(This article by Louisiana-based writer Kathie Rowell originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

A first-time trip to Arizona isn’t complete without a visit to Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven wonders of the natural world and the nation’s second most-popular national park with about 5 million visitors per year. While you’ll definitely want to view the iconic panoramas from the South Rim, for a more remote, tranquil experience, join the mere 10% of visitors who venture to the North Rim, 1,000 feet higher in elevation and open only in warm months.

Like the South Rim, the North Rim has its share of breathtaking viewpoints, such as Point Imperial, Cape Royal, and Bright Angel Point.

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If you’d like to explore on foot, get a backcountry permit and hike down to the bottom of the canyon for a night at Bright Angel Campground. Plan ahead for getting a permit.

Continue exploring the state’s red rock canyons, top, with a jeep tour in Sedona.

“Taking a jeep tour is a true Sedona experience,” said Heather Hermen, Front Burner Media. “You see rock formations you wouldn't normally see from the car window on the paved roads. You also have the opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of the area, Sedona's history, and some fun stories about how Sedona got the name, who lived here, movies that were filmed in the area and so much more.”

Hermen said the tours, which range from scenic and mild to more adventurous, are appropriate for ages 2 to 102.

For fans of old Western movies, a visit to Monument Valley is a must. And while the pinnacles, mesas, and buttes are breathtaking in the daylight hours, at night the vistas become otherworldly. Phillips’ Photography Tours offers a tour that showcases the night sky, sharp and clear in this remote area along the border of Arizona and Utah.

“The Milky Way goes over one of the more famous formations called the Totem Pole with beautiful sand dunes as a foreground,” said owner Carl Phillips.

ARIZONA FOODIE FACT: Enjoy beautiful views of Snoopy Rock, Mitten, and the Mogollon Rim at Sedona’s The Vault Uptown, where the “Trash Can Nachos” are a must. You’ll understand the name when the dish is presented in a can and dumped in front of you.