Arizona, NM must sees

[MT Gianni]

We are headed to AZ in a few weeks. I-15 S to Vegas, Lake Havasu City or Kingman for a night, 3 nights in Tucson, one in Bisbee or Deming and 2 in Alamagorda with an emphasis on Carlsbad Cavern. Any must see sights? We were planing on Saguero Ntnl Monument W and either Tucson zoo or Old Tucson, we enjoyed it 22 years ago pre fire. There is a Cave E of Tucson as well. Deming area would include a side visit to Lincoln and Silver City. WE saw London Bridge on that trip 22 yrs ago and didn't lose anything there but neither of us gambles vegas style. Open for recommendations, dining or visiting. It is a pre retirement vacation and we have kindda gone with the idea of no gun shops or fabric stores. Holly's summer job is at a cave and she has had a life long interest in caving. Carlsbad Caverns would be a great visit for some of the Ranger lead tours out of the normal visit. What else is a must do or see?

[Sweetpea]

Can't help you out down there, but there is plenty to do and see here in Southern Utah...

If you're going to be stopping near St. George, look me up, and maybe we can get together for dinner, and shoot some bull...

[SSGOldfart]

Try your luck at panning for gold around Wilcox and north of Tucson. You might have to dry pan you could always bring bucket or two back home with you.

[starmac]

Depending on what you like, but the mine out of silver city is pretty neat, just to look at how big that hole really is, instead of driving back towards the interstate, you can keep going through the black range, for one of the most scenic mountain drives in the country and come out on I 25.

[Bad Water Bill]

Be very careful as your blood is now set for -40 and it just might boil at 100 down there.:bigsmyl2:

If you do pan do not dump the black sand as some of it just might be gold with a black ?????.

Yes I did dump 4 5 gal buckets before someone warned me to have it tested before I sent it to the dump.:groner:

[Sweetpea]

Bill, my folks are wintering down by Havasu, and they got some snow...

My cousin over in Silver City got 8 inches...

[texassako]

Chiricahua National Monument is a must see, at least to me. http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm

[Bad Water Bill]

Bill, my folks are wintering down by Havasu, and they got some snow...

My cousin over in Silver City got 8 inches...

Dang that Al Gore must have forgotten to pull that "GLOBAL WARMING" switch on the first.[smilie=s:

[bcr]

Karchner Caverns for sure. I haven't been to Carlsbad yet.

Tucson Desert Museum is real nice.

I would skip the zoo, it's just a small city zoo, unless you've never been to a zoo. The Desert Museum would be better.

Chiracahua National Monument is incredible; it's considered one of the top-10 dayhikes in the US (by someone).

Of course, you should see the Grand Canyon.

Since you're coming from the north, you might consider trying to see the slot canyons in northern AZ. I haven't been there, but check out the pictures online.

For food, if you want the most authentic Sonoran Mexican food (you do), and the best in my opinion, you need to go to El Guero Canelo in Tucson. It's just a glorified hotdog stand, but you have to try to their hotdogs. The original one is on the south side, you might prefer to go there for lunch. There is a newer one on Oracle that is close to where I used to live, should be just as good.

I always enjoyed Casa Molina (several locations) and Midway Molina (Grant & Swan, IIRC). Mi Nidito is also nice, very popular, and lines can be long. Famous people go there when they're in town.

If you like hiking, the hike up Sabino Canyon to seven falls is real nice this time of year, and relatively easy.

I don't know if you'll be in Albuquerque, but if you will, send me a PM, and we can meet for lunch if you like. Good restaurants in Albuquerque are La Salita on Eubank (check when they're open); Sadie's (if you like your salsa hot); and when you're in New Mexico, you absolutely, positively must try a green chili breakfast burrito. In Albuquerque, I prefer the breakfast burrito from Twisters.

[pjames32]

We live in NW NM, Farmington. It is winter there! We are currently in Buckeye,AZ and will go to Yuma in a few days, then to SOCAL for a month before we come back to AZ. Organ pipe Nat'l park South of Ajo near the MX border is a favorite in Southern AZ. The Benson, AZ area has some fun stuff. Deming, NM to Las Cruces, NM has some good tourist areas. El Paso, TX is a "pass" for us. Carlsbad caverns is a must f you get there. If you head to NW NM after mid March PM me. We will be happy to show you our area and suggest areas of SW Colorado/SW Utah. Our are of NM is known for Indian ruins (1000-1200AD).
Enjoy your trip.
BTW-Buckeye, AZ has had freezes at nite this past week. Today was low 60's, 70 tomorrow and looking warmer as the week goes on.
PJ

[Blacksmith]

+1 on the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. You can pop your head up in the middle of a prairie dog town and the humming bird aviary was unbelievable. We really enjoyed it.
https://www.desertmuseum.org/

(https://www.desertmuseum.org/)

[Artful]

Pima Air Museum
http://www.pimaair.org/visit/virtual-tour

Missile Museum
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/index.php?pg=14

Miniatures
http://www.theminitimemachine.org/

Like painters - Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia (1909-1982)
http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2013/08/degrazias-treasure.html


The San Diego Union headlined a story "Artist Raps IRS. Burns Paintings," on May 15, 1976. The article stated, "Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia has burned 100 paintings that he valued at over $1.5 million in protest over U.S. Tax laws, the Phoenix Gazette reported yesterday."

Ten people witnessed the burning of DeGrazia’s paintings. The paintings and sketches DeGrazia burned and hid that day were from his early days as an artist. A witness claims DeGrazia burned two insignificant oils, ink and pencil sketches. Another witness who worked for Billy Crader’s Wilderness Safaris claimed DeGrazia only hid one insignificant oil, a couple of ink sketches and a few pencil sketches. The number of paintings, ink and pencil sketches burned is still conjecture among many people.
- got his own museum
http://degrazia.org/

San Xavier Mission
http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

Movie / TV Studio and Museum
http://oldtucson.com/

http://www.tombstoneweb.com/

going to Bisbee got to see
http://www.queenminetour.com/
stay? at
http://www.copperqueen.com/

Want to elevate yourself try drive up
http://www.grandarizonatowns.com/city/Mount-Lemmon

[GabbyM]

Artful beat me to it. The Pima Air Museum in Tucson is great. If you like aircraft, machines in general and history. If not it's just not for everyone. They have the coolest planes to ever fly there. Cool stuff for a guy like me who gets excited looking at antique tractors.

[gmsharps]

If convienient at exit 268 is Mr. T's truckstop and they have the best deep dish apple pie around

gmsharps

[RugerFan]

Pima Air Museum
http://www.pimaair.org/visit/virtual-tour

Missile Museum
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org
http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/index.php?pg=14

Miniatures
http://www.theminitimemachine.org/

Like painters - Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia (1909-1982)
http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2013/08/degrazias-treasure.html

- got his own museum
http://degrazia.org/

San Xavier Mission
http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

Movie / TV Studio and Museum
http://oldtucson.com/

http://www.tombstoneweb.com/

going to Bisbee got to see
http://www.queenminetour.com/
stay? at
http://www.copperqueen.com/

Want to elevate yourself try drive up
http://www.grandarizonatowns.com/city/Mount-Lemmon

Geeze I wish I had known all that. My fault for not asking. The wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in the Phoenix area visiting our daughter for the holidays.

MT Gianni - If you're there in time for the Super Bowl, keep in mind that west Phoenix traffic will be a zoo. There are a number of hiking trails (around Phoenix), many of which are fairly mellow and offer great views.

[Bad Water Bill]

There are so many natural sights to visit I doubt you will live long enough to visit all of them.

Now visiting all of the museums is still a challenge.

And DO NOT FORGET our own member that has a great hamburger joint North of Phoenix

[OBIII]

MT,
When in Bisbee, be sure to check out the Lavender Pit, was the largest open pit mining operation. I have stayed at the Copper Queen back in the late 70's, and it was very nice then. Also the Bisbee Queen mine tour is there. Best of luck and enjoy your travels.

OB

[Artful]

And DO NOT FORGET our own member that has a great hamburger joint North of Phoenix

OK, I guess I missed this one - which member and burger joint are we talking about?

[Artful]

Geeze I wish I had known all that. My fault for not asking. The wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in the Phoenix area visiting our daughter for the holidays.

Those are just in the Tucson area - Phoenix I can give you a whole 'nother list on your next visit ;)

[MT Gianni]

Staying out of Phoenix and Santa Fe area. Carlsbad Caverns will be our main focus. Plan on staying So of Tucson, will go up from Almagorda NM to Wyoming to see a BIL and home from there. Thanks for the ideas and keep them coming. The Desert Museum is what I remember now not the zoo.
I prefer to have pilots fly me around and can look at old planes for 20-30 seconds before boredom takes over. I hope to be long gone by the Super bowl but am not sure when or where it is. Football is not a big thing to watch at my house.

[torker]

Alamogordo N.M. has a nice Space and Science Museum. There's also an I-Max theater next to it. Along the trip you might see a sign that says ( The Thing ! ) fair warning !!! Have a wonderful trip..

[Artful]

NFL Experience Engineered by GMC (https://azsuperbowl.com/nfl-experience/)Jan 24, All DayShow Details
2015 Pro Bowl (https://azsuperbowl.com/pro-bowl/)Jan 25, 6:00pm MTShow Details
2015 WM Phoenix Open (http://wmphoenixopen.com/)Jan 26, All DayShow Details
Super Bowl XLIX Media Day Fueled By Gatorade (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/49/events/media-day)Jan 27, 10:30am (Doors Open at 9:30am)Show Details
Verizon Super Bowl Central (https://azsuperbowl.com/verizon-super-bowl-central/)Jan 28, All DayShow Details
2015 AAITA American Indian Festival (http://www.arizonaindiantourism.org/save-the-date-2015-jan-29-30-31-super-bowl-xlix-indian-festival/)Jan 29, All DayShow Details
Super Bowl Gospel (http://www.superbowlgospel.com/)Jan 30, 7:30pmShow Details
Super Bowl XLIX Celebrity Golf Classic (http://www.nflfoundation.org/blog/posts/view/29)Jan 31, 9amShow Details
Arizona Super Bowl Run Series: NFL Alumni The Valors & Victors 5K (https://azsuperbowl.com/4-9k-fun-run/)Jan 31, 8:30amShow Details

[Larry Gibson]

Once you see the London Bridge it's just a bridge. If you're in this area a day or two I'd take you east of here for a jeep ride through the desert. It's the higher north end of the Sonoran Desert and is a lot different than the Mohave type desert around here. A lot different with the mountains and canyons than you'll see along the way and down around Tucson. Could even get some shooting in.

Larry Gibson

[leadman]

We have been to Karchner 3 times. It is a living cave and completely different experience that any other we have been in. You enter thru air locks and are misted with water to prevent the loss of lint, hair,etc in the cave.
There is also Grand Canyon Caverns south of the Grand Canyon. It is a private enterprise and was used as a bomb shelter during the cold war.

[Idz]

Don't forget White Sands Nat. Mon. right outside of Alamogordo. Its kind of fun to go to White Sands when its about 70 degrees then head up towards Ruidoso and play in the snow.

[jmort]

This is a must for my next trip to Arizona
http://www.thetrain.com/

[Artful]

jmortimer (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/member.php?17396-jmortimer) , you might look into this one as well

http://verdecanyonrr.com/

heck if you come thru Scottsdale I'd even recommend
http://therailroadpark.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iln6n7F9qz8


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBciXDfZ__g
they just opened the model railroad exhibit building and it turned out great.
and they have a small gauge to haul yourself around the park - they do
a great christmas ride at night during the season.

[Fergie]

The drive from Flagstaff down to Sedona, up over the Mingus Mountains via Jerome, and in to Prescott is one of the best in the country. The Redrocks of Sedona are something else(just don't get sucked into a Vortex) and Jerome is a cool old mining town with lots of odd, singular characters in it.

You can spend a good bit of time around Prescott's downtown or at some of the museums in the area.

[jmort]

@Artful
Thanks, This is now on my list. Most anything involving a train I like.

[Rufus Krile]

Then there's a little gun show in Vegas called "The SHOT Show" from the 20th thru the 23rd...

[Bad Water Bill]

IF you feel up to it take a trip from Bumblebee up to Crown King for some great scenery.

HEHE it was a single lane road when I drove it years ago.

The general store in Crown King had a 2 X 12 plank outside to leave your firearms in.

I asked the young lady what happened if someone came in still carrying?

She smiled and came up with a double bbl shotgun and said "I MAKE BELIEVERS OF THEM."

Absolutely beautiful views of valleys full of Arizonas world famous BIG cactus.

[ballistim]

I used to go to the Payson area any chance I had, would have moved there but no jobs. Visited Zane Grey's cabin before it burned down. Oldest son was just a tyke when I lived there but his favorite past time was checking out petroglyphs & ruins. He also liked shooting cast boolits out of my Blackhawk with light loads using Trap 100 at the Rio Salado Sportsman Club, sure did love my years in AZ. & 4th of July in Prescott is something I'd like to do again if I ever get the chance

[edler7]

If you are going to be in Alamogordo, the Trinity Site (first atomic bomb test) is about 75 miles from there. It's only open 1 day a year (April 5), but you can drive by it on the highway. Take 54 north from Alamogordo to Carrizozo, then 380 West to San Antonio. You will pass north of the Trinity Site on 380. This route will tie you back into I 25 at San Antonio. The north/south part of this route also parallels the Jornada del Muerto (The dead man's route) followed by one of Corodado's Captains in 1541. There are some interesting lava fields by Carrizozo at the Valley of Fires state park. There is also the NRA Whittington Center range in Raton. 200-900 yard ranges plus a visitor center (even though the deal was no gun shops or fabric stores).

Since you about have to pass through Colorado to get to Wyoming from New Mexico, I'd suggest a couple places on I 25 in Southern Colorado. Trinidad Junior College (just across the NM line in Colorado) has a gunsmith school started by P.O. Ackley. North of Trinidad is Walsenburg- Stop in at George's Drive In on the north end of town for a green chile burger.

[starmac]

Bill you don't see a lot of mention of Crown King, but it is one of my favorite places in Az, or at least used to be. 20 some odd years ago, I got paid some very good money to run that 29 miles, I hear there are more trucks that goes up there now, and the pay is not near as much, so they have probably improved the road. I used to take the blazer up there and hang out on weekends too, it was nice to get away from the heat.

[Bad Water Bill]

There were lots of creeks you could find BLACK SAND in.

Probably had been dumped back at least 100 times or so but it still was fun.

At that time the road to Prescott was washed out with at least a 6' ditch cutting across the road but still a lot of car horn beeping at each curve to warn others you were coming.:bigsmyl2:

[marvelshooter]

This is a must for my next trip to Arizona
http://www.thetrain.com/
My wife and I rode the train from Williams to the south rim a few years ago and liked it very much. The only way we could get a room anywhere near the south rim was to book a package that included a round trip train ride and one night at the railway owned hotel in Williams.

[Cowpoke]

The Yuma Territorial Prison. Inmates think they got it bad now, wait till you see that place!

If its still there, a restaurant by the name of "Beef, Beans and Beer". Have a "Sloppy Walt" for me please!(Two pieces of Texas Toast with a thin Sirloin steak on top, smothered in beans)

Chester's Chuck Wagon was the place for breakfast, 20 some odd years ago anyways.

Have fun and be safe!

[Blacksmith]

The next time you are in Sedona take a drive up Schnebly Hill Road (dirt road), something most tourists miss unless they take a Pink Jeep Ride.

And here is a map of the major Vortexes or Vortices, including the one on Schnebly Hill Road, so you can avoid them. Different lists include various vortexes so Google Sedona AZ Vortex for more information.
http://www.wildsedona.com/area/vortex.htm

[mexicanjoe]

Please make hotel reservations WAY ahead of time!!!!!! Most rooms are booked months in advance due to the oil boom going on!!!! I can recommend the KOA on hwy 'twixt Carlsbad and Artesia! If you travel from Carlsbad to Pecos Texas, you will drive thru Orla, Tx which is indisputably the armpit of West Texas and is square in the middle of nowhere!

[Echo]

If convienient at exit 268 is Mr. T's truckstop and they have the best deep dish apple pie around

gmsharps

They also have the best cherry pie in town!

[Echo]

I work at the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, driving a tram, and also in Hangar 1 docenting about the unique airplanes we have in there. PM me and I'll give you my phone # and will comp you & yours in, and give them a ride on the tram.
Also - Karchner Caverns were mentioned. Well worth while - a living cave, with stalagmites and stalactites, air locks getting in & out to prevent too much outside air getting in, doable for wheelchair-bound folks, and one of my recommendations for the area, as is the AZ-Sonora Desert Museum.

[dagger dog]

Don't forget White Sands Nat. Mon. right outside of Alamogordo. Its kind of fun to go to White Sands when its about 70 degrees then head up towards Ruidoso and play in the snow.

White Sands and the Trinity Site where the first nuclear bomb was detonated, any of the DNR camping or picnic areas around the Ruidoso area all are excellent scenery, then make the haul over the Raton pass to the NRA's Whittington Center.

[TXGunNut]

NRA Whittington Center, Raton. Hard to say if you'll get any shooting done but I've been known to head up there just for the scenery.

[onceabull]

Seeing how far east you will be,I 'd guess you already plan on buying some Nehi Sodas and Onion soup mix,and doing Wolf Creek pass the proper way...Not the ideal time of year, but when you are that close,who cares, eh ????? Onceabull

[MtGun44]

Havasu Falls is incredible, but best in the summer and takes reservations and
a 10 mile hike.

Bill

[Bad Water Bill]

Havasu Falls was on my bucket list since the first time I saw the wonderful photos in the old "Arizona Highways".

Now after over 50 years the body finally says NO WAY you OLD man.[smilie=b:[smilie=b:

[MT Gianni]

Seeing how far east you will be,I 'd guess you already plan on buying some Nehi Sodas and Onion soup mix,and doing Wolf Creek pass the proper way...Not the ideal time of year, but when you are that close,who cares, eh ????? Onceabull
Sorry I would be coming up from Downtown Pagosa Springs and miss the whole experience. Looks like CO will be I-25 N to Cheyenne.

[ShooterAZ]

Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Sedona/Oak Creek Canyon, Jerome Ghost Town, are all good and easy to get to. All sorts of other National Monuments and stuff too. Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater/Wupatki are all pretty cool too. If you get to Albuquerque, The Sandia Tram is a good adventure.

[jonp]

I went to college in Flagstaff, worked for The USFS and AZ Game and fish a few summers then cruised timber on the Dixie Natl Forest near Duck Creek in southern Utah before driving a flatbed all over the southwest. Let me think on this afternoon. BTW: when in Vegas take a look at the MGM Grand Hotel. I pulled a great deal of the pre stressed concrete flooring into it when they were putting it up

[MT Gianni]

It looks like we will go from Vegas south through on US 95 I 8 to Tucson. E dipping through Sierra Vista to NM Carlsbad then N to WY. Not much on big cities, I can visit them OK but the in general avoid them. Thanks a lot for the ideas.

[dakotashooter2]

The Chicken Ranch..............:0.................LOL......... ........

[KCSO]

Seligman's outside Kingman on route 66 been there since 1904.