10 Underrated Cities In Arizona That Aren’t Sedona, But Are Still Full Of Beautiful Hikes

Nicknamed The Grand Canyon State, Arizona is the sunniest a part of america and is famed for the rugged great thing about its majestic mountains and geologically various deserts. It additionally contains must-visit culturally and historically significant towns like Tubac, Ajo, and Wickenburg, along with Phoenix, the nation’s most populated capital metropolis, and Sedona’s sacred monuments and natural spots that attract spiritualists and hikers alike.

The state additionally boasts many underrated cities that provide points of interest and actions just like those that the town of Sedona is legendary for, reminiscent of bustling artwork and New Age scenes, world-class spas, geological wonders, and scenic hikes. Listed below are 10 of them that aren’t as famed or costly as Tucson, Scottsdale, or Flagstaff.

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10 Eloy, Pinal County

2 trails, miniature golf, and the world’s largest skydiving middle

Constructing in Eloy in Arizona

Eloy is a central city in Arizona with an extended racing heritage but additionally scenic trails, New Age retailers, non secular and cultural occasions, miniature golf parks, an ostrich ranch, and thrilling skydiving alternatives for these lacking Sedona’s well-known Purple Rock drop. Moreover, the town boasts a vibrant arts scene, charming native cafes serving southwestern delicacies, and a welcoming neighborhood that embraces each custom and modernity. Eloy’s various choices make it a hidden gem for these searching for a singular mix of adrenaline-pumping adventures and cultural enrichment within the coronary heart of Arizona.

9 Coolidge, Pinal County

3 trails and the nation’s first sacred archaeological reserve

Casa Grande Nationwide Monument, Coolidge, Arizona

Residence to the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Expertise, Coolidge is a small, underrated metropolis with a wealthy historical past, as attested by its important attraction, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, additionally known as Sivan Vahkih, which was granted protected standing by the U.S. Authorities in 1892 and, as such, is taken into account the very first archaeological reserve. It’s particularly sacred to the Hopi (whose reservation is only open for guided tours) and Zuni and was a central location for irrigation communities.

8 Benson, Cochise County

10 trails, wondrous caverns, and loads of outside enjoyable

The Large Room in Kartchner Caverns, Benson, AZ, USA

Nestled within the historic San Pedro Valley and its enchanting geological selection, Benson was as soon as a mining and railroad hub and is now the gateway to quite a few outside actions, from soccer to mountain climbing, tenting, and horseback driving. The limestone Kartchner Caverns are the realm’s pure jewel, and the Benedictine Holy Trinity Monastery is a non secular haven that welcomes guests of all faiths.

• Greatest Time To Go to:
  March and Might

• Sights/Actions:
  Kartchner Caverns State Park (8 am to five pm; $7/car; cave tour from $23/grownup); Holy Trinity Monastery (9 am to 4 or 5 pm); Stargazing on the
  Butterfield RV Resort Observatory

• Stunning Trails:
  Foothills Loop Trail
  (average; 2.9 miles; 1 hour 23 minutes);
  
  Guindani Loop Trail
  (average; 4.1 miles; 2 hours 7 minutes)

The Kartchner Caverns boast the tallest pure column formation in Arizona.

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7 Glendale, Maricopa County

10 trails and points of interest for buying, sports activities, and historical past lovers

Panorama view of Glendale, AZ, Arizona, USA

About 9 miles northwest of Phoenix lies Glendale, a energetic metropolis that’s residence to State Farm Stadium and the Arizona Cardinals soccer staff. Downtown Sedona could also be a bustling space for galleries, eating places, and each distinctive and typical buying, however so are Glendale’s Historic Downtown and the immersive Westgate Leisure District.

6 Peoria, Maricopa And Yavapai Counties

13 trails, historic buildings, and a theatrical neighborhood

Scorching air balloons in Peoria, Arizona

The city of Peoria is positioned half-hour northwest of downtown Phoenix and has excellent restaurants. It’s residence to the 23,000-acre Lake Pleasant Regional Park and its two marinas, 36 neighborhood parks, a energetic historic downtown, an lively theatrical neighborhood, and thrilling festivals and occasions all yr lengthy.

5 Cottonwood, Yavapai County

17 trails, historic properties, wineries, and medi-spas

A view of the lake with seashores round Cottonwood, Arizona

Cottonwood is a 26-minute drive from Sedona, is adjoining to the Verde River, and boasts a plethora of pure, wellness, and cultural actions, to not point out wineries, breweries, and historic properties just like the Smelter Machine Store (1900), the Financial institution of Clemenceau (1910), the Grasp Mechanic’s Home (1900), and Clemenceau Public College (1923).

4 Tempe, Maricopa County

20 trails, rock artwork, and main leisure venues

The town of Tempe in Arizona, AZ, USA

Tempe lies east of Phoenix, on the foothills of Hayden Butte and its outdated rock artwork, and its leisure services embody the Koli Equestrian Center, run by members of the Pima and Maricopa tribes, the Tempe Heart for the Arts for live shows and dance exhibits, Tempe City Lake, which attracts kayakers and paddleboarders, Tempe Seashore Park, which hosts thrilling open-air festivals, and Wells Fargo Area and its sporting occasions.

Top of the Rock restaurant on the Marriott Resort in Tempe presents gorgeous sundown views.

3 Yuma, Yuma County

26 trails, a historic jail, and serene wellness and non secular facilities

Overlooking view of nature in Yuma, Arizona

Situated in southwest Arizona, Yuma enjoys countless sunny days throughout the year, making it an ideal vacation destination, with loads of water actions alongside the Colorado River, an enthralling downtown with many historic buildings, serene parks, tranquil resorts, non secular venues, and wellness facilities, and mouthwatering eating places.

2 Apache Junction, Pinal And Maricopa Counties

63 trails, stargazing events, luxurious golf golf equipment, and a mining ghost city

The Superstition Mountains at sundown in Misplaced Dutchman State Park, Arizona

Apache Junction presents loads of outside actions through the 160,000-acre, volcanic, and craggy Superstition Mountains and proximity to the two.873-million-acre Tonto Nationwide Forest, from mountain climbing and hen watching to tenting and horseback driving. It additionally proposes rejuvenating spa and {golfing} choices, to not point out hosting several exciting events all year long, from the Renaissance Competition and Artisan Market to raves, stargazing events, film projections, and live shows in parks.

Treasure Loop could be very well-maintained and will get crowded on Saturday mornings.

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1 Prescott, Yavapai County

126 trails, geological formations, and a historic downtown

Lake Watson, Prescott, Arizona

Prescott is an unassuming pioneer city nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains of central Arizona. Its historic Whiskey Row is without doubt one of the liveliest downtown areas within the state and a hub of boutiques, eating places, and galleries and the encircling space presents loads of mountain climbing alternatives, particularly within the Prescott Nationwide Forest, with its ponderosa pines and glistening creeks. And whereas Sedona is understood for gorgeous geological formations, simply north of Prescott lie the Granite Dells, which will be visited freely for images, meditation, and mountaineering.

• Greatest Time To Go to:
  March to Might for blooming wildflowers

• Sights/Actions:
  Victorian and Revival buildings in Historic Downtown,
  Sharlot Hall Museum
  (Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to five pm; Sunday, 12 pm to 4 pm; $12/grownup), Kayaking on Watson Lake (7 am to 10 pm; $3/car)

• Stunning Trails:
  Thumb Butte Trail
  (average; 2.2 miles; 1 hour 18 minutes),
  
  Spruce Mountain via Groom Creek Loop
  (average; 9.2 miles; 4 hours 19 minutes)