Arizona Office of Tourism - Administrative Office

Hello Elaine, thanks for reaching out to share your concerns! Our current digital campaign is minimal and delivered to those who are searching for information to help plan trips. Most important for those planning future trips to Arizona is that they have access to the latest COVID safety information and guidance specifically for the state of Arizona, which our site provides. Even better, this is by far the most-visited page on our website. So we’re very happy that potential visitors are prioritizing this as a part of their planning process. Additionally, Arizona tourism businesses have implemented required safety precautions including mask-wearing, distancing, outdoor dining and limited capacities. So you can be confident that we’re following Arizona Department of Health Services guidelines and supporting the safest environment possible for those who choose to travel in Arizona, while also providing important information to those considering a trip here.

The name "White Mountains" is not a reference to an actual mountain, but most likely was given to the range because of its snowy white appearance during the winter season. The highest mountain within the range is Mount Baldy, with a summit elevation of 11,409 feet, making it the fifth-highest point in the state. For more information on the White Mountain trail system, please visit Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/asnf.

Hi Sharon, According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, the Sonoran Desert -- where you'll find an abundance of cactus and wildflowers -- has two flowering peaks; however, there is almost always something blooming around the state. Depending on rainfall and average temperatures, the spring flowering season spans from mid-February to mid-June, peaking from mid-March to late April. As of late February 2019, rain in the state has caused wildflowers to begin blooming early, and it's possibly shaping up to be a very good spring season. The summer flowering season begins a few weeks after the first summer rain and continuing into late fall. Unlike spring's colorful blooms the summer wildflowers and cacti may be plentiful but not as vivid. For more information, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's website has more resources, including a write-up on the flowers in the southern and western parts of the state at www.desertmuseum.org/programs/flw_flowering.php.