Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon Trips (Lonely Planet, 1st Edition) - Aaron Anderson [67]
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DETOUR
A soul-nourishing place under serenely blank skies by day, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (www.nps.gov/orpi) is known for drug and people smuggling at night. It really is a place of otherworldly beauty – the bulk of the country’s organ pipe cacti, which look like big clusters of straight saguaro, are here. It’s 81 miles south of Gila Bend and worth a stop, not a stay.
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Once Nogales is done with you, head north for 46 miles on I-19 to the Titan Missile Museum, where the near-death of humanity comes alive. An original Titan II missile site, the actual (deactivated) 103ft-tall missile is still sitting in its launch tube. As part of the nuclear stand-down agreement with the Russians, the glass that covers the missile is angled to avoid glare so that spy satellites can get a clear shot. Ask the tour guide to tell you how one of the USAF higher-ups got a call from his Russian counterpart when a Star Trek movie was filmed here and the Russians weren’t notified.
Finally, keep heading north on I-19 for churchin’ up at Mission San Xavier del Bac, 9 miles south of Tucson. A mission was first established here in 1700, but the building that stands today was erected in the late 1700s and has been undergoing a remodel with the help of Vatican experts since the 1990s. The moody candle-lit interior makes it one of the most beautiful buildings in Arizona.
Back in Tucson, you can go your own way, or, take the time to poke around this town full of diamonds in the rough.
Josh Krist
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TRIP INFORMATION
GETTING THERE
Tucson is 115 miles south of Phoenix and 64 miles north of Nogales.
VISITING MEXICO
Walking across into Mexico is easiest because crossing with a car invalidates most rental and insurance policies, and you’ll need to arrange supplemental coverage. To return to the USA, US citizens need a passport, or a valid picture ID (eg driver’s license) and proof of citizenship (eg birth certificate). A passport is the easiest way to go. For more info on crossing, check www.dhs.gov.
DO
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A zoo, a botanical garden and a museum that really deserve a full day of exploration. 520-883-2702; www.desertmuseum.org; 2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson; adult/child $10/2; 8:30am-5pm Oct-Feb, 7:30am-5pm Mar-Sep
Arizona Vineyards
Come for the atmosphere; with wines called Desert Dust and Rattler Red, the names are interesting, at least. 520-287-7972; www.nogaleswine.com; 1830 E Patagonia Hwy, Nogales; 10am-6pm
Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum
Brings Bisbee’s riotous heyday back to life with historical exhibits on the 1st floor and interactive modern mining on the 2nd. 520-432-7071; www.bisbeemuseum.com; 5 Copper Queen Plaza, Bisbee; adult/child/senior $7.50/3/6.50; 10am-4pm
Chiricahua National Monument
This wonderland of impossibly balanced rocks is more than worth the trip. The amenities are scarce so bring food and water. 520-824-3560; www.nps.gov/chir; Hwy 181; adult/child $5/free
Queen Mine Tours
Definitely one of the best ways to spend 1½ hours in the state. Dress warm, it’s cold in them there hills. 520-432-2071; www.queenminetour.com; 119 Arizona St, Bisbee; adult/child $12/5; 9am-3:30pm
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Tours often sell out far in advance, so make reservations – online or by phone – early. reservations 520-586-2283, information 520-586-24100; www.explorethecaverns.com; Hwy 90, Benson; tours adult/child from $17/9; tours 8:20am-4:20pm