16 Things Everyone MUST DO In Arizona In 2016
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Monica Spencer
Author
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been spending the last couple days cleaning and getting ready for the new year. While I don’t do traditional resolutions anymore (I focus more on bi-monthly goals), one thing I do want to do this year is travel our state much more often. So, while looking into some places to visit, I also decided now is a great time to compile a list of things do in 2016. Hopefully you can also find something new and fun to do in 2016.
Still haven't made it to this slot canyon? What better time to plan a visit than this year?
Here's one that is on my to-do list for the year! There are several packages to choose from so that you can choose a one-day trip or take the train to the Grand Canyon for an overnight stay or two.
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Get all of the beautiful views without the hassle of the crowds along the South Rim. It is closed for the winter, but the roads to the North Rim reopen in May.
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The signature fundraising event for the Pat Tillman Foundation, this 4.2 mile race is open to both runners and walkers. Registration begins later this month so hopefully I'll see you there as well!
There are 31 locations to choose from here, and you could easily choose any two or three for a good day visit to the state's capitol.
You have a lot to choose from: the Cardinals, the Suns, the Diamondbacks, the Mercury, the Coyotes, and plenty of other teams.
In order to protect the sandstone formation while also allowing the public to view this section of the Vermilion Cliffs, the Bureau of Land Management allows up to 20 people per day to visit via a permit. You can receive a permit by entering a lottery (either online or in-person for next-day permits) for $5.
For a different rock scene, be sure to add a hike at Chiricahua National Monument to your list. Seeing those hoodoos in person is amazing.
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You wouldn't believe how many people I know who haven't stepped inside a museum since an eighth grade class field trip. Do yourself a favor and spend at least an hour walking through one. If you need a suggestion, try out the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson or the Heard Museum in Phoenix for something a little different.
There are actually a lot of these ancestral dwellings around the state, so if you've already visited these two, try another.
Whether it is Oatman, Goldfield, or Gleeson, there's always something new you can learn just by walking around the site. Don't forget to check out our ghost town article for ideas of where to head.
I noticed in one of my previous articles where I talked about rodeos, a lot of readers mentioned they have never attended a rodeo. It's a western tradition and you live in a western state; go to one! One to visit is the World's Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, which will be in its 129th year this July.
One favorite is the Queen Mine, which has former miners as tour guides in their old work location. A tour typically lasts one hour and will run you $13.
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The Navajo Nation is a goldmine for this where plenty of old trading posts are still in operation more than a century later. You can check out Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado for a museum tour or Burnham & Company in Sanders to see their huge yarn display.
If a wine tasting (or "tasting," depending on your habits) is more your style, you won't want to miss a trip to one of our three major wine areas: Sonoita, Willcox, and the Verde Valley.
One of my favorite things to do is eat good food with good people. Look for a restaurant (or food truck) you haven't visited before. You can check out our previous food articles for ideas.
So, were you able to find any fun activities on that list? Let me know which you would look forward to doing in the new year!
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