Discover hundreds of things to do in southeastern Arizona. From Tombstone to Tucson, there are a wide variety of natural wonders and historic treasures to make your Arizona vacation a trip to remember. Visit the Pima Air and Space Museum for a modern tribute to technology and its role in the great aircraft of our nation or visit natural wonders such as the Coronado National Forest. Here are just a few of the destinations waiting for you here in Arizona:
PIMA AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM - Tucson Arizona. Pima is a small Arizona town of approximately 2,000 residents located just 88 miles from Tucson, Arizona, and noted primarily for being the home of the Arizona Airspace Foundations Pima Air and Space Museum. The museum is home to one of the world’s largest and most unique collections of aircraft, missiles and related equipment in the world. Among the many aircraft on exhibit are the Super Guppy: The Super Guppy is actually a huge cargo transport plane specifically built for carrying large but light loads such as the Apollo Program’s Saturn Rocket. An original WW II U.S. Air Force barracks is located on the museum grounds.
THE CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST - Cochise County Arizona. Five Coronado National Forest ranges surround the city of Safford, Arizona; Pinaleno, Gallura, Santa Teresa, Winchester and the Greenwood Mountains, of which the highest point is Mount Graham. Mountain ranges throughout the forest average from 3,000 to 10,720 feet. North and west of Nogales, Arizona are four Coronado Forest mountain ranges; The Santa Rita, Tumacacon, Pajarito and San Luis Mountains. Three mountain ranges north and east of Douglas, Arizona are the Chiricahua, Dragoon and Peloncillo Mountains, a portion of which extends into New Mexico. The mountain ranges of the Coronado National Forest offer numerous hiking trails, breathtaking scenic vistas for photographers and some of the world’s best bird watching.
ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM - Tucson Arizona. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum was established in 1952 to showcase the plants and animals native to this region, and the Museum is a must-see for anyone planning to visit Tucson, Arizona where the Museum is located. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is much more than a place to view preserved specimens, it is actually a combination museum, botanical garden and zoo. In 2005, the Museum’s faculty created a Center for Sonoran Desert study. The Museum is a wonderful place to visit, housing realistic creations of the Sonoran Desert region, exhibits of more than 300 animal species, and some 1400 types of desert plant life. The Museum is located in Tucson, Arizona at 2021 North Kinney Road – Telephone: 520-883-2702.
Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering - Sierra Vista, Arizona. This weekend poetry gathering of talented poets and musicians continue the historical tradition of the honoring of the old west through poetry, music, readings, and traditional story telling. The organizations free Saturday poetry programs often enthrall the visiting audience with a wide variety of old Western stories, songs and poems. A family affair, you will often find over five thousand people attending this annual event ranging from young children beginning their first poetry experience to amateurs and professionals who love the west and the poetry it inspires. Join the folks at Sierra Vista for a wonderful weekend at this annual event.
Or check out the Hot Tamale Festival on Nov. 2 a date to remember --Connoisseurs of tamales can begin preparing their taste buds and stomachs for a fill of the holiday food while organizers gear up for the 2nd Annual Casino del Sol Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival. The tasty event is Dec. 2 at the casino's Anselmo Valencia Tori Amphitheater, 5655 W. Valencia Road. People who want to sell tamales need to preregister now. "Historically, food has been a tool to bring cultures and civilizations together," said Jose Merino, editor of La Estrella de Tucson, which is presenting the event. "I hope the second annual tamal festival will do just that for our community."
Can you imagine a bridge that is a crooked as a crumpled straw? That’s what you will see if you visit Tucson, Arizona. Today there's a brand spanking new pedestrian/bicycle bridge across six lanes of traffic in downtown Tucson made to look like a giant diamondback rattlesnake. One end of the bridge has the snake's head, where users enter between the snake's fangs. officially the Broadway Diamondback Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge, it is better known as the Rattlesnack Bridge. Tucson residents are (of course) divided over the snake. Others hate it and think it makes downtown Tucson look like a miniature golf course.
Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block. The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block encompass an entire city block of historic downtown. The five historic properties that are under the care of the museum are La Casa Cordova, Romero House, Edward Nye Fish House, Stevens/Duffield House and the Corbett House. The Tucson Museum of Art has over 7,000 pieces which have been collected for more than 25 years. The collections are truly stunning whether they are from the American West collection or the pre-Columbian Art you will be exposed to some of the great art of the world at this museum. It is the home of the Art of the Americas collection of pre-Columbian, Mexican folk art and colonial works.
Take a road trip with travel writer Penelope SanMateo and see all the Arizona attractions waiting to both educate and excite you! Visite Fort Bowie and learn about the battle between the Chiricahua Apaches and the U.S. Military in the 1800s. Your exploration in Arizona will give you an opportunity to visit the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee and see how the mining practices of the past have changed in todays world. All of this and more is available on your Arizona vacation today.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Vacation in Arizona for a excellent family outdoor vacation
There are a wide variety of fun and exciting things to see and do in southern Arizona. So while you are visiting Tucson, take time to visit some of the surrounding areas for great family vacation fun as you visit communities like Tombstone Arizona where you can take a step back in time. Or check out natural wonders such as the Colossal Cave or the Tonto National Monument. Here are just a few of the things to do while on vacation in southern Arizona.
John Wayne Movie Site. Four different John Wayne movies were filmed at the Old Tucson Studios, along with scores of other westerns dating back to 1939 when William Holden filmed Arizona here. Both lots were used to film Michael Landon’s Little House on the Prairie, and even today, the lots are used to film modern westerns, such as Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead. Raise a Ruckus is a western musical with dancing girls doing the Can Can. Big Screen Adventure has audience members invited onto the stage to help out, and the Great Tucson Bank Robbery provides entertainment as audience members watch two bank robbers attempt a heist. Old Tucson Studios is open from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., with extended hours until 6:00 P.M. Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week.
Tonto National Monument is located two hours from Phoenix or Scottsdale. Located in the Sonoran Desert, it is home to several sites that contain cliff dwellings that were occupied between the 13th and early 15th centuries. The people that built and lived in these cliff dwellings were farmers. Visitors can also take in views of Lake Roosevelt. The trail to the Lower Cliff Dwellings closes at 4:00 pm to those wishing to begin the hike. Reservations must be made for the Upper Cliff Dwelling tours, and it is open from April to November. Tours are limited to 15 people and tend to fill up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended. To get more information, call Tonto National Monument at 928-467-2225.
Cochise Stronghold is a natural fortress of granite cliffs located west of Sunsites, Arizona. The Stronghold provided Cochise the opportunity to harass stage drivers, miners and farmers. Cochise was never defeated in battle. A popular and attractive site for camping, there are several different trails within the Cochise Stronghold that you can enjoy during your stay. The trail is filled with interesting and entertaining information about Cochise and his family. The third trail is the Nature Trail, which is about .4 miles long. The natural beauty and great weather of Cochise Stronghold makes it a worthwhile stop on any trip to this part of Arizona. Both day trips for hiking and picnicking and overnight camping are allowed in Cochise Stronghold. There is a maximum limit of 14 days for staying at Cochise Stronghold.
CITY OF TOMBSTONE - Tombstone, Arizona “The town too tough to die.” Tombstone, ArizonaConsequently, when he struck a vein of unusually rich silver ore, he named his mining claim “Tombstone”. This historic battle which has taken on almost romantic proportions by those individuals intrigued by the Old West resulted in the deaths of both McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton. Billy Claiborne, Wes Fuller and Ike Clanton (father of Billy) ran away and were unharmed while Doc Holliday and Virgil and Morgan Earp were wounded. Tombstone is home to what is considered to be the most famous Boot Hill graveyard in the Old West. Things to see and do in Tombstone include the Old West’s most famous newspaper – “The Tombstone Epitaph”. Free admission to the museum from 9:30 am to 5 pm, the Daily re-enactment held at the OK Corral at 2 pm, and many shops are available to purchase authentic Western memorabilia.
Tucson Attractions - Tucson, Arizona. You can have fun exploring nature and the arts; you can find family friendly fun, experience the rich history of the area or find science centers or unique shopping options. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Road in Tucson. Winter hour admission fees are $12 for adults and $4 for children. If you want more information about this attraction, call 520-883-1380. The hours of operation and admission fees vary, so if you are interested in attending a play while in Tucson, call 520-622-2823. If you want to have some good old-fashioned family fun, the Funtasticks Family Fun Park is the place to go. Visitors can call 520-294-2624 for more information.
Old Tucson Studios is the place for western film buffs. Found at 201 South Kinney Road in Tucson, this is an active film studio that offers visitors a chance to step back in time to the Wild West, and experience the chance to walk where some of the most famous film legends have gone before. The park also includes a Young Rider’s Park which is an amusement park for kids. It has miniature antique cars, a big top circus tent, an old-fashioned carousel, and a tourist train. Old Tucson Studios is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The park is also available for groups and special tours, such as education tours, corporate events and weddings.
Colossal Cave is located at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, Arizona. The tour route of the cave is about a half mile in length. It is considered a dry cave, which means that the formations in the cave are not growing. Visitors will see a wide array of cave formations, including stalactites, flowstone, helictites and boxwork. Special tour options, such as the Candlelight Tours, Ladder Tours and Wild Cave Tours are available by reservation. The cave is open year round. The park user fees are $5 per car. Tours for Colossal Cave cost $8.50 for adults, children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are admitted free. Trail ride and riding stable prices vary, and reservations are recommended.
Penelope SanMateo is a travel writer for Arizona Vacations on Arizona Beautiful telling of the exciting places to visit. She tells of the things to do in Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding area as well as the rest of the state. An Arizona vacation holds suprises for those that want to explore the history of the area.
John Wayne Movie Site. Four different John Wayne movies were filmed at the Old Tucson Studios, along with scores of other westerns dating back to 1939 when William Holden filmed Arizona here. Both lots were used to film Michael Landon’s Little House on the Prairie, and even today, the lots are used to film modern westerns, such as Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead. Raise a Ruckus is a western musical with dancing girls doing the Can Can. Big Screen Adventure has audience members invited onto the stage to help out, and the Great Tucson Bank Robbery provides entertainment as audience members watch two bank robbers attempt a heist. Old Tucson Studios is open from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., with extended hours until 6:00 P.M. Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week.
Tonto National Monument is located two hours from Phoenix or Scottsdale. Located in the Sonoran Desert, it is home to several sites that contain cliff dwellings that were occupied between the 13th and early 15th centuries. The people that built and lived in these cliff dwellings were farmers. Visitors can also take in views of Lake Roosevelt. The trail to the Lower Cliff Dwellings closes at 4:00 pm to those wishing to begin the hike. Reservations must be made for the Upper Cliff Dwelling tours, and it is open from April to November. Tours are limited to 15 people and tend to fill up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended. To get more information, call Tonto National Monument at 928-467-2225.
Cochise Stronghold is a natural fortress of granite cliffs located west of Sunsites, Arizona. The Stronghold provided Cochise the opportunity to harass stage drivers, miners and farmers. Cochise was never defeated in battle. A popular and attractive site for camping, there are several different trails within the Cochise Stronghold that you can enjoy during your stay. The trail is filled with interesting and entertaining information about Cochise and his family. The third trail is the Nature Trail, which is about .4 miles long. The natural beauty and great weather of Cochise Stronghold makes it a worthwhile stop on any trip to this part of Arizona. Both day trips for hiking and picnicking and overnight camping are allowed in Cochise Stronghold. There is a maximum limit of 14 days for staying at Cochise Stronghold.
CITY OF TOMBSTONE - Tombstone, Arizona “The town too tough to die.” Tombstone, ArizonaConsequently, when he struck a vein of unusually rich silver ore, he named his mining claim “Tombstone”. This historic battle which has taken on almost romantic proportions by those individuals intrigued by the Old West resulted in the deaths of both McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton. Billy Claiborne, Wes Fuller and Ike Clanton (father of Billy) ran away and were unharmed while Doc Holliday and Virgil and Morgan Earp were wounded. Tombstone is home to what is considered to be the most famous Boot Hill graveyard in the Old West. Things to see and do in Tombstone include the Old West’s most famous newspaper – “The Tombstone Epitaph”. Free admission to the museum from 9:30 am to 5 pm, the Daily re-enactment held at the OK Corral at 2 pm, and many shops are available to purchase authentic Western memorabilia.
Tucson Attractions - Tucson, Arizona. You can have fun exploring nature and the arts; you can find family friendly fun, experience the rich history of the area or find science centers or unique shopping options. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Road in Tucson. Winter hour admission fees are $12 for adults and $4 for children. If you want more information about this attraction, call 520-883-1380. The hours of operation and admission fees vary, so if you are interested in attending a play while in Tucson, call 520-622-2823. If you want to have some good old-fashioned family fun, the Funtasticks Family Fun Park is the place to go. Visitors can call 520-294-2624 for more information.
Old Tucson Studios is the place for western film buffs. Found at 201 South Kinney Road in Tucson, this is an active film studio that offers visitors a chance to step back in time to the Wild West, and experience the chance to walk where some of the most famous film legends have gone before. The park also includes a Young Rider’s Park which is an amusement park for kids. It has miniature antique cars, a big top circus tent, an old-fashioned carousel, and a tourist train. Old Tucson Studios is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The park is also available for groups and special tours, such as education tours, corporate events and weddings.
Colossal Cave is located at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, Arizona. The tour route of the cave is about a half mile in length. It is considered a dry cave, which means that the formations in the cave are not growing. Visitors will see a wide array of cave formations, including stalactites, flowstone, helictites and boxwork. Special tour options, such as the Candlelight Tours, Ladder Tours and Wild Cave Tours are available by reservation. The cave is open year round. The park user fees are $5 per car. Tours for Colossal Cave cost $8.50 for adults, children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are admitted free. Trail ride and riding stable prices vary, and reservations are recommended.
Penelope SanMateo is a travel writer for Arizona Vacations on Arizona Beautiful telling of the exciting places to visit. She tells of the things to do in Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding area as well as the rest of the state. An Arizona vacation holds suprises for those that want to explore the history of the area.
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