You know that feeling of riding a bike as a kid — the freedom to go (almost) anywhere, to explore, to ride with friends? Gravel biking is like that.
14.09.2023 - 16:57 / lonelyplanet.com
With 114,000 square miles of canyons, deserts and forests, Arizona is the sixth-largest state in the US, and the country's favorite Wild West wilderness. As you might expect, this is classic driving country, but with decent rail and bus links, there are alternatives to guzzling gas.
Most urban centers in Arizona have passable public transportation systems, but intercity links are more limited. Driving along empty, open roads through lonely ghost towns and landscapes made famous in classic Westerns is still the norm. However, a handful of long-distance buses, trains and light rail services allow for longer excursions by public transport, and taxis and ride-hailing services are great for getting around cities.
This said, traveling in your own car is still the easiest and most affordable way to experience Arizona, especially if you want to see the sights along Route 66 or seek out prehistoric cave dwellings deep in the desert. Here's our guide to the best ways to get around in Arizona.
All the major rental agencies and Turo (a car-sharing marketplace) operate in Arizona’s big urban centers and tourist hubs such as Sedona and Williams, giving you the freedom to roam this massive state’s most remote quarters. Be sure to shop around before booking; daily rates for renting a compact car (including taxes, fees and unlimited mileage) range from about $85 to an eye-watering $300. Chalk it up to supply and demand – there’s been a shortage of rental cars in some cities since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Arizona’s highways and roads are generally well-maintained but respect the weather. Searing summer temperatures can easily lead to engine overheating, especially when towing trailers uphill. Conversely, the monsoon season (around mid-June through September) can put a big damper on driving. A few dark clouds can suddenly turn into heavy rainfall, creating dangerous flash floods that have claimed the lives of many motorists in the past.
To add insult to injury, Arizona has what has been dubbed the "stupid motorist law." If you ignore warning signs and alerts (emergency messages are often pinged to cellphones) and drive into a flooded area, you may have to pay for the cost of your rescue.
For reasons that have more to do with history than safety, motorcyclists over 18 aren’t required to wear a helmet – and few do. And don’t be surprised to see someone cruising down the highway in a dune buggy; in Arizona, properly licensed and registered off-highway vehicles (OHVs) are street legal.
Most of Arizona’s larger cities have public bus networks, which can be handy, especially when it’s hot. Phoenix’s Valley Metro system has buses that connect with light rail services. Phoenix, Old Scottsdale and Tempe also have free local-area shuttle
You know that feeling of riding a bike as a kid — the freedom to go (almost) anywhere, to explore, to ride with friends? Gravel biking is like that.
Covering an area nearly twice the size of Texas, Colombia is a huge country. And with a backbone formed by the Andes Mountains and vast swathes of forest covering more than 70% of its land area, this isn't the easiest place to navigate overground.
As the seasons change and the weather cools, there’s something romantic about curling up at home with a cocktail to warm your bones. The assortment of fall flavors is like nothing else throughout the year, an opportunity seized upon by the world’s best mixologists.
Entrances to national parks will be blocked and thousands of park rangers will be furloughed if Congress doesn't reach a budget agreement this weekend, the Department of Interior said Friday.
The rugged Andes and tracts of impenetrable rainforest present formidable barriers to overland travel in Ecuador.
Peak fall foliage is popping in Estes Park, the mountain town just outside of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. Soon, the elk will be bugling as part of their annual mating ritual, a wildlife spectacle that draws tourists to the mountain town for “Elktober.” Down in southern Colorado, the “ring of fire eclipse” is projected to pass directly through Mesa Verde National Park on Oct. 14, drawing tourists eager to catch the rare celestial event among the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.
Most U.S. National Parks will shut down their operations if U.S. lawmakers don’t reach a deal to fund the federal government by Saturday night, the Department of Interior said Friday in a press release.
With its fifth and final season making its way down the trail, Kevin Costner’s wildly popular Yellowstone – a Paramount Network series about a cattle-ranching family in the American West – continues to spark interest in the cowboy aesthetic. Looking to learn the ropes? These five destinations have you living out your ranch-hand fantasies in no time.
When it comes to veg-friendly cuisine, few cities have as much to offer as Portland, Oregon. It’s the best city for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. for the fifth year in a row, according to new research from the financial website WalletHub.
When it comes to veg-friendly cuisine, few cities have as much to offer as Portland, Oregon. It’s the best city for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. for the fifth year in a row, according to new research.
Sometimes, it's okay to clap when a plane lands.
Bold, big and beautiful, Arizona has plenty to brag about. Framed by New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California, and with Mexico at its southern reaches – the state gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year and has four distinct seasons, so you can bask in summer, hike and bike in spring and fall and ski in winter.