ARIZONA

Travel America, Nov, 2000 by Judy Wade

Among the most-photographed icons that represent Arizona are saguaro cactuses, the giants with arms, the "prickly pickles" that are mainstays of almost every Western movie landscape. They grow naturally only in Arizona, with a few straying across the Colorado River into California and south to the Mexican state of Sonora. Best place to view forests of them is in Saguaro National Park near Tucson. Broken into East and West units, the park covers a total area of 90,000 acres of saguaro forest. You can drive a car slowly along paved roads through the park, stopping to picnic at tables along the way. Walking trails criss-cross the park. Pick up a guide at the visitor center.

Arizona's newest attraction (at least newest so far as visitors are concerned) is Kartchner Caverns State Park, south of Tucson. The "live" caverns began forming 200,000 years ago but weren't discovered until 1974. They were kept secret until 1988 and opened just last year, when environmental controls were in place to assure the caverns' ecosystem would not be damaged. Visitors see stalactites, stalagmites, "soda straws" and a huge natural amphitheater as part of the hour-long tour. Allow time to explore the Discovery Center and to hike surrounding trails, where birding is excellent. Reservations may be needed for weekend tours.

Arizona is home to some of the country's most scenic and spectacular places. To discover them is to realize there is little that man can create to rival the beauty crafted by Mother Nature.

For a free guide to the state of Arizona and all its natural wonders, call the Arizona Office of Tourism at (888) 520-3444.