4 Must-See Places in Arizona

This past week I got the chance to go to Arizona with my family for Spring Break. Needless to say, it is my new favorite state! 

We were road tripping from Utah, so we headed south from Provo and hit spots like The Grand Canyon, Sedona, Route 66, and Phoenix. 

I highly recommend coming in April- the weather was incredible! 

1. Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon was absolutely breathtaking, both in terms of beauty and cold. Normally in April the weather is perfect to visit the Grand Canyon, but a cold front had come in from Utah, so it was super windy and cold-literally taking my breath away. 

We drove through the park and stopped at some of the overlooks on the way and then headed towards The Village for a trail they have that follows along the edge of the canyon. It has rocks every few steps that shows the evolution of the formation of the canyon. Every step you take on the trail is a million years. 

There were many places for photo-ops and plenty of room on the trail for everyone! 

After the trail, we headed back to a few gift shops and then stopped at a quick grab-and-go Cafe. BE WARNED- during lunch hours, the restraunts fill up quick and food at the shops is expensive. 

2. Route 66

If you ever are in Arizona, one of your must-see stops has to be Route 66!

So nostalgic to the days when I used to watch Cars obsessively, this small pass-through town was just what we needed on the road trip for a stretch and walk. 

Old gift shops, treats, and vintage cars are just a few of the things you will see if you drive through famous Route 66. 

If you drive through Williams, Arizona, be sure to stop at Oh, Sweetie- the cutest treat shop  with the best brown sugar ice cream I have ever tasted. 

3. Sedona 

This small town city is my new favorite place. I swear it is a slice of heaven. It is the perfect blend of Arizona's notorious Red Rock, beautiful weather, and small city charm. 

The town is most famous for its unique red rock formations and the city ordinance prevents building from being too tall, so you see the formation from practically everywhere. 

We stayed in Marriott hotels for the duration of our stay, but I wish we had stayed in AirBnBs to get an even homely visit. 

There is tons to do in Sedona, but I recommend going to downtown and trying the honey samples, taking a jeep ride, and just enjoying the beautiful weather. 

Sedona is my new go-to town for vacations! 

4. Pheonix

Pheonix has a ton to offer for everyone and is very kid friendly. Our favorite spots, recommended from locals, were Nemesis Club and Soda Jerk.  

Nemesis Club is an escape room business created by someone who used to work at Disney, so everything was top notch.  Nemesis Club is behind Soda Jerk and has a 20's speakeasy vibe. You are given a code word to tell the Soda Jerk workers and they take you to a secret side door into the speakeasy inspired Nemesis Club. 

*not my photo

Soda Jerk, the business front for Nemesis Club makes wild and yummy milkshakes overflowing with treats galore. I got the all cookies milkshake, even though I'm lactose intolerant. No regrets.

BONUS! 

5. Arizona's Temples for the Church of Jesus Christ are some of the most beautiful temples in the world. While on our road trip, we had the privilege to visit the Mesa Temple for their Easter Pageant and the Gilbert Arizona Temple. 

The Mesa Temple is inspired by the Hawaii Temple and the grounds are absolutely gorgeous. Each side has a different color palate and the garden's are beautifully kept with native flowers from the region.

It's a personal goal of mine to photograph a wedding here and do bridals at the Mesa Temple.