None of Arizona is hurting for sunshine, but one city, in particular, is especially bright. The sunniest place in Arizona, Yuma offers year-round outdoor recreation opportunities. Go river tubing in the summer, and take a scenic boat ride in the winter (and plenty of other activities in-between). Yuma is a nature lover’s paradise!
If you love spending time outdoors, you’ll think you’ve entered the gates of heaven when you visit Yuma.
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Located in the far southwestern corner of Arizona, this city of around 100,000 is the sunniest place on the planet. It has over 4,000 hours of daylight each year!
Flickr/Ken Lund
There are so many ways to enjoy nature in Yuma, most of which are centered around water (which is a good thing, considering it’s also the hottest city in the U.S.)
TripAdvisor/Arno0571 Gateway Park is beloved among locals and visitors alike, with a fishing pier, picnic area, playground, and direct access to the Colorado River. East 1st Street & South Gila Street, E 1st St & S Gila St, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
Martha’s Gardens is also a can’t-miss destination, especially if you like Medjool dates.
TripAdvisor/FrequentTraveler696 Take a guided tour of this family-owned date farm, then sample some of the freshest dates you’ll ever try. They truly are nature’s candy! Martha’s Gardens, 9747 S Avenue 9 3/4 E, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA
Take an old-fashioned sternwheeler boat ride on the lower Colorado River with Yuma River Tours, reveling in the gorgeous waterfront views.
TripAdvisor/Walter B Yuma River Tours, 1920 S Arizona Ave, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
Winter is the busy season for boat tours, but if you’re visiting in the summertime, nothing beats cooling off with a relaxing river float a la Yuma River Tubing.
Facebook/Yuma River Tubing
West Wetlands Park is another Yuma gem, situated on 110 sprawling acres of city-owned land. This public park is best known for the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground.
Google/Peter Kishalov Kids absolutely love this castle-themed playscape! West Wetlands Park, 282 N 12th Ave, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
The park is located within the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, which encompasses Yuma’s historic downtown district, scenic riverfront trails, and two state historic parks.
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One of these state historic parks is the former Yuma Territorial Prison, which offers a fascinating - and sobering - look into prison conditions in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
Arizona State Parks The park is also rumored to be haunted! Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
Have you ever visited Yuma? If so, what’s your favorite thing to do there? Tell us in the comments section below! Don’t forget to check out our previous article to learn more about the Yuma Territorial Prison.
Cheri Alguire / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Flickr/Ken Lund
TripAdvisor/Arno0571
Gateway Park is beloved among locals and visitors alike, with a fishing pier, picnic area, playground, and direct access to the Colorado River.
East 1st Street & South Gila Street, E 1st St & S Gila St, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
TripAdvisor/FrequentTraveler696
Take a guided tour of this family-owned date farm, then sample some of the freshest dates you’ll ever try. They truly are nature’s candy!
Martha’s Gardens, 9747 S Avenue 9 3/4 E, Yuma, AZ 85365, USA
TripAdvisor/Walter B
Yuma River Tours, 1920 S Arizona Ave, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
Facebook/Yuma River Tubing
Google/Peter Kishalov
Kids absolutely love this castle-themed playscape!
West Wetlands Park, 282 N 12th Ave, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
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Arizona State Parks
The park is also rumored to be haunted!
Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, 220 Prison Hill Rd, Yuma, AZ 85364, USA
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Address: Yuma, AZ, USA
