Arizona National Monuments: Visit With Your Family

Arizona features a number of nature and monuments, the most famous being Grand Canyon National Park. There are more places of interest in Arizona, though, showcasing desert wildlife, ancient volcanic eruptions, and cliff-dwelling cultures. The desert landscape and geographic options that come with the state make it a must-see.

Montezuma Castle National Monument: One of the most accessible units from the National Park System needs to be Montezuma Castle National Monument, which protects a roughly 1,000-year-old cliff dwelling under 10 minutes off Interstate 17 in northern Arizona. Located less than two hours north of Phoenix, and merely 45 minutes south of Flagstaff, the monument is really a small gem worth a trip.The Southern Sinagua people who built this five-story cliff dwelling chose their whereabouts wisely. They tucked their house into an alcove within the cliffside about 100 feet from the valley floor. From there they'd protection from the elements, the south-facing dwelling was warmed in the winter months by the sun, and the height provided an excellent perspective of the surrounding landscape.

The Grand Canyon National Park: The Grand Canyon is a wonderful year-round vacation destination and has millions of facts, info, stories, history, geology and areas to study. Learning the hisory and interesting facts about the Grand Canyon can be a life long venture of research and exploration.

• Was made a national monument in 1908 and became a national park in 1919
• Covers an area of 1,900 square miles
• Is 190 miles long
• Contains some 277 miles of the Colorado River
• Is populated by five Indian tribes: The Hopi, Navajo, Havasupai, Paiute and Hualapai

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument: his monument, on the southern edge of Arizona, bordering Mexico, displays the wilderness from the Sonoran desert. In 1976 the Un named the Sonoran Desert being an International Biosphere Reserve. Twenty-six species of cactus flourish here, such as the giant saguaro. There are several hiking trails to select from, some for beginners and some for expert hikers. Two campgrounds, the Alamo and Twin Peaks, boast clear, starry nighttime skies. There isn't any backcountry camping, though, due to an increase in illegal border activity. A 21-mile scenic drive known as the Ajo Mountain Drive and a separate Puerto Blanco Drive provide scenic overlooks from the monument.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument: This national monument is found in the northern part of Arizona and it is about 20 miles from Flagstaff. The monument was established on 26 May 1930 by President Herbert Hoover. The crater was formed between 1040 and 1100 C.E. with a series of eruptions. There’s evidence of lava flows and cinders in the monument, with wildflowers and other types of wildlife. The monument offers trails that go through the lava flow (Lava Flows Trail) or more a cinder cone (Lenox Crater Trail). There isn't any camping or backcountry camping, for preservation purposes. The monument is open all year round but closed on certain holidays.