Photography by Jason Millstein/Illume Photography; Dominic Romer/Dusty Boots Photography; Brian Goddard Flagstaff’s Made in the Shade Beer Festival

With ‘staycations’ becoming more popular than ever, it’s lucky for us that Arizona is teeming with culture, beauty and, well, really fun stuff to do. Whether you love high country or low country, high brow or low brow, read on for a year’s worth of Arizona adventures, sorted by seasons.

SPRING

1. Best Sleepover: Enchantment Resort
SEDONA

Nestled into an amphitheatre of Sedona’s red rocks, Enchantment Resort beckons visitors from all over the world. It would be a shame to live two counties away and not indulge just once. Considering the price and personal attention – both of which are considerable – the staff offers a refreshing lack of pretentiousness. The private, one-story casita patios offer sweeping views of the painted walls of Boynton Canyon, where the only sounds you’ll hear are the chatter of wind-rustling leaves and the occasional whirr of golf carts shuttling guests around the 70-acre property. The resort offers guided hikes, cooking demonstrations inside the Mii amo Spa, and stargazing on Saturdays. Plan to watch at least one sunset from the deck of the casual Tii Gavo restaurant while sipping the resort’s signature Partida Margarita.
ELEVATION: 4,500 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 17 north to State Highway 260. Turn left and continue to State Highway 89A; turn right and continue about 16 miles. Once in Sedona, turn left on Dry Creek Road. Proceed north for 5 miles and follow the signs.
DRIVING TIME: 2 hours, 10 minutes (122 miles)
RATES: Varies by season. Sample fall 2009 rates for casitas and suites ranged from $350 to $1,525 per night.
INFO: enchantmentresort.com or 800-826-4180
TRAVEL TIP If you take the kids, consider Camp Coyote, a day camp offering supervised nature hikes, crafts and scavenger hunts.


2. Drive to Die For: Apache Trail
MESA TO GLOBE

Driving to the 1911 dedication of his namesake lake, President Theodore Roosevelt is said to have described his journey this way: “The Apache Trail combines the grandeur of the Alps, the glory of the Rockies and the magnificence of the Grand Canyon.” Spectacular canyon views, cactus-covered desert terrain and – if you time it right – spring wildflowers are abundant on Apache Trail. You’ll pass Tortilla Flat, Theodore Roosevelt Dam and Tonto National Monument. After Tortilla Flat, the pavement gives way to a well-maintained dirt road. Still, you’ll want to put your big-boy pants on to maneuver hairpin turns, rugged terrain and one crazy section of road that drops 1,000 feet in just over a mile.
ELEVATION: 1,715 feet (Apache Junction); 3,050 feet (Fish Creek Vista)
DIRECTIONS: Take US 60 east to Idaho Road. Go east on State Highway 88, the Apache Trail. Proceed all the way to Roosevelt Dam. From there, backtrack or circle around to Globe/US 60 to return to the Valley.
DRIVING TIME: Allow a full day there and back (145 miles).
LODGING: Apache Lake Marina and Resort (apachelake.com)
INFO: www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/sightseeing/apacheTrail.shtml or call Tonto National Forest at 602-225-5200
TRAVEL TIP Embark with a full tank of gas and an empty memory card.


3. Walk It Out: Railroad Tunnel Trail
MOGOLLON RIM

In the early 1880s, railroaders dreamt up a plan to transport ore from Globe to Flagstaff via a new railroad that would rumble through a 3,100-foot-long tunnel in the Mogollon Rim. They tunneled a total of 70 feet before running out of cash, leaving today’s recreationists with both a good story and a good hike: Railroad Tunnel Trail. Once embarking on the trail, veer left on a lightly used cut-across that goes over a wash – look for it at the second power pole. PHOENIX magazine gives Tunnel Trail a solid “moderate” rating, but you’ll need to navigate a felled tree blocking the trail at a steep ascent to the tunnel. Be prepared for rocky, loose footing in the final stretch.
ELEVATION: 7,280 feet
DIRECTIONS: From Mesa, take State Highway 87 through Payson and Strawberry to Rim Road, Forest Road 300. (The turnoff for FR 300 is about 2.5 miles past the intersection where Highway 260 turns west.) Continue 12 miles along the well-graded dirt road. The trailhead is across from the monument to the Battle of Big Dry Wash.
DRIVING TIME: 2 hours, 30 minutes (115 miles)
ADMISSION: Free
LODGING: Cabins on Strawberry Hill (azcabins.com), Windmill Corner Inn (windmillinn.com) or visit rimcountrychamber.com/-lodging.htm.
INFO: Log on to www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation and click on “Hiking and Trailriding.”

Photos by Jason Millstein/Illume photography Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000

4. Bell Lexus Copperstate 1000
STATEWIDE

Classic-car enthusiasts, strap on your seat belts and observe the premier vintage road rally in the Southwest. Pre-1973 sports, racing and grand-touring vehicles will embark April 11 from Tempe to drive 1,000 miles of Arizona’s scenic roads. Well-timed stops allow spectators to watch rare Ferraris, Aston Martins and T-birds humming on the open road in places such as Lake Powell, Prescott and Sedona. Or, simply stay home and enjoy the annual Copperstate 1000 Field of Dreams Car Show, 8 a.m. to noon, on April 11 at Tempe Diablo Stadium. This free event is the launching pad for the four-day scenic road trip.
ELEVATION: Between 1,700 and 7,000 feet
DIRECTIONS/DRIVING TIME: Both will vary.
LODGING: To stay where the drivers are, make reservations near the Grand Canyon (El Tovar or other Grand Canyon-area hotels) for April 11 or at Sedona’s Enchantment Resort for April 12-13.
INFO: mensartscouncil.com/cs
TRAVEL TIP  Event promoters do not encourage trailing vintage cars mile for mile along the route. Rather, check the Website above for a finalized map of stops and pick your destinations.


5. Hummingbird Banding
SIERRA VISTA

Each year in spring and late summer months, certified hummingbird banders trap, measure and weigh hummingbirds that migrate throughout Arizona. Visitors can participate by using an outstretched hand as a launching pad for the banded birds to return to flight. “To hold that tiny, pulsing bird in your hand is a metaphor for all of nature – we hold it in our hands,” says Sheri Williamson, a certified bander and director of the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Banding happens both at the San Pedro House and at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, which lays claim to being the hummingbird capital of the U.S.
ELEVATION: 4,623 feet
DIRECTIONS: To San Pedro House, take Interstate 10 east to State Highway 90 South. Continue to Fry Boulevard in Sierra Vista. Go east for 6 miles to the San Pedro House. (To Fort Huachuca, remain on Highway 90 South to the main gate. Driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance are required to enter.)
DRIVING TIME: 3 hours (189 miles)
HOURS: Check the Websites below for schedules.
ADMISSION: Donations are accepted.
LODGING: Casa de San Pedro (bedandbirds.com), Birders Vista Bed and Breakfast (birdersvista.com), Ramsey Canyon Inn (ramseycanyoninn.com) or visit visitsierravista.com
INFO: sabo.org, hummonnet.org/index.html or 520-432-1388 (SABO)


6. Fourth Friday Art Walk
PRESCOTT

Prescott’s Fourth Friday Art Walk is an around-the-town, all-weekend-long walking tour of 19 art galleries showcasing everything from jewelry and leather to ceramics and painting. Stops are mapped out in an easy-to-follow loop, with 11 of them clustered near the historic Yavapai County Courthouse. While art walking, don’t miss one of Prescott’s newest hot spots, Jazzy’s Wine Bar at 219 N. Cortez, two blocks north of the courthouse square. Open during the Art Walk from 4 to 10 p.m., Jazzy’s serves up live jazz music, local artist exhibits, a bistro menu and more than 250 wines for sale by the bottle. Upcoming Art Walks are scheduled for February 26 and March 26.
ELEVATION: 5,400 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take I-17 north to State Highway 69 North. Take the US 89 South ramp into downtown Prescott. Map your Art Walk route in advance by visiting artthe4th.com.
DRIVING TIME: 1 hour, 45 minutes (100 miles)
HOURS: Check individual galleries for hours, which range from 5 p.m. to around 8 p.m. on kickoff Fridays.
LODGING: Hassayampa Inn (hassayampainn.com) or visit prescott.org
INFO: artthe4th.com, jazzyswine.com


7. Route 66 Photo Op Tour
KINGMAN AREA

Need a funny photo for your Facebook page? Head to Route 66, home to all manner of quirky roadside kitsch. First stop: Hackberry General Store, which sells Route 66 memorabilia and offers this photo op: a 1956 Chevrolet Corvette parked in front of the store, à la Tod Stiles and Buz Murdock from the 1960s CBS show Route 66. Next stop: Giganticus Headicus at the Kozy Corner Trailer Park about 15 miles north of Kingman. Sculpted by 41-year-old Gregg Arnold, the greenish, 14-foot-tall wood, metal and stucco head has graced the Mother Road since 2003. If you pass Giganticus during a rainstorm, cover your camera from rain and shoot the schnoz. “Rainwater actually runs out of his nose,” Arnold says. Last stop: Kingman’s 3,333.33 elevation sign located at the historic Powerhouse building, home to the Route 66 Museum.
ELEVATION: 3,333.33 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take US 60 west to US Highway 93 north. Merge onto Interstate 40 West and look for Route 66 signs near Kingman. Go northeast on Route 66 to Hackberry, backtrack to Giganticus Headicus and then backtrack to Kingman. Alternate route: Take I-17 into Flagstaff. Exit on I-40 west and take the Route 66 exit at Seligman. Continue on to Kingman.
DRIVING TIME: 3 hours, 15 minutes (200 miles)
HOURS: The Route 66 Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: Museum admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and free for kids ages 12 and under.
LODGING: kingmantourism.org
INFO: giganticusheadicus.com, kingmantourism.org or 928-753-9889


8. Jet Skiing at Lake Havasu
LAKE HAVASU CITY

With 300 days of sunshine a year, Lake Havasu City is home to abundant doses of Vitamin D and water adventure. If you’ve got the need for speed, try jet skiing. Most companies include training sessions, but if jet skis aren’t your thing, consider speed boats, house boats… if it floats you can rent it at Lake Havasu. While you’re there, take a walk over the London Bridge. The English-style village isn’t what it used to be, but the bridge itself is still impressive. It’s the second-most visited tourist attraction in Arizona after the Grand Canyon.
ELEVATION: 575 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take I-10 west 125 miles to the US 95 North. At State Highway 72, turn left to stay on US 95 North into Lake Havasu City. Follow signs to the London Bridge/lakefront.
DRIVING TIME: 3 hours, 25 minutes (200 miles)
LODGING: Heat Hotel (heathotel.com) or visit golakehavasu.com
INFO: Desert Sun Watersports, desertsunwatersports.com; Wet Monkey Powersport Rentals, jetskirentalshavasu.com; Windsor Beach Rentals, windsorbeachrentals.com.


9. The Gingerbread House
PINE

Blink as you’re driving through Pine and you might miss the hodge-podgy homesteader home known as the Gingerbread House. Our advice? Don’t blink. The Jamaican rum-soaked raisin ice cream alone is worth a visit, and then there are the quirky collectibles and quick history lesson. The original 1882 cabin sits intact inside the home, and if owner Shirley Vickers is there, she’ll gladly show off the original wood floors and fireplace built by Mormon settler John Lazear. With a longtime staff all in their 70s, Vickers jokes, “We call our staff the gray hair brigade. We’re thinking of starting a reality show.”
ELEVATION: 5,365 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 87 north through Payson into Pine. Look for the white picket fence and Gingerbread House on the west side of the road.
DRIVING TIME: 2 hours
HOURS: 1 hour, 49 minutes (105 miles)
LODGING: Pine Victorian Bed & Breakfast (877-974-6329) or visit rimcountrychamber.com/lodging.htm
INFO: rimcountrychamber.com or 928-474-4515


10. Midnight at the Oasis Classic Car Show
YUMA

If you think the only real cars on the road were built before seat belts were standard equipment, Yuma’s Midnight at the Oasis Classic Car Show may be your thing. Featuring 1,000 pre-1972 automobiles from Model Ts to muscle cars, the 2010 event is scheduled for March 5-7. It’s called Midnight at the Oasis, so we’re not sure why the gates close at 11 p.m., but hey, it’s a full day of food, rides and festivities, not to mention the chance to admire hundreds of kick-butt cars. Don’t miss the parade of cars into the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
ELEVATION: 138 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take I-10 west to State Highway 85 South. In Gila Bend, turn onto Interstate 8 West. Continue 105 miles to exit 9, Avenue 8 1/2 E. Turn left onto North Frontage Road, then right on the I-8 business route. Turn left onto West 32nd Street, then left on South Avenue A to the baseball complex.
DRIVING TIME: 3 hours (185 miles)
HOURS: Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
ADMISSION: $3 for Saturday and Sunday Show and Shine tickets; $5 for Friday night concerts; $20 for Saturday night concerts; $22 for an all-weekend, all-event pass
LODGING: Jenny Kent B&B (sites.google.com/site/atjennysbandb) or visit visityuma.com
INFO: midnightattheoasis.net or call the Cabelleros de Yuma at 928-343-1715


11. Cowgirl Up! Art Exhibition
WICKENBURG

March in Wickenburg means the who’s who of Western women artists are riding into town for the fifth-annual Cowgirl Up: Art from the Other Half of the West exhibition at Desert Caballeros Western Museum. Scheduled for March 26-28, the juried, invitational show is quickly carving its niche. “For a little museum in Wickenburg, it is becoming the premier show,” says Phoenix oil painter Sue Krzyston, winner of last year’s Governor’s Choice Award. So, pony up and purchase one of the 200 juried pieces of art showcased by 58 of the West’s top women artists. Or simply enjoy the weekend’s events – including an artists’ “quick draw” on Sunday, the likes of which even Wickenburg’s dusty desperados have never seen.
ELEVATION: 2,100 feet
DIRECTIONS: Take US 60 west to Wickenburg, then make a slight right onto East Wickenburg Way. Turn right onto North Frontier Street. The museum, 21 N. Frontier St., will be on your right.
DRIVING TIME: 1 hour (53 miles)
DATES: March 26-28; art can be purchased through May 4.
ADMISSION: Patron Package tickets are $225 per person for all events Friday through Sunday. Individual event tickets also can be purchased.
LODGING: Rancho de los Caballeros (sunc.com) or
visit outwickenburgway.com
INFO: westernmuseum.org or 928-684-2272

Photo courtesy of Pink Jeep Tours Grand Canyon Pink Jeep Tour

12. Pink Jeep Tour
GRAND CANYON WEST RIM

A new Pink Jeep tour called the West Rim Classic Deluxe grants visitors exclusive access to the West Rim’s isolated Quartermaster Point, a remote plateau rarely seen by tourists. (Warning to the squeamish: There aren’t even handrails or fences.) The downside? Your tour departs from Las Vegas. The upside? Tours are given in Tour Trekkers, which are climate-controlled, fully enclosed vehicles. The tour also includes a brief photo-op stop at Hoover Dam, and a longer stop at the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West. The tour lasts nine to 10 hours, and lunch is provided.
ELEVATION: 2,001 feet (Las Vegas)
DIRECTIONS: Take US 60 West to US 93 North and continue 107 miles before merging onto I-40 West/US 93 North. Remain on US 93 North crossing into Nevada. Merge onto Interstate 215 West at exit 61, then merge onto Interstate 15 North (exit 12A) toward Las Vegas. Pink Jeep Tours will pick you up at your hotel.DRIVING TIME: 5 hours, 287 miles
HOURS: Tour departs at 7:30 a.m.
ADMISSION: $224, plus $32.50 for optional Skywalk ticket
LODGING: visitlasvegas.com
INFO: pinkjeep.com
TRAVEL TIP  At Quartermaster Point, your Pink Jeep tour guide will offer an optional 20-minute hike to a remote viewpoint.


13. Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra
FLAGSTAFF

Taste a bit of high-country culture by planning a 2010 weekend getaway around the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra’s performance schedule. On February 19, the symphony will perform Tchaikovsky’s beloved composition Swan Lake Suite. March 12 brings Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, and the final April 9 concert will showcase Broadway tunes and light opera. The familiar works, combined with Conductor Elizabeth Schulze’s relaxed attitude about applause between movements, makes for a user-friendly symphony experience. “I prefer the days when people applauded if they liked what they heard,” she says, adding that “this idea of turning out all the lights and making everyone sit still for two hours isn’t really what the concert experience is about.”
DIRECTIONS: Take I-17 north into Flagstaff and merge onto South Milton Road. The orchestra performs at Ardrey Auditorium on the Northern Arizona University campus. (From Milton, take a right on University Drive and a left on Knoles Drive. The auditorium will be on your left.)
DRIVING TIME: 2 hours, 15 minutes (143 miles)
HOURS: Performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
ADMISSION: Single-concert ticket prices range from $30 to $55 each, with a 50 percent discount for kids ages 17 and younger and NAU students with a valid student ID.
LODGING: Inn at 410 B&B (inn410.com) or visit flagstaffarizona.org
INFO: flagstaffsymphony.org, 928-774-5107