Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

When you think of a big house, ancient ruins along the Gila River might not come to mind. Yet Casa Grande, or Sivan Vah'Ki as native cultures call it, sits as a monument to a thriving agricultural community in Arizona. This place existed as a stop-off point and oasis in the desert well into the 1300's. No one knows why the Hohokam left this river valley and abandoned their structures. That remains a mystery.

You can see the remnants of the Hohokam's culture today as part of the Casa Grande ruins. A massive, four-story stone structure rises from a flat desert plain about 15 miles from the town of Casa Grande. It's one of the largest prehistoric structures in America. The Big House was part of a network of settlements connected by irrigation canals. On your way there, marvel at tall saguaro cactus plants that dot the landscape.

Bring sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat, because temperatures at Casa Grande can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit. (It cools down to a manageable 80 degrees in the winter.) Luckily, a huge pavilion provides shade over the tallest structure.

Ranger-led tours happen in the fall and winter, while guest demonstrators and artists showcase how to make native artwork or tell stories about their native culture. Kids can participate in a Junior Ranger Program to get them interested in the ruins. Family Archaeology Day in March gives budding archaeologists an opportunity to see how the work is done on the site.

Nearby campsites offer a great starting point for touring this area, about 55 miles southeast of Phoenix. Dress for both daytime and nighttime temperatures as the arid desert climate can have huge swings in temperatures.