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Granite Basin Recreation Area is the perfect hike for those who wish for an adventure beyond hiking. The public can camp, bike, fish, have a picnic and go horseback riding. Trails of the recreation include Balancing Rock Trail, Cayuse Loop, Clark Spring Trail, Hokaygon Trail, Metate Trailhead, Mint Wash Connector Trail, Surprise Spring Trail and West Lake Trail.

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Hiking is, naturally, a very hot activity in Arizona. Kinder Crossing allows you to take a break from the heat with its picturesque access to East Clear Creek. Hikers of this trail can have a picnic and go swimming in the cool pools of water that align the hike.

Hikers of Kinder Crossing also get an awe-inspiring view of the Mogollon Rim. Limestone and sandstone steps offer the hikers footholds along a series of switchbacks.

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Jerome, Arizona, was once a copper mining camp. It saw as many as 10,000 residents. But, during the Great Depression, ore deposits were exhausted and mines were shut down. The population dwindled quickly and was made up of less than 100 people by the 1950s.

The city now resides as a National Historic Landmark. Within it, at one mile high stands the Jerome Grand Hotel. As guests walk through the hallways of this historic hotel, they’ll not only get a glimpse into the Jerome past but also have the chance to experience something paranormal.

The hotel is said to be haunted. This is because, before it was the Jerome Grand Hotel, it was the United Verde hospital. Guests of the hotel have said to have heard coughing, labored breathing and even voices coming from their empty rooms. Some have even reported light anomalies and the television sets turning themselves on with no explanation.

Those who wish to stay at the Jerome Hotel can choose the hotel’s ghost-hunting package. In this package, guests are invited to help with the hotel’s ongoing investigation of the supernatural and paranormal activities. The hotel provides ghost hunters with an MET meter, IR thermometer and digital camera to help the hotel document the spirits, orbs, ghost sightings and haunted happenings.

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Just as Arizona is known as the “copper state,” it stands to reason that there should be a copper museum. While North America in itself is the largest copper producer in the world, Arizona sits on top amongst the states in being at the heart of copper production.

Most times when one encounters a museum – especially devoted to a natural resource – one would envision displays of pieces of the resource in its natural form, in small and large exhibits. However, this building of unique metal history shows through the Ages what man has done with the metal – “art of the average Joe” is what it could be deemed.  Out of the seven primary natural metals, copper was discovered in 9000 B.C. and its first use was in the form of weapons. Going from there, people constructed various items out of copper as well, to include kitchen and shop tools, and architecture.

The exhibits reveal copper art and collections for study, which were created by coppersmiths, soldier artists and braziers; many of whom were masters in their trade.  In addition, copper artifacts with an emphasis on American and European works-of-art from the 16th to the 21st century are all on display in this multi-room facility.

The Copper Art Museum is a new museum with roots that can be traced back to 1919, where an antique shop was located in Northern Minnesota.  In the early 1960’s copper wares were collected throughout Europe and later sold in the U.S.A. at on-the-road shows throughout the Midwest during the 1970’s.  The 1980’s – 90’s saw an increase in purchases and sales of copper artifacts from Europe and the U.S.A.

In the early 2000’s the collection was so large that plans of a museum came to life and a location was sought.  Later Clarkdale, Arizona was chosen as the site for a museum of copper art showcasing Arizona’s most precious treasure.

On December 8, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt celebrated the passage of the Antiquities Act by declaring four sites of historic and cultural significance as our nation’s first National Monuments. Among these was Montezuma Castle, which the President identified as a place “of the greatest ethnological value and scientific interest.” Although very few original artifacts remained in the structure due to intensive looting of the site, Roosevelt’s decision assured the continued protection of one of the best preserved prehistoric cliff dwellings in North America. Montezuma Castle National Monument quickly became a destination for America’s first car-bound tourists. In 1933, “Castle A”, a 45-50 room, pueblo ruin was excavated, uncovering a wealth of artifacts and greatly enhanced our understanding of the Sinagua people who inhabited this riparian “oasis” along Beaver Creek for over 400 years. Early visitors to the monument were allowed access to the structure by climbing a series of ladders up the side of the limestone cliffs. However, due to extensive damage to this valuable cultural landmark, public access of the ruins was discontinued in 1951. Take a stroll through time, while enjoying the canopy of trees that shade the walkways, as you gaze at the amazing cliff dwellings, or walk over to the adjoining creek to learn how the Sinuagua people relied heavily on this precious water source for survival. Now, approximately 350,000 people a year gaze through the windows of the past during a visit to Montezuma Castle. Even 600 years after their departure, the legacy of the Sinagua people continues to inspire the imaginations of all.

Located off of I-17, in Camp Verde, the World’s Largest Kokopelli sits in front of a souvenir shop luring travelers and tourists in to the parking lot of the Trading Post.

The giant statue is made from hand shaped and welded steel. Lowell Johnson, then owner of what at the time was the Montezuma Trading Post, came up with the idea to build the kokpelli. Prior to the kokopelli sat a hot pink 1920’s automobile in effort to attract tourists. Johnson, a local business man, and owner of the Oak Creek Terrace Resort, brought in an experienced blacksmith/artist and sketched out the design right on the sales counter. Made of 1/4 inch plate steel, the hand shaping and welding of the structure took weeks as the 12 cubic yard cement foundation cured. The statue’s instrument houses a speaker that plays music to visitors at they shop. By the end of the project, it had cost more than $25,000. For a while, there was a price tag hung in the event an interested buyer came along.

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The Sibley Mansion was home to Roy and Belle Sibley. Roy was a mining company managers and his wife was the town’s first postmaster. In 1908, the Sibleys started their work on the mansion. There were 20 rooms within the mansion, it was built of stone and had polished oak floors, picture windows and full-length mirrors. The mansion was the center for social activities in the area. It is rumored that the Sibleys entertained some of the social elite including the governor of Arizona. While the Sibleys moved out of the home in 1910, Martin Tew turned the property into a ranch and called it Monte Bonito in 1917. Tew was a nature lover and wrote poetry, which he shared with others by leaving it on trees for people to read. In 1933, the Arizona Molybdenum Corporation was mining in the area. When the San Diego Union reported Copper creek as a town that was crime-ridden and wild, residents cleared the town out and businesses, including those at Copper Creek, closed. Copper Creek/ Sibley Mansion is brought back to life as residents venture to see the spectacular piece of historic Arizona. The trail begins at the intersection of River Road and Copper Creek Road. Visitors are to tread cautiously, though, as there is active mining and cattle ranching in the area.

This Archaeological park features a multi-use trail and interpretive signage about the Julian Wash archaeological site and St. Luke’s Orphanage, which also used to be at this location.

Visitors of this park will get to learn about Tucson’s 4,000-year history of continuous settlement and agriculture.

There are also bike routes within this park. Travelers have found a 40.42 mile bike ride within the area. This particular bike ride has a total ascent of 534.79 feet and has a maximum elevation of 2,814.76 feet.

Another route within the park showcases the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert as it travels form Santa Cruz River Park to S. Rita Road in southeastern Tucson. The trail offers views of distant mountains and connects several other parks together.

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More than 45,000 acres of rolling grasslands and woodlands in Arizona’ Pima and Santa Cruz counties are protected as a National Conservation Area. Here lies Las Cienegas.

The National Conservation (NCA) area is located in the transitional zone between  the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert.

The region’s rolling grasslands, oak-studded hills that connect several mountain ranges and lush riparian corridors provide a great home for wildlife and a beautiful place to visit for Arizona travelers.

The Cienega Creek forms the lifeblood of the NCA and supports a diverse plant and animal community.

Feel free to camp just outside of the NCA, as there is no developed camping or picnicking facilities within the NCA. Camping at least one-quarter mile away from wildlife and livestock watering areas is allowed for up to 14 days. The two designated primitive camp and picnic areas are Cieneguita Camp Area and Road Canyon Camp Area.

If you decide to postpone this trip, Las Cienegas provides a spectacular view of the night sky during the winter.

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While airplanes are meant for the skies, the Border Air Museum has made a place for the huge aircrafts indoors, well at least via textual and photographic information.

The museum was a gift to the city of Douglas by the deceased Richard Westbrook and his wife Irma. The Border Air Museum was established to house Richard’s collection of air history that he had researched for a number of years.

Douglas was a popular space for aviation in the early 1900s. In 1908, a group of Douglas men formed the “Douglas aeronautical club” and built a glider from mail order plans. By 1909, the group had a motorized airplane of the canard-pusher design, the first airplane in Arizona. In 1913, planes that were used in the Mexican Revolution came to Douglas. After World War I, the barnstormers (these were the pilots who performed tricks with their airplanes) arrived. In 1928, the city purchased what would become the first international airport in the Americas in 1928.

The museum brings Douglas’ aviation history to life via photos, newspaper articles, letters, magazines and journals, among other times.