If John Keel were alive and stomping through Arizona, he’d ditch the ghost tours and crystal shops. He’d be out in the dust with a notebook, a Geiger counter, and no cell signal, trying to trace the invisible threads connecting Arizona’s most unsettling, unexplainable, and active zones
Arizona is a hiker’s state. From snow-covered peaks in the White Mountains to red rock canyons in the desert, the trails here offer something different every month. Some are best when the air is crisp and the crowds are gone. Others shine when wildflowers bloom or creeks run cold
Once called “The Hellhole of the West,” the Yuma Territorial Prison now stands as one of Arizona’s most compelling historic sites. Built in 1876, this penitentiary housed over 3,000 inmates during its 33 years of operation, including a number of infamous outlaws, stagecoach robbers, and even polygamists. Today,
The Arizona desert carries more than heat and silence. It holds stories, warnings, and rules that were passed down long before any roads cut through the land. You won’t find these rules posted at trailheads or printed in guidebooks. You hear them told by people who know better than
Tucked into the edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun isn’t just a museum. It’s an experience. Built by the artist Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia himself, the space is a celebration of desert life, native cultures, and the power of creativity rooted
Ni Hao Tea is one of the best spots in Tucson for fresh and well-made boba. It has two locations, one at Broadway and Swan and another near Campbell and Glenn. The focus here is on doing things the right way. The tea is brewed fresh. The boba is made
Just west of downtown Tucson, past the hum of the highway and the desert neighborhoods, sits one of the city’s most surprising natural spaces: Sweetwater Wetlands. It is a great place in Southern Arizona to spot wildlife, take a peaceful walk, or just listen to the sounds of running
You’re out in the desert, minding your business, when you spot it. A saguaro cactus, standing tall, arm up like it’s greeting you across the trail. Maybe it’s friendly. Maybe it’s lonely. More likely? It’s just being weird. Saguaros are full of personality. None of
There are plenty of ways to take in Arizona’s desert beauty, but watching the sun set at Gates Pass stands out for good reason. Tucked just west of Tucson, this scenic mountain pass winds through the Tucson Mountains and opens up to a postcard-worthy stretch of Sonoran Desert with
A visit to Reid Park Zoo is always a fun way to spend the day in Tucson, but the Behind the Scenes Tour offers something completely different. Instead of just viewing animals from the usual public viewing ares, this tour takes you into restricted areas, gives you a glimpse into
Nestled in the heart of Tucson’s historic Barrio Viejo, El Tiradito Wishing Shrine is one of the city’s most unique and enduring landmarks. Unlike most shrines in the Southwest, El Tiradito is not dedicated to a saint or religious figure but rather to a tragic love story that
Tucked away in the Sonoran Desert, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is one of Arizona’s most intriguing archaeological sites. Located in Coolidge, about halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, this ancient structure offers a rare glimpse into the world of the Hohokam people, who built this four-story great house over