10 Popular Arizona Destinations

After negotiating with a multitude of RV dealers, you find yourself happily purchasing a Heartland RV, ready to hit the road. Arizona RV dealers are more than happy to help you find your way to some amazing areas in the state. Although Arizona might initially seem like an unforgiving place, completely covered in desert and an overbearing sun, it is actually filled with some amazing landscapes, rife with a variety of flora and fauna.

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Here are ten popular tourist destinations in Arizona.

1. Grand Canyon National Park
This is probably one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, not just Arizona. Grand Canyon is a massive geological wonder cut into the land and measures 277 river miles in length, 18 miles at its widest point, and over a mile deep. Featuring camping, hiking, photo opportunities, and breathtaking scenery, the Grand Canyon has something for everyone.

2. Lake Mead
Named after Elwood Mead, the commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 to 1936, Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. The lake is formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam and holds about 28.5 million acre feet (35.2 cubic kilometers) of water.

3. Petrified Forest National Park
Containing one of the largest concentrations of petrified forests, this national park is well-known for its fossils of both flora and fauna. Home to the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park is perfect for sightseeing, photography, hiking, and backpacking.

4. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
This park is the only place in the United States where the Organ Pipe Cactus grows wild, though the park also has a large number of other cacti and desert flora specimens. The park acts as a wonderful preservation of the American Southwest’s natural treasures.

5. Coronado National Memorial
This memorial commemorates the first organized expedition into the Southwest by Spanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. The memorial is located on the international border, just south of Sierra Vista, Arizona. The Coronado National Memorial features numerous hiking and spelunking opportunities for amateurs and experts alike.

6. Saguaro National Park
This national park is named for the wealth of Giant Saguaro cactus in the area. The cactus, a symbol of the American West, can only be found in a small portion of the United States. Saguaro National Park preserves some of the most impressive saguaro forests in the world.

7. Phoenix: Valley of the Sun
The state capital, Phoenix is the state’s largest city and the sixth most populated city in the United States. The city is filled with some wonderful sights for all ages.

8. Tucson: The Old Pueblo
Tucson is the second largest city in Arizona next to Phoenix and is well-known as a home for the manufacture of optics and optoelectronics systems. With such a huge metropolitan area, Tucson is sure to attract tourists of all kinds.

9. Sunset Crater
Born in a series of volcanic eruptions between 1040 and 1100, Sunset Crater is now home to some dramatic geologic features, beautiful trees and wildflowers, and thriving wildlife.

10. Navajo National Monument
Navajo National Monument perfectly preserves three intact cliff dwellings of the Puebloan people, some of the first inhabitants of the land. The monument features a museum, self-guided trails, campgrounds, and a picnic area.

10 Of The Most Breath Taking Places You Have To Travel Through In The World

Has your summer been a complete washout? Once upon a yesteryear it was easy to distinguish between our quintessentially “British” seasons and the staycation ranked up there with Cannes and Ibiza as a premier holiday option. The era of the staycation may still be in full swing, but the merging of our climate into one long, unpredictable season is still causing most of us to yearn for exotic climes and movie backdrop landscapes – minus the rain-induced mists. Here are ten of the best for your delectation!

Shangrila Resort, Skardu, North Pakistan.

There's a reason Shangrila has been dubbed “Heaven on Earth” by the locals and it's not all down to its isolated beauty amid the mystical Kunlun Mountain range. Set amid a ring of some of the highest peaks on Earth, Shangrila Resort nestles beside a heart-shaped lake, with pine trees fringing its soft sandy shores. At 2,500m above sea level, the purpose-built resort affords spectacular vistas and climbing opportunities, along with luxurious Swiss cottages on the doorstep of Buddhist monk country.

Colorado River Route, Arizona, U.S.A.

A combination of water erosion and volcanic activity over six million years has carved out the angular, rugged landscapes lining the Colorado River. The area more commonly referred to as the Grand Canyon comprises an area of over 277 sq. miles. Hitch a ride with a kayak tour at Vail Springs, Northwestern Colorado and explore the lower depths of the Canyon along the Colorado River, experiencing panoramic views of the soaring peaks that flank the tributary on either side.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Nestled upon the peak of a tableau mountain, the ancient Inca kingdom of Machu Picchu has long been a place of fascination for backpackers. Estimated to be over 600 years old, the town lies at an elevation of 2,430 metres above sea level, overlooking the jagged Urubamba Valley in South Central Peru.

Vienna, Austria

Beauty may be subjective, but few can deny that Austria's capital Vienna packs a punch as soon as you set foot amid the old city walls. Opulent palaces such as the Belvedere and Imperial command a majestic presence, dwarfed by the Gothic spires of St Peter's Church. St Stephen's Cathedral in the central district is one of the few places you can admire three-sixty panoramas of the entire cityscape - well worth the 500-step climb of the tower!

Bohinj Valley, Slovenia

Rarely featuring in the media’s top-ten lists, the Central European Republic of Slovenia hides more than its fair share of out-of-this-world vistas. Bohinj Valley in the North-Western quarter has been tagged “the most beautiful valley on Earth”, down to its peaceful setting and stunning periglacial lake. Mount Triglav – Slovenia's highest mountain, at 9,396 ft - sits to the north of the lake, giving way to a rugged topography of dramatic iced mountains and thick pine forests just waiting to be explored.

Petra, Jordan

Tucked away in the foothills of Mount Hor in the south-western region of Ma'an, Jordan, lies one of UNESCO's most stunning cultural heritage sites. Thought to have been built around the sixth century B.C, the rock-cut palaces, temples and dwelling houses of Petra are a fascinating testament to man's engineering capabilities some 2,000 years ago. The huge, naturally formed gorge shaft al-Siq paves the entrance to Petra and remains one of the most photographed 'doorways' in the world.

Lake Bunyonyi Resort, Uganda, Africa

Africa often appears upon must-see lists for its wilderness safari opportunities and Ancient Egyptian heritage, but rarely do the south-western overlands of Uganda get a mention. An oasis centrally located between the towns of Kabale and Kisoro, Lake Bunyonyi lures with the promise of deserted tranquil lake islands and thick brush landscapes, teeming with exotic wildlife.

Luang Prabang, Laos, South East Asia

Situated along a lush, narrow plateau between the Nam Kahn and Mekong Rivers in Laos lies a city so beautiful it has been added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Ornate Buddhist temples dating back to the eighth century sit alongside quaint little cafes and grandiose central villas. The stark contrasts in architecture are one of the city's defining attractions!

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Rising like beacons above the forest canopy of Siem Reap, the palatial turrets of Angkor Wat were once Cambodia's best kept secret. Formerly the base for the prolific Khmer Empire around the ninth century, the temple complex is one of the most stunning Asian monuments to have survived the test of time. Nestled beside the mirror-like man-made lake, the photogenic complex remains wholly intact and usually takes an entire afternoon to explore.

The Alhambra, Granada, Spain

Many tourists now forgo the opportunity to explore Spain due to the plethora of party resorts that have emerged in recent years. If you have the chance to venture off the tourism trail, head to the heritage-rich province of Granada, home to the Moorish 14th-century city of Alhambra. Its terracotta palaces, Court of the Myrtles and Royal Complex are some of the finest surviving Muslim structures in Spain, hailing from the Nasrid Dynasty, the last Moorish and Muslim dynasty in Spain. Bounded by thick forests and rugged terrain, Alhambra's elevated walkways yield some truly breathtaking views.

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Places you shouldn’t miss when you go for a world tour

Have you ever dreamt of visiting the most famous places in the world? Most often when people think about a world tour, they get confused about the places to visit as there is a plethora of options that they have to choose from. Every one of us desires to visit the most famous places in the world but very few of us have that exact travel list that provides you with the list of the places that one shouldn’t miss. Well, if you too are confused, here’s help for you. Have a look at the places you must visit if you’ve planned to go for a world tour.

Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful places in the world and it should be in the list of places that you should visit when you’re going for a world tour. Carved by the River Colorado, Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge in the state of Arizona of United States. It has been researched that 5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year. Summer and mid-Spring would be the best season to visit the Grand Canyon but most of the local residents think that winter is the great time to visit.

The South Island: The South Island, located at New Zealand is featured by special open landscapes. This particular island is well-known for golden sand beaches, large beach forests and broad plains. Most people can enjoy the travel to South Island. There are 10 national parks in South Island and all these parks include glaciers, lakes, coastline and native forests.

Cape Town: Situated at the tip of the African continent, Cape Town is also a place that you must not miss if you are going on a world tour. The unique range of multi-cultural lifestyle is the specialty of Cape Town and the holiday-makers enjoy the hot weather, sunny beaches and also the beautiful scenery. Make sure you have a rough idea of the place before you go to visit.

Great Barrier Reef: World’s largest coral reef ecosystem is the Great Barrier Reef. This is one of the best places to visit in Australia. You will be able to see it from the outer space and this is the single place with the highest number of living organisms. There are 10,000 species that consists of 1500 types of fish and 200 kinds of birds.

Therefore, if you’re planning to go for a world tour, do include the above mentioned spots in your list. Make your trip memorable by carrying everything that you need to make your travel successful.

Guest Post by Rebecca.