We did the Upper Dwelling hike. Took way too long (we could have completed it round trip in an hour…read moreor so) but it took almost 3. We are still fortunate to have gotten a reservation, and did enjoy the exclusive access. One interesting thing, is that the guides refused to answer if human remains had ever been found in the park, saying they weren't. After researching at home, they have, according to this 2014 register published by the National Monument themselves: [NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-14644; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]. Don't know why they didn't want to talk about it. Also, the guide said Navajo Nation capital is in Shiprock, NM, but it's in Window Rock, AZ.

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.

My goodness this place is wonderful! I went on a Tuesday and ended up having a solo tour. The…read moregentleman who gave the tour was so enthusiastic, kind and it was such a fun experience. I very highly recommend!!

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!

Free parking, free admission. The ghost town was located half an hour from Mesa…read more Came on a weekday morning. There was a good amount of people roaming around. The town was located really close to the Lost Dutchman State Park. All of the shops had air conditioning which was nice. The cowboy hat shop was really cool. Saw some of the hats were $79. They have a saloon called the Mammoth worth checking out. They had a lot of cute attractions, such as gold panning, mine tour, zip lining, and railroad riding. Bought a pound of copper from the museum for $50. Apparently everything in the museum was tax free. Looked like they charge $1.50 for credit card, which was not mentioned nor were there obvious signs about the credit card usage fee. Admission to the cost $10 for 13 and up, $8 for 65 and up, $5 for 8 to 12, and free for those under 8. Really fun town to spend an hour or two. Lots of things to do for all ages. All the staff were friendly. Town was clean. Would return.

What a great stop! I was on my way to tortilla flats and turned around to stop and explore this…read morelittle gem off the side of the road. They have everything from ice cream to sandwiches to a steak restaurant saloon to tattoos, ghost, mine and horseback riding tours. I was most excited to see an old town photo studio. What a fun experience! Definitely worth stopping! I had lunch at miners grill (blt) before exploring! The train tour was so cool! Tour guide Bruce was great and very funny! The mystical building was unreal. Be warned if you very motion sickness I got queasy! Matt at the mine tour was also great! Loved this so much I came back to hear the ghost tour by Michael! So good! I got lucky as I was the only one on the tour so I basically got it private tour and Michael's storytelling is off the chain! Love the multimedia to accent his stories. I'm actually going back next week and can't wait to take my mom. The ghosts tour was definitely the highlight of an already wonderful day!

"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.

Greetings everyone! This was an amazing trip! Cant wait to go back! The rocks were truly beautiful,…read moreand the GNGXCVKQP was absolutely exhilarating! It was such a fun trip.

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!

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.

I've always been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, America's preeminent architect. And it's nice that he…read morehas made an impact on Phoenix. While he has properties all across the U.S., he's most well known in Phoenix for Talisien West. While Frank Lloyd Wright Spire isn't as extensive, it makes for a fun mini adventure. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and had no trouble finding a free parking spot in the entertainment center where the Spire is located. Naturally, it's right off of Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. If you're trying to find where to park, look for Maggiano's. The Spire was actually intended to be part of the State Capitol Building (another cool place to check out). Instead, it ended up in North Scottsdale. It's a large spire that stands out due to it's geometrical design and color scheme. While I saw it during the day, it's also nice to visit at night (when it lights up) or around the holidays (when an elf is attached to it). Outside of the spire, you have a good number of interesting sculptures designed by one of FLW's pupils. There's also a nice water fountain and bench area designed by another pupil. You can see FLW's influence in frequent uses of symmetry. And last but not least, there's a little tablet telling you a little bit about the spire and sculpture garden. This experience is free and can be done in about 10 minutes. I still have a few FLW spots to check out in town. On to the next one!

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.

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 have lived in AZ for many many years now, so how I have not stopped in to visit and see this gem…read moreof history is beyond me. We had decided to take the scenic route (Pinal Pioneer Parkway) home from a day trip to Phoenix, and am so glad we did. Casa Grande Ruins was right on the way and was an easy stop that you MUST carve out at least 30-45 minutes for. Of course you can spend way more time than that here doing the movie and perusing all of the inside exhibit/information areas but can definitely do this in about half an hours time if you focus on the outside/ruins themselves. I found the ruins, along with the information fascinating. The monument/area is as well preserved as possible, although I will say I was sad to see that there were current day people who had etched things in the adobe. The inside area has lots of great information, National Park employees that are well versed in the history and a little gift shop. Pets are welcome in outside areas, including a short cut through the building to the ruins themselves. Clean bathrooms and a picnic area across the parking lot.