Southwest Adventures

Day 1: Phoenix, Arizona – Desert Botanical Garden

Meet at in the lobby of our base hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona in the later afternoon for our “meet and greet”. We tour one of the most beautiful botanical gardens of America, the Desert Botanical Garden with its many acres of rare desert plants, some in bloom, a display of flowering cacti. Discover wild animals living within the gardens and learn about native plants and people while walking on one of the many scenic trails. In the evening we get to know each other at dinner, appetizer and drinks offered by Travel Dream West.

Day 2: Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum – Casa Grande Ruins National Monument – Ajo

Depart for an experience of real Western frontier life in an 1800’s town at Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum with its many historic buildings (weather permitting). Next, visit Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and learn about ancient Sonoran Desert people’s lives and the Hohokam culture. Our journey leads us through fascinating Sonoran Desert National Monument, covered by Saguaro cactus forests and one of the most biologically diverse deserts of North America. We stop in Gila Bend and then arrive in the small sleepy town of Ajo, once a blooming copper mining town. We take a look at the quiet large open pit mine. Evening and night in Ajo.

Day 3: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument – Mission San Xavier del Bac – Tucson

This morning’s highlight is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. We stop by the Visitor Center with interesting displays explaining the life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Then we go for an easy hike to see first hand the rare Organ Pipe Cacti and enjoy the huge variety of other desert plants and cactus. After lunch picnic in the midst of these heavenly desert gardens, we drive on to visit Mission San Xavier del Bac, a wonderfully preserved Spanish Catholic mission offering the charisma and spirit of mission history. In the evening we’ll enjoy dinner and shopping at Tucson Mall. 2 nights in Tuscon.

Day 4: Biosphere-2 – Arizona Sonora Desert Museum – Saguaro National Park – Tucson

First thing in the morning we drive to Oracle and take a tour of Biosphere 2, a scientific research center studying climate change among other projects. Then we explore the desert fauna and flora at famous Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Last, we walk and wonder about the unique landscape at Saguaro National Park West, inhabited by incredibly large Saguaro Cacti, each one with its own personality. Evening in Tucson.

Day 5: Tombstone – Chiricahua National Monument – Willcox

Leaving the the city of Tucson we go back in time to rural Western life while visiting historic Tombstone, original site of the O.K. Corral fight. In the afternoon we arrive at Chiricahua National Monument with its volcanic and historic Apache legacy. Descriptive names include “Island in the Sky” and “Wonderland of the Rocks” in the middle of the desert. We will take a scenic drive and an easy hike among unique rock formations. Night in Willcox.

Day 6: Amerind Foundation – Silver City – City of Rocks State Park – Old Mesilla – Las Cruces, New Mexico

Today is we have a late start, relaxing at the nice hotel and swimming pool before leaving to Amerind Foundation, an informative research facility dedicated to the preservation of Native American cultures. They are located in a scenic location near the Dragoon Mountains, the famous Stronghold of Apache chief Cochise. Then we drive to Silver City, New Mexico, once the home of notorious Billy the Kid, later a silver and copper mining boomtown, today a quiet, clean community known as one of the best towns for retirement with Victorian small town charm. Our afternoon hike will be at the City of Rocks State Park famous for its mysterious huge boulders in the middle of a flat plain. We spend the evening in historic old Mesilla. 2 nights in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Day 7: White Sands Missile Range Museum – New Mexico Museum of Space History – White Sands National Monument – Las Cruces

This morning we explore two fascinating technology outdoor and indoor museums, the White Sands Missile Range museum and the New Mexico Museum of Space History. The afternoon we spend picnicking, hiking and time permitting at a ranger led tour in the beautiful White Sands National Monument. Second night in Las Cruces.