Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon Trips (Lonely Planet, 1st Edition) - Aaron Anderson [68]
OK Corral
This site of the famous gunfight is deliciously kitschy for most adults and the “funniest thing ever” for kids. 520-457-3456; www.ok-corral.com; Allen St btwn 3rd & 4th Sts, Tombstone; admission $7.50, without gunfight $5.50; 9am-5pm
Mission San Xavier del Bac
The moody splendor inside is quite the surprise. Be sure to watch the free video on the restoration. 520-294-2624; www.sanxaviermission.org; 1950 W San Xavier Rd, Tucson; donations appreciated; 7am-5pm
Saguaro National Park
Pronounced sa-Wah-ro, there are 165 miles of hiking trails that thread between these jolly green giants. 520-733-5153; www.nps.gov/sagu; Tucson; per vehicle $10, valid for 7 days; 7am-sunset
Titan Missile Museum
This is the place where the final countdown would have ended life as we know it. 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 & DRINK
B Line
Great coffee in the morning and a small wine menu for later in the day. 520-882-7575; www.blinerestaurant.com; 621 N 4th Ave, Tucson; mains $7-10; 7:30am-9pm Mon-Thu, to 10pm Fri & Sat, to 8pm Sun
Barrio Brewery
Too many trains and tasting all 12 types of beers equals talking in tongue twisters by night’s end. 520-791-2739; www.barriobrewing.com; 800 E 16th St, Tucson; snacks $3-7; 11am-1am
Big Nose Kate’s
Doc Holliday’s girlfriend used to run this joint; live music in the afternoons and the famous longhorn ribs merit a visit. 520-457-3107; www.bignosekate.com; 417 E Allen St, Tombstone; 11am-8pm
Café Poca Cosa
It’s all freshly prepared, innovative and beautifully presented. It has the best margaritas in town. 520-622-6400; 110 E Pennington St, Tucson; mains $16-25; lunch & dinner Tue-Sat
La Roca Restaurant
The food will rock you – worth crossing the border to indulge in an exquisite candlelight dinner at this place carved into a stony cliff. 520-313-6313; 91 Calle Elias, Nogales, Mexico; mains $12-24; 11am-midnight
Stock Exchange Saloon
Where miners and those who wanted to relieve them of their fortune used to mingle. Nowadays, it’s the place to hang with the locals and hear live music. 520-432-9924; www.stockexchangesaloon.com; 15 Brewery Ave, Bisbee; 11am-1:30am
SLEEP
Copper Queen Hotel
A casual late-19th-century elegance with modern amenities; Paul Newman, Boris Karloff and Gore Vidal have all been bedded by this grand old dame. 520-432-2216; www.copperqueen.com; 11 Howell Ave, Bisbee; r $90-180
Hacienda Corona de Guevavi
This hidden gem was frequented by ‘the Duke,’ aka John Wayne. 520-287-6502; www.haciendacorona.com; 348 S River Rd, Nogales, AZ; r $175-225
Hotel Congress
Ask for a room at the far end of the hotel if you’re noise sensitive. There’s a music club and a tasty restaurant downstairs. 520-622-8848; www.hotelcongress.com; 311 E Congress St, Tucson; r $70-120;
USEFUL WEBSITES
www.visittucson.org
LINK YOUR TRIP www.lonelyplanet.com/trip-planner
TRIP
6 Gunfighters & Gold Miners
20 Arizona in Tune
22 Grapes & Hops in the Desert
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Return to beginning of chapter
Grapes & Hops in the Desert
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WHY GO Even local oenophiles often don’t know that award-winning wines are produced right here in Arizona. But, as winemaker Fran Lightly will tell you, local varietals are now getting their due. Vineyards cluster in the southern part of the state and around Sedona. Add in esteemed microbreweries, and you’re in for a truly spirited vacation.
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TIME
4 days
DISTANCE
400 miles
BEST TIME TO GO
Year-round
START
Sonoita, AZ
END
Flagstaff, AZ
ALSO GOOD FOR
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“In vino veritas,” as the ancient Romans were fond of slurring, “In wine, there is truth.” To the toga-ed ones, it meant that a loosened tongue tells it like it is. To modern winemakers, it means that every patch of land tells a story through its grapes, and the tale has no lies. Fran Lightly, winemaker at Arizona’s pioneering grape producer Sonoita Vineyards, says the land where he works tells a