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Nature Excursions:
Cave Creek Canyon Explore the canyon in your own back yard! Cave Creek Canyon offers miles of hiking trails that wind through the lush vegetation that graces its floor. Photographers will find ample photo opts in the sculpted stone spires and soaring monoliths as the sunlight casts varying shadows throughout the day. The more adventurous will find the canyon a great place to do some rock climbing and gain a different perspective on things. After a short time in the canyon, you will see why the American Museum of Natural History has maintained a research station here for nearly 50 years. This area remains one of the most varied ecosystems in North America, with an unmatched diversity of plant and animal species.
Chiricahua National Monument Located just over the mountain from ASV, a visit to the Chiricahua National Monument is truly an unforgettable experience. Called the “Land of Standing-Up Rocks” by the Apaches and later the “Wonderland of Rocks” by the pioneers, this 13,000 acre national park is filled with towering rock spires, massive stone columns, and balanced rocks weighing hundreds of tons that perch delicately on small pedestals. An eight-mile scenic drive winds through the park gradually climbing through the pine and oak-juniper forest to the overlook, which gives a commanding view of vast collection of bizarre rock formations. The monument is a mecca for birders and hikers alike, with 20 miles of trails that meander amongst the massive stone formations.
Cochise Stronghold Located at an elevation of 5,000 feet, in the Dragoon Mountains to the west of Sunsites, Arizona, this beautiful woodland area is rich in history. During the mid-1800’s, this rugged natural fortress was home to the famed Chiricahua Apache Chief, Cochise and approximately 1,000 of his followers. Today, the area is part of the Coronado National Forest and offers miles of scenic hiking trails with historical information placards as well as camping facilities.
Kartchner Caverns State Park Located near Benson, Kartchner Caverns is Arizona’s newest and largest state park. It features a 2.4-mile-long living cave complex with underground pools, rare rock and mineral formations, and unusual animal species. The cave has been listed as one of the top ten caves in the world for its mineral deposits by cave experts, and the only one open to the public in U.S.
Saguaro National Park This 91,000-acre Sonoran Desert national park in Tucson is known for its magnificent cacti and diversity of plant and animal life. Saguaro National Park offers visitors a variety of ways to enjoy its scenic beauty. Hikers have 128 miles of trails to choose from. There are also trails for mountain bikers and horseback riders, as well as educational field-trips and camping facilities.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park Located between Tucson and Benson, Colossal Cave experienced a rich history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Inhabited for centuries by the Hohokam Indians, and later used as a hideout for train robbers, today the cave and grounds are open to visitors year-round. Park visitors have the option to take several types of cave tours with varying degrees of difficulty and exploration. There is even an after-hours candlelight cave tour available. The park grounds are also open for horseback riding, picnics, and camping.
Scientific Explorations:
Kitt Peak National Observatory Boasting nearly 45 years of astronomical study with the most diverse collection of observatories on Earth for nighttime optical, infrared, and solar astronomy, this world-renowned facility is located just 56 miles southwest of Tucson at an elevation of 6,875 feet. The Visitor Center is open daily and offers guided tours of the facility. In addition, Kitt Peak offers a three-hour Nightly Observing Program and an all-night Advanced Observing Program, available by reservation.
Mt. Graham International Observatory Located six miles south of Safford, Arizona, approximately one hour from ASV, Mt. Graham International Observatory is a division of Steward Observatory, the research arm for the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. This facility situated at 10,720 feet, conducts weekend tours from mid-May through Mid-November.
Pima Air and Space Museum Dedicated to aerospace education through the preservation and presentation of the history of flight, this 150-acre property in Tucson houses a collection of more than 250 aircraft. It’s sister museum, the Titan Missile Museum is located just 25 minutes south of Tucson and houses an actual Titan II Missile available for viewing inside its launch duct.
Biosphere 2 Situated at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains just 20 minutes north of Tucson, is Columbia University’s Biosphere 2 Center. This 250-acre Arizona campus is devoted to deepening the understanding of Earth systems vital to the policies and decisions that will affect Earth’s future. Equipped with a 3.1 acre, glass-enclosed research laboratory, Biosphere 2 Center, in addition to its research agenda, offers academic programs in Earth systems for high school and college students, local school children, as well as educational experiences for more than 180,000 annual visitors.
Cultural Experiences:
Bisbee, Arizona This mining town turned artists’ colony offers something for everyone. Whether you’re in the mood for a world-class dinner, in need of a shopping fix, would like to view some local artwork, or just love to explore historic areas, Bisbee is the place. The town offers several excellent restaurants with a wide range of cuisine. The historic shopping district is lined with antique shops filled with unique treasures and art galleries showcasing the work of local and regional talent in a variety of media. History buffs will enjoy exploring Bisbee’s colorful mining history with a visit to the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum, the first rural affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. The Queen Mine Tour offers visitors an opportunity to take an hour-long underground journey through the copper mine that put the town on the map in the late 1800’s. A self-guided walking tour provides a firsthand look at the town’s many historic structures as well as a chance to learn about the town’s lively past. Be sure to take a walk along Brewery Gulch, a section of town that in its heyday hosted as many as 47 saloons. Birders will want to visit the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory, based in Bisbee, which offers guided bird walks and tours. The town also plays host to two birding festivals each year – the Southwest Wings Birding Festival in August and Fiesta de las Aves in May.
Tombstone and Ghost Towns No visit to the "Old West" would be complete without a visit to the OK Corral in Tombstone, known as "The Town Too Tough to Die". Visitors can take a walk along Allen Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, where the ghosts of Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, and Big Nose Kate reputedly still linger. Several museums also welcome the public and visitors can catch a daily gunfight reenactment. Cochise County is home to some 13 ghost towns, including Pearce, Dos Cabezas, Gleeson, and Courtland. Each town has its own personality and story to tell. Visitors will find the remains of times gone by, including eerily empty streets, decaying wood-frame buildings, adobe ruins, concrete jails, and elaborate graveyards.
Amerind Museum The Amerind Foundation, an Archeological Research Facility and Museum founded in 1937, is located just over an hour from ASV in the beautiful Dragoon Mountains and houses an outstanding collection of Native American artifacts from tribes that once inhabited the area. The museum’s collection includes pottery, arrowheads, tools, and jewelry from the Hohokam, Mogollon, Anasazi, and Salado.