Hit the open road and discover the best of Arizona’s Route 66 on a motorcycle. From iconic landmarks to scenic detours, this 5-day itinerary offers a thrilling, alternative way to experience America’s most famous highway. Whether you’re riding through desert landscapes or stopping at quirky roadside attractions, this journey is the ultimate adventure for road trip enthusiasts.
This next stretch is where you’ll begin to understand why this is known as “The Loneliest Road in America.” Get an early start and be sure to top off your gas tank before leaving Fallon. Your first stop is Sand Mountain, a vast dune complex popular with dune buggy and dirt bike enthusiasts. Sand Springs Station, one of Nevada’s best-preserved Pony Express relay outposts, and an eerie reminder of the hardscrabble life early travelers endured here.
Having traveled the highway across Nevada (and back) myself, I can assure you, no special skills are needed to survive; just a sense of adventure, a little planning, and a better attitude than a certain ‘LIFE’ magazine writer. Whether you’re a history buff or an outdoor enthusiast, there are plenty of surprises for the curious-minded traveler.
With access to miles of shoreline, mountain trails, and everything in between, you won’t believe you’re in Utah. With landscapes that mirror those from across the globe, Davis really offers an American West experience at a fraction of the cost! Watch bison roam at Antelope Island or see birds migrate at the wetlands in Farmington Bay. Get a thrill from dropping 200 feet on Lagoon’s Cannibal Coaster. Davis is built for the adventurous.
Delight in a scenic drive along the water as you head to the Alyeska Nordic Spa for some high-quality relaxation. Here, you’ll get acquainted with the Chugach Mountains, which are visible from the hot and cold pools that make up part of the spa’s signature hydrotherapy circuit. For a deeper dive into Alaska’s wilderness, take a floatplane to Katmai National Park & Preserve for some of the best bear watching in the state.
Whether you’re motoring your way along the Oyster Trail or experiencing slow travel in artistic retreats, you’ll discover a whole new world to pair with your lobster and lighthouses!
During a hot Southwestern day, the best way to beat the Arizona heat is to find an oasis. We recommend making your way to these Arizona state parks with bodies of water where you can cool off while you play.
Not only can you don your swimsuit and slide down the famous Slide Rock swim area into Oak Creek, but you can also hike along the easy, .25 mile (.4 kilometers) Pendley Homestead trail. Along the way, you’ll marvel at an apple packing barn, old cabins, and the original orchards of a historic 20th century homestead.
If you love to fish, then you’ll feel at home in many of Arizona’s state parks, where you can catch largemouth bass, bluegill, trout, catfish, and panfish. Several trails are also yours to explore, including ones for beginners and advanced hikers. You’ll marvel at the state’s riparian, desert, and mountainous ecologies.
Given how diverse and plentiful Arizona’s state parks are, it can be difficult to come to a group consensus on which ones to visit. Even when traveling alone, you might find it challenging to decide on the parks that should be at the top of your bucket list. This guide to six parks in Arizona’s Verde Valley will help you zero in on which parks are best suited to your interests.