pizza. Sip on a pint of Arizona craft-beer from their Taproom while enjoying the stunning views of the rim, listening to live music, and watching the kids play cornhole or Connect Four. It\u2019s perfect way to spend a day up in Payson with the whole family!<\/p>\n Julia<\/em>\u00a0|\u00a0<\/strong>A few places:\u00a0Montezuma\u2019s Castle is a great spot that I love and is fun for the whole family.\u00a0Growing, up Four Peaks Road was always a favorite, but I know it is so darn crowded now.\u00a0Prescott for the courthouse square. Mormon Lake is a favorite. When I lived in Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon and Turkey Hill were a few of my favorite hikes.<\/p>\n Lauren |<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Jerome or Cave Creek. I love riding motorcycles with friends up to both places, especially during biker month in October.<\/p>\n Susan |<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Sweetwater Wetlands<\/a>\u00a0in Tucson is a hidden gem. Just off Prince Road and west of I-10, its 60-acre park is a flat loop featuring ponds and a lot of trees. A nice nature walk when I don\u2019t have time for a hike. It\u2019s great for bird and critter watching. I never know what I will come across each time I visit — like an iguana being rescued. I like to bring my sketch pad and colored pens and pencils, park myself in a secluded area and draw what I see.<\/p>\n Rosie<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0| He loves hearing about\u00a0your<\/em>\u00a0favorite places. Though he is not keen on sharing his specific favorite places because they are remote, hard to get to, and do not have any services. They are places you probably won\u2019t want to visit.\u00a0However, Rosie will tell you some of the best places are in Cochise and Greenlee Counties. They are the least populated counties and tend to be small, rural communities with big, open skies in which to stargaze. He relishes these quiet, unpopulated, remote spots on his exploring days to pitch a tent and enjoy the sounds that are only nature-made.<\/p>\n Romey |<\/strong>\u00a0Amanda and I take the kids caping for a week every summer to “someplace new” in Arizona! Each place has a special, unique memory for our family and it’s hard to pick a favorite. What we hear the kids talking about the most is the water and wildlife we found in the White Mountains and the Buffalo we saw in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!<\/p>\n Arizona includes people of all abilities, including people with mobility, visual, and hearing needs. Many lodging facilities, attractions, and events comply with the guidelines set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).<\/p>\n AOT and Teresa Bitler, an award-winning travel writer, suggest these 13 wheelchair-accessible trails.<\/p>\n Learn more about them and their accessibility\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The number one rule of hiking is NEVER hike alone. Always take a buddy and tell someone who will not be with you where you are going and what time you expect to return.<\/p>\n Nothing can spoil your adventure more than an accident or illness. Before you head out the door, make sure you have the proper accouterments in the event a problem arises.<\/p>\n Hat |\u00a0<\/strong>A full brim, a cowboy, outback, safari hats, sun, or breeze hats are ideal for keeping your face protected. The lighter the color, the cooler your head.<\/p>\n Water Bottle\/Canteen |\u00a0<\/strong>Whether it\u2019s summer or winter, it\u2019s still the desert and you must carry water if you are out and about. One gallon, per person, is the standard. Stainless steel containers such as\u00a0Klean Kanteen.com\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Hydro Flask<\/a>\u00a0are good options.<\/p>\n Handkerchief |\u00a0<\/strong>Tie it around your neck to keep the sun off or use it as a dust mask.<\/p>\n ColdRush Towel<\/strong>\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0Soak it in water to keep your neck cool.<\/p>\n Watch |\u00a0<\/strong>Today many watches provide more information than just the time and date.<\/p>\n Pocket Knife |\u00a0<\/strong>Here are some of our favorite American Made knives.<\/p>\n Emergency Call List |\u00a0<\/strong>Your phone\u2019s battery can die, or the phone could break or fail when you are out on the trail. If you had to borrow a phone, how many numbers of family and friends do you have memorized? Keeping an index card in your wallet with phone numbers will help you or someone trying to help if you are unconscious or unable to communicate.<\/p>\n Cash\/Coins |\u00a0<\/strong>Having currency is essential for an emergency. Gas, tire patch, food, or hotel room all cost money. If there was a problem with your account or the credit\/debit card machines are down, how long could you wait for them to be fixed? Have enough cash and\/or a few silver coins to hold you over for at least 48 hours.<\/p>\n If you are planning on going super remote\/off the grid, it’s great to have a Satellite Phone for backup. It’s what all the river rafts that go on 3-14 day trips through the Grand Canyon carry to contact emergency services if they have a medical emergency or get stranded due to boat failure. Check out the\u00a0Inmarsat IsatPhone<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more information on outdoor adventure emergency preparedness, visit Romey\u2019s\u00a0Must-Haves When Leaving The House\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Home Preparedness Resource Guide\u00a0<\/a>.<\/p>\n As of December 8, 2021, the pandemic is still causing issues. Contact venues directly to determine their hours of operation, safety information, and available activities before leaving home.\u00a0Click here\u00a0<\/a>to access COVID-19 updates.<\/p>\n According to the\u00a0Heard Museum<\/a>, Arizona is home to 22 Tribes. Their lands are vast with stunning landscapes. Each operates under its unique governmental structure and establishes its own rules for visitors.\u00a0Click here\u00a0<\/a>for an updated status of open Tribal businesses and parks.<\/p>\n SAAA has teamed up with the\u00a0Desert Thunder Squadron<\/a>, a non-profit that assists the airmen stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. For every Passport sold, SAAA will donate one to DM’s airmen and their families so they can explore the region.<\/p>\n AOT offers more articles written by travelers and Arizona\u2019s best travel writers. Let them inspire you to embark on your own adventure at\u00a0www.visitarizona.com\/like-a-local.<\/a><\/p>\n Now that you know what’s out there, grab your backpack, put on your hiking boots, and hit the trails!<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n All those home ‘honey do’s’ can wait. The weather is perfect for exploring Arizona!! Award Winning Author Roger Naylor talks about his favorite hikes from high elevation to low level trails anyone can enjoy. Deputy Director Becky Blane of Arizona Office Of Tourism talks about the many landmarks, museums and of course the Grand Canyon that you should explore. Plus we explain Barrier Free Travel for wheelers, walkers and baby boomers.<\/p>\nOur Favorite Places<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nAccessibility for Everyone<\/h3>\n
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Make Safety A Priority<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nAdditional Items to Consider<\/h4>\n
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Bang for Your Buck<\/h3>\n
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Exploring can get expensive. Before exploring Southern Arizona, check out the Southern Arizona Attractions Alliance\u00a0<\/a>(SAAA). This 501 (c)(6) non-profit organization offers the\u00a0Tucson Attractions Passport<\/a>, a discount book available in digital, and the original “Book of Fun” paper format. The Passport provides exclusive savings at more than 50 Southern Arizona attractions. Click to see the current\u00a0Open List of Attractions\u00a0<\/a>in Southern Arizona. According to SAAA\u2019s executive director, Thomas Moulton, it is the only one of its kind in Arizona.<\/p>\nSupporting Military Families<\/em><\/h4>\n
PODCAST<\/h2>\n