In the West, we’re lucky to have wide open spaces and ready access to the wonders of nature. Here in Chandler, AZ, we’re sitting right in the middle of some of the most beautiful state parks the nation has to offer. When you need to get away from the city for a breather, jump in the car and try visiting one of these gems.
1. Lost Dutchman State Park
If you’re looking for a quick escape, Lost Dutchman State Park is just a 40-minute drive out of town. The park is named for a famed Dutchman who, legend has it, walked out of the Superstition Mountains laden with gold. No one has discovered where he found it, but your family will enjoy the geocaching, hiking, and biking that Lost Dutchman has to offer.
The park also allows both RV and tent camping, with cabins available at the base of the mountains. But even if you can’t stay the night, a scenic drive through the park to see the Superstition Mountains or the vast desert plains is a sure way to relax and enjoy some time together.
2. Oracle State Park
The wildlife refuge in the Santa Catalina Mountains is a great place to catch a look at Arizona’s variety of wildlife. Home to the javelina, the white-tailed deer, and even the giant spotted lizard and the desert tortoise, Oracle State Park works to create a habitat where these animals will thrive. The animal lovers in your family will enjoy trying to spot them while you hike, bike, drive, or picnic in the park.
Oracle is also a great place for stargazing. Thanks to rural sanctuary, the skies are wide open and plenty dark to enjoy the dazzling views of the universe in Arizona’s own backyard.
3. Kartchner Caverns State Park
The cave tours in Kartchner Caverns offer a stunning look at Arizona’s underground world. Take a tour to visit the Throne Room and see the massive Kubla Khan column at a staggering height of 58 feet tall beneath the ground. The kids will enjoy the curious soda straw rock formations in the Rotunda Room. The Big Room tour offers a chance to visit the enormous underground room it was named for, and to see a variety of interesting and colorful rock formations.
For families with kids older than 10, you can also visit these caves on a Headlamp Tour, where the only light in the cavern is the light you bring on your helmet.
Legends, wildlife, open skies, and incredible caverns—all make for some great expeditions in our great outdoors, and your car is your ticket for getting you there. You can be confident that with its four-wheel drive, your Cadillac Escalade won’t have any trouble taking you where you want to go. Visit Earnhardt Chandler Cadillac to find the right one for your family’s next adventure.
Connect with us
Archives
Categories
