The best place to start any Arizona vacation is at the Grand Canyon. Words and pictures alone could never fully express the awe-inspiring vastness of this natural wonder. It is a place that needs to be seen to be believed. The South Rim is open year round and is the most visited point of the Grand Canyon. Walk the trail that surrounds the canyon and step out onto one of the lookout points. The experience truly overwhelms the senses. If you need a little break, the park has a number of restaurants, lodges and shops as well. Grand Canyon National Park is also home to a number of tour operators who run rafting, camping and horse back riding adventures. If you get the chance, a helicopter or plane tour of the canyon is breath-taking. Just south of the Grand Canyon is the enchanting city of Sedona. The famous red rock of Sedona is unreal and a sunrise or sunset with these rocks as a backdrop is a must see. It has been said that Sedona is home to a number of ‘Vortex’ or energy centres which people say provide a sense of well-being and enlightenment. This just adds to Sedona’s mystique. Take a Pink Jeep tour through Sedona’s crimson landscape and rugged terrain and up steep cliffs. Pink Jeep Tours have the best tour guides who will make your adventure memorable. Another great place to visit while in Sedona is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Everywhere you go in Sedona seems to awaken the senses and make you feel alive.

About two hours south of the Grand Canyon and Sedona is the ‘Valley of the Sun,’ a vast Sonoran Desert metropolis. This is where you will find the exciting and diverse cities of Phoenix and Scottsdale. There is so much to see and do here that you will be hard- pressed to fit in half of what you want to do. Entertainment, dining, nightlife and shopping are first rate here. The Phoenix/Scottsdale area is becoming a favourite among Hollywood elite for its chic bars, clubs and restaurants. Some the best bars and clubs in the area are The Drift and Devils Martini in Scottsdale and Dan Mejerli’s in Phoenix. Your dining options are endless here from Mexican to Italian and everything in between. An absolute must visit if you are a seafood lover is the Salt Cellar Restaurant. The restaurant is located underground and has fantastic seafood with everything from lobster to oysters. And if you are either really hungry or with a group, order the five pound Maine lobster. It’s just amazing! If you are in need of some retail therapy, the ‘Valley of the Sun’ has plenty of places for that. Scottsdale Fashion Square is enormous and has just about every store you can think of from Bath n Body Works to Victoria Secrets. In Phoenix, Biltmore Fashion Park with its open air market setting is the place for upscale, couture shopping with stores like Gucci and Cartier. No matter what you are looking, you are sure to find it in Phoenix/Scottsdale.

In Southern Arizona, you are sure to be swept away by the Old West charm and colourful cultures. Everyone knows about Tombstone and the OK Corral, but did you know that these are real places you can visit in Arizona? Become a part of the Wild West with a trip to Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park in Tombstone. There are mining and ranching exhibits but there is also a re-enactment of the infamous shootout at the OK Corral between Wyatt Earp and his brothers and the Clanton Gang. Locals dressed in period clothing, dusty streets, saloons and stagecoaches help to set the mood. Visit Boothill Graveyard to see the graves and tombstones of the gunslingers who once ran this town.

Southern Arizona is not just about the Wild West and gunfights; the area also has a very rich Native American presence. The Tucson area has a number of Native American archeological sites to discover such as Murray Springs and Signal Hill or explore the Dragoon Mountains where the Apache Indians made their home. The Arizona State Museum is a great place to discover a more complete history of all of Arizona’s indigenous peoples. Arizona is a dynamic and fascinating vacation destination and will surely find it’s own place in your heart. US Dollars, divided into 100 cents. There is an extensive network of ATMs at which almost all Canadian cards are valid. The other recommended option is to take US Dollar Travellers’ Cheques. These can be used as good as cash in most establishments. All major credit cards are also accepted. 110vAC, 60Hz - the same plugs as Canada. Consulate General of Canada, Los Angeles
Consular district: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico
Address: 550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071-2327
Tel.: (213) 346-2700
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 1-888-949-9993
Fax: (213) 620-8827 GMT-7. Arizona does not adjust for Daylight Saving Time.
Thus, during Winter, Hawai’i is the same time as Calgary, but in Summer it’s the same time as Vancouver and one hour behind Calgary. (Two hours behind Toronto in Winter, three behind in Summer).