Located in the southwest portion of the USA, Arizona has often been referred to as the natural "Amusement Park" of the United States. It is home to some of the greatest natural features on the Earth. With lots of sunny days and moderate weather this makes Arizona a perfect place to take the family on a vacation. Whether your family enjoys hiking, camping, golfing or other sporting events, you need to check out what Arizona has to offer.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about Arizona is spring training for Major League Baseball. Called the Cactus League, spring training in Arizona was first formalized in 1947. Since that time spring training has been an opportunity for baseball fans to see their favorite players warm up and prepare for the upcoming season. Spring training also helps the teams establish their final roster for the season. Spring training usually last for 2 months and all the teams will either go to Florida or Arizona to prepare for the season.

Starting in early February and lasting until a few days before opening day of the season, spring training is a perfect opportunity to see your favorite players close up. Long-time Arizona resident Byron Mitchell looks forward to spring training each year. He says, "I like the more casual and intimate access you have to the teams and players. The playing fields are much smaller and give you a chance to really interact with the players."

Here is a listing of the teams and their venues:

Cactus League (held in Arizona)

Arizona Diamondbacks - Tucson Electric Park, Tucson

Chicago Cubs - HoHoKam Park, Mesa

Chicago White Sox - Tucson Electric Park, Tucson

Colorado Rockies - Hi Corbett Field, Tucson

Kansas City Royals - Surprise Stadium, Surprise

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe

Milwaukee Brewers - Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix

Oakland Athletics - Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix

San Diego Padres - Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria

San Francisco Giants - Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale

Seattle Mariners - Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria

Texas Rangers - Surprise Stadium, Surprise

You will be able to see most of these teams while staying in Phoenix, which is the 6th largest city in the United States. It is only a short drive to many of these venues from Phoenix, so if you are a baseball fan make your plans early to get hotel rooms. As the time gets closer hotel accommodations are much harder to find.

Baseball is not the only sport that likes the temperate winter weather of Arizona. The NFL will be bringing the Superbowl to Arizona on February 3, 2008. This will be only the second time this event has been played in Arizona. The first time was in 1996 when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in front of the largest stadium crowd ever to watch the Superbowl. This time around Superbowl XLII will be played at the recently completed University of Phoenix Stadium. Home to the Arizona Cardinals this stadium can seat up to 72,800 fans.

During this event you can be sure that the city of Glendale will have a slightly larger population. Glendale is a suburb of Phoenix with a population of 239,000 people. Glendale bills itself as "Arizona's Antique Capital," if you are in the mood to buy some antiques this will be the place to spend sometime wandering around the shops looking for that great buy.

Arizona was made legendary during the time period called the old west. No where else is this evident than in Tombstone. Located in Cochise County, Tombstone was founded in 1879. Most people will remember the famous gun battle that took place here in the O.K. Corral. Although only three people were killed during this battle it did involve lawman Wyatt Earp. In the most famous Boothill graveyard of the old west you will find many victims of the gunfights that typified the lifestyle of that time.

Several of the attractions in Tombstone have a fee associated with them but many things can be done free of charge. The restoration committee of the town has been working hard to restore the town to a more traditional look. This will give visitors a good glimpse into how the town actually looked during its heyday.

After visiting Tombstone you might want to check out the natural wonders that are everywhere in Arizona. The Grand Canyon is among the Seven Wonders of the World. Located in the Northwestern portion of the state, this national park is a must see for outdoor enthusiasts. There are numerous activities at the Grand Canyon that will keep your family entertained for days. Whether you want to do a day hike, just stand at the South Rim and take in the beauty of the canyon or if you want to do camping in the back country there is something for everyone.

The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you plan on doing some back country hiking or camping you will need a permit which cost $10. There is also a $25 per car fee to enter the park at the gate entrance. There are several restaurants in the park for your to try as well as a few outside the park. According to the National Park Service, www.nps.gov/grca, the canyon is 6,000 ft deep at its deepest and 15 miles across at its widest. They also state that the Colorado River is what created the Grand Canyon. Take the time out of your schedule and visit this historic part of the American landscape.

For a more relaxed time, you might want to head to Sedona. Located in central Arizona, Sedona is a great place to bike and look at the surrounding countryside. Everywhere your eyes look you will find beautiful red rock formations and the waters of Oak Creek. In recent years Sedona has become a hot bed for New Age Spirituality because of the energy vortexes that exist above this location. Wether you can senses these or not Sedona is a great place to relax and leave the stresses of daily life. You can also bring your sticks to play at the Sedona Golf Resort.

Set among the towering red rocks, you will have a hard time concentrating on your game with all the natural beauty that is surrounding you. This par 71 course plays to 6,646 yards and is a treat to play.

With over 300 golf courses across the state, Arizona has something for every golfer. If you want to challenge your game Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale has two great course you can play. The Raptor, designed by Tom Fazio, opened in 1995. This par 72 course plays to over 7,100 yards. In October 2007 the Raptor course will play host to the Fry's Electronic Open on the PGA Tour. It should be an exciting tournament played on a great golf course.

The second course at Grayhawk is the Talon course. This course was designed by former US Open Champion David Graham and architect Gary Panks. The Talon course has been among Golf Magazine's "Top 10 You Can Play." Playing at 6,973 yards you will take in the fantastic McDowell Mountains and the Sonoran Desert. The Talon course is also the host of the Anderson Consulting World Championship of Golf finals.

Another great golf course in the Scottsdale area is the Legend Trail Golf Club. This Rees Jones design has bent grass greens and is a traditional desert style golf course. There is only one water hazard on the course located on the 7th hole. Wide fairways and medium sized greens make for a good opportunity to shoot a low score. Don't take this course for granted but it should make for a great time if your game is not in peak shape.

If you do need some help with your game there is a Golf Digest school on the property. They will be able to help you fix that slice or hook. This course is usually in immaculate condition.

Sunridge Canyon Golf Club is ranked #42 on the Golf Magazine's list of "The Top 100 Golf Courses You Can Play in the United States." Designed by Keith Foster, the course is a par 71 playing to just over 6,800 yards. Set among the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, you will need to have an accurate game in order to avoid the canyons and swells you will encounter on the course. Although not overly long there is a premium on accuracy.

The signature hole of the course is the par 3 17th hole. This hole plays to over 200 yards and is guarded by two large boulders on each side of the green. Be careful of the visual tricks the undulations in the fairways will play on your eyes. There is more room out there then you think.

You can get more information about these golf courses and many other by going to a couple of websites. Check out the following websites for more details:

Scottsdale Golf Packages

Arizona Golf Packages

They will be able to help you out with more information and booking tee times to the over 300 golf courses that dot Arizona.

Arizona is a great place with many natural resources. Any family would have a blast exploring the many facets of this wonderful land. Perhaps one trip is not enough to fully appreciate the experience. If you are use to lush trees and huge ponds, Arizona will give you a glimpse of how we play golf in the West. Have fun and hit lots of fairways and greens.

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