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Visit Arizona’s
Legendary Communities
Benson and the San Pedro Valley
Home to Kartchner Caverns State Park and crisp blue skies,
Benson is the region's gateway to those coming from Tucson and
Phoenix. Kartchner Caverns is nestled in the Whetstone Mountains
and is regarded as one of the most visually stunning caverns
in the entire world. The Holy Trinity Monastery is a favorite
among bird watchers because of its 1.3 mile-long bird sanctuary.
A great way to experience the town is by taking the Benson Historic
Walking Tour. For the tour or for more information about Benson
and the San Pedro Valley contact the Benson Visitor's Center
at (520) 586-4293 or by e-mail at info@bensonvisitorcenter.com
Web: www.bensonvisitorcenter.com
Bisbee
Located a mile high in the Mule Mountains, Bisbee is a former
mining town and now home to a thriving arts and antiquing community.
The many unique shops and galleries along Main Street are complemented
by an array of fine restaurants. For a glimpse of what life
was like in Bisbee's 1800s heyday, visit the town's famed Bisbee
Mining & Historical Museum (a Smithsonian Institute affiliate)
or take the fascinating 75-minute Queen Copper Mine Tour conducted
by knowledgeable former miners. For more information about Bisbee
contact the Bisbee Visitor's Center at 1-866-2BISBEE or (520)
432-3554.
Web: www.discoverbisbee.com
Douglas and Sonora Mexico
Douglas and its environs boast a wealth of attractions for
birders, hikers, and cavers. The town's wide avenues are lined
with historic buildings including the Gadsden Hotel, one of
the last of the turn-of-the-century's grand hotels. You can
relive the 1880s at the historic John Slaughter Ranch Museum
just 18 miles east of town. The international border crossing
takes you to Douglas' sister city, Agua Prieta, Sonora - a portal
to the wonders of northern Mexico. Bustling streets are lined
with beautifully decorated shops and a downtown square fronts
the Iglesia de Guadalupe. Ask about guided tours to Mexico.
Contact the Douglas Visitor's Center at (520) 364-2478 or by
e-mail at info@douglasaz.gov
Web: www.douglasaz.gov
Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca
Sierra Vista is Cochise County's largest city and home to an
array of historical, commercial and natural experiences. Fort
Huachuca and the Military Intelligence Museum convey the rich
history of the Fort during the Apache Wars and the facility's
important modern role in safeguarding the nation. The Mall at
Sierra Vista features top national retailers and family- oriented
activities while the nearby San Pedro National Conservation
Area stands as one of the country's premier bird watching locations.
For more information about Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca contact
the Sierra Vista Convention & Visitor's Bureau at tourism@visitsierravista.com
Web: www.visitsierravista.com
Tombstone
Long known as The Town Too Tough To Die, all of Tombstone
is a Registered Historic National Landmark that thrives today
as a lively center for recounting and reliving the days of famous
and infamous western history. Visitors walk the same streets
as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday once did. And they experience
firsthand what it was like when the guns that made history indelible
were drawn at the OK Corral. Other not-to-be-missed sites in
Tombstone are Big Nosed Kate's, the Crystal Palace, Boothill
Cemetery, Tombstone Courthouse State Park, the Bird Cage Theater
and the world's largest living rose tree at the Rose Tree Museum.
Tombstone offers entertainment and history in ways that few
other towns can match. For more information about Tombstone,
contact the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce at info@tombstonechamber.com
Web: www.tombstonechamber.com
Willcox
At one time Willcox was the largest beef-producing town in
America and was known as the "Cattle Capital of the West." Today,
the town continues to thrive as an agricultural community, especially
noted for its apples, and is home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame,
the Rex Allen Museum and the Chiricahua Regional Museum and
Research Center. Rex Allen was a singing cowboy who recorded
such songs as "Streets of Laredo" and "Crying in the Chapel."
Nearby are some of the most awe-inspiring natural landscapes
in the Southwestern United States: Cochise Stronghold, the Chiricahua
National Monument, the Willcox Playa bird habitat and other
locations make the town and environs a truly unique blend of
culture, nature and western history. For more information about
Willcox contact the Willcox Chamber of Commerce at (800) 200-2272
or by email at willcoxchamber@vtc.net
Web: www.willcoxchamber.com
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