Things to Do in Arizona
There are lots and lots of things to do -- the following are some that are relatively close to where we live. Note that this list does not include some beautiful scenery that is really high up on windy mountain trails or low down in caves (the list originally was made for my sister-in-law's first trip here and Richard's acrophobia and her heart condition made those less than desirable options -- included here are some that are easily accessible). If you're interested in more caves (there are quite a few other wonderful ones I hear) or great vistas from mountain tops (ditto), let me know and I'll mention those I know about. Oh -- the Grand Canyon isn't on this list either, not for any of those reasons, but because it was winter when I made this list and the canyon was freezing at the time...
First, some MAPs that may help you know where these things are:
Click here to see a regular MAP and click here for a bigger map
Here's a map showing mileage and a graph of distances between various attractions
If you want more information than is found below, you can also search or browse here:
AZCentral.com
Click here for a condensation of most of the items below OR
Click one of the links below to go to complete information about it:
Tombstone Arizona
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Lake Powell
Kitt Peak National Observatory Visitor Center/Museum
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Saguaro National Park
Fort McDowell Adventures (Wild West Experience)
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Deer Valley Rock Art Center
Old Tucson Studios
Pima Air & Space Museum
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Biosphere 2
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site
Goldfield Ghost Town
Superstition Mountain
Desert Botanical Garden
Drive to Wickenburg, Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood, Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, and Back
Apache Trail Scenic Drive from Phoenix
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
Nogales, Mexico
Montezuma Castle
Painted Desert
More things to do..... including art and science museums and more
Even more things to do....
Oddball Arizona
Tombstone Arizona |
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How It All Came To Be
Visit Tombstone Arizona and you’ll step back into the rough and tough days of western history. In the 1880s, Tombstone was a booming mining town that brought a rush of those looking to strike it rich. Gold and silver was the lure that also became a magnet to thieves, card-sharks, murderers, rustlers and an abundance of unsavory bad guys. The streets came alive with hundreds of saloons, gambling halls and bawdy houses.
Surviving a day in Tombstone was a victory as its famous Boot Hill Cemetery overflowed with those shot during poker games, killed in drunken-induced gunfights and even hung for simply becoming a public nuisance. Undertaking was no doubt a lucrative profession.
Tombstone Arizona is perhaps most famous for its Gunfight at OK Corral when the Earp brothers, Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan, along with friend Doc Holliday shot it out with the Clanton and McLaury Gang. The fierce gunfight was quick and when the bullets stopped flying, Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury lay dead. Billy’s brother Ike Clanton kept his life that day, but was eventually murdered near Springerville Arizona. Virgil and Morgan Earp needed weeks to recover from serious wounds, but Doc Holliday was barely grazed by a bullet. Surprisingly, Wyatt Earp was unscathed.
There is much controversy surrounding this historical Tombstone Arizona
event over why it happened, who was at fault and even what date it actually
occurred. Most agree the gunfight took place on October 26, 1881. Each side seemed to have a great deal of Tombstone area community support. In fact two
different newspapers, one with allegiance to the Clantons and the other to the Earps
gave differing accounts that led to the killings.
The storied feud that grew between the Earps and Doc Holliday and the Clantons that were protected by territorial sheriff John Behan was so full of bizarre twists that it could become a long-running miniseries. For in-depth detail, we suggest reading several chapters of interesting insight into Tombstone Arizona History and the famous Tombstone Gunfight.
Although the Gunfight at OK Corral is the most famous historical attraction of Tombstone Arizona, it was the tenacity and bravery of Edward Lawrence Schieffelin that spawned the town of Tombstone and the unusual way it got its name.
Schieffelin was a weathered prospector whose rugged appearance was well beyond his young age. Having prospected throughout the west for many years, he accompanied members of the U.S. Calvary from Southern California dispatched to Fort Huachuca in southeastern Arizona to protect settlers from the marauding Apaches.
Everyday for many years, Ed Schieffelin would venture out into the hills and mountains prospecting for the riches of silver or gold ore deposits. Each day he would brave the elements and the Apaches where many before him would never return. His soldier friends told him many times that if “he kept fooling around out there amongst the Apaches, the only rock he would come home with would be his tombstone”.
Then one day in 1877 he discovered a silver ore outcropping that
would be the beginning of his dream bonanza. He would name the mining district “Tombstone” which would also become the name of the
“Town Too Tough To Die”. The
rush to riches led to the booming of Tombstone Arizona and its rich historical
attractions. His partners including brother Al and an assayer named Richard
Gird eventually 
sold their various claims. In spite of riches beyond
his dreams, Ed continued prospecting in other parts of the west, became married
and eventually died at age 49 in 1887. His wife fulfilled his wish and moved
his body back to Tombstone where he was buried a few miles away near his
original claim.
By differing accounts, Tombstone grew to a peak population of 12,000 – 20,000. The riches derived from mining of silver and gold soon waned when underground water flow filled the mines making it impossible to extract the metal treasures. Cattle ranching supported the businesses in Tombstone but eventually the town of Tombstone became insignificant to the growth of the west and more peaceful times returned.
Today, Tombstone is a tourist destination where about 1500 residents welcome vacationers and visitors into western history. Original buildings still exist with old bullet holes still visible from its rough and tough times. The aura and environment are still reminiscent of days past where visitors can walk the same paths of the bad boys from the 1880s.
The Boot Hill Graveyard is a must-see where bodies of past villains and law-abiding citizens still lie. Be sure to see the staged gunfights and barroom brawls along Allen Street that are enacted on most Sundays during the month. Although there is no longer any bawdy entertainment (Tombstone is a family environment), the old Bird Cage Theatre is still open for tours.
The old watering hole from 1879, The Crystal Palace Saloon remains a symbol of the true
"Old West", retaining its 1880's integrity. The original copper
ceiling, adobe walls, and beautiful replica of the massive bar, awe visitors as
they step back in time to the only authentic saloon still operating in Tombstone.
And be sure to visit the Tombstone
Arizona Courthouse built in 1882 which is now a state historic
park and museum filled with artifacts and old 
photographs. And witness the town gallows on
display in its courtyard.
The old Tombstone Epitaph offices are now a museum where you can see the printed stories of past times. The Silver Nugget Museum also offers a museum insight into its past days of drinking, gambling and brothel entertainment. Be sure to take the tour of the “Good Enough Silver Mine” that lies under the streets of Tombstone.
A restored home, the Rose Tree Inn Museum, reputably boasts the largest rose tree in the world that is over 100 years old and covers an 8,000 square foot arbor. The rose tree of Tombstone blooms during April of each year.
And of course you don’t want to miss the OK Corral and its recreation of the Tombstone early years with film and onstage character animations. Experience for yourself where the infamous Gunfight between the Earps and Clantons took place.
Tombstone Arizona is conveniently located just 70 miles southeast of Tucson and very close by Benson Arizona. Hotels and dining are abundant in the area including right here in Tombstone. And to make your vacation more enjoyable, be sure to also visit Colossal Cave, San Xavier del Bac and of course the many attractions offered in Tucson Arizona
Mission San Xavier del Bac
The White Dove of the Desert
San Xavier del Bac is a treasure of southwestern history. An 18th century religious beacon that calls all to experience. Whether your interests lie in religion, history or art, San Xavier del Bac is an attraction you don’t want to miss when visiting Tucson and Southern Arizona.
It’s a destination of Catholic pilgrimage
where locals and visitors pray to Saint Francis for intercessory prayer to God.
San Xavier del Bac is a magnet to those that appreciate art, statues,
sculptures and paintings of its original times. The interior is filled with
brightly painted carvings of apostles and saints and ornate décor statues that
are actually draped in real clothing.
Today, San Xavier del Bac is affectionately call the “White Dove of the Desert” and stately sits on the land of the Tohono O’odham Indians who have protected the mission for hundreds of years. It’s located just 10 miles southwest of Tucson Arizona; convenient to hotels, resorts, restaurants and other Southern Arizona vacation and tourist destinations including Nogales Sonora Mexico, a short driving distance from Tucson.
Few know that the existing San Xavier del Bac was not the original mission. The first was founded by Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, a Jesuit missionary, in 1692. Religious control of the mission was transferred from the Jesuits to the Franciscans in about 1768. Shortly thereafter, the mission was destroyed by less friendly Indian tribes. The present day San Xavier was rebuilt under the direction of Franciscan Fathers Juan Bautista Velderrain and Juan Bautista Llorenz in 1783 about two miles from its original location.
No one firmly knows who the San Xavier architect was, who provided the construction labor or who the artisans were, but most believe all roles were fulfilled by the Tohono O’odham Indians. However, all agree that the architecture was the most profound of the early Spanish missions and the brilliantly colorful artistic embellishments are spectacular.
The masterpiece includes the spirit and charisma of its time. San Xavier has been called the “Sistine Chapel of the New World” and in fact, the same Italian artists that worked on the Sistine Chapel also came to San Xavier to help restore the interior to its original brilliance. Its brick walls are six feet thick in some places and is coated with a limestone-based plaster with a formula that includes the juice from prickly pear cactus pads.
Father Kino’s given name was actually “Kuhne” and he was a native of Austrian Tyrol where he gave up teaching mathematics to become a Jesuit Catholic missionary. He named the mission in honor of his chosen patron saint, St Francis Xavier which is pronounced as “hauv-e-air”. The San Xavier surname of “del Bac” means place where water appears”. The Santa Cruz River actually flowed underground and reappeared at the surface in the settlement area. Hence, its entire name… “Mission San Xavier del Bac”.
While the Apache Indians were a constant threat to the church and its peaceful people, the war to gain Mexican independence from Spain had a long-term interim impact on the mission. In 1822, Mexico confiscated all Spanish missions and expelled all Spanish missionaries. From 1831 to about 1859 when the United States acquired the territory as part of the Gadsden Purchase, San Xavier del Bac was without a priest.
During this period, the Papago Indians (the previous name of the Tohono O’odham) nurtured the mission and protected it from the Apaches until the Rev. J.B. Salpointe who later became Archbishop of Santa Fe assumed religious leadership of San Xavier. The returning priests were surprised that the congregation of Native Americans had buried mission artifacts for safekeeping. The unearthed artifacts returned the holy glow to the mission.
More than two hundred years of San Xavier history has passed and the Franciscan Friars are still serving the needs of the mission to its Tohono O’odham congregation. San Xavier is open everyday of the year to tourists and catholic pilgrimage. It serves chapel services, communion, mass and self-guided daily tours.
And when you visit, make sure you experience the Indian Fry Bread served any way you like it by the Tohono O’odham Indians on Sundays.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
For a half-century the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has enchanted millions of visitors with its exhibits of live animals in astonishingly natural settings, while intriguing and instructing them with fascinating educational programs. At the same time, the Museum has gained a worldwide repute in the scientific community as an institution committed to researching and protecting the land, plants, and the animals of the Sonoran Desert region.
The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.
In a nutshell
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history
museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural
landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself
eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more. Within
the Museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds
of plants. There are almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful
desert.
WALK WITH A KEEPER
Behind-the-Scenes Tour
A unique chance to experience the Desert Museum through the eyes of an animal keeper. The walking tour is approximately 1½ hours and covers ½ mile. Guests will be able to meet animals up close (Otters and Bighorn sheep) and go behind the scenes and learn about animal care.
• Thursdays only, beginning April 15, 2004
• $15 admission (No children under 12 allowed on tour. No coupons or discounts are valid for tour)
• Tour starts promptly from the entrance patio at 10:30am, guests should gather there at 10:15am.
• Ticket sales are First Come, First Serve (ie, No Reservations). Last ticket sold at 10:15am.
• Tour is fully accessible via wheelchair and scooter. Some behind-the-scenes areas are not available to service animals.
Saguaro National Park
(pronounced Saw – wa – ro)
The staff at Saguaro National Park invite you to
“Experience Your America” in a way that only the Sonoran Desert can offer. This
unique desert is home to the most recognizable cactus in the world, the
majestic saguaro. Visitors of all ages are fascinated and enchanted by these
desert giants, especially their many interesting and complex interrelationships
with other desert life. Saguaro cacti provide their sweet fruits to hungry
desert animals. They also provide homes to a variety of birds, such as the
Harris’ hawk, Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl. Yet, the saguaro requires
other desert plants for its very survival. During the first few years of a very
long life, a young saguaro needs the shade and protection of a nurse plant such
as the palo verde tree. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature
saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons.
While most visitors to Saguaro National Park choose a leisurely drive on one of our scenic loop drives, those eager for an escape from the rigors of city life often opt to explore the park on one of our many trails. With over 150 miles of hiking trails, ranging from flat and easy strolls in the Sonoran Desert to steep and rugged hikes into the Rincon Mountains, visitors of every ability have a place to get out of the car and explore.
Old Tucson Studios
Old Tucson Studios is where the West was filmed! From western movie heroes like John Wayne to current box-office stars such as Harrison Ford, many of Hollywood's legends have walked these rugged streets, the setting for hundreds of major motion pictures. We invite you to be a part of the more than 350,000 guests who visit the park each year to retrace the footsteps of their favorite stars and spend a day in the life of an 1880's western town.
Slap on Your Spurs
For a Day of Wild West Fun
From daring cowboy gunfights and stunts to rip-roarin' musical revues and comedies, Old Tucson offers exciting Old West entertainment. The experience is so authentic, you can taste it! We pride ourselves on our mesquite-grilled barbecue dishes at Big Jake's. Knock it down with your favorite brew in the Grand Palace Saloon. Take a guided tour highlighting the park scenery and movie history. Get all decked out and gussied up in some old-fashioned duds for an old-time photo or take a miniature train ride into the beautiful desert surrounding the park. And don't miss Old Tucson Studios' very own "silent" movie star, The Reno locomotive! Proudly stationed at the north end of town, The Reno has more than 100 film and television credits.
Pima Air & Space Museum |
Located in Tucson, Arizona at 6000 East Valencia Road
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The Pima Air & Space Museum is the world's largest privately-funded aerospace museum. Funded by gate receipts, Gift Shop sales, memberships,donations and grants. |
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The central focus of any museum is
the collection of artifacts which are arranged in exhibits which tell the story
about the mission of the institution.
In our case, the mission is to preserve and present the history of flight in
such a way that the museum visitors have an enjoyable experience and are more
educated on the subject when they leave than they were when they arrived.
To accomplish the task we have a very large collection of aircraft, missiles
and related artifacts in a rather extensive archive and library.
Visit the various elements of our collection by clicking on the subjects to the
left and enjoy the trip.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
An Attention-Grabbing Experience
Artifacts confirm that Colossal Cave was used as shelter by the ancient Hohokam Indians from about 900 through 1450 AD. The peaceful Indians farmed the valley below the cave, which about a thousand years later became known as La Posta Quemada Ranch. Today the cave and ranch are united as Colossal Cave Mountain Park, a historical destination and educational outreach for school children.
A tour through Colossal Cave is by itself an attention-grabbing experience where natural formations were formed over millions of years. The stalactites, stalagmites and majestic columns were created by slow-seeping ground water through the limestone ceilings. As arid conditions evolved, Colossal Cave became totally dry , stopping the growth of new formations. Interestingly, although outside summer temperatures can become quite high in the desert area, the temperature inside Colossal Cave is always a cool 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
Colossal Cave has never
been fully explored. Although there are an estimated 39 miles
of cave tunnels, it took over two years to map just two miles of passageway
where tours penetrate six stories deep into the cave. Visitors can choose from
ongoing daily “generic tours” or
can arrange more adventurous tours through darkened more narrow passages
requiring hardhats and good physical fitness. There are even “candlelight tours” where each visitor is
given a lighted candle to experience the cave as the Hohokam did over a thousand
years ago without electric-powered lights.
Officially, Colossal Cave was discovered by Soloman Lick in 1879. While searching for stray cows on the vast ranch, he accidentally came upon its narrow opening. That same entrance has been enlarged within a modern setting that overlooks the panoramic views of La Posta Quemada Ranch into over 2,000 acres of Colossal Cave Mountain Park.
There are actually two caves. The first of course is Colossal Cave which visitors tour daily. The other is “Arkenstone”, a “live cave” which continues to grow formations. Arkenstone has been designated a research site and access is limited to only scientific researchers. A collection of photographs by Randy Gruss at the La Posta Quemada Ranch Museum gives the public amazing views of the beauty inside Arkenstone Cave.
The “cowboy days” in the late 1800s spawns stories of train robbers and escaped convicts that used the caves as a hiding place. Perhaps the most famous were John Maier and Josiah “Kid” Smith who were eventually shot by the Wells Fargo Messenger, J. Ernest Smith. A third bandit of the group that had robbed a train near El Paso named George Green was captured and sentenced to five years at the Yuma Arizona Territorial Prison.
La Posta Quemada Ranch has been a working ranch since the mid 1870s. The Southern Pacific Line operated a stagecoach station at the ranch that was burned in 1875. Hence, the Posta Quemada name, which means “burnt station”. Today the ranch includes an active museum to promote public education and cultural history. Visitors will enjoy the artifacts with information on past indigenous cultures.
Visitors to Colossal Cave and the ranch which is just 22 miles southeast of Tucson Arizona offers many ways to explore the park including trail rides, hayrides, cattle drives, cowboy style cookouts and pack trips through unspoiled Sonoran Desert nature. It’s a great way for groups and families who visit the part to experience the Colossal Cave and great outdoor recreation as well. When visiting, make sure to see the Desert Tortoise Exhibit. Also see the Butterfly Garden, a colorful haven of different species that highlights the full lifecycle of butterflies.
BIOSPHERE 2 ANNOUNCES NEW TOUR FOR '04
-- New Visitor Experience Allows
Everyone To Go Inside --
TUCSON -- The world famous attraction 20 minutes north of Tucson has a brand new look and feel beginning February 9, 2004. The updated tour will include a new visitor center, movie, gift shop and spectacular tour route. In addition, all visitors will now be allowed to enter the 3.15-acre technological wonder, as the tour will focus primarily on under-the-glass tours.
The new tour begins at the recently completed $10 million conference center. Parking for 500 cars, buses, and RV's will flow directly into the new visitor center, admissions, gift shop, and theater. From there it is a short but breath-taking walk to a point looking down onto the Bio 2 rain forest pyramid and then directly into the giant self-contained mini-world. The under-the-glass tour will transition from the cliff above the one million gallon saltwater ocean through the upper and lower savannahs, thorn scrub, desert and technosphere finishing inside the amazing south lung complex. Visitors then continue to the underwater ocean viewing gallery exhibit before returning to the starting point on the hill overlooking Biosphere 2. The new guided tour also provides some unique photo opportunities that were not available to the visitor on the previous route.
"As one of southern Arizona’s leading tourist attractions and the only one of its kind in the world, we provide a unique experience that you just cannot get anywhere else,” said Gilbert LaRoque, Biosphere's Tour Manager. “People come from all over the world and when in the area they make it a point to include us on their must do list.”
The $150 million facility opened in 1991 as a massive closed system that would last for 100 years of testing nature, technology and human endurance. Two early human survival missions lasted for two years and six months respectively.
Since opening in the early 90's nearly two million visitors have toured the sprawling site and the Bio2 complex. “In the past we had to limit the number of people that went inside which made it a premium tour,” said Rick Neter, Director of Business Operations. “We are now able to offer the under-the-glass tour to everyone, which is very exciting for our visitors. Because of a much improved economy we are expecting a good season and it is great to have a new product to offer.”
Biosphere 2 is located 20 minutes north of Tucson and 90 minutes south of Phoenix Oracle Road/Highway 77. Biosphere is open to visitors daily.
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Discovered in 1974, Announced in 1988. Gifted to the World in 1999.
Deep below the extreme desert surface
in southeastern Arizona, a cave system - a geological void of gigantic
proportions -- hides its riches from the eye of Phoebus. Existing in its own
delicate microclimate for over 200,000 years, the caverns clutch in their
dominion a wide variety of priceless calcite decorations called speleothems.
Until recently, travelers passing among the saguaros and creosote were unaware
of the vast space, cool damp and quiet, lying secretly beneath them.
This underground labyrinth, boasting 13,000 feet of passages and rooms the length of football fields, was a magnitudinous discovery for two amateur cavers who, in 1974, first entered its embrace. During a day of exploration, Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen, both from Tucson, wriggled through a small sink hole twelve miles south of Benson. They spent hours making slow passage through a narrow tunnel and breaking through a small barrier of bedrock before finding themselves inside a long corridor; one that eventually opened into several enormous chambers. During subsequent clandestine visits, the spelunkers carefully investigated the interior, their lambent headlamps revealing pristine subterranean habitat and a myriad of unusual multi-colored formations.
Knowing they had unearthed a valuable landmark and afraid that exposing such a significant find without thoughtful preparation would lead to the caverns being exploited and damaged, the men kept their discovery a secret for fourteen years. In 1988, after protective measures were in place to control access and oversee preservation, the location was officially announced to the public as Kartchner Caverns, named after the rancher who owned the land.
Interest about the new attraction quickly swelled to excitement, but would-be tourists had to wait over a decade to be invited in. Conservationists studied the environment to determine the best ways to minimize impact. An educational facility was designed and constructed nearby. Entrances were established and the caverns were mapped into distinct rooms, passages and points of interest: The Big Room, Throne Room, Echo Passage, Rotunda Room, Mud Flats, Strawberry Room and Subway Tunnel. Then, on November 12, 1999, after 28 million dollars had been spent in development, the site opened as Kartchner Caverns State Park and visitors from around the globe began their pilgrimage to see the caves' world-class formations.
Inside the caverns, darkness and humidity prevail. The echo of dripping water resounding off the cave's ancient limestone walls hints at its immense size, and the still moist air enjoys undisturbed slumber except for the occasional rapid wing beats of a myotis bat. Completely closed to the outside except for small fissures, with an average temperature of 68 degrees and relative humidity at a stifling 99%, visitors face mixed emotions upon entering this earthen basement. Initially awed by the spaciousness, later challenged by the encapsulation, most spectators become acutely fascinated by the majestic features that beckon their eye with peculiar shapes and vivid color.
Stalagmites hang like colossal icicles, mirrored by stalactites projecting up from the floor. Some of them meet to form columns. One stalactite and stalagmite in the Throne Room have joined together in 58-feet of organic matrimony, producing the tallest column in Arizona. This extraordinary travertine sculpture is called Kubla Khan, perhaps for its meaning: a poetic fragment. The Throne Room also displays the longest recorded calcite soda straw in the world, reaching a stunning 21 feet, 2 inches.
The shape of any given speleothem is determined by the way water flows, drips and pools inside the caverns. It takes approximately 100 years to form a single square inch of fragile calcite as mineral-rich moisture from the surface seeps in and leaves its deposits. Formations, like bacon draperies, quartz boxwork, brushite moonmilk, shields, totems and cascades of flowstone are marvels of nature rarely seen by human eyes. Alive and still growing in Kartchner Caverns, they draw 200,000 annual visitors seeking a glimpse of their astounding beauty.
Cave Tour Information
All tours are guided by a trained tour guide. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling: (520)586-CAVE. The cave averages 68°F and 98% humidity year round. All cave trails are barrier-free. Due to wet surfaces and changes in grades, strollers and walkers are not allowed on the tours.
Special Reminders
· Touching or breaking formations is punishable by law.
· No photography or video cameras allowed on cave tour.
· Cave tour trail is barrier-free.
· The park, including the Discovery Center, is accessible for persons with disabilities.
· No food, drink (including bottled water), gum, or tobacco products allowed on cave tours.
· No pets, except assist dogs.
· No littering.
Rotunda/Throne Room Tour: Length: 1/2 mile Time: 1 1/2 hr. (leaving approximately every 20 minutes), tours available year-round.
On this tour you will discover the role water has played in the creation of Kartchner Caverns. You will see some of the tiniest, most delicate formations found in the cave, as well as the largest column in Arizona. This tour includes an up-close look at the variety of formations and colors that makes this cave one of the top ten in the world. And for you music lovers...the music that's played at the end of this tour is entitled "Adiemus" (Virgin Records Ltd.).
Information for Parents:
It is not uncommon for young children, six years and under, to become
uncomfortable in the cave environment. In these instances, the child and parent
will be allowed to leave the cave tour, for their well-being and safety. Please
inquire upon check-in, if you have any concerns.
Big Room Tour: Length: 1/2 mile Time: 1 1/2 hr. (leaving approximately every 30 minutes), tours available October 15 - April 15.
The Kartchner Caverns story is one of amazing discoveries...both past and present. Stand where the discoverers first entered the cave. Marvel at the strange and colorful formations. Learn about cave inhabitants, both ancient and living. As scientific studies continue, discoveries are yet to be made. The Big Room tour is a longer and more physically challenging tour. Children age 6 and under are not allowed on the tour.
Please note, we do not accept on-line reservations. You must call the reservation number to secure a reservation.We have experienced a high demand for cave tours.
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· Authentic 1890's ghost town · The only authentic ghost town in the Valley · Underground mine tours · Only narrow gauge railroad in operation in Arizona (36 inches) · Jeep tours of Superstition Mountains · Horses, wagons, carriages · Lodging and camping available at the Ghost Town · Sunday Services and Weddings at Church on the Mount · Corporate parties and groups welcome · Available for motion picture and still photography · Best place to take children - New Times |
Superstition Mountain
Where Wilderness and Urban Living Meet
The majestic monolith of Superstition Mountain is
the world famous icon that separates urban luxury and wilderness adventure. At
3,000 feet high, Superstition Mountain seems to stand macho guard protecting
the lore, myths, stories past and the spectacular wilderness that still belongs
to yesterday.
Those that have never been to Arizona think that everything that survives in the desert either stings, pokes, bites or eats meat. Well, that sounds a lot like people. In and around Superstition Mountain, one can bite-off what he or she wants to chew. If you’re the outdoor hiker type, you can meander with nature. Hike the wilderness trails; experience the desert flora, look for the Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine and even happen-stance upon exposed ancient Indian artifacts. Or maybe even come face-to-face with a bobcat, mountain lion, javelina, coyote and sometimes a black bear if you’re adventurous enough to penetrate deep into the Superstition wilderness.
For the thinner-skinned, you know – the ones that think a
vacation is a poolside lounge with a Margarita and envious views, the base of Superstition
Mountain offers resort luxury and fantasy championship golf framed by worldly
panorama. The Gold Canyon Golf Resort 
comes to mind where the night skylines of the Metro Phoenix
area are amazingly beautiful.
The Superstition Mountain, just east of Apache Junction Arizona which sits next to Mesa and viewable from nearby Phoenix, has long been the subject of interesting stories, mystery, Indian lore and tales of lost treasures of gold. Most are true, some are myths and others no doubt embellished through generations. But for sure, the entire Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area offers commanding experiences.
The Spanish were the first Europeans to discover Superstition Mountain and it was probably named by early settlers and farmers who heard the stories of mystery, strange happenings and how the Pima Indians feared the sacred grounds of the Apache.
You’ll discover abandoned ghost towns, historical museums and vast, wide-open hiking trails among the giant Saguaro. The flavor of the area is embellished in various restaurants, golf courses and gated communities away from the hustle-bustle of city life. Real estate is high-end luxury with endless amenity and the area resorts know how to accommodate visitors with style and pampering.
And nearby in very close proximity are the recreation highlights of the Verde River, and the lakes of Canyon and Saguaro where boating and fishing among the canyon walls offer views that exist no where else on earth. The Apache Trail running alongside the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area has been described as one of the most scenic drives in America that leads to Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake.
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About the
Garden
Nestled amid the red buttes
of Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden
hosts one of the world’s finest collections of desert plants. One of only 44
botanical gardens accredited by the American Association of Museums,
this one-of-a-kind museum showcases 50 acres of beautiful outdoor exhibits.
Home to 139 rare, threatened and endangered plant species from around the
world, the Garden offers interesting and inspiring experiences to more than
250,000 visitors each year.
In 1938 a small group of Valley
citizens gathered in Papago Park to create
a botanical garden whose precepts would encourage an understanding,
appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world's deserts,
particularly the Sonoran Desert. They foresaw the Valley's potential and
unique identity, envisioning the need to conserve their beautiful desert
environment. The Desert Botanical Garden, since its inception in 1939,
continues to be a testament to their vision.
Here's an Arizona drive that's sure to impress
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Take your time on Arizona 179, or Fain Road, near Prescott Valley to see antelope. |
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Perhaps you haven't traveled much in Arizona and wish to do so during the Thanksgiving holiday. Or you may be hosting out-of-town visitors and want to impress them with the beauty of the state.
There are an endless number of drives that could satisfy both desires. But here's one you can do in a day and still see a broad variety of scenery.
The vast majority of the trip is on pavement. But there are three unpaved roads you might want to try, and they're generally suitable for cars.
The trip winds northwest of Phoenix to Wickenburg, then northeast to Prescott. From there it'll pass through historic Jerome and pass through Cottonwood on your way to Sedona.
At Sedona, it'll head up Schnebly Hill Road for an awesome view of the red rocks in Oak Creek Canyon. And it'll continue to follow that road to Interstate 17 for the return to Phoenix.
Start early so you can be home in time for dinner, unless you spend too much time at various stops. If you do, lunch in Prescott and dinner in Sedona is a great idea.
The best time to be in the desert is early morning, and the drive on U.S. 60 to Wickenburg will be no different. The cactus and creosote will look lush despite the long stretch of dry weather.
The Hassayampa River Preserve just southeast of Wickenburg and the museum in that town are worth a stop. At Wickenburg, take U.S. 93 northwest until its junction with Arizona 89. Get on 89 and pass through Congress on the way to Prescott.
A short distance from Congress, the first spectacular part of the drive will loom ahead. That will be a look ahead to see where you're going. What you'll see is the highway and its switchbacks as it climbs what is called Yarnell Hill. You'll climb from the desert to high desert grasslands.
Views from the switchbacks are spectacular (tell the driver to keep eyes on road). The climb allows a panoramic view for many miles across the desert below. And in short order, you'll have climbed more than 1,000 feet into another world.
These desert grasslands are dotted with ranches, and different types of vegetation thrive at this elevation.
About 15 miles from Prescott, the terrain changes again. Now you enter pinyon-juniper country that slowly turns into thick stands of ponderosa pines. Arizona has the largest stand in the world. There seem to be rock formations at every turn.
A number of historic sites draw interest in Prescott, but you must stop at the town square where Whiskey Row saloons retain their Wild West decor. Lock the driver in the car. The temptation might be too great.
If you're in a hurry, go just north of the city on 89 until the junction of Arizona 89A. Turn right onto 89A toward Mingus Mountain and Jerome. But if you can, take a longer route that's not that much out of the way.
Several miles north of downtown, turn right onto Arizona 69 and drive into Prescott Valley. When you reach Prescott Country Club (on the right), you'll see a road to the left. It's called Fain Road or Arizona 179. It's an unpaved road and runs through more grasslands.
Take your time on this road and look carefully into the grasslands on both sides of the road. Binoculars are worth having. Before you reach 89A on this road, you almost surely will spot a herd of antelope.
Some days the antelope are near the road, sometimes much further away. There usually are chances for great photographs.
With this wildlife viewing finished, it's time to end this short detour and hit 89A and make a right-hand turn. Now begins a climb toward Mingus Mountain. The road is curvy and rather narrow, but the drive that begins on the edge of a canyon ends in thick stands of ponderosas.
Just at the pass between Prescott and Jerome, a large unpaved road goes to the right. Take that road. It climbs up the mountain and passes a dammed spring, some camping areas, a small lake, a church camp and, finally, ends at some camping sites.
Within a short walk, the mountain becomes more of a cliff that drops quickly and far. Views of the Verde Valley are spectacular. The San Francisco Peaks, including the state's tallest mountain, Mount Humphrey, are clear if clouds or haze don't block the view. It's a drive well worth it.
Now it's back to 89A and a short drive into historic Jerome, a former mining town built on the side of a mountain. No more mining here but a great mining museum.
The old buildings and homes, many built on a downhill slope, are perched precariously. Many residences are occupied. The downtown area is packed with galleries, bars and novelty shops. Some really good restaurants, too.
Finally, the run to Sedona, a trendy tourist mecca at the mouth of famous Oak Creek Canyon. Accommodations at Sedona are excellent.
For the most part they are extremely expensive, too. Fine restaurants that won't cost a week's wages are plentiful. You have been on 89A and can continue on the highway through spectacular Oak Creek Canyon, with its red rocks and thick riparian areas, and come out just south of Flagstaff. That's an excellent trip.
There's another way that you may prefer. In downtown Sedona, turn right onto Arizona 179. In just a few blocks you'll cross a bridge over Oak Creek and past Tlaquepaque shopping area and head into a sharp turn. At that curve Schnebly Hill Road (Forest Road 153) is on your left.
Watch the traffic and take that left turn. You'll be on pavement a short distance, then start the climb to the canyon rim on an unpaved but decent road.
The winding road with steep dropoffs provide views into the canyon from many different perspectives. There are pullouts near the top for really good looks. Spectacular. Continue on the paved road to I-17 and the trip home.
Sedona Arizona & Oak Creek Canyon |
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Savor A Very Special Vacation
Sedona Arizona,
world famous destination of the world famous. Everywhere you
look, it’s breathtaking beauty. At the base of Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona is a
showcase of red rock mountain buttes painted by nature against clear blue
skies. Oak Creek meanders 
alongside Sedona with shimmering glow where
you’ll find worldclass resorts that offer just about any amenity you can
imagine.
The drive up Oak Creek Canyon Az has been described by Rand McNally as one of America’s Top 10 scenic drives. A winding climb from Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon offers striking panoramic views of the flowing creek and lushly green forest. Blended into the scenery are lodges, vacation rentals and quaintly quiet bed and breakfast accommodations. Hike with nature’s splendor, fish for trout or just sit awhile and soak up the serenity. Oak Creek Canyon is truly the place to relax with nature.
Some say Sedona feeds the soul. The USA Weekend Annual Report says, “Sedona is one of the 10 most beautiful places in America”. It’s home to artisans that fill the galleries with fine paintings, sculptures and other works of art. Sedona is a shopper’s paradise where you’ll find the contemporary, southwestern flair, the unique and the unusual.
Sedona Arizona and Oak Creek Canyon are rich in ancient history. It’s an archeological goldmine for those that enjoy historical tours. Visit the historical spots where you’ll discover cave dwellings of the Sinaqua Indians carved into the limestone cliffs above the Verde Valley. Perhaps nearby you’ll want to experience canoeing the Verde River through shallow rapids, past native wildlife to a first-hand look at prehistoric Indian ruins.
Depending upon how adventurous you are, consider a jeep tour of the rugged plateaus and historic trails with spectacular views of the Sedona valley area. Or you might consider a gentler ride at the lower scenic elevations. A tour of the historic “stage coach” route where you’ll enjoy the views along the old Mogollon rim. And if you have little fear of heights, you’ll enjoy the jeep tours that hug the rugged cliffs for the most amazing views of Sedona and Oak Creek.
The Native Americans consider the Sedona area a spiritual vortex where the earth’s electromagnetic energy is focused on those visitors that desire to feel and experience the spiritual and healing energy. Supposedly the magnetic energy is about nurturing and opening the heart to promote a stronger connection to one’s emotional side. According to believers, the Sedona area offers many vortices that are nearby and easily assessable.
Worldclass resorts, fine hotels and convenient motels area abundant in Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. Each is unique to satisfy individual desires. Choose the downtown Sedona accommodations or those nestled along the banks of Oak Creek Canyon. The quaint and quiet seclusion in the forest or those surrounded by the towering red rock cliffs. Select from cottages, European style resorts and the romantic.
That’s why over 3 million people visit Sedona Az and Oak Creek Canyon every year. There’s so much to do, to see and to savor. Go ahead, pamper yourself in world famous Sedona Arizona and the lovely Oak Creek Canyon and experience a most famous destination in the world.
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Nogales, Mexico
You must see Nogales, Mexico on your trip through beautiful and exciting Santa Cruz County. As you enter the main gate in downtown Nogales, Arizona, you are walking in the footsteps of man’s history in North America. Origins of the highway through Nogales are traced directly to an ancient
foot trail that ran to the ocean near Guaymas-San Carlos at the Gulf of California.
Just across the border from Nogales, Arizona, the two cities share the same name but the cultures have evolved separately. Fill your trip to Mexico with its traditions, wonderful shopping and great food. Take the time to enjoy the restaurants—La Roca and El Greco are a couple of local haunts but there are many terrific restaurants to choose from.
Walking is a popular way to cross the border and Nogales, AZ has many guarded parking lots close to the port-of-entry. Just follow Interstate 19 to the end in Nogales and the lot attendants will help you park. The cost to park your vehicle all day is very reasonable, generally under $5.00, and most of the shopping and eating attractions are close to the border and within easy walking distance.
As you enter Mexico, you will see the Flag Island of the Americas, which has banners for all of the Mexican states—Nogales is in the state of Sonora. Turn right at Campillo Street and walk down three blocks to Obregon Street-now you can shop, browse, explore and enjoy the people, places, sights, and sounds of Mexico.
If your love is pottery, glassware, furniture, baskets, rugs, leather, or jewelry you will, if you look, find unique and beautiful pieces at reasonable cost. Prices at the shops are not fixed so prepare to enjoy bargaining—negotiate a price. Business is done in English and American currency is preferred. Caveat emptor, let the buyer beware: check the quality of the product, before you begin bargaining.
Come! Shop in Nogales! The people in Nogales, Sonora do! Downtown Nogales is an award-winning Arizona Main Street community that includes over 140 establishments in an historic setting. Many of the historic buildings house wonderful retail stores with variety to please everyone. It's a great place to shop and, when you drop, enjoy a newly painted bench in the park. Over the course of the last year, young artists from Nogales have been painting the town just for you. Enjoy the shopping and the history, stop and look at the Woolworth Company building, located at 34-46 Morley Avenue, which was constructed in 1917, and is the only neoclassical commercial building in Nogales as well as the only original terra cotta facade in Nogales.
Stop by the Pimeria Alta Museum, the Old Town Hall, located at 136 North Grand Avenue. In 1914, the Nogales Volunteer fire Department pitched in and built the Old Town Hall on Grand Avenue, which is now home to many historic treasures. Designed by the renowned Tucson architect Henry O. Jaastad, the building was constructed with all of the amenities-steam heat, sewer, electricity, and running water. The entire ground floor can be explored. Ask about a free copy of the Historic Nogales Self-Guided Walking Tour courtesy of Historic Nogales Main Street.
Montezuma Castle
Most Preserved Ancient Cliff Dwellings in America
They were the Sinaquas. Ancient Indian Tribe who built the cliff dwellings called Montezuma Castle about 700 years ago in the early 1300s. And for unknown reasons, the Sinaqua abandoned their habitat in this Verde Valley Arizona area in the 1400s. Maybe they had over extended agricultural pressure on the land. Perhaps there was a lengthy drought or they could have been eliminated through conflict with the Yavapai Indians that still exist today. If there were any Sinaqua survivors, they were likely absorbed into other Indian Tribes to the north.
Interestingly, the name Montezuma Castle was a mistaken name. Early settlers who discovered the cliff dwelling ruins erroneously connected them to the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but in-fact the Sinaqua ruins had been abandoned a hundred years before Montezuma was even born. And the dwellings weren’t a castle at all, but a multi-family “prehistoric high rise apartment complex”.
No doubt the Sinaqua were
daring builders having scaled the high cliffs to carve-out a
recessed area into the limestone walls to erect these strongly built dwellings
high above overlooking the Beaver Creek area just 
a few miles from what is now known as Camp
Verde Arizona.
It took ladders to climb to Montezuma Castle and as the Sinaqua reached each level, the ladders made their way to the cliff community making it difficult for enemy tribes to penetrate the natural defense of straight-vertical barriers.
The area must have been the ideal place for the Sinaquas to build Montezuma Castle. The prehistoric Hohokam Indians had been here hundreds of years previously and had built irrigation systems for farming and proved equally as valuable to the Sinaquas. There was an abundant water supply provided by the creeks. The land was fertile and a variety of wildlife including deer, antelope and bear offered good hunting that augmented a primary diet of corn. There is also visual evidence that the Sinaqua mined salt in the area. Combined with the natural safety of the cliffs, this was the perfect place to build Montezuma Castle.
Artifacts confirmed the Sinaqua were fine artisans. Stone tools, metates for grinding corn, bone needles that wove colorful garments and ornaments of shell, turquoise and local gemstones have been discovered. Pottery was not an ornate craft but simply plain ware for cooking.
Montezuma Castle is a five-story, 20-room cliff dwelling that sits in a recessed area into the cliffs. Nearby is Tuzigoot (Apache for “Crooked Water”), remnants of a Sinquan Village built on a ridge summit. Tuzigoot was two stories high with 77 ground floor rooms that were assessable via ladders through roof openings.
The Montezuma Well is several miles away which is a limestone sink created by the collapse of a large underground cavern. The well is continuously fed by springs which both the Sinaquas and Hohokams used to irrigate crops. There are also ruins located here from large pueblos to one-room houses.
About one million visitors a year come to Montezuma Castle National Monument. There are no lodging or camping facilities, but motels are very nearby in Camp Verde Arizona, and Sedona offers fine hotels and resorts about 30 miles away. Phoenix is about 87 miles south and Flagstaff Arizona is about 50 miles north.
Montezuma Castle is open every day of the year at 8:00 a.m. with a summer closing of 7:00 p.m. and winter hours until 5:00 p.m. There is a very modest entrance fee and children under 16 are admitted free. The Montezuma Visitors Center has a small museum displaying artifacts and the park includes paved, self-guiding trails which are wheel chair assessable.