Arizona factories to visit and tour

Arizona has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Arizona and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Arizona

Amazon Fulfillment Center - tour of the facility
GYR1: Amazon Fulfillment Center, 605 South Bullard Avenue, Goodyear, AZ 85338.
BOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE. Each tour is approximately 60-90 minutes long. On the tour you may walk up and down at least one flight of stairs and walk approximately 1 mile. Amazon says "Ever wondered what happens when you shop on Amazon? Book a free walking tour of an Amazon warehouse and see how our people and technology deliver for customers." The also have the following recommendations and requirements:
Arrive Early - arrive 15 minutes prior to your tour.
Attire - All guests must wear flat, closed-toed, and closed-heeled shoes (no sandals, clogs or high heels). We recommend wearing comfortable shoes or sneakers. Additionally, long hair must be pulled at or above shoulder length. Loose fitting clothing (long-hanging jewelry, scarves, or ties) are not permitted. Headscarves worn for religious reasons are permitted but must be tucked in securely.
Identification - Upon your arrival, your tour leader will ask for a government issued photo ID. Please ensure that guest information submitted during sign-up matches the guest ID.
Cerreta's Chocolate - chocolate factory, candies
5345 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301. Phone: 623-930-9000. Open: Monday Through Friday at 10am, 11am, 12pm, & 1pm. Inexpensive ($10 to $16 in 2023) educational Factory Tours are available. You can Purchase a Chocolate Tasting Tour Pass for a guided tour of our factory and three samples, or upgrade to a VIP Activity. During the VIP Tour tourists will participate in one of our many hands-on chocolate making activities after the tour and 3 samples have concluded. Also great for Teachers and Homeschool parents! They have learning activities to go along with your Tour:Educational activities, Including videos and worksheets.
Good Enough Mine Tour - silver mining
501 East Toughnut Street, Tombstone, AZ 85638. Phone: (520) 457-3333. Email: info@goodenoughsilvermine.com
Open: Friday-Sunday Only - Not available June, July or Nov 28-Dec 6; Tours start on the hour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Under 7 are free. Duration: 75 minutes, for ages 6 and up. This tour includes a 60 step stairway with handrails. Learn about the history of the Good Enough Silver Mines as you tour the mine itself. Witness magnificent areas underground and see what silver ore looks like naturally. You can also tour around Tombstone and see famous spots and more!
MINE & TROLLEY COMBO FROM $30.
Take yourself into a real 1880’s Silver Mine 100 Feet Below the Surface & Historical Tour of the Entire Town of Tombstone all in one combo! Enjoy this educational and exciting combo to get the most out of your Arizona experience.
They even have a Dinner Theatre Tour
Be entertained in this one-of-a-kind underground tour of the Toughnut mine along with a lovely 1800’s style dinner theatre! A time to remember and the best date night in Tombstone, Arizona.

Arizona Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

Hoover Dam Power Plant - Hydroelectric power dam
81 Hoover Dam Access Rd, Boulder City, NV 89005. Phone: (702) 494-2517. Phone: (702) 494-2546. Email: HDtours@lazparking.com. Open: Hoover Dam: Open to the public daily from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (PST). (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Doors close at 4:15 p.m. Last tour departs at 3:45 p.m. Guided Dam Tour: Tickets CANNOT be purchased online, and are only sold on-site, in person, on a first come-first served basis. The entire group must be present at time of purchase. These tours routinely sell out, arriving early is recommended. The two-hour tour goes 530 feet down and thenup to the balcony to to see the hydroelectric plant's generators. $12-15. 9:00 a.m. until 3:45 p.m.
EXTENDED PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Visit historic tour tunnels and ride original elevator to the top of Hoover Dam
Walk through the inspection tunnels at the center of Hoover Dam
View the Colorado River through the inspection ventilation shaft
PLUS
Guided Powerplant Tour
Self-Guided Visitor Center Tour.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, AZ.

For nearly 5,000 years, people have lived in these canyons - longer than anyone has lived uninterrupted anywhere on the Colorado Plateau. In the place called Tsegi, their homes and images tell us their stories. Today, Navajo families make their homes, raise livestock, and farm the lands in the canyons. A place like no other, the park and Navajo Nation work together to manage the land's resources.
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge, AZ.

Explore the mystery and complexity of an extended network of communities and irrigation canals. An Ancestral Sonoran Desert People's farming community and "Great House" are preserved at Casa Grande Ruins. Whether the Casa Grande was a gathering place for the Desert People or simply a waypoint marker in an extensive system of canals and trading partners is but part of the mystique of the Ruins.
Fort Bowie National Historical Site:, Willcox, AZ.

Fort Bowie witnessed almost 25 years of conflict between the Chiricahua Apache and the US Army, and remains a tangible connection to the turbulent era of the late 1800s. Explore the history of Fort Bowie and Apache Pass as you hike the 1.5 mile trail to the visitor center and old fort ruins. Today, this peaceful landscape stands in stark contrast to the violence that once gripped this land.
Grand Canyon National Park:, Grand Canyon, AZ.

OK, it's not factory, but if you're in Arizona, you must visit it at least once. Located in Arizona, Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 277 miles (446 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. The park is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon; a mile (1.6 km) deep, and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. Layered bands of colorful rock reveal millions of years of geologic history. Grand Canyon is unmatched in the vistas it offers visitors from the rim. Open 24 hours.
Hubbell Trading Post National Historical Site:, Ganado, AZ.

The squeaky wooden floor greets your entry into the oldest operating Trading Post on the Navajo Nation. When your eyes adjust to the dim light in the "bullpen" you find you’ve just entered a mercantile. Hubbell Trading Post has been serving Ganado selling goods and Native American Art since 1878. Discover Hubbell Trading Post NHS, sheep, rugs, jewelry and so much more..
Montezuma Castle National Monument, Camp Verde, AZ.

Established December 8, 1906, Montezuma Castle is the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture. This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.
Navajo National Monument, Black Mesa, AZ.

The Hopi, San Juan Southern Paiute, Zuni, and Navajo are tribes that have inhabited the canyons for centuries. Springs fed into farming land on the canyon floor and homes were built in the natural sandstone alcoves. The cliff dwellings of Betatakin, Keet Seel, and Inscription House were last physically occupied around 1300 AD but the villages have a spiritual presence that can still be felt today.
Pipe Spring National Monument, Fredonia, AZ.

Beneath vermilion cliffs, American Indians, Mormon ranchers, plants, animals, and many others have depended on the life-giving water found at the desert oasis at Pipe Spring. Learn about settler and Kaibab Paiute life by exploring the museum, historic fort and cabins, garden, and Ridge Trail. Visit with rangers and ranch animals, and attend living history demonstrations and talks.
Tonto National Monument, Roosevelt, AZ.

The Salado Phenomena, 700 years ago, blended ideas of neighboring Native American cultures to emerge a unique and vibrant society. Tonto National Monument showcases two Salado-style cliff dwellings. Colorful pottery, woven cotton cloth, and other artifacts tell a story of people living and using resources from the northern Sonoran Desert from 1250 to 1450 CE.
Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff, AZ.

Nestled between the Painted Desert and ponderosa highlands of northern Arizona, Wupatki is a landscape of legacies. Ancient pueblos dot red-rock outcroppings across miles of prairie. Where food and water seem impossible to find, people built pueblos, raised families, farmed, traded, and thrived. Today, if you linger and listen, earth and artifacts whisper their stories to us still.

Arizona State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

State Parks

Bear River State Park

Arizona State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

Arizona Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Located in the Rockies and at the edge of the plains, Wyoming has both landscapes. In the summer, it tends to be semi-arid, hot during day and cool at night. Winters can be brutally cold. Many roads are closed or impassible in the winter.

Bugs are thankfully few!

Camping in Arizona

If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.

If you're not from Arizona, you may not realize that

There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Arizona.