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With so much to see and experience, we know it's a challenge to squeeze it all in. So, we've developed some itineraries for birders, nature lovers, history buffs and especially you, the traveler. We've included estimated times for the itineraries that will serve as a rough guide so that you can mix and match to customize your visit.
From Town to Post and Underground
Total Time: 8 hours
By the end of this day trip, you will have been to the historic Berlin Wall and back.
Your first step into Sierra Vista’s past is the Henry Hauser Museum in the Ethel Berger Center. Here, historic items from Sierra Vista are displayed in changing, themed exhibits supported and presented by volunteer citizens and business in Sierra Vista. It also has a great museum shop to find that perfect souvenir or gift for a family member.
Allow 1 hour.
Next, envision where the U.S. Army held their ground against the Apache at the Fort Huachuca Museum and Annex. These two buildings house a burgeoning collection commemorating the Post’s history from the 1870s and the famed Buffalo Soldiers, the Indian Wars and the Korean conflict. Inside the Military Intelligence Museum are espionage artifacts dating from the Post’s beginnings through the Cold War, with a 12-foot segment of the Berlin Wall. And don’t forget to stop by the outstanding gift shop.
Allow 3 hours.
Note: The Post is an active military installation. Visitor passes are available at the Main Gate with a current and valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of vehicle insurance, or rental agreement. All passengers 13 and older must also have photo IDs. Fort Huachuca is occasionally closed for maneuvers. Current U.S. Army regulation stipulates that US citizens with proper identification and documentation may visit the Fort. However, international visitors are not permitted access, unless they are sponsored and escorted by authorized personnel.
Then, it’s on to Kartchner Caverns State Park north on Hwy 90 only 20 minutes away. From the day it opened, this living cave has been an international sensation. Advance reservations are required.
Allow 4 hours.
From Peacekeeping to Peace
Total Time: 8 hours
Begin your day by driving the scenic Charleston Road to Tombstone. The “Town too Tough to Die” is one of the Old West’s best-known places as many of the armed conflicts between lawmen and outlaws have been immortalized in print and on the big and small screens. While Tombstone may have been captured on film, there is nothing like the feeling of walking the same streets that Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and Big Nose Kate did. Many of the buildings remain from that era, adding authenticity to the town. Re-enactments along famous Allen Street are loads of fun for the visitor, as is the stagecoach ride. Make sure you don’t skimp on the time you allow to see the town, Boot Hill and the O.K. Corral, marking the infamous 30-second gunfight.
Allow 4 hours.
After re-living a bit of the lawless past, visit the 75-foot Celtic cross located at Our Lady of the Sierras Shrine, just south of Sierra Vista on Hwy 92. This beautiful Shrine, high in the Huachuca Mountains, has a serene chapel for spiritual relaxation. The view of the valley from the Shrine is spectacular. Learn the story of the couple whose devotion to their spirituality and passion for the ruggedly beautiful land created this beautiful retreat. All faiths are warmly welcome.
Allow 2 hours.
For evening entertainment, take to the outdoors by visiting one of our most popular destinations – our night skies. Just a short drive from Sierra Vista there are several observatories open to the public. See the stars and planets through telescopes -- those that you have only read about or seen on charts. Our local astronomy buffs enjoy educating the public about the world outside our planet. Be sure to call ahead for reservations and directions.
Allow 2 hours.
From Birds to Beadwork
Total Time: 8 hours
(This is a wintertime trip -- the cranes arrive in November and leave in February) Get an early start this morning and take the back roads past Bisbee (Hwy 92 to Hwy 80 and then Double Adobe Road) to Hwy 191. As you drive from Elfrida to the Willcox Playa, you will see thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese who make their home in this area during the winter season. They overnight in the Playa, spend the morning feeding in the agricultural fields around Kansas Settlement and then fly south to the Elfrida area and Whitewater Draw for some relaxation. Whether you are a bird watcher or not, this is a marvelous opportunity to see these 4-foot Cranes in a natural environment.
Allow 4 hours.
Education can be immensely fun – it can be stimulating and have the “wow” factor. If you’d like to experience that thrill of learning more about the Native American art and culture, take a road trip to the Amerind Museum. The Amerind, a contraction for American Indian, is located in beautiful Texas Canyon and is a museum of Native American archaeology, art, history and culture. From Hwy 191, it’s a short drive to Dragoon and the museum. The exhibits tell the story of America’s first peoples with art and artifacts. On Native Arts weekends, Indian artists demonstrate their skills in pottery, weaving, culinary arts, painting and sculptures, just to name a few of the talents. The museum store offers unique southwestern arts, crafts and books on the Native American cultures.
Allow 4 hours.
From Canyons to Cool Tunes
Total Time: 7 hours
Take in some of our phenomenal nature at The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Preserve. Ramsey Canyon is world-renowned for its bird life, especially the hummingbirds that make the canyon their home from late April through September. Resplendent in hiking trails, docents conduct guided nature walks on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9am, March through October.
Allow 3 hours. 
A quick drive will take you to the popular public bird feeding stations in Miller Canyon at Beatty’s Guest Ranch and in Ash Canyon at the Ash Canyon B&B.
Also remember that Carr Canyon, with the popular Carr House, is nearby. These canyons have a wealth of rare bird sightings, such as the Slate-throated Red Start and the Crescent-chested Warbler.
Allow 1 hour.
Visit the Arizona Folklore Preserve. Guest artists are scheduled to perform at the Preserve when Dolan Ellis (the Official State Balladeer of Arizona) has commitments elsewhere. Be sure to call for the name of the performing artist. Reservations for the matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday a must. Allow 3 hours.
True Treasure of Coronado, Art and Architecture.
Total Time: 9 hours
See the stunning views that Coronado and his men were treated to as they forged their trails pursuing stories of great riches of the Seven Cities of Cibola. While the cities were a tall tale widely told, the Coronado National Memorial is undoubtedly the real treasure. There is really nothing to compare to its stunning wilderness scenery, with endless views across the San Pedro and San Rafael Valleys, and even the grass plains of Sonora, Mexico. Be sure to include Montezuma Pass (elevation: 6,575 feet) on your driving tour; it’s only fifteen minutes from the Visitor’s Center. There are many hiking opportunities throughout the Memorial; however, most require a little stamina.
Allow 3 hours.
While at the Coronado National Memorial Visitor’s Center, be sure to get your free pass to explore the Coronado Cave. It’s only ¾ of a mile from the Memorial’s Visitor’s Center. It’s also known at Geronimo’s Cave. According to legend, the Apache leader used the cave as a hideout in the late 1800s.
Allow 3 hours.
A short twenty-minute drive from the Coronado National Memorial is the artist community of Bisbee. Following Hwy 92 to the east brings you into the Old Town of Bisbee, whose mining history is displayed at the Smithsonian affiliate Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum. Browse along Main Street where the Victorian architecture is prominent. Spend time visiting the many art galleries, quaint shops and coffee houses.
Allow 3 hours.
Birds, Mammoths and Ghosts
Total Time: 8 hours
Birding in the cool early morning can only be improved if you also happen to be in the heart of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Over half of the known breeding bird species have been sighted here. Visitors can choose from regularly scheduled bird, interpretive and river walks, all led by trained docents from the San Pedro House.
Allow 3 hours.
Next up: Murray Springs Clovis Site, where one of the most archaeologically significant and internationally important Mammoth sites, was discovered. The Clovis peoples lived in the San Pedro River Valley over 11,000 years ago, and these big game hunters left behind hand crafted spear points as well as a unique, and rare, wrench-type tool made of mammoth leg bone. A self-guided interpretive tour is available.
Allow 1 hour.
It’s back-to-the-future from prehistoric times to a stop in the 1800s, when mining left its mark on the banks of the San Pedro with some of the area’s most famous ghost towns, Millville and Charleston, across the San Pedro from each other, sprouted up to serve the Tombstone mines during their boom days. Fairbank, with its over half-dozen remaining structures, is worth the hike. And Presidio Santa Cruz de Terrenate is one of the best-preserved Spanish presidios (fortress) in the Western U.S.
Allow 4 hours.
For more day trip ideas go to
http://www.southernarizonatourplanner.com/itineraries.htm
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