Central Arizona Sights

When we arrived at Montezuma, it was closed for the day but that didn't stop us. The gated entrance was 2 miles from the site with a sign saying no admittance when closed. Well, we decided that wasn't going to work for us so we drove back a bit and found a jeep road leading toward the site. Our rental was a Jeep with no 4X4 (not even second gear!) but it had the clearance needed to drive rough terrain. We got within a half mile, parked and started hiking through a maze of vegetation until we found the site. After enjoying our private quiet visit, we found our way back to the car just as it was getting dark. Somehow this made the cliff dwelling all the more romantic. The Park Service closed Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling to the general public in 1951 to keep it one of the most preserved cliff dwellings in North America.

WillhiteWeb.com: Arizona Sights & Attractions

Tuzigoot National Monument

Montezuma Castle National Monument

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Gerome

Central Arizona is a nice place to get away if the weather is cold where you live. But, there are some surprisingly high elevations here so bring a jacket during the cold months. The biggest city is Phoenix but I don't have much good to say about that city. Both Tucson to the south and Flagstaff to the north are more scenic places. Below are some of the sights worth visiting.

Tuzigoot Pueblo was once a 3 story 110 room building built in A.D. 1000. It was built by a culture known as Sinagua. Inhabited for around 400 years, these agriculturalists traded with other groups for several hundred miles around. The site wasn't that interesting to me but I'm sure I'll see a documentary on it one day and find it more fascinating.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves an Ancient Sonoran Desert People farming community and "Great House." Created as the nations first archeological reserve in 1892, the site was declared a National Monument in 1918. Ironically, there is a Wal-Mart across the street from the park entrance.

What was once a rough copper mining town is now a tourist destination famous for it's Europe like look built on the top and side of Cleopatra Hill. There are art galleries, craft shops, music shops, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, small museums, and lots of gift shops. If you like photography, it's a popular spot for sure.

Meteor Crater

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Visit the worlds best preserved meteorite impact site. See what happens when a 150 foot rock slams into the earth at 26,000 mph. The crater is one mile across and 550 feet deep. There is a large visitors center with movie theater, an astronaut Memorial Park, discovery center and some observation trails on the rim.

Walnut Canyon is another archeological site home to Pueblos and the cliff dwellings built into the canyon walls. The Island Trail takes you to 25 different cliff dwelling rooms. Other trails are on the canyon rim among nice ponderosa forests.