Arizona In All Its Colorful Glory
Posted by Alicia Bankford
With so much to do, where do you start when vacationing and traveling in Arizona?
Arizona is one of the most colorful places to vacation.
Between enchanting sunrises and sunsets and the colorful
fields, pine forests with the ever-changing climates and
moutain ranges that seem to change colors by the minute,
it is art for the eye. There is much to do in this great state. Outdoor activities
include golfing in world class courses, walking, canoeing,
and trout fishing. There are even areas where the
temperature is such that you can snow ski and water ski in
the same day. A popular spot to sight see is the Apache Trail, which was
originally built in the 1930s to support the development
of the dams built along the Salt River. The drive is a
loop drive of 80 miles that is partly unpaved. This
section provides the most amazing views of mountains with
dense forestry. Along the way, you will pass Fish Creek
Canyon. RV companies do not permit their vehicles to be
taken on this drive due to the way the road hangs on the
side of this steep canyon. Other destinations on the Apache Trail are the Goldfield
Mining Town, which is a re-creation of an old west ghost
town that existed over a hundred years ago. The Mammoth
Mine produced three million dollars of gold in the
years it operated between 1892 - 1896. Park lovers will love The Lost Dutchman State Park for
exploring the mountains and hiking nature trails. There
are a limited number of campsites and picnic facilities. swimmers and boaters will enjoy Canyon Lake with its cool
clear water and steep canyon walls. Camping and
picnicking
is ideal here also. Roosevelt Dam was originally built between 1905 and 1911
and restricts the water of the Salt River forming
Roosevelt Lake. This dam was considered the world's
largest
"cyclopean-masonry" dam, which means it was created in
Greco-Roman style, using very large, irregularly shaped
blocks. It is covered by concrete today. There are other stops along the way, such as Tortilla
Flat, another old-west style settlement and Apache Lake
formed by the Horse Mesa Dam. And we must not forget
Tonto
National Monument. This 2 story ruin, known as Sinaqua
Indian Cliff looks down on Lake Roosevelt and is
breath-taking to view. One of the better known places to visit is Sedona.
Beyond the beauty of this land, you are apt to feel the
beauty of the people. This city is known for its artistry
as many artisans have moved their home here. Many of the
Native Americans believe the Sedona area is a spiritual
one as they believe there is a vortex of energy coming
from the earth's electromagnetic fields. Whether you believe there is anything to this belief of a
heart being affected by this magnetic field or not, this
enchanted area is sure to feed your soul with its
atmosphere. whatever the time of the year, Arizona has
something for everyone to enjoy. Alicia Bankford is founder of All About Arizona an
excellent resource site dedicated to information on Arizona
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