Arizona Bi-Monthly Media Brief 

July - August 2024

The Arizona Office of Tourism is pleased to provide these highlights and news updates from across the Grand Canyon State’s tourism industry.  

Attractions

Visit Wupatki National Monument in Flagstaff this year to celebrate its centennial while enjoying magnificent ancient pueblos and red-rock outcroppings across miles of prairie. As part of the centennial celebration, starting this fall, cultural demonstrations including traditional dancing and speaking engagements from different Indigenous communities will be held at the Wupatki Visitor Center. As a designated Dark Sky Park, guests are invited to stay after the sunset to see stars and constellations above the monument. Hiking enthusiasts can sign up to join a ranger to embark on a four-day hike exploring ancestral Puebloan structures and petroglyph sites during Wupatki Backcountry Discovery Hikes from October to March. 

Now open to the public, the new Bean Peaks Gravity Flow Trail System in Prescott is designed so every biker, including recumbent hand-pedaled bikers, can experience the thrill of mountain biking through towering ponderosa pines. The first of their kind in the state, the 9.2 miles of gravity flow trails are bike-specific for all mountain bikers to enjoy, offering varying difficulties, multi-laps options and bike-only areas. A planned second phase will add an additional 6.9 miles of trails starting in Fall 2024.

Jump on the Sunrise Apache Alpine Coaster at Sunrise Park Resort in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona for a thrilling ride experience. This 3,287-foot track coaster is owned and operated by the White Mountain Apache Tribe, who also own Sunrise Park Resort, a ski resort in the winter and outdoor recreation playground in the summer.

Car enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the reopening of the Tucson Auto Museum this fall in a new, easily accessible location. More than 70 cars are on display through the museum, including vintage, Hollywood-inspired and limited edition vehicles. Wander in to catch a glimpse of two rare Davis Divan cars, of which only 17 were ever produced, an Aqua Car that can ride on water, and get a picture in front of a replica of the Batmobile from the famed Batman TV series of the 1960s. Keep an eye out for future car meet-ups and car shows to be held in front of the museum all year round. 

Less than two hours away from Phoenix, discover the history of Globe, Arizona on the new Stairizona Trail. The Stairizona Trail comprises nine painted staircases and numerous murals that weave throughout downtown and next to quirky attractions that tell the town’s story. Created by I Art Globe, a public art group born out of the pandemic to highlight local artists, the stairs were the group’s first project. I Art Globe continues to create murals throughout the area’s Copper Corridor. After conquering the Stairizona Trail, explore this charming mining town with countless outdoor adventures such as hiking, mountain biking and boating at nearby Roosevelt Lake. 

Accolades

Chef Rene Andrade of Phoenix’s Bacanora earned the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southwest, making him the 11th chef in the state to receive the prestige designation. The James Beard Foundation is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the individuals transforming America’s food culture by awarding chefs and restaurants who uphold a standard of quality food and practice sustainability. Enjoy savoring Andrade’s Sonoran cuisine at the vibrant Bacanora located in downtown Phoenix, where visitors can savor burritos, caramelos and tostadas all cooked over an open flame which creates a burst of flavor in every bite.

Théa, the Mediterranean rooftop restaurant at the new luxurious Global Ambassador in Phoenix was recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best new hotel restaurants in the world. Praised for offering guests fine dining with a view, enjoy théa's savory Mediterranean cuisine while overlooking picturesque views of Camelback Mountain. Open to both guests and the public, théa is only one of the five dining concepts at the Global Ambassador, making it the go-to hotel for foodies seeking delicious meals and a tranquil stay thanks to its ultra-luxe spa and elegant rooms. 

Castle Hot Springs earned the Travel + Leisure World Best Award 2024 for the best resort in Arizona thanks to the wellness resort being a desert oasis that has helped guests discover inner peace ever since opening in the late 19th century. Located an hour away from Phoenix, Castle Hot Springs offers visitors a wide variety of activities including spa treatments, guided hikes, farm tours and soaks in the mineral-rich hot springs to rejuvenate the mind and body. Enjoy relaxing in a luxurious cabin or bungalow after completing the new Connecting with Water Guided Tour or the resort’s soaking circuit that includes a new cold-plunge pool.  

Discover wellness and feel rejuvenated after visiting the three Arizona Spas recognized in Travel + Leisure’s World Best Awards: Mii amo in Sedona,  CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree and Miraval Arizona in Tucson.

Earning second place on Travel + Leisure’s list of best domestic spas is Mii amo located in Sedona’s famed Boynton Canyon where guests can draw upon the area’s famous healing properties when meditating in the stunning Crystal Grotto, hiking along the red rocks or receiving a desert-inspired spa treatment. Landing third on the list is CIVANA Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree where guests can improve their mental and physical well-being through yoga, fitness and desert bathing classes along with frequent water-based spa treatments. For visitors seeking a trip of self-discovery, Miraval in Tucson crafts activities that help guests achieve their wellness intentions including sound massage, horse training, labyrinth walks and facial spa treatments.  

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson and The Copper Queen Library in Bisbee were both awarded the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service for their dedication to serving and providing influential resources to their communities. With only 10 organizations earning the designation, the volunteer-operated rural Copper Queen Library was recognized for its innovative programs and for offering patrons unexpected items for check out such as ukuleles to pickleball sets along with a diverse collection of books. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum earned the award due to its unique concept of being a mixture of a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, art gallery and natural history exhibits, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors to learn about Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.

Superior, a small town in south central Arizona, was named one of the best small towns to visit in 2024 by Smithsonian magazine thanks to the town's outdoor adventures and  the centennial celebration of the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, the largest botanical garden in the state. Once a mining town, Superior has evolved into a nature enthusiast’s paradise, where visitors can spot more than 20,000 desert plants from around the world at the renowned Boyce Thompson Arboretum and embark on a picturesque one-mile hike on the Legends Of Superior Trail (LOST). Along with the town's outdoor adventures, visitors can explore Main Street Superior's antique stores, galleries, restaurants, winery and the World's Smallest Museum. Superior is only one town along the Cooper Corridor, a string of endearing former mining towns with engaging attractions visitors can discover via the Copper Corridor Passport.

Soak in views of the Mustang Mountain and Sonoran desert while sipping wine at Los Milics in Elgin, near Tucson, a newly opened tasting room that was named the #2 wine tasting room in the U.S. by USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards. At Los Milics, wine enthusiasts can enjoy award winning wines and delicious cuisine while overlooking a stunning view of the vineyard and its decorative steel pillars thanks to the tasting room's floor to ceiling windows. Located in one of the country's fast growing wine countries, visitors to the Sonoita and Elgin region can enjoy trying Arizona grown wine at this architectural marvel before venturing to the neighboring wineries or Arizona's two other AVA wine regions, the Verde Valley and Willcox. 

Salt River Fields, the first Major League Baseball Spring Training stadium on Tribal land, earned the title of Most Attended Cactus League Spring Training Stadium in 2024. Located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC), the stadium attracts around 300,000 baseball fans annually and is one of 10 Arizona stadiums that host Cactus League games. Baseball fans worldwide visit SRPMIC to watch their favorite teams compete at Salt River Fields and enjoy exploring the Talking Stick Entertainment District before staying at Talking Stick Resort & Casino or the Great Wolf Lodge. 

Flights

American Airlines will begin offering nonstop seasonal flights between Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Saturdays starting on October 12, 2024. This new flight service allows visitors to easily travel to Flagstaff, an outdoor recreation paradise that is less than two hours away from the Grand Canyon. Fly into the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to explore all of Northern Arizona embarking on adventures in Page, Monument Valley and down Arizona’s Route 66 before heading to Metro Phoenix and Southern Arizona. 

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Contact Us

For more information, please contact:                                                                 
Marjorie Magnusson at mmagnusson@tourism.az.gov