Gettin’ Around Tour
This 3-day tour begins at the Benson Visitor Center to give attendees a look at the replica train depot and a chance to engineer its “G” Scale train around 96 feet of track. Then you’ll head to Sierra Vista for a Bicycle Tour of the Cochise Vista Trail. Interested in how miners got around? Next up is a look at the Bisbee Queen Mine and Heritage Stairs. Following, the Douglas Border Air Museum features how air-planes have been such an integral part of the town’s history. Last, but not least, hitch a ride aboard a Tombstone Stage Coach in the Town Too Tough To Die. In between Gettin’ Around, you will experience local attractions and native cuisine that lend themselves to the story of each community. Whether you prefer the seat of a plane, train, horse, or bicycle, Cochise County is the place for movers. So, grab your compass and point it southeast!
DAY 1
1
TRIP BEGINS:
Depart
Tucson to Benson
Whether you have flown into Tucson from out of the area and plan to rent a car, or you are driving through Tucson in your own car, you can easily reach Benson in approximately one hour via I-10 East. The center of Benson is a little more than 50 miles from the Tucson International Airport.
2
BENSON:
Attraction
Visitor Center & Mural Walking Tour
Stop by the Benson Visitor Center to learn all about the city’s rich railroad heritage and the many area attractions. Benson is also particularly proud of their designation as the home of Kartchner Caverns State Park. Head out from the Visitor’s Center and begin the Mural Walking Tour, a fun look at over 40 hand-painted murals around town.
3
BENSON:
Dinner
Mi Casa
Wrap up your first tour day by enjoying dinner at Mi Casa, a local Mexican restaurant offering comfort food, small plates, and quick bites/to go options.
4
DAY 2
1
BENSON:
Breakfast
Historic Horseshoe Cafe
A staple for diner food and desserts since 1936, the Horseshoe Cafe offers all-day breakfast, classic fried comfort foods, a full bar, and everything in between.
Photo Credit: Amanda Baillie
2
SIERRA VISTA:
Attraction
Bicycle Tour
After breakfast, hop in the car and head over to Sierra Vista for Bike Sierra Vista. Whether your bike has skinny tires or knobby ones, or you ride astride a single-speed cruiser or a speedy racer, Sierra Vista is the place to start your bicycle adventure.
3
SIERRA VISTA:
Attraction
Brown Canyon Ranch
Step back to the turn of the 20th Century with a visit to Brown Canyon Ranch. First permanently occupied by John Thomas Brown and his family around 1800, the property passed through many hands until James and Tom Haverty built the ranch house sometime between 1905 and 1907.
4
SIERRA VISTA:
Lunch
Landmark Cafe
A local favorite, Landmark Café offers diner fare that is a cut above, with several choices that pay tribute Sierra Vista’s history, like the Ethel Berger Cheeseburger, Nola Walker Club, or “Pam”cakes, served fresh and hot all day.
5
BISBEE:
Attraction
Golf Cart Tour
The Bisbee Tour Company offers multiple golf cart tour options to enjoy the town from an entirely different perspective.
6
BISBEE:
Dinner
Bisbee Table
Bisbee Table is an eatery serving an eclectic mix of comfort food in a casual space filled with photos of old Bisbee.
7
BISBEE:
Attraction
Walking Ghost Tour
If you’re interested in the Bisbee’s eerie past, an evening walking tour with Old Bisbee Ghost Tour will show you the town and introduce you to some ghostly members of society.
8
BISBEE:
Hotel
Overnight Options
Bisbee has a wonderful mix of lodging establishments, each with its own unique personality and style.
DAY 3
1
BISBEE:
Breakfast
Bisbee Breakfast Club
Grab a quick breakfast at Bisbee Breakfast Club, a local favorite with friendly service and yummy food.
2
BISBEE:
Attraction
Queen Mine Tour
Tour the Queen Mine, one of the most productive copper mines of the 20th century. Don the mining lanterns, hats and slickers of the miners, ride the mine train deep into the mine, and search for remaining veins of copper, gold, turquoise, silver, lead and zinc.
3
BISBEE:
Attraction
Heritage Stairs & Subway Street
One of Bisbee’s most magnificent architectural achievements are the countless concrete stairs that cling to the steep canyon sides. You can find these stairs all over town. While you’re at it, explore the heritage and culture along Subway Street and enjoy some shopping as you take a self-guided tour.
4
DOUGLAS:
Attraction
Border Air Museum
Grab a quick bit of lunch on your own and then head over to Douglas to visit the Douglas Border Air Museum. The museum includes photos, newspaper articles, original airplane photos, the official letter of President of United States Roosevelt declaring the airport “The First International Airport of the Americas,” a Trojan airplane that was built in Douglas, American Airlines memorabilia, and more.
5
DOUGLAS:
Dinner
El Chef
El Chef Mexican Restaurant is a family owned and operated, established in 1997. The Douglas, AZ restaurant creates simple and delicious food for all to enjoy.
6
DOUGLAS:
Hotel
Overnight Options
Douglas has several hotel options including the stunning and historic Gadsden Hotel.
Photo Credit: Amanda Baillie
DAY 4
1
DOUGLAS:
Breakfast
Mana Bakery
After a fun-filled day in Bisbee, it’s time to depart for Douglas and start the morning with breakfast at Mana Restaurant and Bakery.
2
TOMBSTONE:
Attraction
Stage Coach Tour & OK Corral
After enjoying breakfast in Douglas, head out for Tombstone for Wild West type of day. Start off with a guided tour by stagecoach or covered wagon. Then, watch a reenactment of The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a 30-second gunfight between outlaw Cowboys and lawmen that is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the American Wild West.
3
TOMBSTONE:
Lunch
Longhorn Steakhouse
The Longhorn Restaurant is the oldest continually operated restaurant in Tombstone. A historical building, The Longhorn Restaurant its location was once the Bucket of Blood Saloon, the Holiday Water Company, and the Owl Cafe and Hotel.
4
TRIP CONCLUDES:
Depart
Tombstone to Tucson
As you wrap up your trip and prepare to head home, you’ll head along AZ-80 and I-10 for approximately 70 miles to Tucson.
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