A great stop to make when out in the area. We did the lower dwelling as we didn't have a…read morereservation for the upper. I would say if you only plan to do the lower dwelling I wouldn't recommend going super out of the way for this as it's a pretty quick stop. The hike up wasn't bad, but my husband and I are active. It was really interesting being able to get so close to history, and the views from up there are amazing! This has been on my bucket list for awhile and I'm glad I finally get to check it off.

I was in the area so I stopped by the tonto national monument and it was well worth the stop! My…read morefriend had an annual parks pass which provided access for all three of us. We hiked up to the lower cliff dwellings which is a short, but steep hike. It's a great view of Roosevelt Lake and the mountains from the top! The cliff dwellings are super cool to see! You can even seen remnants of grindstones. Ranger Dave was extremely nice and knowledgeable. The upper cliff dwellings can only be accessed via a ranger-led tour so I'll have to come back another day to check those out.

This was my number one destination spot when I planned on going to Apache Junction simply because…read moreit's not something you hear about or get a real chance to learn about and I was not disappointed. The tour is entertaining and informative and costumes and rooms look so authentic. Absolutely LOVED everything about it!

I'm one of the tour guides here and I love all the guests that come in here. They truly make the…read morejob enjoyable followed by getting dressed up and being able to educate them of the town history and the history of the woman of the town back in 1893.

Super cool places!! Definitely worth checking out!! Train ride was awesome, and the mine shack was…read moreso thrilling!

We had not been to this little Western ghost town before, but it has been at least 12-ish years. We…read moredecided to go visit the little ghost town (tourist site) and have an early dinner at the Saloon. This was actually a real mine and town back in the 1800s. We took the mine your, which was short, but interesting and informative. Made me glad was I wasn't a miner! We also took the haunted bordello tour. The bottom floor of the bordello is a gift shop, so we were only on the second floor, which is quite small. The pull the curtains to make the place dark, light a candle, and begin with the ghost accounts of the place. They hand out a couple of ghost hunting told, and take you to the two rooms where ghosts have been reported. It was fun! We also visited the mystery shack, which is a building built in two different angles so it looks like gravity is defied (water running toward, etc ). It was really fun, but kind of disorienting and kind of a workout. I almost feel twice. There are little shops with lots of Arizona-themed items (like paperweights with scorpions in them), cowboy hats and boots, and Western shirts. After going into all the shops, we went to the saloon for dinner. This place is very touristy, but we had a fun afternoon.

"Dagot'ee" (Welcome) and "Ashoog" (Thank you)…read more These are the greetings in the White Mountain Apache Language that you will likely feel when you visit Fort Apache Historic Park for it is a captivating destination that unveils the rich tapestry of history. Walking its grounds connects one to what happened in the past. It was a military outpost in the late 19th century site from the 1800s. This park honors the legacy of a turning point in history between the Apaches and the US Cavalry. Exploring the preserved buildings from over a century ago, over twenty in total, tell their tales. A museum and cafe also sit among the remnants of an Indian boarding school run by the Bureau of Indian Education. Quarters that sheltered officers and barracks for the ranks, with an old graveyard too, show both hardships and triumphs of those who made this place home. Each structure recounts stories of the Apache and soldiers who coexisted through changing times. Today, Fort Apache stands as proof of history that came and links cultures still alive. If you love history like me and want to learn about the life of the Apache tribe from the past to the present, this should not be missed. I, myself, frequent the park every time I pick up my mails since the post office is housed in one of the old structures. Outside the post office, you can also pet friendly dogs of families staying in those barracks. They love to get some treats too.

Fort Apache is a "must see" for those desiring to learn more about western expansion in the 1800s…read more Many buildings are well-restored and so many others remain from that period that you can imagine how the fort was "back in the day". Most interesting is that the Apaches welcomed the US Army into the stunning valley. One registers at the museum for a nominal fee and then you are free to roam all the property including the original site where the commanding officer lived as well as the continuously functioning US Post Office. And, do not miss lunch in the Arrowhead Cafe. The menu is brief but the food is yummy and freshly prepared. Adjoining the cafe is a shop for products made by Native Americans, even handmade clothes and fabrics to make some. We've lived the Arizona for 40 years and should have come much sooner. Also, a school has been on the property since 1920 and has been continuously occupied since then.

Recommend: Hiking boots, sun screen, backpack for water bottle, and long pants…read more Park and ride shuttle parking lot filled up before 10AM. Go early if you are a morning person. This will help to finish the hike before noon. If you are not a morning person, download the Sedona shuttle app, follow the shuttle into the lot for a parking spot. The trail up to the cathedral rock can be narrow and steep at some sections. Going up is more difficult than coming down based on our experience. The view at the top - spectacular!

I've climbed some impressive trails in my day... but Cathedral Rock clearly woke up that morning…read moreand chose violence. Sharon and I decided we were obviously elite athletes, so naturally we set out to hike it. About a quarter mile in, our lungs filed a formal complaint. Now to be fair, the trail doesn't exactly ease you into things. It basically looks at you and says, "Oh... you thought this was a walk?" From there it's steep rock, scrambling, and a steady reminder that gravity is very real. We stopped. We rested. We evaluated several recent life choices. And then we kept going. At some point along the climb it hits you: this might be the only hike where the staircase goes straight up the side of a postcard. I made it as high as I reasonably could before deciding that discretion is sometimes the better part of valor... and oxygen. So we turned back. And honestly, that's when the best part of the experience happened. As we paused on the way down, we chatted with hikers from all over North America heading up and down the trail. Every single person asked the same thing: "How far did you make it?" Not a single raised eyebrow when we said we didn't summit. Meanwhile I had been judging myself like I'd just been cut from the varsity team. From where we rested, the view over Sedona was absolutely gorgeous. Calm. Expansive. Peaceful. One of those views that makes you stop talking for a minute and just take it in. Also, small public service announcement: I originally thought this hike led to the famous chapel built into the red rocks. That would be Chapel of the Holy Cross... which is a very different destination and a much easier visit. Definitely double-check your notes before committing to this particular adventure. The trail is challenging, the scenery is spectacular, and the experience has a little bit of magic to it. Five stars for a hike that reminds you the goal isn't always the summit... sometimes it's just appreciating the view from exactly where you are.

We had such a blast on this trail today. It's an unpaved road but our Mazda CX9 handled it well…read morejust taking it slow!! What a cool little gem, these ruins in Sedona!! It was surreal seeing the hieroglyphics from so long ago!! This was our favorite activity this week, would love to come back!!

The tour guide Tom was amazing. He was knowledgeable and friendly. His wife was so friendly and…read morepersonable.

Huge fan of FLW and Taliesin West was the first FLW site I ever visited about 15 years ago so I've…read morealways had a soft spot in my heart for AZ because of this. We were driving to Cosanti and I wanted to stop here to check it out. My favorite part of Taliesen West is the sculpture garden with sculptures by Heloise Crista. The good thing about this location is you can see a couple of the same sculptures for free. The archer near the fountain is very memorable and I took a picture of it for a friend who visited TLW with me and he instantly remembered it.  The spire itself was draped with a blow-up elf for the holidays and it was distracting. It was originally meant for Arizona State Capitol. It's odd its just placed on a street corner though I can see why its probably the best location for it. The spires at the Marin County Civic Center and the Anderton Court Shops are integrated into his architecture and feel a lot more appropriate. Overall, it was quick free stop for FLW fans, no one else was there in the afternoon. You can see a wider breadth of the Crista Sculptures at Taliesen West and there are better FLW spires that are part of his buildings.

This is up their with the weirdest of tourist attractions. During the holidays, the Frank Lloyd…read moreWright Spire is adorned with an elf. Frank Lloyd Wright originally designed this spire with the intention that it be installed at the Arizona capitol building, but instead, it has been mounted by an elf outside a Maggianos. Make of that what you will... I would not make a special trip to see this (we did because it is free and super weird) but fun to check out if you're already in the area. There's plenty of shopping nearby and also that Maggianos. Additionally there are some nice local sculptures from artists who studied under FLW.

INCREDIBLE HISTORY! Casa Grande is a testament to the resilience and strength of the native people…read moreof Arizona! The inhabitants of Casa Grande thought about everything when they made this structure to preserve their farming operation. I'm so happy the structure is protected and the national monument is well-maintained. My family and I spent a while exploring and reading about the architectural/agricultural genius of this location. I enjoyed going in December, it was cool and I got really appreciate the views. I got to peak inside the monument through a small opening and it's pretty big! Be careful not to touch it! There's pits, native shade coverings, and plenty of signs to enjoy during your tour of the monument. The visitor center/gift shop next to Casa Grande has a brief video presentation (also on YouTube) surrounding the monument and a mini-museum with local artifacts. Everything is completely free! The staff were friendly and they had a national park stamp for park passport holders.

I try to do as many things as possible in Arizona before taking my tourist dollars out of state…read more It's also nice to learn about your own state, its history and people. I know people who have lived in Arizona for twenty years and still haven't visited the Grand Canyon. That's just crazy in my mind. So I checked out the Casa Grande Ruins. The main attraction here is the visitor center. The 'ruins' are a couple of structures which are u treating, but the visitor center tells the real store of how the natives irrigated the land and farmed it back in the day. That's the real story. If you want to visit with kids be sure to point out all the owls which inhabit the rafters Over the ruins. They are really neat, and will probably be what the little ones remember most. There isn't much of a wow factor here, but historically it is an interesting story and if you live anywhere near Coolidge it's one worth checking out.