Arizona bucket list: Top 25 things to do in Arizona

GRAND CANYON: The view of the Grand Canyon from Mather Point on the South Rim is simply ... grand.

SEDONA: Teacup Rock is a small Sedona formation but hikers are treated to big panoramas along the way.

MONUMENT VALLEY: At Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park at the North Window, the road leads to a magical place where rocky monoliths burst from the desert floor.

LAKE POWELL: An angler reels in a fish near Glen Canyon Dam on Lake Powell.

ANTELOPE CANYON: Antelope Canyon, located on Navajo land near Page, seems to glow.

HORSESHOE BEND: The Colorado River's Horseshoe Bend is downstream from Glen Canyon Dam.

JEROME: The former mining town is popular with tourists and populated by those whose talents (art, food, wine) are best suited for above-ground endeavors.

CANYON DE CHELLY NATIONAL MONUMENT: The White House Ruin is seen in the canyon wall in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, just outside of Chinle. The ruins were built by ancient Puebloan people and occupied around 1,000 years ago. It is named for the white plaster that covered some of the walls.

PETRIFIED FOREST: Many logs along the Crystal Forest Trail contain sparkling crystals. Look for them on the shiny broken ends of logs.

HUBBELL TRADING POST: The Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado was founded by John Lorenzo Hubbell in 1878, a decade after the Navajo returned to their land from their exile at Fort Sumner, N.M. As the Navajo returned home, the trading post supplied them with many items. The trading post is still active today.

BISBEE: Bisbee reinvented itself in the mid-1970s when its underground and open-pit mining operations ground to a halt. Now Bisbee, in southeastern Arizona, is like a big interactive museum with historic buildings, walkable streets, shops and terrific places to eat and stay.

TOMBSTONE: Costumed stuntmen re-enact a Wild West shootout for visitors to Tombstone.

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK: Whether you have hours, days or a week to explore, the area lends itself to design-your-own experiences. Picnic for an hour or two, or stay longer to hike or camp out.

SAN XAVIER DEL BAC: The mission church of San Xavier del Bac, the oldest intact European structure in Arizona, is a stunning example of Mexican baroque architecture.

SABINO CANYON RECREATION AREA: Pools of water lie along Bear Canyon, just one of the hikes available from the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, north of Tucson.

PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: A pair of Air Force One jets are on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson. The DC-6 (left) flew Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson from 1961 to 1965.

LAKE MEAD: A liquid oasis in an expansive desert area, Lake Mead draws thousands of locals and visitors each year, many of which enjoy playing on the lake.

HOOVER DAM: When engineers dammed the Colorado River, it created a reservoir known as Lake Mead. Be sure to set aside a few hours to tour the Depression-era marvel.

HAVASU FALLS: Water flows from Havasu Falls, one of the Havasupai waterfalls that draw campers from around the world.

WALNUT CANYON: Inside a cliff dwelling at Walnut Canyon National Monument.

WUPATKI NATIONAL MONUMENT: Lomaki Pueblo at Wupatki National Monument.

SNOWBOWL: Snowbowl brings out the skiers in winter, but the venerable resort also offers dining and scenic rides on its lifts during summer months.

PHOENIX ZOO: The Phoenix Zoo is a major draw for tourists and locals alike.

SCOTTSDALE: The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is one of many posh resorts in the city.

SCOTTSDALE: The city has a rep around the world for Western fun, nightclubs, shopping and posh resorts.