Area Activities
THINGS TO DO NEAR OUR SOUTHERN ARIZONA INN
The choice of things to do on your vacation at Spirit Tree Inn is yours, but the possibilities are almost endless.
You can fill many days with hikes, bird watching, and quiet relaxation on 52 private acres and in the Coronado National Forest that entirely surrounds us. The Nature Conservancy’s nearby Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve is one of the nation’s top destinations for bird watchers.
A growing group of small wineries in the area offers an interesting option for tours and tastings. We are in the heart of the Arizona’s wine country, home to wineries producing simple table varieties and award-winning selections that have graced the table at the White House.
Just down the road a bit, the small town of Patagonia is home to galleries and shops featuring the work of local artists and a number of restaurants favored by those in the know for out-of-the-way delights.
You can choose from the long list of arts, historic, cultural, nature, sports and shopping attractions that have made Southern Arizona a destination of savvy travelers from around the world. Tucson is just a short and very scenic drive away and a trip into Mexico is even closer. Within an hour’s drive, are the historic towns of Bisbee and Tombstone to the east or Tumacacori/Tubac to the west.
Also, just three miles outside of Patagonia is one of several places in the area with access to the historic Arizona Trail, which runs from Mexico to Utah.
Spirit Tree Inn do not provide bikes on rent. However if you want to take advantage of many roads and trails in the area the visitors can bring their on bikes.
Although we do not rent out our own horses but haul ins available for you if you want to bring your horses , there are No horseback facilities available within a 45-minute drive.
Whatever you choose to do, Spirit Tree Inn is your ideal base of operations for a leisurely visit.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA POINTS OF INTEREST


Wild West Amusement Park
339 S. 4th St., Tombstone, AZ 85638
www.helldoradotown.com
Mon-Sun 10-5

Water Park
8555 West Tangerine Rd.
Marana, AZ 85653
www.breakerswaterpark.com
520-682-2530
Tu-Sun: 10am-6pm

Trail Dust Offroad Tours Inc.
1665 S. Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ 85711
http://traildustoffroadtoursinc.com
Call 520-742-1943

Orchard Tours
2081 W. Hardy Rd, Willcox, AX 85643
www.appleannies.com
520-384-2084
8am-5:30pm

Canyoneering
1101 N. Painted Hills Road, Tucson, AZ 85745
http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1024718
520-622-6966

San Xavier Mission
www.sanxaviermission.org
520 294-2624
Built from 1793 to 1797 by Franciscans, the “White Dove of the Desert” is acclaimed by authorities as the finest example of mission architecture in the United States. Still used as a church by Papago Indians, the mission features 20-minute lectures daily except Sunday, every hour on the half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park
www.colossalcave.com
520 647-3450
This desert refuge has sheltered people for over a thousand years. It has been home, shrine, hideout, playground and tranquil retreat. Today, the 2,000-acre park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch.

Sabino Canyon
www.sabinocanyon.com
5900 Sabino Canyon Rd.
520 749-8700
Fed by the waters of Sabino Creek and sheltered by the canyon walls, the plants and animals that inhabit the canyon offer an interesting contrast to those found in the surrounding desert. The shade and cool water attract Tucsonans year-round to this site.

Mount Lemmon
520 576-1321
Mount Lemmon, at 9,150 feet, is the highest peak of the beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains. The drive to the top takes you on a 7,000-foot elevation climb through forests of Saguaro cacti, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and Aspen trees. Picnic areas, camping grounds and vista points are available en route to the summit. Ski in the winter, and enjoy the cool alpine weather in the summer. The chairlift operates year-round.

The Arizona Sonoran Desert Museums
2021 N. Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
http://desertmuseum.org
520-883-2702
7am-5pm
World renowned, the Desert Museum is a combination zoo / aquarium / botanical garden / natural history museum, offering a thorough examination of Sonoran Desert habitats. Opening hours change according to the season.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Pipe Monument
10 Organ Pipe Dr., Ajo, AZ 85321
www.nps.gov/orpi/
520-387-6849
8am-5pm


Flandreau Science Center @ U of A
1601 E. University Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85719
www.flandrau.org
520-621-STAR

Pima Air and Space Museum
6000 E. Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706
www.pimaair.org
520-574-0462
9am-5pm

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Highway 386 @ Summit of Kitt Peak
www.noao.edu/outreach/kpoutreach.html
520-318-8726
9am-3:35pm + nighttime shows
Kitt Peak is the world’s largest astronomical facility, featuring a visitor center and three telescopes.

Kartchner Caverns State Park
Benson, AZ 85602
https://azstateparks.com/kartchner/
520-586-CAVE
7:30am-6pm

Biosphere 2
(520) 621-4800
Located near Oracle, Arizona, Biosphere 2 is a research facility that studies ecosystems and sustainability. Originally built in the late 1980s to simulate a self-sustaining environment, it housed a team of scientists living inside for two years. Now managed by the University of Arizona, it serves as a climate and ecological research center.

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
(520) 601-0541
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buenos-aires
This nature preserve is in southern Arizona, near the U.S.-Mexico border. It was established to protect grasslands and habitats for wildlife, including the endangered masked bobwhite quail. The refuge spans over 100,000 acres and is home to pronghorn, coyotes, and numerous migratory birds.