view from Point Sublime atop the Grand Canyon's North Rim

WELCOME TO ARIZONA!

9th edition You have reached the online version of Moon Handbooks: Arizona—the most comprehensive guidebook to the state! This website, and the printed guidebook from which it comes, cover Arizona's sights, recreation, and practicalities based on 29 years of research and travel. For each edition I drive some 10,000 miles around Arizona to discover what's new and to verify the old. The well-organized information—both here and in the printed book—will enable you to plan the best possible trip.

Discover Arizona suggests some travel strategies and provides background to the land and people of Arizona. Travel chapters begin with Phoenix and South-Central Arizona in the heart of the state and work their way around to Eastern Arizona. You can also drop into the Photo Gallery, check out the latest Updates, and browse the Arizona Booklist. For travel stories of my adventures trekking and cycling around the world, head over to Bill's Exotic Travels. To see a list of useful Arizona links and those of friends and fellow authors, swing by Favorite Websites. My Dad, Gordon W. Weir, has written a fine memoir on his flying experiences, Navigating Through World War II.

If you're headed only for the Grand Canyon area in the north, my Moon Handbooks: Grand Canyon may be just what you are looking for. Much of this book's introduction, sights, hiking, and river running are also here on this website, as well as in Moon Handbooks: Arizona. I've also included some photos and excerpts from Moon Handbooks: Utah, a worthy book and destination as well, in the Photo Gallery. Finally, if you're seeking Arizona's highlights illustrated with beautiful color photography, pick up a copy of National Geographic Traveler Arizona.

Happy Travels
—Bill Weir

p.s. Photo at top of page is the view from Point Sublime on the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

The End of the Road with Avalon Travel Publishing

Since 1984 I have been writing travel guidebooks in the Moon Handbook series, but alas for the 10th edition of Arizona and 4th edition of Grand Canyon I was replaced by people willing to work for a much lower royalty rate. Future editions of Arizona and Grand Canyon will be more profitable to the publisher but likely less informative for the reader. All is not lost, however, the text of the 9th edition of Arizona and the 3rd edition of Grand Canyon will continue to be available here at this website! The printed books will continue to be available as well at Amazon.com and some bookstores.

Bill's Newest Grand Adventure

In April 2012 I begin A Grand Ride of the American Southwest with "Bessie Too the Bicycle." Story is at www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/GrandSouthwest. Unusually, this time I simply head out the door and ride without any planes, trains, buses, or automobiles to deal with. Also, no visas. The ride begins in San Francisco, California, and follows the coast south to San Diego, inland to Arizona, up to both south and north rims of the Grand Canyon, on to southern Utah's canyon country, then the lonely countryside of Nevada and over the mountains back to San Francisco.

Bill's Previous Grand Adventure

On November 22nd 2011 I headed to Asia on a backpacking trip, Indian Ramble. Flights on Cathay Pacific took me from San Francisco to Chennai in the south of India, where I traveled overland north to New Delhi, then east to Kolkata, taking in lots of Indian culture (and cuisine) over the course of about three months. A short flight brought me to Bangkok for a spell of about two months of meditation, travel, and scuba diving in southern Thailand. Story and photos begin at www.arizonahandbook.com/indian_ramble.htm for India and arizonahandbook.com/thai_retreats.htm for Thailand.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA!

SPECIAL FOUR-PART FEATURE!