Attractions

Arizona Gets New National Monument Near Grand Canyon
Arizona's newest monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni, Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, was designated by President Joe Biden in August. The name honors the tribes' ancestral homelands, with “Baaj Nwaavjo” meaning “where Indigenous peoples roam” to the Havasupai people and “I'tah Kukveni” meaning “our ancestral footprints” to the Hopi people. The monument encompasses sacred sites to several tribes. While there is no visitors' center, the land offers recreational opportunities such as hiking, hunting and camping.

Petrified Forest National Park and Ischigualasto Provincial Park Are Now Sister Parks
Petrified Forest National Park and Ischigualasto Provincial Park in Argentina became sister parks in August. The parks share similar paleontological, geological, biological and archaeological resources. This new arrangement encourages the two park teams to explore opportunities for collaboration on management and conservation issues. Though over 5,000 miles apart, both sites share extraordinary scientific importance by providing fossiliferous continental sediments representing the Triassic Period of geological history.

Interactive AI-powered Exhibit Featuring 'Guardian Angel of Route 66' Opens in Kingman, Arizona
A new exhibit featuring a digital version of Angel Delgadillo, widely known as the “Guardian Angel of Route 66” in Arizona, recently opened to the public at the Kingman Visitor Center. The free exhibit invites visitors to ask an Artificial Intelligence (AI) version of Delgadillo questions to learn about his experiences living along Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona and fighting for its preservation. Visit this new exhibit now or during the U.S.' Route 66 Centennial Celebration in 2026.

Witness the World's Largest Single Loom Navajo (Diné) Rug in Winslow
The world's largest single loom Navajo (Diné) rug is now on display at the Affeldt Mion Museum at the La Posada Hotel Depot. As part of the new permanent Hubbell-Joe Rug exhibit, visitors can learn about the rug's incredible story of being created in the 1930s to draw tourists to Winslow and its journey to once again being displayed in Winslow after being stowed away for years.

Phoenix to Host AT&T WNBA All-Star Game in 2024
AT&T WNBA All-Star 2024 will take place in Phoenix, Arizona at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Mercury, on July 19-20, 2024. This will mark the third time Phoenix will host the annual Women's National Basketball Association All-Star Game where the best players in the league compete.
Along with the game, visitors can watch the players battle for victory in WNBA skill challenges and in the three-point contest before exploring downtown Phoenix's nightlife and culinary scene.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa's New AquaRidge Water Park Opens
Guests can now experience three new thrilling water slides at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa's new AquaRidge Water Park. The $18 million transformation of this 140,000-square-foot pool experience includes a renewed Canyon Creek Lazy River and a refreshed Wildfire Grove with two pools and a waterfall. For an enhanced pool day, book a private cabana at Wildfire Grove to lounge by the pool all day.

Accolades

Tubac Earns 'Best Small Town Arts Scene' Award for Third Consecutive Year
Tubac recently was named ”Best Small Town Arts Scene” in the 2023 USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice travel awards, marking the third consecutive year the city has earned first place. Thanks to public votes, Tubac continues to be recognized by art lovers for its 100-plus shops and galleries. When visiting, learn how to paint and sculpt from Arizona artists at the Tubac School of Fine Arts' multi-day workshops starting this October or attend the city's annual Festival of the Arts held in February, the oldest arts festival in Southern Arizona.

Castle Hot Springs Recognized in Wine Spectator's 2023 Restaurant Awards
Castle Hot Springs' onsite restaurant, Harvest, has been honored for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator's 2023 Restaurant Awards, which celebrates the world's best restaurants for wine. Harvest earned the Best Award of Excellence, which is given to restaurants that offer superior presentations of a wide variety of wines from across multiple wine-growing regions. Harvest offers a farm-inspired dinner tasting menu that evolves continuously with the ingredients grown on the resort's sustainable farm.

Phoenix's Century Grand Named Best U.S. Cocktail Bar
The innovative Century Grand was awarded the 2023 Best US Cocktail Bar by Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards this past summer for its specialty cocktails and immersive themed bars. Selected by a panel of more than 250 industry experts, Century Grand accepted the award from Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, a nonprofit that hosts events such as the Cocktail Spirited Awards to support the beverage industry. Thanks to the bar's three-in-one venue, visitors can enjoy a drink in a pirate ship, vintage train cabin or New Orleans-themed bar.

Scottsdale's Museum of the West Named #1 Western Museum for 2023
Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West earned the prestigious title of “#1 Western Museum” in True West magazine's special 70th-anniversary issue. Selected by True West editors, this award acknowledges the Western Spirit's mission to preserve the cultural heritage of the American West through its Western and American Indian art and artifacts exhibits. Visit its newest exhibit, Western Pop: Andy Warhol & Billy Schenck, to see colorful Western-themed art.

Hotels
The Global Ambassador Luxury Hotel to Open in November
The newest luxury hotel in Phoenix, The Global Ambassador, will open in mid-November and will provide guests an elevated hospitality, culinary and wellness experience. Enjoy staying in beautifully designed rooms and trying innovative cuisine at the hotel's five original dining experiences. One not to miss is théa, a rooftop restaurant where guests can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired dishes while taking in stunning views of Camelback Mountain. Along with fine cuisine, the hotel offers world-class amenities including a wellness center with an expansive fitness level and spa.

Aiden by Best Western Opens in Flagstaff
Boasting scenic views of the striking San Francisco Peaks, Aiden by Best Western in Flagstaff is a new boutique hotel set in a historic building featuring mid-century architecture. Aiden's design embraces a local charm aesthetic by displaying art from Arizona artists while its 96 rooms are styled to reflect the nearby natural landscape. Guests are offered opportunities to soak in the heated pool, play lawn games and drink local beers in the lobby cocktail lounge.

New Outdoor Resort Village Camp Opens in Flagstaff
Village Camp is the newest outdoor resort in Flagstaff offering visitors refreshing getaway in its adventure cabins and RV site. At this mountain resort, guests can enjoy lounging in cozy cabins inbetween spending time at the pool, dining in the luxury clubhouse and listening to live music at the amphitheater.

Stay Near Grand Canyon West at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort
Grand Canyon Glamping Resort, located a few minutes away from Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk, combines adventure and luxury lodging to provide a thrilling glamping experience. Enjoy a memorable trip while staying in the resort's covered wagons, tipis or glamping tents, each equipped with modern amenities. Guests can choose from endless outdoor adventures including horseback riding, ATVing or viewing the Grand Canyon's West Rim from a birds-eye view on a helicopter tour.

Culinary
Fall Arizona Restaurant Week
Visit local restaurants and enjoy three-course, prix-fixe menus during this year's Fall Arizona Restaurant Week, occurring September 8-17. With more than 150 participating restaurants, Arizona Restaurant Week encourages foodies to explore Arizona's culinary scene and support local restaurants. From Southwestern food to elaborate desserts and great mixologists, Arizona offers a diverse range of restaurants for visitors and locals to enjoy. While participating restaurants can be found across the state, a majority of the eateries are located in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

City Brew Tours Now Offers Tours in Phoenix
City Brew Tours, the nation's leading brewery tour company, recently made its Phoenix debut, providing beer enthusiasts the chance to sample dozens of beer styles at local breweries within metro Phoenix. Led by local beer experts, the public and private tours give guests behind-the-scenes access to breweries and the process of beer-making. Guests will enjoy experiencing Arizona's thriving craft beer scene by exploring a number of local breweries. Learn more or book a tour here.

Flights

Lynx Air Starts New Toronto-Phoenix Routes
Lynx Air announced new routes to Phoenix from Toronto's Pearson International (YYZ) starting this fall. Service will be offered Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays making it even easier for Canadians to explore Arizona.

Industry News

Grand Canyon National Park Moves Overnight Backcountry Reservations to Recreation.gov for 2024
Grand Canyon National Park will transition its overnight backcountry permitting system to Recreation.gov for trips starting in 2024 and beyond. This move will help streamline the process by reducing approval times and allowing approximately 80 percent of backcountry permits to be directly reserved and purchased online. Backcountry permit charges for 2024 will be $10 per permit or lottery application plus a nightly charge of $12 per person for below-rim areas and $4 per person for above-rim areas.

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About the Arizona Office of Tourism: The Arizona Office of Tourism works to strengthen and grow Arizona's economy through travel and tourism promotion, positioning Arizona as the leading tourism destination for domestic and international travelers. In 2022, tourism employed more than 179,000 Arizonans and contributed over $3.9 billion in tax revenue to our federal, state and local economies.

Appreciate AZ: The Arizona Office of Tourism promotes sustainable tourism practices across the Grand Canyon State's spectacular landscapes and unique destinations through its Appreciate AZ program. Appreciate AZ is Arizona's statewide program for responsible tourism, which educates residents and visitors on doing their part to recreate responsibly and on keeping the state beautiful for future generations.