Your Ultimate Guide To Winter Attractions And Activities In Arizona

Living in Arizona, I always look forward to the winter. The weather is pleasant and you can completely understand why we have such a high percentage of snowbirds here from Canada, the northern U.S., and beyond. It’s an outdoor playground between all the long hikes you can do and even snow (yes, it snows in Arizona!) for those who love skiing and snowboarding. This is the best time of the year to get outside and enjoy cooler temperatures. It’s so pleasant and beautiful here any time of the year but especially during the winter months. Here are some of the best things to do in Arizona in winter.

Holiday Events In Arizona

When the holidays are upon us, the number of light shows and events is overwhelming here in Arizona. So, we’ve handpicked a few favorites to enjoy during the holiday season. Here they are:

Phoenix Zoo, 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA

Phoenix Zoo/Facebook

• Location: Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ
• Popularity: The ever-popular Zoolights is returning with a drive-thru option for the 2023 season.
• Price: Walk-thru: $30/general and $25/member if purchased online; $35/general and $30/member if purchased at the gate. Drive-thru Zooolights on Nov. 6, 2023: $150/non-member vehicle and $135/member vehicle.

This year's Zoolights will be held Nov. 22, 2023 through Jan. 14, 2024, at the Phoenix Zoo. This is such a popular family-friendly event with over millions of dazzling lights and animal lanterns all aglow. My kids absolutely love this holiday event in Arizona! This year Cruise Zoolights is back as well but on one night only. Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, from 5:30-10:30 p.m., you can load up the car and head on down to the zoo on Galvin Parkway where you will be immersed in a tremendous light show including countless lights, a 200-foot light tunnel, holiday music, and more. Purchase your Zoolights tickets online ahead of time on the Phoenix Zoo website.

Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA

Desert Botanical Garden/Facebook

• Location: Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ
• Popularity: The beautiful holiday event is very popular and tickets should be purchased ahead of time.
• Price: Members: $34.95/adult and $14.95/youth; General Admission:$39.95/adult and $16.95/youth

Right next to the Phoenix Zoo, you'll find the Desert Botanical Garden. Each year, this stunning botanical garden turns into a glowing wonderland once the sun sets. This is the annual Las Noches de Las Luminarias which will be held Nov. 24 and 25 as well as Dec. 1-2, 8-9. 15-16, 19-23, and 26-30 this year from 5:30-9:30 p.m. each night. I've been before and it's a sight to behold! I loved walking around to view the gardens twinkling with lights and the walkways lined with luminaria and listening to the sounds of live holiday music being played. It's an event like no other this holiday season. As this is a very popular event, I urge you to buy your tickets on the Desert Botanical Garden website in advance.

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Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E Princess Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA

Melissa Mahoney/OnlyInYourState

• Location: Fairmont Princess, Scottsdale, AZ
• Popularity: Very popular.
• Price: General admission: $35/person. Parking and add-ons like ice skating are sold separately.

Each year, the Fairmont Princess in Scottsdale turns into a winter wonderland, and it's my family's favorite place to go during the season! This year from Nov. 17, 2023 through Jan. 6, 2024, Christmas at the Princess will be taking over the entire grounds of the hotel. With dazzling light displays, amusement rides, a scenic train ride through the lights, an ice rink, s'mores by the fire, costumed characters, visits with Santa, a four-story tree with lights that are animated to the music, and so much more, it's hard not to be in the Christmas spirit here! This is one of the most fun things to do in Arizona in winter. For more information and tickets, visit the Fairmont website.

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Courthouse Plaza, 120 S Cortez St, Prescott, AZ 86303, USA

Experience Prescott/Facebook

• Location: Prescott, AZ
• Popularity: Popular among locals in the community.
• Price: Free

Christmas in Prescott is nothing short of magical. Each year for the past 69 years, the city has hosted its Annual Courthouse Lighting. This year's tree lighting will take place at Courthouse Square on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, with music starting at 5 p.m. The lighting will be held at 6 p.m. This event is one of the best free things to do in winter in Arizona.

Christmas Towns In Arizona

You may not think Arizona has such festive towns during the holidays but guess what? We do! We are so much more than the Sonoran desert and cacti. Here are a few towns that go all out with Christmas cheer:

Flagstaff, AZ, USA

North Pole Experience/Facebook

• Location: Flagstaff, AZ
• Popularity: Very popular.
• Price: Prices vary depending on the attraction. The most popular in Flagstaff is the North Pole Experience. Prices range from $58-$79/adult and. $52-$69 per child depending on the date and time.

Want to experience winter weather in Arizona or have a chance to experience a white Christmas? There's perhaps no better town than Flagstaff during the holiday season! With holiday lights and cheer galore, not to mention the skiing at Arizona Snowbowl, it's no wonder why this is a popular wintertime destination. One of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Flagstaff this time of year is the North Pole Experience. Hosted by the Little America Hotel, families will have the chance to spend time inside Santa's workshop, visit Mrs. Claus' Bakery, take a look at his sleigh, and so much more! This is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that can only be had in Flagstaff and one of the best family things to do in Arizona in winter.

Tucson Electric Power/Facebook

• Location: Tucson. AZ
• Popularity: Very popular.
• Price: Free to see many of the holiday lights around town but some events may have a charge.

Home to the Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson turns into a town that's full of Christmas spirit! During the Winterhaven holiday lights event Dec. 9-25, 2023, from 6-10 p.m. each night, you can sit back and relax on a hayride, take a bus trolley, or ride a pedal-powered group bike through the lights! This unique event is one that everyone looks forward to each year. In addition to Winterhaven, there's a whole calendar of events around town. From light displays, tree lightings, live music performances, and more, there's no shortage of fun things to do in Arizona in winter here in Tucson.

Glendale, AZ, USA

CityofGlendaleAZ/Flickr

• Location: Glendale, AZ
• Popularity: Glendale is popular any time of the year but especially during the holidays!
• Price: Free for most events.

If you've ever attended Glendale Glitters, you know that the city of Glendale just exudes Christmas spirit. Held in the city's historic downtown, this annual holiday lights display can't be missed.

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Outdoor Activities

The Grand Canyon State is an outdoor playground for all to enjoy, no matter what time of year. Between hiking, camping, lakes, desert, mountains, rivers, and, of course, the Grand Canyon itself, some of us practically live outside. Exploring is a top activity here and the winter is the best time of the year to do it. Here are some of the best outdoor activities in Arizona in winter:

Yuriy .Senyk/AllTrails

• Location: Throughout Arizona
• Popularity: Very popular in winter.
• Price: Free except for park fees at select state and national parks.

If you're looking for cheap things to do in Arizona in winter, hiking is a great option! Once the holidays are over, many people hit the trails (especially after the new year). It's a great way to get fresh air, exercise, and explore the landscape of the southwest. One of the most popular places for hikers is Camelback Mountain in the Phoenix area. You can also head up to Sedona and hike through the iconic red rocks, the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, or Sycamore Canyon in Williams. There are so many exceptional places to hike and it's one of the best Arizona winter activities.

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Arizona Snowbowl, 9300 N Snow Bowl Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA

Coconino National Forest, Ariz./Flickr

• Location: Flagstaff, AZ
• Popularity: Snowbowl is very popular in the winter for skiing and snowboarding. Reserve lift tickets in advance.
• Price: Lift tickets: $19-$112 depending on the day. Kids under age 12 ski free.

One of the most fun things to do in Arizona in winter is to head up to Snowbowl in Flagstaff for some time on the slopes! From novice to expert, there's a run for just about any level at Snowbowl. If you're not one to hit the slopes, you can always hang out at the lodge or take a scenic gondola ride (I've done this and the views are spectacular). For those who love to ski or snowboard, reserve your lift tickets on the Arizona Snowbowl website.

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park, 700 E Rte 66, Williams, AZ 86046, USA

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park/Facebook

• Location: Williams, AZ
• Popularity: Quite popular especially on the weekends.
• Price: Snow tubing day session: $45; Small child ticket: $30

Best known for its mountain coaster, Canyon Coaster Adventure Park turns into a snow tubing park. Snow tubing is absolutely one of the most fun things to do in Arizona in winter, so if you want to have a blast, you better make plans to get up to Williams this season. With four snowmakers and two conveyor belt lifts, you can enjoy tubing here between mid-November and Easter. Book your snow tubing session on the Canyon Coaster Adventure Park website.

Winter Wonderland Ice Rink, 56 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85201, USA

Winter Wonderland Ice Rink/Google Reviews

• Location: Mesa, AZ
• Popularity: Very popular. A limited number of people are allowed per skating session.
• Price: $10 for a 1-hour skating session that includes skate rental.

Want to go ice skating outdoors? One of the only outdoor ice rinks in the Phoenix Metro area happens to be in Mesa. The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink will be open 7 days a week starting on Nov. 24, 2023 at the Plaza at Mesa City Center. This 6,000-square-foot rink is a fun activity for the whole family!

Winter Getaways

Need a getaway? With so many boutique hotels, resorts, campgrounds, and vacation rentals, if you’re in need of a family vacation or a romantic getaway, you don’t have to look too far. Here are a few places that make wonderful getaway spots in Arizona:

Flagstaff, AZ, USA

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• Location: Flagstaff, AZ
• Rating: 4.7/5 stars
• Price: $169/night

If you're looking for romantic things to do in Arizona this winter, how about a getaway to a vacation rental in the Coconino National Forest in northern Arizona? Located in Flagstaff, this one-of-a-kind tiny mountain view cabin sits on 1.5 acres and comes with its very own private sauna for a wonderful hygge experience. Built in the 1940s, you'll enjoy the coziness of the studio space. It's quite romantic and worth the road trip here!

Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA

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• Location: Old Town Scottsdale, AZ
• Rating: N/A
• Price: $989/night

How does staying in a luxury home with indoor and outdoor spaces sound to you? What if I told you it's super close to Old Town Scottsdale? Be close to the heart of all the action with a stay in this luxury vacation rental with a pool. Featuring 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, up to 14 guests can be accommodated. Scottsdale is a great city to escape the cold weather, if that's what you're after, of course!

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Williams, AZ 86046, USA

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• Location: Williams, AZ
• Rating: 5/5 stars
• Price: $185/night

If you want to be close to downtown Williams, book a winter getaway at this vacation rental that's walking distance to the heart of town. Featuring two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large backyard (which may or may not have snow in the winter), and a hot tub, you can spend as much time indoors or outdoors as you want. There's also a great selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and attractions in the area to keep you busy during your stay.

Show Low, AZ 85901, USA

Vrbo

• Location: Show Low, AZ
• Rating: 5/5 stars
• Price: $256/night

Want to take your four-legged best friend with you on a winter getaway? Head to Show Low where you can rent this Dog-Friendly Show Low Cabin. The 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home has a fireplace, a full kitchen, and a washer and dryer as well as a fire pit, games, and a poker table for your entertainment. It also has gorgeous views and is close to hiking trails. Sounds like the perfect vacation rental in Show Low!

What are some of your favorite things to do in winter in Arizona? If you enjoy hiking, check out some of the best winter hikes in Arizona, and be sure to download the AllTrails+ app before hitting the trails!