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The landmark is administered by the Bureau of Land Management, which, due to the fragile nature of the formation, limits visitation to only 20 people per day. The tickets are given out by lottery to ten lucky hikers from the Kanab Visitor Center in Utah. The other ten must be pre-booked four months in advance online. Once you have your ticket, only then are you provided with information on how to make the long and quite arduous hike to the formation.

With its soft undulating patterns, the rock almost appears to be a natural optical illusion. The striations in the sandstone are largely caused by wind erosion, whereas the two major troughs that comprise the rock formation would have been formed through water erosion. Dating back to the Jurassic Age, the Wave has provided historical insight into geology and the world we live in while offering an interesting feast for the visual senses.

It could be this alone that introduced the amazing natural phenomenon to a worldwide audience, who clearly saw something they liked. Whether playing around with the curving, trippy, kaleidoscopic patterns or taking a shot down in the troughs of the perfectly still, azure blue water floating atop the contrasting, livid orange sandstone, there is always a new perfect shot to chase.

The lighting is also an incredibly important factor, and at sunset and sunrise a talented snapper can capture some extremely stark and dramatic images; at midday, though, with the sun right above you, the sandstone comes alive with color and the lack of shadow really brings out the curves of the Wave. There are four trailheads that access Paria Canyon and the Wave. However, as mentioned, overcrowding is discouraged and so there is no official signage and there are no formal trails.

You will receive guidance on the various approaches when you get your golden or orange sandstone ticket. The White House trailhead is the most commonly used and probably the safest and easiest to follow for inexperienced hikers.

The Buckskin Gulch and Wire Pass trailheads offer more experienced hikers access to Buckskin Gulch, the main tributary of Paria Canyon, for some bonus scenery soaking.

The Encanto region of Phoenix was organized as a public park facility in to curtail livestock grazing within the area. Land for the creation of the park was purchased from several area landowners, including J. Doris, who owned more than acres within the region. Throughout the midth century, the park was developed as a public recreation facility offering a variety of outdoor natural and sport activities, including archery, badminton, and tennis.

In , the park was shut down by the City of Phoenix for major renovations, and a number of original rides were sold, including its Allan Herschell carousel. In , the park was reopened as Enchanted Island Amusement Park, featuring new rides and attractions for family visitors of all ages. Since its reopening, the park has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride by the City of Phoenix. Park admission is free, with ride tickets for single purchase and in ticket booklets.

All-day ride passes are also offered, including pass packages for access to premium attractions. Park rides include the C. Huntington Train , a replica historic train modeled after the tank-back steam engine that was used in the early days of the first American transcontinental railroad. After being serviced for more than half a century, the original train was decommissioned in , but before its demolition, it was purchased and displayed in San Francisco as a public exhibit for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Other attractions at the park include the Encanto Carousel , the oldest continuously-operating carousel in the state of Arizona, which has operated at the park since Midway rides include the Parachute Tower , which offers panoramic sky views, the Rock-N-Roll teacup ride, and the Red Baron flying airplane ride.

A Dragon Wagon miniature roller coaster is offered for children, along with Kiddie Cars and a Mini Enterprise spaceship ride. The Castle Clash attraction lets teams of participants engage in water gun and cannon battles in a castle-themed battle environment.

This region of spectacular canyons and towering mesas and buttes includes Canyon de Chelly , the Painted Desert , the Petrified Forest , and Monument Valley.

Eastern Arizona's High Country -- This area, which comprises the Mogollon Rim region and the White Mountains, is a summertime escape for residents of the lowland desert areas, and abounds with mountain cabins and summer homes. Most of this high country is covered with ponderosa pine forests, laced with trout streams, and dotted with fishing lakes. Although this region comes into its own in summer, it also sees some winter visitation because it has the best ski area in the state: Sunrise Park Resort, on the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation.

Because the area lacks national parks, monuments, and other major geographical attractions, it is not much of a destination for out-of-state visitors. Tucson -- Located a bit more than miles south of Phoenix, Tucson is Arizona's second-most populous metropolitan area and is home to numerous resorts and golf courses.

With mountain ranges rising in all directions, this city seems more in touch with its natural surroundings than Phoenix, though traffic congestion and sprawl also plague Tucson. Southern Arizona -- Southern Arizona is a region of great contrasts, from desert lowlands to mountain "islands" to vast grassy plains. Mile-high elevations also account for southeastern Arizona having one of the most temperate climates in the world.

Last year, we took the Field to Feast farm tour , half-day tours led by local growers that end with the veggies you picked in a delicious meal prepared by local culinary students. This year, we were in the mood for a more urban experience, so we made reservations for Savor Yuma, a progressive dining tour. We climbed on board a bus that made stops at a number of different eateries along our route, from a taco truck to one of Yuma's oldest restaurants.

Along the way, the tour guide shared interesting stories about how the Yuma culinary scene had evolved. By the end of the evening, we were stuffed and ready to head back to the hotel. We enjoyed an after-dinner drink at the bar and went for a relaxing swim under the desert stars. The next morning, we woke early and ready to drive north to Kingman , about four hours away, and the Mohave Museum of History and Art. We weren't expecting to see at the museum a portrait collection of U. After Williams died in , a local artist volunteered to fill in, adding portraits of contemporary presidents.

Another surprise was an exhibit of memorabilia from an old-time Western movie actor, Andy Devine. Devine, who was from Kingman, appeared in about 50 Westerns. Sprawling mesquite trees offer a hint of shade at the edge of the beach, and the short but scenic Wedge Hill Trail climbs the rocky slopes above for staggering views. Spreading out along the edge of the lake it includes playgrounds, picnic areas, a walking path, a grassy park with shade trees, volleyball courts and an enclosed dog park.

Patagonia Lake State Park is tucked away amid rolling hills and acts as an oasis in the high desert. This acre reservoir draws summer visitors from as far as Northern Mexico looking to cool off. Come here for boating, water skiing, fishing, kayaking and camping. Find vacation rentals near Patagonia Lake State Park. Boat rentals and tours are available at Wahweap Marina, or you can drive to the other side of the bay and hike in one of the canyons.

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