Do you think you’ve seen everything there is to see in Arizona? Maybe you’ve checked from your list the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Camelback Mountain, and San Xavier del Bac Mission? There’s actually still plenty more to see! If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary, then check out this list for some fun unique things to do in Arizona.

1. Since it’s fall, let’s start with this mini train ride through an orchard and farm.
Schnepf Farms, 24810 S Rittenhouse Rd, Queen Creek, AZ 85142, USA
Schnepf Farms/Facebook
Each October, Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek hosts a month-long Pumpkin & Chili Festival that has tons of fun, fall-themed things to do. In between picking pumpkins and wandering through a corn maze, hop aboard this small train for a short tour of the picturesque farm.

Learn a little more about the Pumpkin and Chili Festival at Schnepf Farms in this video from AZFamily:
2. If you’re in the mood to explore an abandoned place, check out this trail that leads to an abandoned mansion!
Gold King Mansion, Mohave County, AZ 86413, USA
Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr
Located in the Hualapai Mountains southeast of Kingman, the building was originally designed as part of a series of modern housing for miners at the Gold King Mine in 1929. However, after the stock market crashed that same year, plans for building more of these were put on hold and eventually deserted. The building later eventually became known as the Gold King Mansion and is accessible by rough trails.
3. Or, if you want to check out some architectural beauty, then pay a visit to this unique monastery in Florence.
Saint Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery, 4784 N St Joseph's Way, Florence, AZ 85132, USA
Trevor Huxham/Flickr
Saint Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery was built in 1995 and feels like a Mediterranean oasis in the Arizona desert. You can embark on a self-guided tour of the grounds daily and experience the peaceful environment for yourself.
4. Stir your imagination by visiting this magical place hidden away in Tucson.
Valley of the Moon, 2544 E Allen Rd, Tucson, AZ 85716, USA
Valley of the Moon Tucson/Facebook
If Phoenix is the Valley of the Sun, it seems only fitting that Tucson would be home to the Valley of the Moon. This mysterious place is hidden away in Tucson’s neighborhoods and has been a community treasure since the 1920s where plays are held and the imagination can thrive.
5. Feeling hungry? Pay a visit to this small town for the most amazing Mexican food.
Globe, AZ, USA
John Leonhardt/Google Reviews
Globe sits in central Arizona, home to mining, history, and delicious food. The Mexican restaurants here specialize in mouthwatering Sonoran Mexican food, where you’ll find burros, chimichangas, hard-shelled tacos, and delectable sauces. Make sure you arrive with an empty tummy because you’re going to want to finish plates and plates of meals here.
6. If you want a completely unique dining experience, how does dinner underground sound?
Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, Peach Springs, AZ, USA
Eric Kilby/Flickr
Grand Canyon Caverns near Peach Springs recently opened a new restaurant called The Grotto where you can enjoy a meal in a cave. Located about 200 feet underground, The Grotto offers lunch and dinner options and you get a guided tour with your meal!

Note: Unfortunately Grand Canyon Caverns is temporarily closed. Keep an eye out for updates.

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7. For an even more secluded experience, try visiting this almost forgotten park sitting on a lonely highway.
Little Painted Desert, Painted Desert Rim Dr, Winslow, AZ 86047, USA
Monica D. Spencer/Flickr
The Little Painted Desert is no longer a county park but you’ll still be able to see a picturesque scene of colorful badlands and a deep blue sky. It’s just 18 miles from Winslow and is a perfect spot for a quiet picnic or practicing your landscape photography skills.

For one of our favorite Arizona hidden gems head to the Little Painted Desert - take a look at some of the incredible views in this video from Cactus Atlas:
8. For those who love geology, try this hike that gives you a great view of a volcano’s insides.
Red Mountain Trail, Left at milepost 247, US-180, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA
Graeme Churchard/Flickr
Seeing the interior workings of a volcano doesn’t mean you’ll just come across a tube. Instead, a hike on Red Mountain Trail near Flagstaff will show you it’s a little more complicated but incredibly beautiful. The fractured cinder volcano has spires jutting from the earth and even crystals scattered on the ground.
9. Surprise the train aficionado in your family with a special trip to this park in Scottsdale.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, USA
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park/Facebook
McCormick-Stillman Park in Scottsdale feels something like a train theme park, with rides, a museum, model trains, and plenty of other things to do. Dust off your favorite engineer hat and get ready for a fun-filled day!
10. For another train experience, try booking a stay in an old caboose or railway car!
The Canyon Motel & RV Park, 1900 Rodeo Rd, Williams, AZ 86046, USA
Canyon Motel & RV Park/Facebook
The Canyon Motel & RV Park is located on the outskirts of Williams and offers some unique accommodations that still manage to feel cozy. If you’re lucky, you might even find yourself spending a night in one of the haunted train cars. Even if you don't have your own RV you can rent one through RVShare.
11. If you want to wake up to a beautiful view, book a night or two at this hotel.
The View Hotel, Indian Rte 42, Oljato-Monument Valley, AZ 84536, USA
Phil Whitehouse/Flickr
Monument Valley has to be one of the Southwest’s most iconic landscapes. If you want to see the deep red landscape at sunset and sunrise, you’ll want to book a room at The View, the park’s hotel where the windows open up to the two mitten-shaped buttes.
12. Enjoy the lingering heat on Arizona’s only white sand beach.
Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA
dconvertini/Flickr
It may be fall but the temperatures are still mighty warm in some areas of the state and that includes Arizona’s "West Coast." If the weather is calling you to the river and lakes, then check out the beach at Lake Havasu State Park which features glimmering white sand and rushing blue waters.

Let's check out Lake Havasu City for one of the best places to visit in Arizona for a cool desert oasis in this video from Living in Arizona Now:
13. Finally, check out a mysterious castle located in Phoenix that has an incredible view of the city.
Mystery Castle, 800 E Mineral Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85042, USA
J Etzel/Flickr
Mystery Castle’s sprawling 8,000-square-foot home and found material construction was built in the 1930s as an homage to familial love. You’ll find a number of incredible things hiding in the home, which twists and turns into 18 different rooms.

Please note Mystery Castle is temporarily closed for repairs.

Which of these unique things to do in Arizona have you already done? Tell us all about any more fun things you like to do when visiting or living in Arizona with a comment.

Want to see more amazing places to visit around the state? If you’re looking for a date idea, check out our recent article, about nine downright dreamy places you’ll only find in Arizona.

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More to Explore

Things to do in Arizona

Chris Muras | July 25, 2023

What are some unique places in Arizona to visit?

Arizona has many incredible natural places to explore. We also have some interesting man-made locations that are worth checking out too. Here are some unique places in Arizona to visit:

  • Biosphere 2, Oracle, AZ: If you've ever wondered what it might look like to live on Mars, this biosphere is the way to go. The research facility at Biosphere 2 was created in the 1980s to do just that - test how we would survive on other planets. It is open to the public so you can check it out.
  • The Boneyard, Tucson, AZ: If you just heard the name you might think this is a creepy haunted cemetery - it may be a cemetery of sorts but the only thing that goes here to die are airplanes. Both commercial and military airplanes that are no longer in use are stored here. Indefinitely, or until they are repurposed for museums or restored for reuse. The one in Tucson is the largest known boneyard.
  • Sedona Vortexes, Sedona, AZ: Sedona has always been an incredibly beautiful place with the magic of the desert inspiring visitors with its interesting rock formations and desert landscape. But is there a natural energy that flows through this area? Many people believe so. It is called a vortex - a healing energy that flows through the earth. The four most popular vortexes in Sedona are at Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon.
  • The Thing?, Dragoon, AZ: What is the Thing? A tourist trap, yes. A roadside attraction? Yes. Something you have to see to believe? Maybe. Whatever it is you'll see signs for it scattered all over Interstate 10 near Dragoon. It is one of those unique places in Arizona you need to visit just so you are in on the secret.

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