Oct 2022
Kartchner Caverns State Park - Benson AZ

This State Park, the surrounding mountains, and the campground are all Stunning! I intended to book 7 nights at Kartchner Caverns State Park located just a few miles south of Benson AZ. I waited too late and had to book my 7 nights in 3 different sites. A little extra moving around but well worth it. I paid $30 per night for two nights at site 5, one night at site 51, and four nights at site 32. All sites had heavy duty iron picnic tables, nice iron fire pits, and recently refinished asphalt pads. All sites are water and electric with any easy to access dump station as you exit the campground. The hiking trails are fantastic and the Foothills Loop is featured below. The site map link below has additional information as well as a map of the hiking trails and it appears that all trails allow you to bring your dog on a leash. The State Park sits at over 4,700 feet in altitude and being here in late October, I didn't run my trailer AC but maybe two hours all week. Each night was between 33 & 44 degrees just prior to dawn so have your heating plan in place.

The biggest draws at Kartchner Caverns State Park are the caves named one of the top ten caves in the US. There are three different tours:
 Rotunda/Throne Tour - 1 hour 30 mins is $23 for adults and $13 for kids.
 Big Room Tour - 1 hour 45 mins is $23 for adults and $13 for kids.
 Helmet & Headlamp Tour - 1 hour 15 mins is $30 ages 10 and up.
These tours do not allow cameras or cell phones so there are no photos to offer you. The park does offer a Photo Tour every third Saturday at a cost of $125 per person. Must be 18 or older to participate in the Photo Tour.

Even if you're not going to explore the caves, the State Park is the destination with it's wonderful campground, hiking trails, and high desert nature vibe. The park is 10 miles from Benson with ample shopping and restaurants. Be aware that the closest convenience store is 9 miles in either direction so load up on supplies before you get here. There is the Bat Cave Cafe in the Visitor center so if you're looking for a $6 hot dog and a $2 water, you're in luck. I will return to Kartchner Caverns!
 Kartchner Caverns State Park Site Map

Oct 2022
Foothills Loop Hiking Trail

Barron and I hiked the Foothills Loop trail and the Guindani Connector within the State Park which is a total of 3.1 miles. The Foothills Loop hike is rated as Moderate to Difficult and I would agree with that. If you have bad knees or flip flops, you may just want to walk around the campground. The trail can be very narrow in spots and is very rocky and undulating. The trail climbs the hill north of the caves and works it's way back down to the wash that follows the fault line between the Whetstone Block and the San Pedro block. Set aside a couple of hours for this hike and if you're not too tired, climb the Mountain Viewpoint on the back side of the loop.

Oct 2022
Sierra Vista Arizona

Sierra Vista began as somewhat of an overflow for Fort Huachuca but over time has really become main commercial, cultural, and recreational hub of Cochise County located just 15 miles southwest of Tombstone, 20 miles northwest of Bisbee, and 15 miles from the Mexican border. If I were to relocate to Cochise County, I suspect Sierra Vista is exactly were I would settle down. This city has a population of over 45,000 with all the modern amenities and is really close to the wealth of historic places scattered around Cochise County. The city has a desirable four season climate with very little humidity. The Monsoon season of July and August produces almost half the yearly rainfall. Sierra Vista is known as The Hummingbird Capital of the US and bird watchers from all over the world come to the local canyons to observe and photograph hundreds of different bird species. The Huachuca Mountains overlook the city and are a stunning view from anywhere in town. I made several trips to Sierra Vista during my 3 weeks in Cochise County and I really want to spend more time here in the future.

Oct 2022
Fort Huachuca - Sierra Vista AZ

Fort Huachuca is an active Army base that can be toured by U. S. Citizens only after an application is completed by the security staff at the Van Daman Gate. This process includes a background check of the individuals who wish to tour the base. This process took about 20 minutes and I was issued a 90 day pass. Those with proper DOD credentials can enter much easier. The fort has two museums; The Fort Huachuca Museum and Military Intelligence and Soldier Heritage Learning Center. Fort Huachuca was established in 1877 to defend American settlers and protect Mexico from Apache attacks. Soldiers in the early years were involved in the capture of Geronimo, and tangled with Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa. There is a larger than life statue dedicated to the Buffalo Soldiers from the 1890's who were The First African American soldiers to arrive in Arizona at Fort Huachuca and fought in the Spanish American War. We also had a walk around the Brown Parade Field, the historic district, and the Old Post Cemetery. Finally, we made our way up to the Reservoir Hill Observation Point where the Army sent heliograph messages to other stations over a century ago. The Panoramic Views are Stunning! I really enjoyed my tour of Fort Huachuca and it was well worth the extra effort to gain entrance.

Oct 2022
Bisbee AZ

Bisbee was founded as a Gold, Silver, and Copper mining town in 1880 and the century of open pit mining is visible today. Although Sierra Vista is the most populous city in Cochise County, Bisbee is the county seat. Melted into the Mule Mountains and being Arizona's southernmost mile high city, Bisbee today is one of the most unique cities in the country. There are several neighborhoods in Bisbee including Lowell, San Jose, Warren, but the tourist draw for obvious reasons is Old Bisbee. Old Bisbee has so many homes build on the edge of cliffs and is loaded with tourist attractions, restaurants, and iconic business like The Old Bisbee Brewing Company, The Copper Queen Hotel Restaurant & Bar, Old Bisbee Roaster, Bisbee Grand Hotel, The Inn At Castle Rock, Contessa's Cantina, The Queen Mines Tour, the list goes on! There is an obvious artcie vibe here that reminds me a little of Asheville NC if it were located in Gatlinburg TN. Bisbee is a great place to spend the day and dive in to the local culture.

Oct 2022
Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Court - Bisbee AZ

I just couldn't pass this one up. A Vintage Trailer Motel in Bisbee AZ with a motto of Stay, Eat, Drink, Repeat. Come On! Located in the Lowell neighborhood, Shady Dell began in 1927 as a place to provide trailer and camping spaces to travelers along Hwy 80. Today it is a collection of Vintage Trailers for rent. Dot's Diner is located on site with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's also very close to the original Bisbee Breakfast Club.

Visit the Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Court website

Visit The Bisbee Breakfast Club website

Oct 2022
Coronado National Memorial

Located south of Sierra Vista on the U. S. Mexico border, Coronado Nation Memorial was designated in 1941 in honer of the first organized expedition into the Southwest by conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1540. The area is administered by the National Park Service. There is a nice visitor center and a number of hiking trails and picnic areas but the big draw is the view from Montezuma Pass. Be Warned! Although the single lane road to Montezuma Pass is only about 3 miles, it's really more like a rocky trail with numerous switchbacks and occasional widening to allow vehicles to travel in opposite directions. The National Park Service does give notice that Smuggling and/or illegal entry is common in the area and advise visitors to be aware of your surroundings at all times and not to travel alone in remote areas. Despite the Road or the border related warnings, the views were well worth the visit.

Oct 2022
San Pedro House - Sierra Vista AZ

Just east of Sierra Vista on Hwy 90 to Bisbee is San Pedro House, a historic ranch house restored by the Friends of the San Pedro River. The house is a gift shop and bookstore and is surrounded by gardens with labeled foliage. There are a few short and easy hiking trails here leading down to the San Pedro River. If your headed from Sierra Vista to Bisbee this is a great little stop to let your dogs stretch their legs. Seriously, you can do the whole thing in 30 minutes.