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 has a fleet of five Gary Fischer Tass Mountain Bikes for rent if you want to take advantage of the many roads and trails in the area.
Although we do not rent out our own horses, there are horseback riding 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
You may want to use the links below to discover the vast variety of things to do in Arizona while visiting Spirit Tree Inn. We are near Tucson, access to the Arizona Trail, national parks and monuments, museums, botanical gardens, wineries, caverns and historic sites. Check for current prices.
Arizona Trail
Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve
150 Blue Heaven Road,
Patagonia, AZ
520-394-2400
Eco-friendly activity tours including:
Copper Canyon Mountain Bike Trips
Hiking/Rock Climbing
Birding
Astronomy
Archeological
http://swtrekking.com/index.html
520-296-9661
Southern Arizona Bird Observatory
85603-5521
www.sabo.org
520-432-1388
Skydiving
4900 N. Taylor Road, Eloy, AZ 85231
www.skydiveaz.com
Winter: 7 days/wk-8am to sunset; Summer:
Th-Mon 8am-5pm
520-466-3753
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 Offrad 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
Tucson Arts
https://www.visittucson.org/things-to-do/artsnarts.com
http://desertartisansgallery.com
https://www.madaras.com
https://www.go-arizona.com/Saguaro-Artisans/
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.
Southern Arizona 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.
National Park Monuments- Organ
Pipe Monument
10 Organ Pipe Dr., Ajo, AZ 85321
www.nps.gov/orpi/
520-387-6849
8am-5pm
Casa Grande Ruins
1100 Ruins Dr., Coolidge, AZ 85228
www.nps.gov/cagr/
520-723-3172
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
Saguaro National Park East
3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730
www.nps.gov/sagu/
East – 520 733-5153
West – 520 733-5158
Visitor Centers open 9-5
The saguaro cactus is unique to the Sonoran Desert, and its bloom is the state flower. The monument, with its many acres of scenic beauty, is administered by the National Park Service and can be enjoyed at two locations east and west of town.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
2150 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ 85712
www.tucsonbotanical.org
520-326-9686
More than five acres of demonstration gardens, including xeriscape and cacti, herbs, flowers, historical, sensory, barrio and children’s gardens.
Sonoita Vineyards
Sonoita, Arizona
www.sonoitavineyards.com
520-455-5893
daily 10-4
Bisbee Arizona
Town of Bisbee
www.bisbeearizona.com
520-432-5421
Tucson Rodeo
NE Corner of Irvington Rd. & 6th Ave., Tucson
www.tucsonrodeo.com
3rd week in February
520-741-2233
Old Tucson Studios
201 S. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85735
www.oldtucson.com
520-883-0100
7 days/wk, 10-4
Travel 22 miles west of Tucson Mountain Park Road and journey back 100 years into the Old West. The town of Old Tucson, originally built by Columbia Pictures, has been used in over 60 motion pictures. There are stagecoaches, pony and train rides, shops, restaurants and daily gun fights.
Biosphere 2
www.b2science.org
AZ Hwy. 77
520 896-6200
This is where they sealed in the Biospherians for two years in the early 1990s. Visitors can now go inside and learn about the environment. The three-acre complex contains a million-gallon ocean and living coral reef, rainforest, savannah, marsh, desert and a 24″ telescope. Also, on the very scenic premises is a restaurant and gift shops. Open daily.
Tohono Chul Park
www.tohonochulpark.org
520 575-8468
A beautiful park and desert preserve in Tucson with abundant bird and wildlife, plus a tearoom.