The Ultimate Guide To Seasonal Activities In Arizona: Pumpkin Patches, Christmas Lights, Water Parks, And More
Although much of Arizona doesn’t experience fall or winter in terms of changing leaves, snowfall, or cooler temperatures, we still put heart and soul into celebrating all four seasons. In the spring, beautiful wildflowers offer a stark contrast to the rugged desert landscape, and the annual migrations of hummingbirds and monarch butterflies make for dazzling spectacles. Frolic through a lavender field and take in the intoxicating aroma, the pastel blooms signifying a rebirth of nature after a long winter. As the days get warmer, your summer bucket list will only continue growing. Perhaps you’ll visit a water park or take a float trip down the Salt River to cool off, maybe even plunging into a natural pool or two before fall arrives. Autumn in Arizona is a magical time, bringing with it eye-popping fall foliage in the higher elevations. Get into the spirit by heading to a pumpkin patch, corn maze, or apple orchard, or grabbing a drink at a cider mill while enjoying the crisp breeze. Finally, when the darkest days of winter are upon us, brighten things up by taking a ride on a Christmas train, strolling through a Christmas village, or driving around to look at Christmas lights. You might even get to embark on a sleigh ride with Santa and his reindeer!
Visit This Dreamy Lavender Farm In Arizona
Tucked away in the White Mountains, Pine Creek Lavender Farm is an oasis surrounded by lush alpine forests and towering peaks. For over a century, this family-owned farm has been growing some of the finest lavender in Arizona, using spring-fed water and the dry air that comes with the territory of being at a high altitude. You'll see over 5,000 beautiful lavender plants on the property, and harvesting runs from spring until mid-summer. Even when fresh lavender is out-of-season, the farm store remains open all year for guests to peruse the vast selection of homemade products, from lotion to lavender-infused cocoa powder and everything in between. You can even take a cooking class and learn how to make lavender chocolate chip cookies!
The Most Epic Water Parks In Arizona
On a scorching Arizona summer day, nothing quite compares to cooling off at a waterpark. Our state has no shortage of awesome waterparks where you can beat the heat, but few stack up to Oasis Water Park at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa. Ranked among the top 10 waterparks in the nation by the Travel Channel, the 7-acre Oasis Water Park has something for every member of the family. From thrilling speed slides to relaxing wave pools to splash pads for the littlest guppies, there are so many different ways to enjoy some fun in the sun. How many of these other Phoenix-area waterparks have you splashed around in during the summer?
The Best All-Day Float Trip In Arizona
No Arizona summer would be complete without hopping in a tube and floating down the Salt River. There are a variety of tube rental companies to choose from, but if an all-day float is what you're after, Salt River Tubing is the only way to go. You can kick back and allow the leisurely current to push you along for up to five hours, all the while taking in the beautiful surroundings. If you're lucky, you just might catch a glimpse of the majestic Salt River horses wading in the water during your float trip!
The Most Charming Pumpkin Patches In Arizona
Fall is a magical time in Arizona - while not all of the state experiences changing leaves and cooler temperatures, the autumn spirit can be felt everywhere from the Grand Canyon all the way down to Yuma. Visiting a pumpkin patch is one of the best ways to celebrate the season, and we're blessed to have so many from which to choose. Some of the most charming include Tolmachoff Farms in Glendale hosts their annual "Pumpkin Days And Corn Maze" festival, complete with a large pumpkin patch, six-acre corn maze, and plenty of other festive attractions for all ages. With all these charming patches to explore, the perfect pumpkin is never far away in Arizona.
Picture-Perfect Apple Orchards In Arizona
Apple picking is another quintessential autumn activity, and Arizona has several orchards where you can pick them yourself. Apple Annie's Orchard in Wilcox is arguably the most famous of them all, with 10 different varieties growing on over 6,000 apple trees. Whether you like Braeburn, Red Delicious, or Fuji, it's an apple lover's paradise. Check out these other picture-perfect orchards where you can fill up a basket of crisp, juicy apples!
Get Lost In These Awesome Arizona Corn Mazes
After you've chosen the perfect pumpkin and picked yourself a basketful of apples, there's only one thing left to do: try your hand at a corn maze. The largest one in the state can be found at - you guessed it - Apple Annie's Orchard, measuring an impressive 20 acres. With six miles of walking paths, the maze is full of trivia questions that, when answered correctly, help guide you to the exit. There are two levels of difficulty, so all ages are guaranteed a healthy challenge! How many of these other corn mazes in Arizona have you visited during fall?
The Arizona Halloween Towns That Will Terrify And Delight You
Halloween might only last one day, but it's safe to assume most of us celebrate all month long. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess agrees with that sentiment, hosting their signature "Pumpkin Nights" festival beginning in mid-September. The hotel grounds transform into an frightfully delightful Halloween town with tricks and treats galore. Festivities include a pumpkin patch, hay maze, themed food and drinks, and a fireworks "spooktacular" over the Haunted Plaza each night. Now, while we're on the subject of Halloween, make sure to stay far, far away from the most haunted small town in Arizona after dark.
The Most Magical Christmas Village In Arizona
Christmas only comes around once a year, so it's important to grab the holiday season by the reigns. Kids from one to ninety-two will be overcome with Christmas spirit on the North Pole Experience, an enchanting journey into the world of the jolly old man in red himself. It all starts at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff, where you'll board a magical trolley that whisks you away to the North Pole. Upon arrival, you'll gaze in wide-eyed wonderment at the whimsical Christmas village, complete with Santa's workshop, the tour factory, and even Elf University, where Saint Nick's trusty helpers go to learn their skills. You can even bake Christmas cookies and drink hot cocoa with Mrs. Claus!
The One Of A Kind Christmas Train In Arizona
Each year at Christmastime, the Verde Canyon Railroad takes a detour from its usual route to whisk passengers away to the North Pole. Lights, ornaments, and other festive decorations adorn every last train car, and the tiniest tots get to mail Santa their Christmas list before departure. When you finally reach the North Pole, expect to see a life-size town with everything Santa and his crew need to prepare for the big day. From the Reindeer Flight School to the Ugly Sweater factory, no bulb has been left unlit. Just wait until you see the gifts Santa has for all the children on board!
Must-Visit Spots To View Christmas Lights In Arizona
Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit quite like the twinkle of Christmas lights, and there are plenty of must-visit spots all across Arizona. Among the most magical of all is ZooLights, held each year at the Phoenix Zoo. This eagerly anticipated event boasts millions of holiday lights, with countless animal-themed displays and other attractions like a three-story Christmas tree, photos with Santa, and even a firepit where you can roast marshmallows for homemade s'mores. Have you seen all these other dazzling Christmas light displays in Arizona that spread holiday cheer far and wide?
