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Colossal Cave Mountain Park
27 miles southeast of Tucson at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail
First used by the Hohokam Indians more than 1,000 years ago, Colossal Cave also served as a hideout for bandits and convicts. Walk 6.5 stories down and back up through the stalagmites, stalactites and other formations in the 50-minute tour, or book a candlelight, ladder or wild cave tour. You can walk through the museum at the La Posta Quemada Ranch, then take a trail ride through the Sonoran Desert. Be sure and visit the desert tortoise exhibit, or picnic and take a walk through the butterfly garden.
Information: 520-647-7275; www.colossalcave.com
Coronado National Memorial
17 miles south of Sierra Vista off State Route 92
Established to commemorate Francisco Vasquez de Coronado’s exploration of the American Southwest, visitors to the memorial can learn about Coronado’s explorations and enjoy exhibits at the Coronado Visitor Center, and then spend some time outdoors hiking, bird-watching or picnicking. Spelunkers can see beautiful limestone formations on a self-guided tour of 600-foot-long Coronado Cave. Enjoy views of the San Raphael Valley, San Pedro Valley and Mexico at Montezuma Pass scenic overlook 3 miles west of the visitors center.
Information: 520-366-5515; www.nps.gov/coro/index.htm
Kartchner Caverns State Park
9 miles south of Interstate 10 off State Route 90, just south of Benson
Tour Arizona’s only living cave, Kartchner Caverns, where the spectacular formations are still growing, and see what seeping water can do to the layers of limestone underground. Formations in a variety of colors adorn the cave surfaces, including one of the world’s largest soda straw stalactites. Visit the Discovery Center with interactive displays and a gift shop, or picnic in the shaded ramadas and outdoor dining area. Visitors may camp in the state park, or enjoy the hiking trails and Hummingbird Garden Walk.
Information: 520-586-2283; www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html#anchor_tourinfo
Parker Canyon Lake
25 miles southeast of Sonoita off State Route 83
Located in the rolling hills of southern Coconino National Forest, Parker Canyon Lake teems with trout, bass, sunfish and catfish. A fishing pier and boat ramp provide easy access to the water, and you can rent a boat or pick up last-minute supplies at a lakeside store. Enjoy hiking, camping and wildlife watching, with the possibility of spotting bald eagles, osprey, javelina and other animals among the oaks and desert grasses.
Information: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/svrd/parker.htm
Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve
2 miles southwest of Patagonia on State 82
Along the banks of Sonoita Creek lies some of the richest riparian habitat in the state, home to a few of the largest (100-plus feet tall) and oldest (130 years) Fremont cottonwood trees in the country. You will also find velvet ash, willow and Arizona black walnut trees. The streamside environment is a good place to watch wildlife, including whitetail deer, bobcat, desert tortoise and the more than 300 bird species that live in the preserve. You can take a guided tour on Saturdays, or walk the grounds yourself during any visiting hours.
Information: www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/art1972.html
Pima Air and Space Museum
6000 E. Valencia Road, Tucson
With more than 250 aircraft filling 150 acres, Pima Air and Space Museum retells the history of flight through photos, hands-on exhibits and aircraft on display ranging from an exact replica of the Wright Brothers’ flyer to the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Tram or walking tours of the outside grounds takes you through a plethora of commercial, military and presidential aircraft. In the hangars you can see World War II combat gear and memorabilia, visit the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame or take the kids to the interactive hangar on space exploration.
Information: 520-574-0462; www.pimaair.org/pasmhome.shtml
Saguaro National Park East
15 miles east of Tucson on Old Spanish Trail
Federally protected saguaro cacti adorn the hills of the Rincon Mountains and Tanque Verde Ridge east of Tucson, along with prickly pear, cholla, ocotillo and barrel cacti. Visitors of all ages can explore the beauty of the Sonoran Desert in Saguaro National Monument East. A visitors center has maps, a hands-on touch table for the kids and information and directions to find your way around the park. You can hike among the cacti-studded desert or take one of the one-way car loops for a scenic drive through the park.
Information: 520-733-5153; www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
219 Toughnut St., Tombstone
Incorporated in 1881, Tombstone became a mining boomtown with a population that once exceeded 15,000 people. One of the best-preserved rugged frontier towns of the 1870s and 1880s, today Tombstone remains a living tribute to the Old West. Visit the historic Boot Hill Cemetery, OK Corral, Crystal Palace Saloon, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Tombstone Courthouse, built in 1882 during Tombstone’s wild heyday. This courthouse held the offices of the sheriff, treasurer, recorder and board of supervisors as well as the jail and courtroom for Cochise County. In 1955 the courthouse was converted to a historical museum and state park, housing exhibits and thousands of artifacts detailing Tombstone’s colorful history. You can explore the museum and picnic on the grounds, or take advantage of their many resources to research the history of the region.
Information: 520-457-3311; www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/tombstone.html
International Wildlife Museum
4800 W. Gates Pass Road, Tucson
To see more than 400 species of insects, mammals and birds from around the world, visit the International Wildlife Museum. Exhibits of prehistoric saber-tooth cat skulls, wild sheep dioramas and killer bees give visitors a taste of what these critters looked like in their natural habitat. Some hands-on displays include walking under a giraffe and stroking antlers and animal skin. The Wildlife Theater shows movies throughout the day on a variety of wildlife topics.
Information: 520-629-0100 www.thewildlifemuseum.org
Reid Park Zoo
1030 S. Randolph Way, Tucson
If live animals are more your style, the Reid Park Zoo has plenty. Be sure to visit the polar bear exhibit to see Boris and Kobe lounging in their indoor swimming pool, and watch the endangered white rhinos, Yebonga and Zibulo, wallow in their thick, sticky mud bog. Go in the morning to catch animals when they’re most active.
Informtion: 520-881-4753; www.tucsonzoo.org
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Stroll through 15 specialty gardens on the 5-½ serene acres of the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Located in the heart of Tucson, this peaceful haven includes a Native American Crops Garden, Wildflower Garden, Cactus and Succulent Garden and a Backyard Bird Garden. Visit the only tropical butterfly exhibit in Arizona through February 28, 2007. The gift shop features books on Southwest gardening, cards, wildflower seeds, jewelry and garden art. (2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson)
Information: 520-326-9686; http://www.tucsonbotanical.org.
Fort Huachuca Historical Museum
70 miles southeast of Tucson off State Route 90
For an overview of the U.S. Army’s role in the colorful history of the Southwest, head out to the Fort Huachuca Historical Museum. View documents and artifacts dating back to 1861 and learn the history of Fort Huachuca, starting with Camp Huachuca, constructed in 1877 to protect settlers and travel routes in southeastern Arizona from the Apache Indians, to today’s Fort Huachuca, currently occupied by the U.S. Army Intelligence Center.
Information: 520-533-5736; http://huachuca-www.army.mil/HISTORY/museum.htm
Sonoita Vineyards
56 miles southeast of Tucson off State Route 82)
Stop by the Sonoita Vineyards between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. for a taste of the Arizona grape. The winery’s $3 tasting includes a variety of cheeses and a souvenir glass. The 29th Annual Blessing of the Sonoita Vineyards takes place April and you can taste their most current releases, listen to live music and take home your wine glass.
Information: 520-455-5893; www.sonoitavineyards.com/
Fairbank
Approximately 74 miles southeast of Tucson off State Route 82
The town of Fairbank, once a major railroad hub in the 1880s located about 10 miles from Tombstone, slowly died out and was abandoned in the 1970s. Many buildings remain standing, but have fallen into major disrepair. Located in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fairbank has been brought back to life. The schoolhouse holds a museum, bookstore and information center.
Information: 520-455-5893; www.sanpedroriver.org
Catalina State Park
On State Highway 77. 9 miles north of Tucson
Catalina State Park is a mountain playground for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking and camping. Set off on the Romero Ruin Interpretive Trail, a 3/4-mile trek through time. Hike past the 19th-Century ruins of rancher Francisco Romero’s house, a Hohokam wall, circa A.D. 1150, and a Hohokam pit-house village that may date as far back as A.D. 500. Don’t expect preservation along the lines of Montezuma’s Castle or Mesa Verde – these are subtle, crumbling remains, but intriguing nonetheless. Also be sure to check out the one-mile Nature Trail for a quick fix of Sonoran Desert vistas.
Information: 520-628-5798; http://pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/catalina.html
Romero Pools in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness
From Tucson, drive north on Oracle Road 18 miles to Catalina State Park
The Pusch Ridge Wilderness begins as an outback of light green cacti that darkens into pine forest as it rises 6,000 feet. Hike 6.6 miles round-trip along the Romero Canyon Trail to the Romero Pools, where you can soak in waterfall-fed basins or soak up the sun on the surrounding rock shelves. As if that weren’t idyllic enough, in spring the scene is speckled with butterflies and wildflowers.
Information: 520-628-5798; http://fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/wilderness/pusch.shtml
Sabino Canyon
From Tanque Verde Road in Tucson, take Sabino Canyon Road north to the recreation area
Pack your binoculars: Sabino Canyon, an oasis in the Catalina Mountains, is birding country. The visitor center provides bird lists, and hop-on-hop-off trams shuttle visitors along the canyon floor while drivers narrate. There are several bird-watching trails, including the popular Sabino Lake Trail 30. Alternatively, ride the tram to the end of Upper Sabino Canyon and walk back, checking birds off your list as you go. Keep an eye out for hummingbirds, northern flickers, curve-billed thrashers, phainopeplas, roadrunners and Gambel’s quail. Listen for the rattling call of belted kingfishers diving into Sabino Creek below, and gaze skyward to spy golden eagles and other raptors.
Information: 520-749-8700; http://fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/camping/sites/sabino.shtml
Mt. Lemmon
Off Tanque Verde Road, take the Catalina Highway to Hitchcock Highway
If your quads are up to the challenge, hike up Mt. Lemmon’s 9,157-foot summit. Otherwise, hop in your car and cruise up Catalina Highway — also called Sky Island Scenic Byway — for a winding one-hour drive through varied ecosystems. Several campgrounds dot the ascent, culminating in the village of Summerhaven, which offers cabins for rent, picnic benches and the Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley — the most southerly ski area in the U.S. It’s usually open mid-December to early April, and in summer you can ride the chair lift for views of the surrounding mountains.
Information: 520-576-1400
The Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum and the Cowboy Hall of Fame
150 N. Railroad Ave, Willcox; 80 miles east of Interstate 10 from Tucson
When the Schley Saloon shut down in 1919, the year before screen cowboy Rex Allen was born, no one knew it would later become the Rex Allen Museum and Cowboy Hall of Fame. The museum exhibits memorabilia of the famous cowboy, movie star and entertainer, and shows a portrait gallery of local cattlemen and women. Across the street from the museum is the Railroad Park where Allen’s horse Koko is buried and where a bronze statue of Allen stands. Inside the statue is a replica of a human heart that Allen requested to show that his heart would always remain in Willcox.
Information: 520-384-4583; www.rexallenmuseum.org
Faraway Ranch Historic District
1 mile east of the entrance to the Chiricahua National Monument
Located in the Bonita Canyon, Faraway Ranch offers tours of the building that was home to some of the first settlers of the area. Originally built as a simple homestead in the 1880s by Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson, the property later became a guest ranch. Tours of the house are offered at the visitor center, 1 mile east of Faraway Ranch on the Bonita Canyon Drive.
Information: 520-824-3560; www.nps.gov/chir/
The Gadsden Hotel
1046 G Ave, Douglas
Built first in 1907 and then again in 1929 after being leveled by a fire, the Gadsden Hotel opened its doors while Arizona had yet to become a state. As ranchers, cattlemen, miners and businessmen passed through the territory, this was the hotel they stayed in. The building holds much history for visitors to see, including an authentic Tiffany stained glass mural standing in the mezzanine with an oil painting by Audrey Jean Nichols below it. The ghost of Pancho Villa is said to walk the hotel, specifically seen in the basement wearing a long dark coat.
Information: 520- 364-4481; www.hotelgadsden.com
Painted Rocks Petroglyph Site
Off Interstate 8 at Painted Rock Dam Road, approximately 12.5 miles west of Gila Bend
Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, this archaeological site contains hundreds of ancient petroglyphs etched on stones, rocks and boulders. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many historic figures passed by this desolate Arizona landmark, including the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition, the Mormon Battalion and the Butterfield Overland Express. Facilities include picnic tables, barbecues and fire rings, but no water.
Information: 623-580-5500; www.blm.gov/az/pfo/paint.htm
Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum
18 miles south of Phoenix off State Route 347
Located on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation, the Him-Dak Eco-Museum is owned and operated by and for the Ak-Chin people. Exhibits showcase tribal artifacts, photographs and children’s artwork. Him-Dak means “way of life” in the Ak-Chin language.
Information: 520-568-9480; www.azcama.com/museums/akchin.html
Casa Grande Valley Historical Society
Approximately 32 miles south of Phoenix on Interstate 10
To get a glimpse of 19th-century Arizona, stop by the Casa Grande Valley Historical Museum. Walk through a miniature agricultural display and learn how irrigation transformed the desert into fertile cotton fields. Visit Heritage Hall, the “old stone church” built in 1927, and the segregated one-room Rebecca Dallis School House, constructed in 1935. Both are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Information: 520-836-2223; www.cgvhs.org
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
Approximately 56 miles southwest of Phoenix off State Route 87
Built by the Hohokam Indians more than 700 years ago, Casa Grande once stood four stories tall and had 11 rooms. Archaeologists and historians have differing opinions about the structure’s purpose. Some say it was a house, others a temple, a watchtower or a food storage area. Others claim it was an astronomical observatory built to track the movement of the sun, moon and stars. Abandoned about 550 years ago, the structure now has a permanent protective awning to shelter it from the elements.
Information: 520-723-3172; www.nps.gov/cagr
Soaring at Estrella Sailport
25 miles south of Phoenix off State Route 238 West
For a bird’s-eye view of the Arizona landscape, ride the thermals on a glider at Arizona Soaring. First-time gliders will probably want to take the 20-minute basic ride, but thrill seekers might be tempted to try the “Aerobatic Deluxe,” a rollicking roller coaster ride in the sky.
Information: 520-568-2318; www.azsoaring.com
Titan Missile Museum
1580 W. Duval Mine Road, Sahuarita
Take a tour of the Titan Missile Museum and see the underground missile site, 3-ton blast doors, 8-foot thick silo doors and get a peek at a genuine missile in the launch duct. If you really want an adventure, the museum has created a Titan Overnight Experience, which allows up to four people to spend the night in the crew quarters, just feet away from a Titan II missile. The museum only offers this special program four times a year, so plan ahead.
Information: 520-625-7736; www.titanmissilemuseum.org
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitors Center
From Tubac, take Interstate19 north to Exit 48, Arivaca Road/Amado.
Drive north on the east frontage road to Elephant Head Road. Turn right and drive east, crossing the bridge over the Santa Cruz River. One mile past the railroad tracks, turn right onto Mount Hopkins Road. Drive southeast about 7 miles to center) If you’re interested in astronomy, take a ride out to the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, located in the Santa Rita Mountains at the base of Mt. Hopkins. Exhibits include models of multiple mirror telescopes, 3-D models of the galaxies in the universe, a topographical map of the Santa Rita Mountains and a history of the optical telescope. Be sure to check out the wide-field binoculars and 20-power telescope on the outdoor patio to get a closer look at the Santa Rita Mountains and the Coronado National Forest.
Information: 520-670-5707; www.cfa.harvard.edu/facilities/flwo/visit_center.html
Amerind Foundation Museum
60 miles east of Tucson off Interstate 10
This anthropological and archaeological museum houses an extensive collection of Indian art and artifacts ranging from ancient to contemporary objects. Exhibits include Pueblo and O’odham/Yaqui pottery, Hopi paintings, kachinas and a variety of textiles and jewelry.
Information: 520-586-3666; www.amerind.org
Chiricahua National Monument
120 miles east of Tucson. Exit Interstate 10 at Willcox and follow State Route 186, 36 miles to the monument.
Unusual rock formations and 17 miles of maintained trails make Chiricahua National Monument a favorite destination for hikers. Tour Faraway Ranch, a pioneer homestead once inhabited by Swedish immigrants, Neil and Emma Erickson and family. The ranch house features historic artifacts and a good glimpse into Arizona pioneer life in the early 1900s.
Information: 520-824-3560; www.nps.gov/chir
Dos Cabezas Ghost Town
Approximately 95 miles east of Tucson, 15 miles southeast of Willcox on State Route 186
To get a taste of the Old West, stop at Dos Cabezas ghost town to see an 1885 Wells Fargo station, pioneer cemetery, post office, dance hall, mine office and many other historic buildings.
Information: www.tombstone.org/chamber/ghosttowns.html
Cochise Stronghold
From Tucson, take Interstate 10 east 72 miles to U.S. Route 191. Turn right (south) and drive 12 miles to Ironwood Road. Turn right (east) on Ironwood Road
Visit the striking canyon in the Dragoon Mountains where Apache Indian Chief Cochise took refuge from his enemies. The Cochise Stronghold is situated in a cross-section of the Upper Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and has an unusual range of vegetation. To get a closer look, stick with the easy .4-mile Stronghold Nature Trail. For a more strenuous hike, the 4.5-mile Cochise Trail follows the route that Cochise and his people used in the 1860s.
Information: 520-388-8300; www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/camping/sites/cochise_stronghold.shtml
Fort Bowie Vineyards and Orchard Products
110 miles from Tucson off Interstate10 at Exit 362
This boutique winery produces 11 different wines ranging from burgundy to chardonnay on 40 acres in Bowie. Located on a working farm with 450 acres of pecan trees and 30 acres of walnut, peach and cherry trees, Fort Bowie Vineyards has a tasting room and a store that sells their own farm fresh products, including wine, chocolate pecan clusters and dried fruits.
Information: 520-847-2593; www.fortbowievineyards.net
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
No. 5 Copper Queen Plaza, in Bisbee
Partnered with the Smithsonian's Affiliation Program, this rates as one of the premiere mining museums in the country. Don’t forget to cruise (and hike) Bisbee’s historic downtown.
Information: 520-432-7071; www.bisbeemuseum.org
Ramsey Canyon Preserve
90 miles southeast of Tucson, near Sierra Vista
A spring-fed stream and high canyon walls make Ramsey Canyon a desert Southwest rarity, harboring uncommon plant and animal species. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays year-round.
Information: 520-378-2785; www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/arizona/preserves/art1973.html
San Pedro Riparian and Conservation Area
From Sierra Vista, take State Route 90 east 6 miles to Monson Road. Turn left and go 1.2 miles to the signed turnoff to Murray Springs
Designated by Congress as a National Conservation Area in 1988, this nature preserve contains about 40 miles of the upper San Pedro River, a rare desert riparian ecosystem.
Information: 928-458-3559; www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=595
