Arizona is in the southwest of the United States on the Mexican border, home to the sprawling Kaibab National Forest with its towering pines, lively music venues in Tucson, the Roosevelt Row Arts District in state capital Phoenix, and several Native American reservations. The state’s terrain spans the grassy prairies of the Patagonia region, rock formations carved by the elements at Chiricahua National Monument, and the limestone peaks framed by big skies in Sedona.

World-famous Route 66 runs through Flagstaff, while rugged red rock dominates the sweeping landscapes of Grand Canyon National Park and Monument Valley. Outdoors adventures abound, from exploring epic canyons to teeing off at golf events to watching the big hitters at baseball spring training. Arizona’s multiple dark sky parks draw stargazers, the north of the state boasts excellent conditions for skiing in the colder months, and the blue-green waters of Havasu Falls make a striking contrast with their rust-hued surroundings.

Alongside its vast desert and sweeping plains, Arizona is also home to high elevations and towering mountain ranges, which make winter prime time for skiing and snowboarding. This means that cabin rentals in Arizona are a popular choice in the colder months. Spring brings balmy temperatures in the high desert, when cacti burst into bloom and baseball season governs. As summer rolls around indoor activities become ever more popular due to soaring temperatures. The summer heat can be intense here, and sun protection and water are advised when doing anything outdoors. Fall brings some of the best weather of the year with sunny days and comfortable temperatures, making it a great time to explore some of the state’s abundant natural beauty — check out the changing foliage as it creeps down the San Francisco Peaks north of Flagstaff.

Sedona

Sedona boasts some of the state’s most jaw-dropping landscapes. Surrounded by imposing red rock formations, pillars, and buttes, this striking natural landscape almost looks man-made, while the desert town’s surrounding Verde Valley wine region and crystal stores draw an eclectic crowd of epicureans and visitors in search of Sedona’s reputed spiritual energy. Dusty trails dotted with yucca plants sit alongside a bounty of public artwork and sculptures in the Gallery District.

Grand Canyon National Park

Where the Little Colorado River meets its bigger namesake in the northwest of Arizona, the towering layers of sedimentary rock and deep gorges of the Grand Canyon National Park extend over 250 miles and date back billions of years. Established in 1919, the park’s South Rim remains one of the more popular access points and is home to Yavapai Geology Museum, which also provides excellent vantage points from large picture windows. The panoramic, rust-colored views from Mather Point and Desert View Drive are the stuff of legend and the subject of countless movies.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument

Established in 1931, Canyon de Chelly National Monument dates back much further — it stands as one of North America’s longest continuously inhabited landscapes, spanning deep-orange sandstone cliffs, vertiginous spires, and plunging valleys dotted with vegetation. Ancestral Puebloans and Navajos carved dwellings out of the red rock centuries ago, sheltered by the towering cliffs, and the Navajo community still raises livestock in the canyons.