Sedona is among the most popular travel destinations in Arizona.
Because of its warm temperatures and abundant sunshine, Southern California and Arizona attract millions of visitors year-round. These areas offer visitors everything from cosmopolitan cities and picturesque small towns to museums, state parks and nationally protected areas, so weekend trip options are almost unlimited...and you seldom have to check the weather.
Arizona Parks
Arizona state and nationally protected areas offer opportunities for hiking, camping, biking, and water sports. The Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim (nps.gov/grca/index.htm) is open year-round and offers facilities and activities such as the Rim Trail, Hermit Road, Trail of Time, Yavapai Museum of Geology, Verkamps Visitor Center, Tusayan Museum and Ruin, and whitewater rafting. The North Rim is open mid-May through mid-October. If you plan to camp at the Grand Canyon, make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Red Rock State Park, just outside Sedona (pr.state.az.us/parks/RERO/index.html), features a visitor center, gift shop, picnic areas, hiking trails, and wildlife and birdwatching opportunities. Other Arizona parks include Monument Valley National Park, Petrified National Park, Saguaro National Park, Lake Mead, Kartchner Caverns State Park and Painted Desert State Park.
Southern California Parks
Southern California has an extensive network of national, state, and regionally protected areas. Channel Islands National Park (nps.gov/chis/index.htm) is located off the coast of Los Angeles and includes Anacapa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island, San Miguel Island, and Santa Rosa Island. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, boating, snorkeling, diving, whale-watching, seal and sea lion viewing, and hiking. Camping reservations must be made in advance and camping conditions are primitive. Huntington State Beach (parks.ca.gov/?page_id=643), located in Orange County, boasts a two-mile stretch of beach, bike trail, and surfing and swimming opportunities. Huntington Beach Wetlands is located just across from Huntington Beach State Park. Other Southern California protected areas include Antelope Valley, Red Rock Canyon, Torrey Pines Nature Reserve, Topanga State Park, amd Palomar Mountain State Park.
Arizona Cities
Phoenix, Arizona's state capital and largest city, is home to attractions such as the Phoenix Art Museum (phxart.org) as well as plenty of golf courses, resorts, and shopping and dining options. If you're into sports, you'll want to check out a Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals or Arizona Diamondbacks game, depending on the season. Tucson, southern Arizona, is the state's second largest city and is known for its strong art culture. It's home to the University of Arizona, Tucson Museum of Art (tucsonmuseumofart.org) and Arizona Sonora Desert Museum (desertmuseum.org), which also functions as a desert zoo, showcasing animals and plant life indigenous to the desert. Other notable destinations in Arizona include Sedona, known for for spiritual and metaphysical-inspired tourism, spas, resorts, and funky architecture; Flagstaff, famous for its proximity to national parks such as the Grand Canyon and its many outdoor hiking opportunities; and Scottsdale, an upscale suburb of Phoenix with plenty of high-end dining and shopping opportunities.
Southern California Cities
Los Angeles and San Diego are Southern California's largest cities and both offer tourists world-class dining and shopping and proximity to beaches. Los Angeles is home to attractions such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Universal Studios (www.universalstudioshollywood.com), ritzy Rodeo Drive shopping district, and Santa Monica and Venice beaches. San Diego is famous for its Mexican-style historic Old Town, pristine beaches, Sea World (www.seaworld.com/sandiego), and the world-class San Diego Zoo (sandiegozoo.org). In addition to those already mentioned, some of Southern California's better known beaches include Zuma Beach, Newport Beach, Manhattan Beach, Laguna Beach, Del Mar Beach, Capistrano Beach, and Mission Beach.
Considerations
Because of their desert climates, Southern California and Arizona can be uncomfortably hot in the summer, especially if you plan to visit low-lying inland areas. If you plan to participate in the outdoor recreation activities between May and October, drink plenty of water and wear sunscreen and loose clothing. Also, temperatures tend to vary widely by altitude, so if you visit the mountain areas of Arizona or Southern California in winter or late fall, you'll want to bring cold weather clothing.
Tags: Southern California, State Park, National Park, protected areas, Arizona state
