Ever wondered what it’s like to live on Mars?
Well, buckle up, space cowboys and cowgirls, because we’re about to blast off on an otherworldly adventure right here in the Grand Canyon State!
Arizona isn’t just about cacti and cowboys anymore.
It’s a hotbed of futuristic wonders that’ll make you feel like you’ve stepped into a sci-fi movie.
From urban experiments to space observatories, this road trip will take you on a journey through time and space, all without leaving the comfort of your trusty Earth-bound vehicle.
1. Arcosanti (Mayer)
Our first stop is Arcosanti, a place that looks like it was designed by a committee of forward-thinking architects and nostalgic time travelers.
This urban laboratory, nestled in the high desert about 70 miles north of Phoenix, is what you’d get if you asked a bunch of hippies to build a Star Wars set.
Arcosanti is the brainchild of Italian architect Paolo Soleri, who apparently decided that the future should look like a mashup of ancient Rome and a 1960s vision of the year 3000.
The result?
A collection of concrete structures that somehow manage to look both primitive and futuristic at the same time.
As you wander through the complex, you’ll see apses, vaults, and amphitheaters that wouldn’t look out of place in ancient Greece, right next to sleek, modernist buildings that could house a colony on the moon.
It’s like someone took the Colosseum, shrunk it down, and then asked it to have a baby with a flying saucer.
But Arcosanti isn’t just about looking cool (although it definitely succeeds at that).
It’s a living experiment in arcology, a concept that combines architecture and ecology.
The goal?
To create a self-sustaining city that doesn’t make Mother Nature want to send us all to our rooms without dessert.
While you’re there, make sure to check out the famous Arcosanti bells.
These wind bells are handcrafted on-site and sound like what I imagine alien wind chimes would sound like.
Who knows, maybe if we hang enough of them, we’ll finally make contact with E.T.
2. Biosphere 2 (Oracle)
Next up on our space odyssey is Biosphere 2 in Oracle.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Biosphere 2?
What happened to Biosphere 1?”
Well, turns out Biosphere 1 is just a fancy name for Earth.
Way to make us feel second-best, scientists.
Biosphere 2 looks like what would happen if you asked a group of mad scientists to build a greenhouse, and then they got carried away and decided to recreate the entire planet instead.
It’s like a terrarium on steroids, complete with its own rainforest, ocean, and desert.
This massive structure was originally built as a closed ecological system, where researchers could live for extended periods, completely isolated from the outside world.
It was kind of like “Big Brother,” but with more science and fewer hot tubs.
Today, it’s a research facility run by the University of Arizona, where scientists study everything from climate change to how plants might grow on Mars.
Because apparently, we’re not content with messing up just one planet – we need to practice for others too.
As you tour the facility, you’ll see massive biomes that recreate different Earth environments.
There’s even a “technosphere” underground, which sounds like a great name for a nerdy nightclub.
Just remember, what happens in the technosphere, stays in the technosphere.
3. Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff)
Our next stop takes us to Flagstaff and the Lowell Observatory, where you can get up close and personal with the stars without having to deal with Hollywood egos.
Founded in 1894 by Percival Lowell, this place is basically the granddaddy of all observatories.
It’s where Pluto was discovered, which makes it indirectly responsible for millions of mnemonic devices about the planets being rendered obsolete.
Thanks a lot, guys.
The observatory is perched atop Mars Hill (no, not that Mars), offering spectacular views of the night sky.
And let me tell you, after a day of driving through the Arizona desert, you’ll be grateful for any hill, Martian or otherwise.
Inside, you’ll find a collection of telescopes that look like they could double as props in a steampunk movie.
The piece de resistance is the Clark Refractor, a telescope so old it probably remembers when Jupiter was just a little gas cloud.
But don’t let the vintage equipment fool you.
This place is still at the forefront of astronomical research.
They’re currently working on projects to detect Earth-like planets around other stars.
So if you’ve ever dreamed of having pen pals from another solar system, these are the folks making it happen.
4. Pima Air & Space Museum (Tucson)
Leaving the stars behind (for now), we’re heading to Tucson to visit the Pima Air & Space Museum.
This place is like a retirement home for aircraft, except instead of playing bingo and complaining about their grandkids, these retirees just sit there looking cool.
With over 350 aircraft and spacecraft, this museum is a paradise for aviation geeks and anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a pilot (or just wearing those cool aviator sunglasses).
From WWI biplanes to modern stealth fighters, it’s like a timeline of human attempts to defy gravity and common sense.
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One of the highlights is the “Boneyard,” a massive collection of military aircraft in various states of preservation (or decay, depending on how optimistic you’re feeling).
It’s like a elephant graveyard, but for planes.
And with less circle of life and more “look, but don’t touch.”
They also have a space gallery, because apparently, the sky is no longer the limit.
Here you can see actual spacecraft that have been to space and back.
It’s enough to make you feel both incredibly insignificant and irrationally proud of your species at the same time.
5. Titan Missile Museum (Green Valley)
Next up is a blast from the past (pun absolutely intended) – the Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley.
This place is a preserved Titan II missile site, complete with an actual Titan II missile.
Don’t worry, it’s been deactivated.
Probably.
Stepping into this underground bunker is like walking onto the set of a Cold War thriller.
You half expect to see Matthew Broderick playing tic-tac-toe against a computer.
The museum offers a sobering look at a time when the threat of nuclear war was as common as avocado toast is today.
The tour takes you down 35 feet underground into the launch control center, where you can see all the buttons and switches that could have potentially ended the world.
It’s like the world’s most terrifying video game controller.
The highlight of the tour is the missile itself, still standing in its silo.
At 103 feet tall, it’s an impressive sight.
Just remember, no matter how tempting it might be, do not push any red buttons.
Or any buttons, for that matter.
Let’s leave the missile launching to the professionals, shall we?
6. Meteor Crater (Winslow)
Our penultimate stop is Meteor Crater, near Winslow.
This is what happens when space decides to play a game of cosmic darts with Earth.
Spoiler alert: Earth lost.
This massive hole in the ground was created about 50,000 years ago when a meteor decided to drop in unannounced.
The result is a crater nearly a mile wide and 550 feet deep.
It’s like Mother Nature’s version of a punch bowl, except you definitely don’t want to fill this one with party drinks.
The visitor center offers a fascinating look at the science of impact craters and the role they’ve played in shaping our planet.
There’s even a fragment of the meteorite on display.
Just think, 50,000 years ago, that rock was minding its own business floating through space, and now it’s a tourist attraction.
Talk about a career change.
Standing on the rim of the crater, you can’t help but feel a mix of awe and relief.
Awe at the sheer power of the impact, and relief that you weren’t around when it happened.
Because let’s face it, “death by falling space rock” is not how most of us want to go.
7. ASU Mars Space Flight Facility (Tempe)
Our final stop brings us back to civilization (depending on your definition of the word) at the ASU Mars Space Flight Facility in Tempe.
This is where scientists are actively working on Mars missions, proving that you don’t need to be NASA to reach for the stars.
Or the red planets, in this case.
The facility houses instruments that are currently orbiting Mars, sending back data and images.
It’s like having a Martian pen pal, except instead of letters, you get spectral data and high-resolution photos of rocks.
Romantic, isn’t it?
Visitors can see real-time images from Mars, displayed on a massive screen.
It’s the closest most of us will ever get to standing on the Red Planet, unless Elon Musk really steps up his game.
The scientists here are doing groundbreaking work in planetary geology, which is a fancy way of saying they study rocks on other planets.
It’s like regular geology, but with more robots and fewer uncomfortable hikes.
As we wrap up our futuristic Arizona road trip, you might find yourself looking at the world a little differently.
Maybe you’ll start seeing potential space colonies in every desert landscape, or wondering if that funny-looking rock in your backyard might actually be a meteorite.
So, fellow space cadets, it’s time to fuel up your terrestrial vehicles and embark on this cosmic journey through Arizona.
Who knows?
By the end, you might just feel a little more connected to the universe.
Or at the very least, you’ll have some great stories to tell at your next dinner party.
Adventure is calling!
Use this map to steer your road trip in the right direction—and maybe discover a surprise or two along the way.
Space helmets optional, sense of wonder required!