When most people think of Arizona they think of a hot desert, but Arizona is that and a lot more. Arizona has desert, but also canyons (including the most famous canyon in the world - the Grand Canyon), caves (with one of the most interesting caves in the world - Kartchner Caverns), waterfalls, lakes, ski resorts, mountains, and the largest group of Ponderosa pine trees in the world.
Desert:
Most people in Arizona live in the desert area, which stretches from around Phoenix down through the southern part of the state and Tucson.
Mountains:
There are a lot of mountains spread throughout Arizona, including the Superstition Mountains, the San Francisco Peaks (by Flagstaff), and the White Mountains in eastern Arizona which include a ski resort and many mountain lakes great for fishing. Many people do not realize is that mountains are a big part of the Arizona landscape. A lot of people in Arizona actually live closer to a ski resort (a couple hours) than some people in Colorado and Utah.
Canyons:
Everyone knows about the Grand Canyon, but Arizona also has several other canyons that offer some great scenery, such as the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness. A few other canyons well worth visiting are:
Antelope Canyon: Located near Page is an amazing canyon with steep walls, creating a breathtaking and tranquil experience.
Oak Creek Canyon: South of Flagstaff, Oak Creek Canyon is a great place for families to visit. It is within the Coconino National Forest, and includes Slide Rock State Park, where there are natural water slides and swimming holes.
Lakes:
Arizona enjoys a variety of lakes. It has big lakes, like Lake Powell and Lake Havasu that are great for sports like water skiing. It also has a lot of mountain lakes that are great for trout fishing, especially in the White Mountains.