Arizona

Despite being in the Sonoran Desert, southern Arizona is far from barren. It’s home to around 5 million cacti, and while you’ll want to avoid the fuzzy jumping cholla, which attaches itself to you at the slightest touch, the majestic saguaros can grow up to 40ft and live for 250 years.  Join a sunrise hike up Camelback Mountain outside Scottsdale, which takes about three hours. As well as taking in the incredible vistas at the 2,700ft-high summit, there’s an almost needle-less saguaro you can hug on your way down.