3 great getaways in Arizona

For outdoors lovers: Castle Hot Springs

Nestled on 1,100 acres set against the saguaro-covered Bradshaw Mountains about 60 miles north of Phoenix, this resort is a gateway for adventurous excursions just steps from your private bungalow.

Guests are invited to explore the scenery by e-bike, channel their inner lumberjacks with axe-throwing, or hit one of many hiking trails, including a guided sunrise trek that yields breathtaking views. Whatever adventure you choose, make sure to follow it up with a steamy dip in one of the hot springs pools.

The resort’s marquee activity is the via ferrata adventure course ($250 per person), one of the few winter-friendly via ferrata routes in the U.S. Participants ascend the surrounding mountains using rock-affixed ladders, rungs, and steel cables, and traverse a 200-foot-long aerial walkway high above the canyon floor. 

You can also partake in paddleboard yoga, pickleball, and sound bath sessions, as well as tour the impressive on-site sustainable farm that produces more than 150 different seasonal crops, showcased daily at the resort’s restaurant and bar.

For art enthusiasts: Tucson

Over the past few centuries, Mexican, Spanish, and Anglo influences have blended with ancient Indigenous traditions to shape Tucson’s diverse culture. Case in point is the city's vibrant art scene—with major museums, more than 30 independent galleries, and chic boutiques showcasing artists’ wares.

“We have this incredible mix of heritage, culture, and history, and they converge in really unique ways here,” says Norah Diedrich, the Jon and Linda Ender Director and CEO of the Tucson Museum of Art. “It affects all of Tucson. The visual-arts scene is really strong.”

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block houses a massive mix of permanent collections featuring Southwestern, Asian, Latin American, and Indigenous art. A new community-curated exhibition, “Southwest Art: Contemporary Conversations,” explores the concepts of identities, perspectives, and land to highlight the region’s multicultural character.

The more compact Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson focuses on often edgy exhibitions meant to ignite critical thinking through a variety of media.

You’ll find an array of genres at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Among its artworks is Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre, a piece that was returned to the museum after it was famously and brazenly stolen off its walls in 1985. Also on campus is the Center for Creative Photography, which draws from its 270 archival collections, including that of Ansel Adams, for its exhibitions.

The historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood—home to colorful Sonoran adobe row houses dating to the mid-1800s—is now an enclave of fine art galleries and studios. Browse the Philabaum Glass Gallery, one of the country’s few all-glass art galleries, filled with Technicolor works from 65 artists.

At Carly Quinn Designs, you’ll find decorative hand-glazed tiles that are used to create coasters, decorative home addresses, large-scale murals, and more.

New to downtown’s art scene is the nonprofit Blue Lotus Artists’ Collective, which showcases the works of Black artists and hosts community block parties complete with DJs and food trucks.

Where to stay

For foodies: Phoenix

James Beard Award winner Chris Bianco’s mini empire of pizza-centric restaurants may have put Phoenix on the food map, but competition is rising with a host of notable newcomers that bring even more international flavors to the table.

“Part of the reason for our culinary scene’s recent growth is the increasing appreciation for new and diverse types of cuisine, and trying things outside the traditional box,” says Christina Barrueta, the Arizona-based author of the book Phoenix Cooks.

“One thing people often don’t realize is our agricultural riches. We have farms. We have local wine, craft beer, and distillers. We have farmers markets and we have 2 growing seasons, so in December we can be picking tomatoes,” Barrueta adds.

Lom Wong serves regional Thai fare made with hard-to-find ingredients from villages across Thailand, including where owner Yotaka “Sunny” Martin grew up. Martin opened the restaurant in 2022 with the help of her husband, Alex; together, their labor of love translates to hand-squeezed coconut milk and hand-pounded curry paste in dishes like sea bass curry with coconut cream, and beef shank with eggplant.

New contemporary Pan-African spot Latha (Swahili for “flavor”) lives up to its name in a big way. Its eclectic menu blends staples from Brazil, the Caribbean, Africa, and the American South. Think watermelon and avocado salad over a punchy whipped feta, and rich shakshouka made with oxtail.

At Sonoran-style restaurant Bacanora, everything on the menu gets flame-licked over the wood-fired Santa Maria grill. Subtle smoky flavors rule in dishes such as the crema-slathered elote served on the cob and the colossal tomahawk steaks—and even in cocktails like the Oaxacan Old Fashioned, crafted with mezcal and chocolate bitters.

Buck & Rider defies the notion that stellar seafood is best consumed on the coast with its uber-fresh raw bar that highlights delicacies like Sea of Cortez wild shrimp and Peruvian scallops on the half shell. Locals pack the place for its daily selection of fresh fish and killer cocktails amid a bar scene that doesn’t quit.

Where to stay