Welcome back to KPG Healthcare’s Travel Series! This week, we head to the Southwest to Arizona, “The Grand Canyon State.” Arizona is the sixth largest state and is best known for its weather and geography. Did you know you can stand in four states at once at the famous Four Corners? Four Corners is the point where the boundaries meet for Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.
KPG Healthcare has many opportunities to work for Travel Nurses, Allied Professionals and Physicians in the state of Arizona. Arizona is also home to our newest office in Scottsdale! Let’s take a look at some of the cities we send our healthcare professionals!
Phoenix
As the state capital, Phoenix boasts an incredible array of things to do from hiking the desert, a night out on the town, a self-care day at the spa or eating your way through the city.
Let’s start with outdoor activities. Phoenix is home to the nation’s largest city park (South Mountain Park) with over 16,000 acres and 50 miles of trails making this park nearly 20 times larger than Central Park in New York City. There are plenty of other great hiking trails to choose from including, Camelback Mountain, McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Piestewa Peak. If hiking in the desert isn’t your cup of tea then head over to the Desert Botanical Garden or the Japanese Friendship Garden for a relaxing stroll and a peaceful, plant-lovers dream of paradise. More into water sports? The Salt River runs through Phoenix providing Phoenicians the chance to paddleboard, tube and raft through its waters.
After a day in nature, head to Downtown Phoenix – the epicenter of culture, college life, delicious food, cocktail culture and more – for some good old fashion fun. It’s here you can explore different areas or stumble across historic streets like Grand Avenue or Roosevelt Row. Grand Avenue was once known for being “the gateway to Los Angeles” before the interstate came. Now, it has transformed into being the city’s boho-chic street lined with galleries, cafes, yoga studios, nightlife spots and plenty of great food. Roosevelt Row is the impressive walkable arts district in Downtown Phoenix, home to award-winning galleries, beautiful murals, local restaurants, boutiques and more.
Phoenix is a city home to a variety of great experiences, activities and natural exploration, but the food scene is top-notch. The culinary scene in Phoenix varies from Southwestern, Mexican, American, Asian, BBQ and more with produce sourced from local farmers. Another great experience for any foodie is checking out farmer’s markets! Here are some of the great farmer’s markets to choose from Uptown Farmers Markets, Downtown Farmers Market, Mesa Market and Flea and Schnepf Farms (upick garden). Our Travel Nursing Team in Scottsdale recommends checking out Ziggy’s (Ziggy’s Stardust is a speakeasy located inside), The Gladly, Doughbird, La Grande Orange and The Porch – to name a few.
With year-round sun and warm temperatures, it’s no wonder people are flocking to Phoenix…so why aren’t you?
Things to do in Phoenix: Thrillist’s COVID Things To Do, TimeOut’s Best Things To Do, US News Best Things To Do
Tucson
If you’re looking for a true Southwestern experience, Tucson is the place to be. Being Arizona’s second-largest city, Tucson is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and desert beauty with a taste of the Old West and an opportunity to see the stars.
Like Phoenix, Tucson offers visitors plenty of outdoor adventures to choose from including, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, cycling and stargazing – to name a few. With five mountain ranges and hundreds of miles of trails surrounding Tucson, it’s an outdoor enthusiasts’ playground. To the North you have the Santa Catalina Mountains, to the East you the Rincon Mountains, to the South you have Santa Rita Mountains and to the West you have the Tucson Mountains. Did you know Southern Arizona gets roughly 350 nights a year of clear viewing? Making Tucson one of the best destinations in the world for stargazing featuring some of the world’s most-respected observatories.
Tucson is known for its Southwestern experience, but it’s also known as “an oasis of tranquility” for being a top spa destination according to Orbitz Travel’s 19 Best Places to Travel in 2019. The article mentions visitors can “find calm hiking in Saguaro National Park” and marvel at the tens of thousands of cacti or enjoy the spiritual wellness at the Mission San Xavier del Bac. A perfect way to recharge the batteries and find a balance between mental and physical health.
As far as food goes, Tucson is another fantastic city with a diverse arrangement of cuisines with a “rich agricultural heritage, thriving food traditions and culinary distinctiveness.” In 2015, the city of Tucson became one of six Creative Cities in the United States and the only one selected for Gastronomy by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Creative Cities program. Don’t be afraid to dive into new food experiences here in Tucson.
Tucson is another amazing city on the long list of destinations KPG Healthcare sends healthcare professionals. The only thing the city is missing is you.
Things to do in Tucson: US News 14 Best Things to do, 30 Unusual Things to do, Tucson Foodie’s 30 Can’t-Miss
Sedona
South of Flagstaff, Sedona is a beautiful and serene desert town known for its red rock formations, canyon walls and being a haven for spiritual wellness. This small yet charming town is sacred land by Native Americans due to its mysterious cosmic forces that radiate from the red rock formations.
Spiritual health and wellbeing is the name of the game in Sedona being home to vortexes thought to be “swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration” according to Sedona’s Tourism website. There are five sites (give or take) to find the Sedona Vortexes – Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Spaceship Rock and Boynton Canyon – each with their own set of energy properties. If you’re looking for more guided spiritual experiences, Sedona’s community includes psychics, massage therapists, spiritual counselors, reiki masters, life coaches and shamans to help. There’s also plenty of spiritual shops to take a peek into or buy some charged healing crystals for friends and family.
A trip to Sedona is another outdoor enthusiasts’ playground being surrounded by the 1.8 million acres of national forest, beautiful red rock formations and lush canyons. From biking to climbing, fishing to golfing, there is an outdoor activity for everyone of all ages with activities ranging from novice to the more experienced.
Sedona is a small-town with powerful energies and beautiful natural wonders that it makes sense for people to travel from all parts of the world to visit. Let KPG Healthcare get you a travel assignment so you can experience Sedona for yourself!
Things to do in Sedona: Sedona Secret 7, 100 Things to do, US News 14 Best Things, Trip Tuner
Flagstaff
A city surrounded by mountains, deserts and pine forests; Flagstaff is rich with Native American history and the destination to experience all seasons and marvel in the natural beauty of Arizona.
Outdoor enthusiasts travel to Flagstaff year-round to partake in their favorite activities including hiking, mountain biking, disk golf, camping and rock climbing. In the winter, skiers and snowboarders from all parts of Arizona come to enjoy the fresh powder 7,000 feet above sea-level. The Grand Canyon, which is about 75 miles North (1.5-hour drive), is just one example of many great outdoor experience’s visitors can enjoy while visiting Flagstaff. With countless other national forests and monuments in Flagstaff’s backyard, finding something to do will come easy for those searching to unplug and recharge their batteries in nature. The city also has its own Seven Wonders all within 10 – 80 miles that include the Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano, San Francisco Peaks and more.
When you’re tired of being in nature, grab a friend and tackle the Flagstaff Brewery Trail featuring nine breweries each with their individual selection of ales to IPAs. Make sure to grab a passport for the trail to get a special-edition commemorative pint glass! The city also hosts a variety of festivals and fairs (before COVID-19), which includes a Mead & Cider Fest, the Coconino County Fair, Barks & Brews, Heritage Fest and countless others. When in doubt, there is always food and Flagstaff has plenty of good food to offer with over 200 restaurants to choose from.
The only thing left to ask is when can KPG Healthcare get you an assignment in Flagstaff?
Things to do in Flagstaff: US News Best Things to do, 19 Unusual Attractions, Free Things to do
Scottsdale
Being home to our newest office expansion, Scottsdale is consistently rated among the nation’s most desirable communities to live in, visit and do business in.
Located roughly 13-miles east of Phoenix, Scottsdale is better known for its spa resorts and golf courses (most golf courses per square mile in the US), but the city also offers visitors a variety of other great experiences, delicious food and incredible outdoor excursions for all ages. If you’re looking for a good hike, our Travel Team in Scottsdale recommends checking out McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Pinnacle Peak Summit Trail, Tom’s Thumb (can be challenging), and Wave Cave Trail (located near Gold Canyon). If you’re up for a different outdoor experience, there is a new trend for those who enjoy mountain biking: night rides/hikes. A different perspective of the desert and depending on the season you can experience more or less wildlife wild venturing on the moonlit paths.
A must-do in while visiting Scottsdale is checking Old Town. During the day, you can find yourself window shopping in Scottsdale Fashion Square or run into our Travel Team on their lunch break. When the sun sets, that’s when the party starts. Old Town is lined with more than 100 of the city’s restaurants, cocktail bars, lounges and nightclubs making this the place to be for happy hour. Here are some personal recommendations for restaurants and bars from our Travel Team: AZ/88, Diego Pops, Olive & Ivy, Maple & Ash, Postino’s, Bevvy and Handcut.
If you’re into trying new experiences, Scottsdale has its very own Wine Trail, Old Town Chocolate Tours, ArtWalk, Desert Jeep Tours, After Dark Desert Tour, plenty of museums to choose from and countless other activities. Some of these experiences are free and some require purchasing tickets/reserving spaces so please double check each website.
Scottsdale is a relaxation paradise with pockets of joy for those who enjoy a night in the town, a variety of food options and plenty of outdoor activities. So, let’s get you traveling with KPG Healthcare…Scottsdale is waiting.
Things to do in Scottsdale: TimeOut’s 12 Best Things to do, Free Things, Most Instagram-Worthy Places
Arizona offers all visitors a unique Southwestern experience with each city echoing a different personality through its diverse communities and experiences that attracts people from all parts of the planet. We opened an office in Scottsdale this year and we can’t wait for all the great memories to come.
Arizona is only missing you!