10 Odd & Interesting Off-the-Beaten Path Arizona Destinations

It is no secret that Arizona is home to some of the most unique landscapes in the country. Since moving here, I’ve had so much fun exploring. Nearly every weekend, Mike and I are out-and-about trying to find more unique destinations to add to our bucket list.

With 6 distinct ecosystems, the state is one of the most geologically diverse in the country. Northern Arizona is most commonly associated with magnificent national parks, while the Southern portion of the state is most known for the fascinatingly unique Sonoran desert & Saguaro cactus.

Despite the popularity, and resulting crowds and traffic, there are still a few fascinating hidden gems to explore besides the token national parks and luxurious winter resorts. The great thing is that many of these outdoor based attractions are free, proving that you really do not need to spend much money to enjoy the state’s most fascinating sites.

I love seeking odd places anytime I travel. Living in Arizona for 4 years (both Tucson and Flagstaff), I had plenty of opportunities to explore the state’s most oddball sights. This state offers no shortage of weirdness with lots of abandoned tourist attractions, petroglyphs, and ghost towns. Enjoy my guide to some of the most memorable places I’ve discovered thus far.

1. 2 Guns Ghost Town

30 minutes east of beautiful Flagstaff lies the remains of an unusual ghost town which was once home to a thriving zoo. Not much remains asides from a few crumpled down enclosures and the ruins and a mountain lions exhibit sign. It is quite an interesting experience to explore what once was a very popular Rt 66 attraction.

Like all long gone Mother Road attractions, the zoo closed following the opening of the new highway. It’s a bit spooky walking around knowing that a zoo once existed where now stands nothing but barren desert land. It’s crazy to think just how much an area can change within a few short decades! I really love checking out these abandoned towns. There really is so much cool stuff to do here in the middle of nowhere. If you are an explorer by heart like me, you should be impressed.

Location: I-40 Exit 320

Check out more unique ghost towns you can explore

2. The Petrified National Forest

Here’s an underappreciated gem which is definitely worthy of a look if you happen to be staying or traveling near the region. A visiting family member from the Midwest stopped here on the way up to visit us in Flagstaff and told us we had to check this place out. We loved seeing all the old petrified wood here. It’s one of the world’s largest collections and you can see it via several means including a scenic drive, overlooks, and hiking trails.

This rare type of tree turns into stone by a process called permineralization. The crystals result from the replacement of the organic materials with quartz. These trees are over 225 millions years old, dating back to the Triassic Period.

I like that there are various ways to explore the fossils here. If you want to hike, there are a few maintained trails and also some backcountry trails with great views of the Painted Desert. You can learn more via the great interpretive center. For those looking to relax, hop on the scenic drive and take some pics from the overlooks. Also, it is illegal to take any wood home from you, but you can pick up a real piece of history at the park’s gift shop.

Location: 1 Park Rd Holbrook, AZ

3. Sedona vortex sites

After just one visit to Sedona, you will definitely feel something strange in the air. The awe-inspiring, mysterious red rock views combined with an odd New Age vibe keep me coming back again and again. I really love the beautiful hiking trails here (check out a few of my personal favorites). One of the most unique aspects of the already strange Southwest city is the presence of purported vortex sites.

Positive vortex vibes surround the entire area. This means that you may feel a positive vibe or sense of healing when visiting the area. Really though, it’s quite hard to visit and have a negative outlook when jaw dropping red rock formations surround you in every direction. The whole region is considered to be an energy portal. 4 particular hikes along with the Chapel of the Holy Cross (a beautiful church built between the rocks) possess the most intense energy.

Check out Bell/Cathedral Rock, Airport Mesa, or Boynton Canyon hikes, all said to possess strong energy. Bell Rock is the strangest vortex and I’ve read some strange stories about UFO sighting and rare happenings here. I think they even lead some UFO tours here.

Vortexes can hold a feminine yin or masculine yang energy. You will experience different effects depending on whether the energy is yang (energinging) or yin (relaxing). No one really knows if these energies are real, although I can guarantee one thing, and that is, that you will surely leave with a more positive outlook after completing one of these breathtaking hikes.

Here’s some more info about vortex energy, or better up sign up for a tour while you are in town.

4. Diamondback Bridge

I really love Tucson – it’s such an underrated city. I love the scenery and all the unique places you can explore. One of these is Diamondback Bridge, a rattlesnake themed bridge near downtown. Obviously, this unique bridge is a pretty fitting choice for the Southwestern city as the Sonoran Desert is home to one of the largest concentrations of these feared venomous snakes. Fortunately, I haven’t seen any while hiking yet (fingers crossed!). This bridge has won several awards including the Excellence in Highway Design award.

Although it’s visible from the highway, it’s much more fun to walk or bike across the bridge as the views are great and the tail rattles after you cross! I wouldn’t plan a trip specifically, but it’s worth a look if you happen to be visiting downtown Tucson for the day.

Here’s a pic of the tail. See the opening pic for the head. It was too big to fit the entire bridge in one photo.

Location: Broadway At Euclid Tucson, AZ 85707

5. Santa Claus Ghost Town

Santa Claus is another weird ghost town, and like 2 Guns, also pops up in the middle of the desolate desert. This one is even more unusual as it is home to the (very run down and graffiti covered) remains of a Christmas themed town which was once home to a popular post office where you could deliver mail with a special Santa postmark.

Unfortunately, what once stood as a whimsical Santa themed land is now anything but cheerful – in fact it is downright depressing! I love the holidays and definitely would have visited this place back when it was up and running if I had the opportunity. This once happy travel destination is one of the many sad testaments to how time can change places so drastically.

The remains of this ghost town are located enroute to Vegas, so an easy side trip if you are heading this way. This is actually how we came about visiting. It’s just a quick detour off of US 93 about 20 minutes north of Kingston. If you are a Rt 66 fan, you may want to check out Kingman as well on the way as there are numerous historic attractions here including colorful Mother Road murals and a Rt 66 museum.

Location: US-93 between mile markers 57-58 on the west side of the Hwy

Here’s some more history on how this amusement park was formed.