Eighty years before the Pilgrims stepped foot on Plymouth Rock, Europeans lived in Yuma—the safest place to cross the mighty Colorado River for hundreds of miles. Yuma is rich with multicultural heritage and amazing historic sites, including the notorious Yuma Territorial Prison, our first stop on this exciting tour. Authorized in 1875, with a construction [...]
We’ll head south, with a stop for coffee & goodies, on our way to “The Town Too Tough To Die.” Tombstone, with its rowdy, drunken, bullet-riddled past, is home to several great little restaurants, including the world-famous Big Nose Kate’s Saloon. Lunch is on self at the restaurant of your choice and afterward we’ll take [...]
Nestled in the Tonto National Forest, in the Superstition Mountain Range, Tortilla Flat is an authentic old west town. Founded in 1904 as a stagecoach stop, this fantastic destination is just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away, on the historic Apache Trail. We’ll arrive early to get seated on the BBQ Patio, where we’ll enjoy lunch on self, [...]
Castle Dome is located on the west side of the state of Arizona, between Quartzsite to the north, and Yuma to the south. Home to Arizona’s longest working mine, Castle Dome operated from 1862-1979, and at its peak had over 3,000 residents. Spanish conquistadors were the first to discover silver in this area in the [...]
Join us on a smooth ride through some of Sedona’s most beautiful red rock backcountry, including Dry Creek Scenic Byway. One of America’s most famous byways, Dry Creek Road—home to hidden canyons and ancient ruins—is best experienced during Sedona’s off-season months! This scenic ride kicks off at Up The Creek Wine Bistro, where we’ll enjoy [...]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument holds an extraordinary collection of plants, wildlife, and geologic wonders of the Sonoran Desert. The monument offers protection and sanctuary for many rare species that are not found elsewhere. Over thousands of years, the plants and wildlife of this region have adapted themselves to extreme temperatures, intense sunlight, and short [...]
It wasn't until February 1978 that Tenen and Tufts told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their amazing discovery. During the four years of secret exploration, the discover-ers realized that the cave's extraordinary variety of colors and formations must be preserved. The cave's existence became public knowledge in 1988 when its purchase was [...]
Once known as the Wickedest Town in the West, Jerome sits near the top of Cleopatra Hill between Prescott and Flagstaff. Founded in 1877, Jerome grew from a tent settlement to a robust mining community—the fourth largest city in Arizona, with a population that peaked around 15,000 in the 1920’s. Jerome’s economy—completely dependent upon the [...]
Join us for an incredible springtime ride on the seventy-six-mile Desert to Tall Pines Scenic Byway, following Highway 288 from Globe to the tiny town of Young, Arizona. This area, known by cowboys as “the high lonesome,” was made famous by the Pleasant Valley War of the 1880’s—an Arizona sheep war between two feuding families—the [...]
The Verde Canyon Railroad offers us a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Verde Canyon from the comfort of a fully restored, slow-rolling vintage FP7 locomotive—one of only 10 remaining in North America. This four-hour excursion takes us on a 20-mile journey through 100 years of history. We’ll view ancient Sinagua Indian ruins in [...]
We’re off to explore Arizona’s Forest Road 300—The Old Rim Road. Our journey kicks off in Payson, where we’ll enjoy some fantastic Mexican food, on self, at El Rancho Mexican Restaurant—a great favorite, not only with the locals but also with Ari-zona Highways who named El Rancho one of the top 25 restaurants in the [...]
With the first hint of summer, we’re ready to travel the Sky Island Scenic Byway—Mount Lemmon Highway to the town of Summer-Haven, Arizona! This breathtaking 25-mile paved road takes us along one of Arizona’s most scenic byways, and winds us up a trail that ascends 9,157 feet through the rugged Santa Catalina Mountains into a [...]