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Phoenix, Arizona


Phoenix is the capitol of the state of Arizona in the south western United States. It has more than 300 beautiful, sunny days every year. It is a fast growing city, and today, it is the sixth largest city in the US. The Phoenix metropolitan area is known as the Valley of the Sun and November through April is the best time to visit. Outdoor activities include golfing, hiking, boating, fishing, water skiing and hot air balloons. There are also reservation casinos, horse racing and greyhound tracks.

The land on the north eastern edge of the Sonoran Desert was farmed by Hohokam Native Americans for over a thousand years. They created 217 km of irrigation canals that made the desert arable. These canals have been used as the base for several modern canal projects throughout the area. Between 1300 and 1450 there were severe droughts and floods causing the Hohokam to abandon the area. The Hohokam people also may have witnessed the supernova of 1006. There is a drawing or petroglyph of the event in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park in west Phoenix. Very few Europeans lived in the region before 1860. Father Eusebio Kino who lived from 1645 to 1711 was one of the first.

Downtown Phoenix, ArizonaModern Phoenix began around the 1850s when Jack Swilling thought the abandoned valley would be good for agriculture. He used the Hohokam canals for irrigation and, seeing the excellent crops, people started to settle there. A city growing out of a previous civilization suggested the name Phoenix for the new town.

Phoenix has several fascinating museums including the Phoenix Art Museum. It has international art displays as well as a year-round program of live performances, festivals, independent art films and educational programs. There is an interactive space for children, a landscaped sculpture garden, a restaurant and shopping facility. The Heard Museum has a full Navajo Hogan and 437 Hopi kachina dolls among other Native American artifacts.

Among the monuments and landmarks there are two structures that couldn’t be more different, but are both worth seeing. Mystery Castle is an 18 room folk art mansion built from recycled materials and stones from the area. The Wrigley Mansion of chewing gum fame was built by Wrigley for his wife. It is an Italianate mansion that is very opulent inside and outside.

Near Phoenix is the Apache Trail an old stagecoach route through the Superstition Mountains. Today, it is a popular drive from Apache Junction through the mountains to Tonto National Forest. Visitors can view some of the spectacular natural scenery of Arizona.


Scottsdale is part of the Phoenix metropolis and is a center of haute couture and Old West charm. It has luxury resorts and spas as well as dozens of golf courses. There is an infinite variety of Southwestern jewelry and art available.

With Phoenix as the base, there is a lot to see in Arizona including the Grand Canyon, a four hour drive from Phoenix, Sedona, Monument Valley and many more natural wonders and ancient Native American ruins. After a day of sightseeing, visitors enjoy the famous nightlife in the city and the many different styles of Mexican food served in restaurants throughout the area.

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Filed Under: Arizona, featured, North America, Phoenix, United States

Texas

Texas, the largest of the 48 contiguous United States, has a rich history and vibrant present. The state’s many historical sites, fascinating attractions and natural beauty make it a popular destination for travelers.

One of the most popular aspects of Texas to both natives and visitors is its history and many interesting historical sites. Located in San Antonio, “The Alamo” is the most famous historical site in Texas. The site of the battle of the same name, this 4.2-acre complex allows visitors to tour the site of the battle that undoubtedly led to Texas’ independence from Mexico. On the same note, the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte commemorates the decisive battle that ended the Texas Revolution in 1836. In Dallas, history buffs can visit the museum at Dealey Plaza, the site of the John F. Kennedy assassination. The city of Galveston also offers historical landmarks, including the Galveston County Historical Museum, which contains information about the 1900 hurricane.


In addition to historical sites, Texas is home to a number of excellent attractions. NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston hosts both permanent and temporary exhibits and offers tours that will entertain everyone, from young to old. San Antonio is home to Sea World and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Adults might like to visit Austin’s famous Sixth Street and take in some live music. The city hosts festivals and events like the Austin City Limits music festival and the Texas Book Festival. The Schlitterbahn water parks, located in New Braunfels, Galveston and South Padre Island, offers a fantastic variety of water adventures for the whole family.

Texas’ natural beauty also attracts tourists to the state. From the coastline cities on the Gulf of Mexico that offer beach attractions to El Paso’s view of the Juarez Mountains, Texas terrain has a variety found in few other states. Fans of natural beauty will want to visit the famous Big Bend National Park, whose altitude covers a range of 1,800 feet. Floating the Guadalupe River on inner tubes is another excellent way to view Texas’ natural beauty. Even within metropolitan areas in Texas, nature lovers will see delightful sights. Austin offers the famous Congress Avenue Bridge, where a swarm of bats emerges each evening at dusk, and Enchanted Rock is a short drive away.

Overall, Texas is a state with a remarkable history and much to offer to visitors. Y’all will be glad you visited!

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Filed Under: Arizona, featured, North America, Texas, United States

Arizona

Arizona is one of the most varied states in the United States, with some of the world’s most stunning natural desert vistas located just a few hours’ drive from urban areas that will delight even the most hardcore city-dwellers. The world-famous Grand Canyon is just one of the many tourist attractions that attracts visitors to this part of the United States “Sun Belt” region.

Arizona’s first European settlers were Spaniards who founded Tucson, one of the state’s major cities, along with the town of Tubac in the eighteenth century. Eventually, the land that became Arizona was acquired by Mexico after that country declared independence from Spain, and then by the United States in the Mexican-American War. Arizona was actually the last state on the North American land mass to be admitted to the U.S., which finally happened in 1912.


Foremost among Arizona’s tourist attractions, and arguably one of the top tourist attractions in the United States, is the Grand Canyon. Carved out of the Arizona land by the flowing of the Colorado River over millions of years, the Grand Canyon’s beauty simply cannot be overstated. Even chatty, bratty small children are known to fall silent when seeing the Canyon’s enormous grandeur for the first time. One of the most interesting new additions to the Grand Canyon tourist circuit is the “Skywalk,” a clear bridge constructed over the ridge of the Canyon by a local Indian tribe. The Skywalk allows visitors to walk approximately sixty feet out and over the Grand Canyon, enjoying even more stunning views.

Arizona’s cities and towns also comprise a major part of its charm. Phoenix is one of the hottest major metropolitan areas in the world in terms of both temperature and amenities, with all the restaurants, nightlife, and resorts one could ask for. Tucson and Flagstaff are small, liberal cities with great music scenes, although they could not be more different in terms of climate; while Tucson bakes under the heat of the desert sun, Flagstaff’s position in one of Arizona’s national reserves makes its climate temperate and even snowy. Additionally, towns like Tombstone provide visitors a sense of what Arizona was like during the “Western” days of Billy the Kidd and Wyatt Earp, making them particularly interesting for children and teenagers. Whether you are looking for natural beauty, U.S. history, or a relaxing resort vacation, you are sure to find what you want in Arizona!

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Filed Under: Arizona, North America, United States