2021-08-20 01:05:08
This region has everything from urban attractions to remote solitude—with a whole lot in between. From centuries-old stands of towering saguaro cacti to rolling hillsides in lush wine country to authentic Old West towns that once bustled with prospectors and pioneers, this corner of Arizona is full of surprises. Set aside plenty of time to explore the character-rich college town of Tucson, where art galleries, historic museums, trendsetting eateries and urban adventures beckon. IN THIS REGION Benson, Bisbee, Elgin, Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Tubac, Tucson, Willcox Area Highlights TUCSON DESERT ART MUSEUM, TUCSON History and art come together at this multifaceted museum focused on the Southwest. Explore Navajo textiles, 19th-century landscape paintings by master artists and vintage maps. Pick up unique gifts at Four Corners Gallery & Gift Shop, selling jewelry, pottery, artwork and Zuni fetish carvings. MOUNT LEMMON Located in the Santa Catalina Range and surrounded by the Coronado National Forest, Mount Lemmon is an adventurer’s paradise. During summer, go hiking, camping and fishing, and in winter, ski and snowboard at Ski Valley. Once night falls, marvel at the heavens at Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter observatory, offering stargazing programs and public-dedicated telescopes. MERCADO SAN AGUSTIN, TUCSON A collection of indie boutiques and eateries housed in a Spanish Colonial-style building with an open-air courtyard, the Mercado San Agustin packs Instagram-worthy charm. Don’t miss the modern-style MSA Annex, where you’ll find 13 additional small businesses in repurposed shipping containers. BISBEE MINING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM, BISBEE Explore “The Queen of the Copper Camps” at this Smithsonian-affiliated museum, where you’ll enter a state-of-the-art mining exhibit rife with crystals, minerals and the history of this historic town, when miners blasted their way through thousands of miles of tunnels in search of precious metals. SAN XAVIER DEL BAC MISSION, TUCSON A vision of white against vast blue skies and stark desert, this Catholic church known as the “White Dove of the Desert” was completed in 1797 when southern Arizona was part of New Spain. Today, this National Historic Landmark on Tohono O’odham tribal lands is regarded as one of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial architecture in the country. AMERIND MUSEUM, DRAGOON From ancient artifacts to contemporary artistic explorations of modern-day issues, this museum and art gallery nestled among the natural beauty of Texas Canyon is dedicated to American Indian and Western art, history, culture and archeology. Be sure to stop by the Amerind Museum Store to shop authentic, museum-quality handicrafts. ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM, TUCSON This multi-faceted museum offers an array of experiences. Stroll the botanical gardens filled with Sonoran Desert plant life, see wildlife up-close at the on-site zoo, marvel at rocks and minerals at the natural history museum, spot underwater creatures at the aquarium and view artwork in the galleries. O.K. CORRAL, TOMBSTONE Transport yourself to the rough-and-tumble Wild West when you stand in the very place where the infamous gun fight occurred in 1881. Watch a daily reenactment, walk through the 1880s stables and blacksmith shop, and see historic photographs of Tombstone life as it was “back then.” PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, TUCSON Boasting six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to World War II), this 80-acre aviation museum features approximately 400 historic aircraft—including sea planes, bombers, helicopters and hot air balloons—as well as historic military artifacts, uniforms, photographs and films. MAGICAL MOMENTS IN NATURE If you really want to get in touch with the spirit of the American West, head out into nature. Arizona offers spectacular outdoor adventures, from stunning scenic drives to awesome Sonoran Desert hikes. Go ahead, enjoy a magical moment. Start with a drive along picturesque Catalina Highway Scenic Drive and pull over at the many overlooks along the way, such as Windy Point Vista. Stroll the pedestrian walkway and seek out one of the panoramic viewing areas, where you’ll be treated to sweeping valley views of Tucson and the Pusch Ridge Wilderness below. Just outside Tucson, Saguaro National Park is an iconic desert escape that is home to 25 cactus species. Trek among towering saguaro, spiky cholla and globe-like barrel cacti, and keep an eye out for all manner of wildlife, such as roadrunners, kangaroo rats and even Gila monsters. For a tamer—but no less spectacular—nature trip, Tucson Botanical Gardens features expertly cultivated plant life in its 17 diverse gardens showcasing everything from pollinator-friendly plants to traditional American Indian crops. October through May, surround yourself with fluttering tropical butterflies at its Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion. In Ajo, take off on a wilderness hike through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Miles of trails fan out into the Sonoran Desert, where you’ll encounter canyons teeming with plants and wildlife (including tortoises and javelinas). During the winter months, park rangers host fun educational programs. At Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, take the 8-mile paved scenic drive or hike 17 miles of day-use trails to get a full sense of this rare geographical showcase of massive columns, slender spires and impossibly balanced rocks—the result of a large-scale volcanic eruption 27 million years ago. Or, take your adventures to a new level—underground, that is—at Colossal Cave Mountain Park in Vail, where the guided Classic Cave Tour will take you six stories deep. Learn about the cave’s history and see ancient formations like stalactites and stalagmites. Back on land, saddle up for a horseback ride to explore the idyllic La Posta Quemada Ranch in the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert. Another subterranean treasure, Kartchner Caverns State Park in Benson features delicate soda straw stalactites, colossal columns and the world’s most extensive formation of brushite moonmilk. Go on a guided tour to learn about the history, geology and wildlife within the caverns, and see educational exhibits at the Discovery Center. DINING WITH A VIEW BY NORA BURBA TRULSSON In Southern Arizona, dining out often comes with views of mountains, desert and golf courses. Against a backdrop of craggy Pusch Ridge, Epazote Kitchen at El Conquistador Tucson Hilton serves up locally inspired dishes like duck confit quesadillas and chipotle calabacita pasta. Get a table on the patio to hear Larry Redhouse play Native flute music at dusk. Nearby, The Grill at Hacienda del Sol provides ringside seats for views of desert, golf course and the Catalina Mountains, not to mention fine dining and a Wine Spectator-lauded wine list. Try the gnocchi, zhuzhed-up Southwest style, with guajillo chile sauce. Set in a 49-acre botanical garden, Tucson’s Tohono Chul Garden Bistro is surrounded by wildflowers and palo verde trees—plus views of the Catalina Mountains. Peruse their daily brunch menu for choices like prickly pear margaritas, avocado toast and pancakes with a “charcuterie” of topping choices. Just north of Tucson, Noble Hops in Oro Valley also has va-va-voom views of the Catalina Mountains from its ample patio. The gastropub tours the world with its ever-changing selection of craft beers and offers comfort food like burgers, wings and gravy-smothered fries. South of Tucson, Stables Ranch Grille at Tubac Golf Resort is a historic setting surrounded by views of golf greens, towering cottonwoods and the Santa Rita Mountains from its spacious patio. In between gazing, dig into brown rice penne pasta with chicken and vegetables or the signature pork schnitzel. ARTIST’S ESCAPE A DAY TRIP TO TUBAC BY NORA BURBA TRULSSON Framed by the Santa Rita Mountains and enormous cottonwoods along the Santa Cruz River, Tubac has long attracted artists who come for the scenery as well the many historic adobe buildings. Less than an hour’s drive from downtown Tucson, the charming town makes for an easy day trip. Morning: Tubac is Arizona’s oldest European settlement, with a Spanish garrison established near the river in 1752. Meander through 1 Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, which preserves the garrison’s ramparts. The museum offers a Tubac timeline, while a gravel path leads to other buildings featuring art exhibits and more history. Lunch: Sit on the patio at 2 Soto’s Pk Outpost and order Mexican specialties such as fajitas, chile relleno, chimichangas and tacos, and maybe even a mango margarita or two. Afternoon: Take time to browse Tubac’s many galleries and artful shops. Established in 1961, 3 Tubac Center of the Arts is the epicenter of the community’s art scene, with exhibits, a shop, live performances, workshops, speakers and more. Just off Tubac’s central plaza, 4 Casa Maya de Mexico’s colorful interior is stocked with handmade crafts from south of the border, while nearby Old Presidio Traders is filled to the rafters with American Indian jewelry and arts. A short walk away, 5 La Entrada de Tubac offers a mix of shops, restaurants and galleries, including Feminine Mystique Art Gallery, which champions the work of women. Dinner: Founded in 1927 in Nogales, Mexico, 6 Elvira’s Restaurant in Tubac is dark, sexy and modern, providing a sophisticated spot to sample chicken mole poblano or salsa-topped grilled shrimp. Toast your Tubac trip with a tamarind margarita.
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