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    • What’s 2 hours away from Phoenix? The 10 best day trips you can take
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    What’s 2 hours away from Phoenix? The 10 best day trips you can take

    Harry Posted on

    Roger Naylor
    | Special for the Republic

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    Escaping Phoenix for long periods of time in the heat of summer is essential for mental health. This urgency disappears as temperatures begin to drop. Staying close to home suddenly feels so good. While it’s still nice to get out of town, there’s no need for long getaways. Nobody wants to give up sunshine and 70 degrees.

    Let’s focus on quick and easy day trips instead. Hit the highway, have an adventure, and return home the same day. There’s plenty to see and do within a two-hour drive of metro Phoenix.

    Here are the 10 best day trips from the Phoenix area.

    Tonto National Monument

    Tucked into recesses in the steep mountainsides above Lake Roosevelt, two prehistoric Salado cliff dwellings built more than 700 years ago still overlook the vast Tonto Basin.

    Built into natural caves, they sit on the hillside above the visitor center, which houses an impressive collection of artifacts. Lower Cliff Dwelling is open year-round and is located at the end of a 0.5-mile paved road.

    Upper Cliff Dwelling is only accessible by guided tour from November to April. Reservations are filling up fast. Rangers lead small groups on a 3-mile round-trip hike with an elevation gain of 600 feet. The Upper Cliff House has approximately 40 rooms, some with partially solid roofs and parapet walls.

    Admission to the park is $10 per person; There is no additional fee for the tour.

    Detail: 26260 State Route 188, Roosevelt. 928-467-2241, www.nps.gov/tont.

    Arcosanti

    This community is a collection of structures that are both striking and imaginative. It looks like a Seuss construction site. Clustered modular housing, large circular windows and curved rooflines rise above a dry riverbed.

    Architect Paolo Soleri, a former student of Frank Lloyd Wright, laid the foundation for Arcosanti in 1970. He coined the term “arcology” to describe the concept of architecture shaped by ecology to create a compact, efficient new urban living space. and is environmentally friendly.

    Soleri died in 2013, but his followers keep Arcosanti alive. Today it serves as an institution of learning.

    General tours of Arcosanti are offered daily. These tours provide a glimpse into the history, design and functionality of the project, and you’ll often see the famous Soleri wind chimes cast at the foundry. The café serves simple healthy meals and homemade pastries. Tour fee is $22, $13 for children ages 12-17.

    Detail: 928-632-7135, www.arcosanti.org.

    Florence

    Take a walk through downtown Florence to get a feel for what Arizona looks like on regional days. The town retains a strong Western feel, with more than 120 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the structures date to the 1870s and 80s and include Sonoran style, Arizona Territory, American Victorian, and Mission Revival style.

    Don’t miss McFarland State Historic Park24 W. Ruggles St. is the oldest courthouse in Arizona. Constructed of adobe bricks in 1878, the building also serves as a visitor center and hosts some important exhibitions. Entry is free.

    soon Pinal County Historical MuseumAt 715 S. Main St., visitors can walk past a room filled with pretty cactus furniture built in the 1930s, learn details of a famous shooting and learn more about the state prison. Admission is $7 and free for those 18 and under. Admission is free for everyone on the first Saturday of every month.

    Detail: www.florenceaz.gov/historic-district.

    Camp Verde

    Located between Sedona and Jerome, Camp Verde is a destination often overlooked by travelers. But the town is full of attractions just minutes from Interstate 17. Montezuma CastleMontezuma’s Well and Fort Verde State Historic Park.

    Out of Africa Wildlife Park offers an intimate look at lions, tigers, hippos, giraffes and much more. Shows and tours are offered throughout the day. General admission is $42.95, $27.95 for ages 3-12. 928-567-2840, www.outofafricapark.com.

    For an unforgettable meal, try Moscato Italian Restaurant. Housed in an Old West-style building, Moscato offers an authentic taste of the Italian countryside in downtown Camp Verde. 368 S. Main St., 928-567-7417, www.moscatoaz.com.

    Dolly Steamer

    Of all the excursions you’d hope to find in the middle of the desert, a ferry ride might not be high on the list. But head out to Canyon Lake and you can take a scenic cruise on the Dolly Steamboat. The cliff-lined waterway is one of a chain of lakes along the Apache Trail formed by dams surrounding the Salt River.

    The replica of a classic American sternwheeler offers an up-close look at the towering cliffs that define Canyon Lake’s rugged shoreline. The 90-minute Scenic Nature Cruise explores secluded inland waterways that frequent desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and other wildlife.

    Enjoy the captain’s narration from a comfortable seat in the lower or upper cabins or in the open-air observation areas. Price is $35, ages 5-12 are $17.

    Detail: 16802 SR 88, Tortilla Plain. 480-827-9144, www.dollysteamboat.com.

    Boyce Thompson Arboretum

    Located in Superior, Boyce Thompson is a shady haven, a peaceful oasis with a stunning collection of drought-tolerant trees where cacti tuck into thorny elbows. Thousands of different plant species from arid regions of the world are spread across the landscape. Three kilometers of trails pass through themed gardens.

    The Main Road makes a 1.5-mile loop, a wide, smooth wheelchair-friendly path, at least until it reaches Ayer Lake. (The Performance Garden, Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, and Children’s Garden are also wheelchair accessible.) Located at the base of a ridge of scattered, jagged bare rocks and surrounded by reed tails, Lake Ayer is home to endangered desert pupfish and the Gila topminnow. It hosts. .

    Bird walks, geology walks, history tours, photography workshops and more are regular events. Check the calendar for specific dates. Admission fee is $24.95, $10 for ages 5-12.

    Detail: 37615 E. Arboretum Road, Superior. 520-689-2723, www.btarboretum.org.

    Hassayampa River Reserve

    Enjoy a peaceful stroll along the lush riverside corridor southeast of Wickenburg. The Hassayampa River flows underground for most of its 100-mile route, but emerges as a continuous stream throughout the preserve, creating a rare cottonwood-willow habitat.

    Around 300 species of birds can be seen amidst this amazing forest, including the zone-tailed hawk, Mississippi kite and yellow-billed cuckoo. A handful of trails follow river bottoms, cross flood plains, and wrap around Palm Lake. Guided walks are offered during the colder months. Admission fee is $5 per person, free for ages 12 and under.

    Detail: 49614 US 60 near Wickenburg. 602-506-2930, ext. 9; www.maricopacountyparks.net.

    prescott

    There are so many things to do in Prescott that it’s hard to limit your visit to just a day trip. Try this plan: Go for a walk and then eat something. This gives you the chance to explore one of Arizona’s under-appreciated natural wonders, Prescott’s Granite Dells.

    The huge area consisting of exposed bedrock turned into interesting formations and mixed rock piles due to erosion. Some of the trails that explore this stony playground include Granite Gardens, Constellation, Centennial, and Watson Lake Loop. Learn more: www.prrescotttrails.com.

    When you’re ready to refuel, check out Lazy G’s Brewhouse (220 W. LeRoux St., 928-445-2994, www.lazygbrewhouse.com) offers burgers, sandwiches, salads and shareable plates. Or try dining in the comfort of your own home at Uncle Bud’s Place (150 E. Sheldon St., 928-237-4316,). www.unclebudsplace.com), they do Cajun, Creole and barbecue here.

    Detail: www.experienceprescott.com.

    Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

    An impressive four-story earthen structure rises in Coolidge, still standing 700 years later. Casa Grande Ruins National Monument preserves the largest single surviving building from the Hohokam culture.

    The 10-meter-tall Casa Grande, or “Big House,” was built of unreinforced clay (caliche) in the mid-1300s and is believed to have been used for astronomical observations. There is also an excellent museum, smaller structures and a ceremonial ball field on the grounds. Entry is free.

    Detail: 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge. 520-723-3172, www.nps.gov/cagr.

    Biosphere 2

    Located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Oracle, north of Tucson, this giant experiment houses seven model ecosystems, earning it the title of largest earth science laboratory in the world. The facility is operated by the University of Arizona for research purposes and tours are offered.

    Visitors can wander through tropical rainforests and savannah grasslands and even smell an ocean filled with coral reefs. Tours cost $27 ($17 for ages 5-23) and you can self-guide with your smartphone and headphones.

    Detail: 32540 S. Biosphere Drive, Oracle. 520-620-4800, www.biosphere2.org.

    Find his reporter at: www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or on Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.

    Harry
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