Attractions

Tucson's New Astro Trail
Stargaze along Tucson's new Astro Trail, which offers self-guided dark-sky experiences and astronomical attractions across southern Arizona. Visitors embarking on the trail can peer into the cosmos by touring multiple observatories, exploring science museums or camping under the night sky in designated dark sky parks. Stay overnight at Kitt Peak Observatory, spot constellations at Saguaro National Park and learn about aerospace at the Pima Air & Space Museum, just a few of the astronomy adventures showcased on the Astro Trail.

Tour Monument Valley Under A Full Moon
Goulding's Lodge is now offering a Full Moon Tour on select nights from April to October. This more than two-hour tour is led by a local Navajo guide who shares insights and answers questions about Navajo culture as the group explores Monument Valley under the stars.

Phoenix Zoo's New 'Big Cats of Arizona' Habitat Opens
Guests at Phoenix Zoo can enjoy an up-close view of mountain lions and jaguars thanks to the new “Big Cats of Arizona: A Bridge to Arizona Wilderness” habitat opening April 5, 2025. This new area includes the Zoo's first-ever “catwalk,” allowing guests to walk directly below the big cats as they move overhead.

Surf in the Sonoran Desert
Hang ten at Revel Surf in Mesa, Arizona's only surf park, which welcomes newbies and experts to surf customizable waves and enjoy a beach day in the desert. Opened in February 2025, this park offers lessons teaching visitors how to surf its lagoon's waves, which can reach up to six feet. Experienced surfers can focus on perfecting their techniques at the stationary deep water area, conquering its consistent 33 foot-wide wave face.

Hotel News

New Hotel Opens in Sedona
Opening on April 26, the new Mountain Modern Sedona is ideal for guests seeking wellness or adventure. In addition to numerous wellness activities and “noctourism” classes, the hotel offers an onsite restaurant, pool and custom storage for guests' outdoor adventure gear. Wellness activities include crystal bowl sound baths, chakra exploration and exploring Sedona's famous vortexes. The pet-friendly hotel offers a full-service outdoor dog spa, pet-focused activities and a menu for furry friends at the onsite restaurant. After spending the day exploring Sedona's red rocks, soak in views of Sedona's dark skies at Mountain Modern's evening yoga and stargazing sessions. Or, wake up to a sunrise ceremony inspired by American Indian traditions.

Stay at the Taawaki Inn, A Hopi-Owned and Operated Hotel In Clarkdale
The Taawaki Inn in Clarkdale is the only Hopi-owned and operated hotel outside the Hopi sovereign nation, offering visitors an opportunity to experience Hopi culture while staying in the Verde Valley. The Hopi-inspired design of this 44-room hotel, which opened last summer and whose aesthetic mirrors a traditional Hopi home, allows guests to see Hopi artists' artwork and craftwork on display. Visitors can shop for authentic Hopi handcraft goods at the on-site gallery, participate in one of the resort's cultural events or visit Tuzigoot National Monument, an ancient pueblo site along the Hopi migration route, to get a glimpse of how Hopi ancestors lived.

Accolades

Lowell Observatory Earns Top Recognitions from TIME and Newsweek
Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff was named one of the "World's Greatest Places of 2025" by Time for its significant role in astronomy and its new interactive Astronomy Discovery Center. Lowell also earned the honor of being named among the Best Science Museums in the U.S. in Newsweek's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards. At Lowell, visitors can peer through the telescope that discovered Pluto and enjoy stargazing at the new center's rooftop planetarium.

Flandrau Planetarium Named One of the 'Best Planetariums in the US' by USA Today Readers
The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium at the University of Arizona in Tucson recently earned fourth place in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice 2025 Awards for Best Planetariums in the US. Awarded by USA Today readers, the Flandrau Planetarium earned recognition for its state-of-the-art theatre and 4K resolution. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, its new exhibit, University of Science, helps visitors learn about astronomy through new interactive technology. In this exhibit, visitors can create a monsoon thunderstorm in the Sky Islands zone, make a digital avatar to become a scientist, and stop by the ask-a-scientist kiosks to access interviews with more than two dozen University of Arizona researchers.

Four Arizona Dude Ranches Voted Best Dude Ranches in the US
Visitors can experience the Wild West by staying at one of the four Arizona dude ranches that were voted among the best in the United States in the 2025 Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards and USA Today 10 Best 2025 Reader's Choice Awards. White Stallion Ranch in Tucson and Kay El Bar Guest Ranch and Ranchos de los Caballeros (both in Wickenburg), earned recognition in the Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards for Best Dude Ranches. Rancho de la Osa (located in Sasabe), Ranchos de los Caballeros, and White Stallion Ranch were all named in USA Today 10Best 2025 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Dude Ranch. These four dude ranches all earned praise for their outdoor adventures, lure of the American West and luxurious amenities.

Two Arizona Restaurants Earn Recognition in USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year
Foodies seeking mouthwatering cuisine that showcases local flavors will want to dine at Ta'Carbon in Glendale and COURSE in Scottsdale, two Metro Phoenix restaurants that earned recognition in USA Today's 2025 Restaurants of the Year. With three locations in Metro Phoenix, Ta'Carbon serves a wide variety of Mexican food, including its popular charred steak and green chile burrito, which pairs nicely with its self-serve salsa bar. After winning at the Arizona Restaurant Association's 2024 Foodist Awards for emerging restaurant and being a semifinalist for this year's James Beard's Best Chef - Southwest Award, COURSE's unique dishes with surprising flavors and nostalgic presentations make this restaurant a must-visit in Scottsdale.

A Southern Arizona Winery Receives Three Coveted Awards from 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
LDV Winery is a southern Arizona winery whose wines were recognized at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of North American wines. Competing against more than 950 wineries from various North American wine regions, LDV's rosé was awarded a silver accolade while its petite and viognier earned bronze accolades in their categories. Located in Pearce near the Chiricahua Mountains, LDV Winery hosts various culinary events and wine tastings. Wine is available for purchase at the LDV's tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale.

Flights

New Nonstop Frontier Flight between Tucson and Las Vegas Begin this May
Frontier Airlines will offer nonstop service between Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS) three times a week, starting May 22, 2025. This new nonstop flight comes shortly after Frontier launched a new nonstop route from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Tucson in March 2025.