Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon Trips (Lonely Planet, 1st Edition) - Aaron Anderson [46]
Tucson, the final frontier (of this trip, at least) is the place to end your stellar journey. Think about it: you’ve seen the most popular attractions in the universe and never left the state.
Josh Krist
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TRIP INFORMATION
GETTING THERE
It’s a 265-mile drive between Flagstaff and Tucson, the two main cities for this trip.
DO
Aerospace Maintenance & Regeneration Center
One-hour bus tours depart from the Pima Air & Space Museum. Reserve at least one hour and board 30 minutes before. Amarg; 520-574-0462; Tucson; adult/child $6/3; 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, last tour 4pm
Arizona Science Center
Play with 300-odd hands-on exhibits, watch live demonstrations, or take in the mysteries of our universe at the planetarium. 602-716-2000; www.azscience.org; 600 E Washington St, Phoenix; adult/concession $9/7; 10am-5pm
Evening Sky Tours
Small groups, warm blankets and comfy chairs between telescope viewings – cold nights never looked so good. 928-203-0006; www.eveningskytours.com; Sedona; adult/child $60/$20; after sunset
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Book two to four weeks in advance for the worthwhile nightly observing program. 520-318-8726; www.noao.edu/kpno; Hwy 86, Sells; daytime admission by donation, observing program adult/student/senior $41/36/36; Sep–mid-Jul
Lowell Observatory
Nightly stargazing. During the day 30-minute tours offered hourly between 1:15pm and 4:15pm. 928-233-3211; www.lowell.edu; 1400 W Mars Hill Rd, Flagstaff; adult/child/student/senior $6/3/4/4; 9am-5pm, 5:30-10pm, seasonal variations
Meteor Crater
Tours into the crater depart from 9:15am to 2:15pm daily (free with admission). 928-289-2362; www.meteorcrater.com; I-40 exit 233; adult/child/senior $15/7/13; 7am-7pm Jun–mid-Sep, seasonal variations
Pima Air & Space Museum
Combination tickets available for Titan Missile Museum and Amarg. 520-574-0462; www.pimaair.org; 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson; Jun-Oct adult/child $11.75/8, Nov-May $13.50/9; 9am-5pm, last admission 4pm
Titan Missile Museum
Look into combo tickets for Pima Air & Space Museum. 520-574-9658; www.titanmissilemuseum.org; 1580 W Duval Mine Rd, Sahuarita; adult/child/senior $8.50/5/7.50; 9am-4:30pm (last tour), seasonal variations
EAT
City Bakery at Arizona Science Center
It’s not necessary to buy science-center admission to eat here. 602-257-8860; www.azscience.org/city_bakery.php; 600 E Washington St, Phoenix; mains from $9; 10am-5pm
Red Planet Diner
Grill food, including a fair number of vegetarian choices, in a space-age environment. 928-282-6070; 1655 W Hwy 89A, Sedona; dishes $9-14; 10am-11pm
SLEEP
Astronomer’s Inn
A self-guided tour for guests is $45 and a four-hour session on a 20-inch scope is $160. 520-586-7906; www.astronomersinn.com; 1311 S Astronomers Rd, Benson; r $105-210; Oct 15-May 1
Comfi Cottages
Some weekends and holidays may require a minimum stay. 928-774-0731; www.comficottages.com; 1612 N Aztec St, Flagstaff; cottages $135-280;
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.astronomycast.com
www.darksky.org
LINK YOUR TRIP www.lonelyplanet.com/trip-planner
TRIP
18 Arizona Architecture
26 Flagstaff’s Northern Playground
43 Out of This World
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Steak-Lovers’ Arizona
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WHY GO Cattle, cotton and copper: the three Cs that Arizona was built on, but only one of them tastes good over a wood-fired grill. Get ready for beef and lots of it, at the best steak houses in the state. Better yet, out here in the West, the drinks are as strong as the day is long.
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TIME
5 days
DISTANCE
450 miles
BEST TIME TO GO
Year-round
START
Scottsdale, AZ
END
Tuscon, AZ
ALSO GOOD FOR
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You don’t need to drive here like you just stole some baby diapers and are on the run, but, fans of the film Raising Arizona might have an odd sense of