southern arizona itinerary
Oct 19th, 2008, 02:15 PM
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southern arizona itinerary
My husband and I as well as another couple have 3 days to explore southern Arizona. We land in Phoenix on Friday night and will spend that night there. We then must be back in Phoenix by Monday night as we have a morning flight back to detroit. We have already been to tucson but nowhere else in southern arizona. Our friends would like to visit tubac for the art galleries there and we would like to go to tombstone, bisbee perhaps chiricahua national monument. I think this is way too much driving but our friends think this is doable in 3 days. Can anyone help us with this dilemma? Thanks so much for your help.
Oct 19th, 2008, 02:30 PM
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Tubac is cute, but IMHO doesn't warrant more than a full day visit at the very most.
Bisbee is about a 3 hr drive from Phoenix. Cute town to wander through and see the sites and shop. Last time we were there they actually had a trolley tour you could take through the town.
To do all three you listed may be some driving as you indicated. You also didn't say what part of Phoenix you're staying in. Way north, or way west? That will add to your driving time.
Bisbee is about a 3 hr drive from Phoenix. Cute town to wander through and see the sites and shop. Last time we were there they actually had a trolley tour you could take through the town.
To do all three you listed may be some driving as you indicated. You also didn't say what part of Phoenix you're staying in. Way north, or way west? That will add to your driving time.
Oct 19th, 2008, 02:36 PM
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Just some quick thoughts:
Tubac is a half-day max, IMO, maybe a bit more if you eat lunch there. It's very cute, but not all the "galleries" are high quality.
You must stop at San Xavier del Bac. An hour or two.
Bisbee is well worth visiting. You could stay at the Copper Queen Hotel and use Bisbee as your base in S. AZ.
Tombstone is IMO not worth a visit unless its history is extremely meaningful to you. If you are not a buff, it's touristy and tiny and out of the way.
Chiricahua is well worth the drive. Just get up early, buy a pack lunch, spend the day, it's incredibly gorgeous.
I'm not great a developing itineraries for people--some Fodorites really are!--but I hope these thoughts help you put yours together. Enjoy, it's a beautiful area!
Tubac is a half-day max, IMO, maybe a bit more if you eat lunch there. It's very cute, but not all the "galleries" are high quality.
You must stop at San Xavier del Bac. An hour or two.
Bisbee is well worth visiting. You could stay at the Copper Queen Hotel and use Bisbee as your base in S. AZ.
Tombstone is IMO not worth a visit unless its history is extremely meaningful to you. If you are not a buff, it's touristy and tiny and out of the way.
Chiricahua is well worth the drive. Just get up early, buy a pack lunch, spend the day, it's incredibly gorgeous.
I'm not great a developing itineraries for people--some Fodorites really are!--but I hope these thoughts help you put yours together. Enjoy, it's a beautiful area!
Oct 19th, 2008, 02:38 PM
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P.S. It's impossible to avoid lots of driving down there, it's all very spread out, quite vast, really. It's a pity you couldn't fly into Tucson. Could you skip the night in Phoenix and manage to drive to Bisbee the night you arrive? Or to the south side of Tucson, at least?
Oct 19th, 2008, 10:19 PM
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Another vote for Bisbee!!
Chiricahua NM is also a worthwhile trip. Agree that a 1/2 day at Tubac is plenty. The problem with Tubac is that it's not on the way to Bisbee/Chiricahua. And you might as well stop in Tombstone on your way back to Tucson. It is on the way from Bisbee.
If you like hiking, you could check out Ramsey Canyon outside of Sierra Vista or Madera Canyon, near Tubac. Some nice little places to stay at both.
Chiricahua NM is also a worthwhile trip. Agree that a 1/2 day at Tubac is plenty. The problem with Tubac is that it's not on the way to Bisbee/Chiricahua. And you might as well stop in Tombstone on your way back to Tucson. It is on the way from Bisbee.
If you like hiking, you could check out Ramsey Canyon outside of Sierra Vista or Madera Canyon, near Tubac. Some nice little places to stay at both.
