Here Are 11 Things You Absolutely Must Do In Southern Arizona
By Monica Spencer
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Published February 23, 2018
Is it just me or does southern Arizona not quite get the love it deserves? It’s a place with sweeping desert vistas, hidden forests, and well-preserved history that will take you back decades—or, in some cases, centuries! Here’s a look at some essential things you need to do in this region of the state.
1. Visit the airplane boneyard at Tucson’s Davis-Monathan Air Force Base.
This unique spot at Tucson’s Air Force base is home to thousands—yes, thousands—of old military and NASA aircraft. You’ll probably recognize a large number of the aircraft that were used in World War II and the Vietnam War. You can read more in
one of our articles .
2. Take a ride on a mine cart through Bisbee’s old Queen Mine.
If you’ve ever wanted to hop aboard a mine cart to explore an old mine, then you’ll want to take this unique tour in Bisbee! Former Phelps-Dodge employees lead a guided tour deep underground in the old Queen Mine. You can read more in
one of our previous articles .
3. Then spend a night in one of the town’s most haunted hotels, the Copper Queen Hotel.
This stunning hotel dates to 1898 and you will fall in love with the beautiful atmosphere and a chance to spot a ghost. Julia Lowell, a former guest of the hotel, is known to haunt one room in particular. You can find details about booking a room
at this link .
4. Spend a couple days exploring some of Arizona’s amazing ghost towns.
5. Escape into nature by visiting Ramsey Canyon Preserve near Sierra Vista.
This is a wonderful hidden gem that a surprising number of people don’t know about! Ramsey Canyon is incredibly scenic and is the perfect place to watch wildlife or head out for a guided hike. You can find details about the preserve at the
Nature Conservancy website .
6. Visit an old tourist trap near Benson: The Thing.
What better way to get into the spirit of oddities than with a stop at an old tourist trap? This one sits on the lonely I-10 near Benson and is filled with some pretty strange sights. Read more about this roadside attraction in
one of our previous articles .
7. Grab a date shake at the Dateland Travel Center in Dateland.
Traveling between Yuma and anywhere else in the state? Stop to stretch and grab a truly tasty treat in Dateland, which is famous for its date shakes. It tastes remarkably similar to butter pecan ice cream! You can read more about the shakes and travel center in
our article from last year .
8. Wander the grounds of a historic prison in Yuma.
Life for inmates has drastically improved over the last century but you might be amazed to find out this place was once considered state of the art for its time. You can read a little about its history and how to visit by
taking a peek at one of our old articles .
9. Check out the Oracle research facility, Biosphere 2, that made headlines in the 1990s.
Interesting and controversial, this massive science experiment turned research facility is worth a visit! Read about Biosphere 2 in
one of our old articles .
10. Take a tour through Arizona’s most prized Spanish mission in Tucson.
It only takes one visit to find out why Mission San Xavier del Bac is called the White Dove of the Desert. You will love checking out the incredible artwork lining the walls and walking the peaceful grounds here. Read more in
our article about the mission .
11. Hike through the wild landscapes at Chiricahua National Monument.
If you want to explore another area of the state, then be sure to check out western Arizona, sometimes called our West Coast! You can read more in Here Are 14 Things You Have To Do On Arizona’s West Coast .
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