Arizona
Photo by Papillo Grand Canyon Helicopters, courtesy of the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitor's Bureau 
Famous Arizonians        Arizona Trivia

The character of Arizona was carved out by the forces of nature that lifted the Colorado Plateau as the mighty Colorado River, relentless in it’s power, carved out one of the most impressive natural wonders of the world--the Grand Canyon.
  It was a wild frontier of prospectors, desperados, gunfighters and shoot outs; including one of the most famous shoot outs of all--the Earp boys with pal Doc Holiday--against the Clanton gang at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone in 1881. It also claims the only stagecoach robbery with a gun-toting woman, attempted by Joe Boot and Pearl Hart, the notorious “Lady Bandit”, both of whom ended up in the Yuma Territorial Prison.
  Today Arizona is a sun-drenched state with a rich ethnic diversity encompassing Western, Native American and Mexican heritage. It offers breath-taking scenery, upscale art and entertainment, hospitality in big cities and small towns alike, along with a variety of family outing destinations and special interest getaways.
  Culture & History: History comes alive in Arizona’s ghost towns and mining towns. The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park is a fascinating flash-back to those chaotic times; and the Navajo Nation Museum gives you a glimpse at Native American history and culture. Must sees include: the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, Bisbee & Jerome Mining History, Tombstone & Boot Hill, Rodeos in Payson, Whiskey Row in Prescott, Fort Apache Culture Center, Route 66 in Oatman, Seligman, Kingman and Flagstaff, Indian dwellings at Montezuma Castle, Wupatik National Park and Homolivi State Park, Military history at Fort Huachuca and Casa Grande National Monument.
  Entertainment & Shopping: Arizona’s performance venues range from casinos, Broadway shows, ballet, symphonies, and opera, to top international entertainers, local jazz ensembles and special events. You can experience a taste of the real “old west” with a stroll down the infamous Whiskey Row or check into one of several guest or dude ranches. Shopping ranges from eclectic to ethnic with plenty of upscale galleries and one-of-a-kind boutiques statewide.
  Food & Wine: Celebrating it’s ethnic influences, Arizona offers award winning restaurants of all kinds as well as catering to “cowboy tastes” with superb steakhouses, Mexican fare, and spicy Southwestern foods. It is home to the oldest Mexican restaurant in the country, El Charro Cafe, in Tucson.
  Nature & Adventure: From wildlife watching, birding, kayaking, rock climbing to water skiing and jet skiing, Arizona has the ultimate outdoor experiences to offer. Must sees include: the Grand Canyon National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chiricahua National Monument, The Colorado River, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, Karchner Caverns State Park, The Mogollon Rim, Monument Valley, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Petrified Forest National Park, Saguaro National Park, Sunset Crater National Monument, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, and The White Mountains.
  Sports: Almost perfect sunshine all year round makes Arizona a natural venue for spectator sports. It’s a golfer’s paradise with lush green fairways on over 300 golf courses and some of the most well-attended tournaments in the world. NASCAR and Indy races, jet ski races, the World Finals for Jet Sport Boats on Lake Havasu, the NBA Phoenix Sun and MLB Arizona Diamondbacks games, and the annual Fiesta Bowl collegiate football championships bring some of the best professional contenders and players to the desert every year.