Late March in Arizona questions
 

We plan to fly into Phoenix midMarch for 2 weeks of sightseeing. We have been north of Phoenix, so plan to visit area from Phoenix south. We want to visit Heard Museum, and Desert Botanical Gardens, but do not know how much time to a lot. When we fly in would it be best to stay in Phoenix downtown area? We will have a rental car. We are walkers, so that is no problem. We want to check out Scottsdale area, too. Then south to Sonoran Desert Nat. Monument, Organ Pipe Catcus Monument and to Tucson. Can we do both Mouments in one day then be in Tucson for a few days? Or should we go straight to Tucson and then do day trips? Tombstone area, too. Then head to Painted Desert and Petrifed Forest. Sedona and back to Phoenix airport. Any suggestions? Any hotels or B and B’s that you would recommend? We are an active couple in our 60’s, interested in nature, museums, not shopping ....well, maybe Native jewelry!��
Appreciate any ideas and suggestions! Thanks

I recommend that you bypass Tombstone, a theme park version of a western town, and go another 1/2 hour down 80 to Bisbee, a living town with a great deal more of interest to offer.

http://www.discoverbisbee.com/
https://southernarizonaguide.com/thi...-do-in-bisbee/

We have been north of Phoenix, so plan to visit area from Phoenix south.

Then head to Painted Desert and Petrifed Forest. Sedona and back to Phoenix airport.

So...do you want to concentrate on south of Phoenix or include north? You're contradicting yourself here. Painted Desert, Petrified Forest and Sedona are all north of Phoenix.

Other than that, Sonoran Desert NM is fairly remote/primitive so be prepared for that. Organ Pipe is really nice. You 'could' do them both in one day, but with 2 weeks to sightsee I'm not sure why you would push to get them both out of the way in one day.

Maybe do a daytrip from Phoenix to Sonoran Desert NM, including Casa Grand NM in the loop. Save Organ Pipe for a full day, ending in Tuscon.

Visit Chiricahua NM as well, that is 2 hours east of Tucson. You could add on a visit to Fort Bowie National Historic Site.

Have you driven the Apache Trail and visited Superstition Mountains? Tonto National Monument? Boyce Thompson Arboretum?

If you are going to head north and visit Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, consider driving through the Tonto and Coconino National Forest along the Mogollon Rim. That is assuming the weather is conducive in late March. You'd be on some forest service roads so would need to check road conditions before heading out on that route.

"...some forest service roads so would need to check road conditions..."

Also check rental car terms as I suspect many/all require you not drive off paved roads (assuming "service roads" are unpaved).

It occurs to me that watching the weather in general is a good idea and have options if there's weather. March can still be snowy both north & south of Phoenix at higher elevations.

I suggest you head to Tucson and do day trips from here. Check my blog about things to see and do around southern Arizona. With less than a week, you will only scratch the surface.

http://mikepintucson.blogspot.com/

Bisbee is an interesting town, but I still enjoy visiting Tombstone. It is hardly a "theme park version of a western town". It is a real western town with a real, and very interesting, history. Spend time going through boot hill, then visit the old county courthouse (fee), and be sure to do the self-tour of the Bird Cage Theater (fee). And along the sidewalks, look for the storyboards that give some of the history of the buildings and of events that took place there. I would skip the OK Corral reenactment.

My "must-see" things for southern Arizona:
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
San Xavier del Bac mission
The road to Mt. Lemmon
Kartchner Caverns

Mike, my assessment of Tombstone may be a bit more understandable if you take into account that I lived in Bisbee for 25 years. There's simply a great deal more to enjoy in Bisbee.

Your description of Tombstone was inaccurate, which is all I pointed out, along with things that are worthwhile seeing in Tombstone. Unlike your post, I never suggested bypassing Bisbee in favor of Tombstone. I suppose it is just a matter of preferences, but I enjoy Tombstone more than Bisbee. Then again, I am not big on art galleries or bookstores, both of which seem to be in abundance in Bisbee. IMO, Bisbee and Tombstone together make a full day trip from Tucson.

I like Bisbee better than Tombstone, too, but there's no reason not to see both. In Bisbee, we used to love the Copper Queen mine tour--are they still doing that? I think a stop at the old Copper Queen Hotel is a must, too.

I also agree with MmePerdu's Tucson must-see list. I'd add Saguaro Nat'l Monument.

Saguaro National Monument is now Saguaro National Park, which is split -- East and West. The west unit can be easily visited in conjunction with the Desert Museum. The east unit could be seen the same day as a drive up to Mt. Lemmon and maybe Sabino Canyon. Yes, I could have added those to my "must-see" list (I think it was my list you meant, not MmePerdu's). But it is hard to know where to stop when listing top places to visit. I could certainly go on and on.

I can't take credit NewB, that's Mike's list.

Oh, shoot, sorry, Mike! I scrolled too fast :-( And thanks for the Saguaro NP correction, too.

Okay! Since we plan to go to Petrified Forest should we go there and Sedona first after Phoenix or later, as mentioned? How much time in Phoenix for 2 museums?? �� thanks.

Organ Pipe Nat. Monment is rather far west of Tucson. We drive through it going to Mexico through Lukeville border crossing. . It is intertesting to see but not sure it’s worth such a long round trip drive.

Will we be able to drive from Bisbee to Holbrook in late March?

You should be able to, but check the weather before doing so, because there is always the possibility of a late snowstorm. And if you are going through Alpine and/or Show Low, you will be at high elevations.