Spring Break in AZ. Good bases for outdoor exploration ?
 

We have decided to spend Spring Break ( exactly 1 week) in Az. (despite my DD's best efforts to get us to go to Key West) & want to split the time equally (give or take) between the North & South. No real interest in the PHX area as we are more concerned w/the outdoors + I am not a huge PHX fan. Will have a 4 yr old (he'll actually turn 5 while we are there) & an almost 8 yr old by then. Where would good bases be ? Sedona ? Prescott ? Jerome ? Flagstaff ? Tucson? Tubac ? Probably use vrbo for places to stay. Am looking for places a bit off the beaten track but close enough to get to 'stuf'f''. I know Sedona & the north fairly well, south of PHX, I know next to nothing. All comments, suggestions, secret places, hidden gems & off the beaten track anythings are welcomed.

North - I would do Flagstaff.
South, I would consider SIerra VIsta for access to Bisbee, Tombstone, Patagonia area, Chirachua Nat. Mon.. Tucson would also be an acceptable base

I agree with bigtyke, mostly. I might choose Sedona as a base in the north over Flagstaff, but that's just personal preference.

In the south, Sierra Vista w/b ideal, because you can easily reach Tucson, Bisbee, Patagonia and the Chiricahuas from there, while exploring the Huachucas, which are right there. Look for rentals in SV or Hereford; there are several really nice B&B's down there, but with kids a rental home or condo w/b more convenient, certainly. (Btw, people will tell you SV itself is not a gorgeous town, and that's true, but it is surrounded by gorgeous countryside.)

While there, don't miss hiking in the Chiricahuas; Ramsey, Brown and Garden Canyons in SV and Hereford; a tour of the Copper Queen mine in Bisbee; San Xavier del Bac Mission between SV and Tucson; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson, which is more a zoo and botanical garden than a museum; Saguaro National Monument in Tucson for easy hiking, petroglyphs and, of course, saguaros aplenty; back in SV, Ramsey Canyon Preserve. I can probably think of more! Bring your binoculars, even non-birders get interested in the wide variety of hummingbirds and other winged critters in the area.

Enjoy, it's one of my very favorite places!

Thanks, exactly what I was looking for ! I'll start looking around Sierra Vista. Anyone have any info on Tubac ? Someplace that looks interesting too me as well.

ttt

I like Tubac for an afternoon of shopping, some people LOVE it. A few of the shops sell authentic items from the American southwest, many sell imports from Central America, some just sell typical boutique-y stuff like purses and scarves. It's all laid out along dusty paths like an AZ version of Colonial Wiliamsburg--there may even be a state-run historic building or something like that in the middle. I think it's pretty, but it still wouldn't make my must-do list, since there is plenty of good shopping to be had at, say, the AZ_Sonora Desert Museum shop, or the San Xavier del Bac vendors and the like. If it looks good to you, by all means, stop by...

Good too know, so Tubac kind of takes a backseat at this point, although I did find a really cool place to stay in that area. Thanks

I loved Tubac. I think it's a quintessential Arizona town. I definitely think it needs to be checked out! Tucson is my favorite. We stayed at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon and absolutely LOVED it. We had such a great trip there over President's Weekend a few years back with our high school teenagers. We also checked out Jerome and Prescott. If you like the small little towns I feel like those can't be missed. You've named a bunch of great places! Hope that helps.

Thanks mschau - I have traveled to AZ several times for business as well as a couple for pleasure & tend to favor those locales that are off the beaten track a bit. Sounds like I am at least on the right track.

If you do visit Tubac, drive a few miles south to the Tumacacori National Park and Mission. They have a nice visitor center and exhibition too.

Thx ht

ttt

Flagstaff is a good base. You can tour the Grand Canyon from there and also be sure to take the old road thru Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. You can also go to Laughlin Nevada if you like casino action and a show.

I'll have the two little ones w/me, they may be a tad young for the casinos...lol topping for the weekend crowd.

Don't miss Catalina State Park just outside Tucson. Just spent four days camping there and it's gorgeous, not crowded, great hiking, even for the young ones. Lots of bird-watching and saguaros.

Spring,especially early spring, in Flagstaff can be a bit iffy weather wise.Snow storms and such. That's not to say it will snow, but it certainly can snow.

Thx & we are actually hoping for snow. Living in CLT we rarely see it unless we go looking for it. That (snow) would be a nice bonus.

ttt

ttt