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Daycations: Cacti, Caves and Cowboys – Tucson Arizona
By Aly Wagonseller
It might seem simple to surmise that all deserts are created equal. Wide open spaces comprised of arrogant temperatures, lonely vegetation and wildlife, and a cruel lack of precipitation would certainly paint an accurate picture of most. But another variation of arid wonderland exists, and it’s found in Tucson, Arizona. A desert town that not only entertains with four-star resorts and distinctive Southwestern cuisine, but also offers a glimpse into mysterious, desert ecosystems, living caverns and the kind of old western folklore that legends are made of.
Prickly Personality
Tucson is located within the Sonoran Desert, a vast region that stretches throughout five western states on into Mexico. The Sonoran is rich in both wild and plant life and is home to several distinct, indigenous species. The expanse between Tucson and the Mexican border houses the only population of jaguars living in the United States and is also the natural habitat of one of the most intriguing cactus varieties in the world, the Saguaro cactus.
Saguaro National Park
Stretching along both the eastern and western parts of town, with downtown Tucson residing midway between, the scenery in the Saguaro National Park is eerily human like. Here you can drive through winding forests of up to 45 foot tall Saguaros that seem to exhibit personalities of their own. Outstretched “arms”, appendages that take more than 75 years to sprout, beckon onlookers to explore the horizon. Some seem friendlier than others, their extended limbs ready to engage in a big ole hug. Others emit a darker, mysterious and supernatural air, especially when encountered in the shadows of sunset.
Both sections of the park have trails and picnic areas, although summer hiking and biking is reserved for die hard enthusiasts willing to brave the soaring temperatures. Afternoon monsoons also create dangerous flash flooding risks during July and August, making the fall and winter months optimal for paying a visit. For information on trails, camping and scenic drives, visit www.saguaronationalpark.com.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The western sector of Saguaro National Park sits adjacent to a 496,000 acre, indoor/outdoor eco park and zoo known as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Experienced docents versed in the flora, fauna and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert guide you along outdoor trails and exhibits that speak to everything this lively desert has to offer. Of course there are ample exhibits of the usual lizards, snakes, owls, fish, amphibian and the like, but you’ll also view animals you’d never expect to see in the sandy lands, such as bears, beaver, river otters, bobcats, ocelots and gray fox. A walk-in aviary houses more than 40 species of birds, and if you look close enough, you may just see a snake coiled on a tree branch.
The museum holds special events in their indoor amphitheatre, have live animal demonstrations, and is open Saturday night (seasonal hours apply) so visitors can view animals when they’re most active. For pricing information, tours and special events, visit www.desertmuseum.org.
Man Meets Cave
About fifty minutes down I-10 E towards Benson lays a spelunking find so astonishing it was kept secret for more than a decade. Discovered in 1974 by two young cavers, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, and purchased by the Arizona State Park system in 1988, Kartchner Caverns State Park boasts cave formations as majestic as its history. A “living” cavern, meaning that water and minerals continue to actively create formations just as they did 200,000 years ago, it’s considered one of the top 10 color caves in the world and includes a record-breaking, 21-foot-long soda straw stalactite, a large bat population, as well as a massive column known as Kubla Kahn that towers 58 feet high.
Unlike its discoverers who crawled through thick mud and humid air to get a glimpse of what is now known as the Throne, Rotunda and Great Room sections of the caves, modern day spelunkers utilize convenient walkways and lighting that allow visitors to take in the massive stalactites, stalagmites, moonmilk and other formations without jeopardizing the integrity of the surroundings. Guided tours of the Throne and Rotunda rooms that culminate in a surreal light and native flute show are offered year round, with the Great Room only open for viewing from October through April due to bat breeding season. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 520-586-2283.
Giddy Up Cowboy
The West wasn’t named Wild for nothin’, and the Tucson area is rich with history on the cowboy front. A 1 ½ hour scenic drive down I-10 E to Highway 80 puts you smack dab in gun fightin’ territory, offering a wonderful, Old West adventure for both kids and parents alike.
Tombstone
Made famous by Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers, there’s plenty of cowboy folklore to be found on the streets of this old mining boomtown. Take a narrated stagecoach tour through the streets where cowboys ruled the roost. Visit the grounds of the OK Corral, yippin’ and hollerin’ while viewing a reenactment of the now infamous gunfight. Pay your respects to both the villain and the good guys at the Boothill Graveyard. Galleries to take old time photos, saloons and cafés, as well as kitschy souvenir shops are all stashed behind old time building facades with hokey names to match. For more info on things to do in Tombstone, visit www.tombstoneweb.com.
Bisbee
For those who crave more charm, less hype, a visit to Bisbee is a must. About 25 minutes up Highway 80 from Tombstone, this charming old mining town sits in a gorgeous, purple hued canyon dotted with gingerbread Victorian homes, some for living, others used to house antique and art galleries too special to miss. Revived from mining extinction in the late 60s and 70s by the influx of a large California hippy crowd, you’ll still see many a 60-year-old sporting flower power and biker attire while hangin’ at the corner eatery. Locals like to think of it as Arizona’s answer to Taos New Mexico, fostering a free spirit attitude for just doing your own thing.
Resort Life
Finding a place to relax by the pool, indulge in a spa treatment, play a round of golf, or get in a few games of tennis is no problem in Tucson. Several four-star resorts, including the Hilton El Conquistador, JW Marriott Starr Pass and the Westin La Paloma, all fit the bill. More moderately priced lodging, as well as camping sites and dude ranch accommodations can be found at www.visittucson.org.
Who’d have thought you could experience such a diverse vacation in the desert? With the natural beauty, sorted history and lavish resorts found in Tucson, AZ, this desert retreat is anything but ordinary.
Sidebar
A Tucson Tradition
El Charro Café
The Tucson dining scene runs the gamut from famous Sonoran Hot Dogs that can be found at street vendors and trucks along the road, to award-winning Southwestern Mexican cuisine. None is more celebrated than the original El Charro Café near the downtown area at 311 No. Court Ave. Located in what was once the original proprietor’s home, this charming restaurant is filled with antique furnishings and memorabilia, boasts a serious celebrity following and has been chosen as one of 21 must visit restaurants in the U.S. by Gourmet Magazine. El Charro’s been family owned and operated since 1922, and with good reason. Pride, craftsmanship and a little love is evident in their out of this world tamales, oversized burritos and chimichangas filled with traditional Carne Seca or caramelized Carne Asada with onions, and a variety of home style authentic Mexican cuisine made with Tucson flair. There’s a reason this place has been hoppin’ for almost 90 years. For info, visit www.elcharrocafe.com.
