Courtesy of VisitArizona.com
Replete with natural wonders, history and culture, southern Arizona is a romantic region of stately saguaros, scenic preserves and exciting destinations. From Tucson, the area’s thriving metropolis, to Wild West towns, rugged adventure areas and rolling vineyards, the cities of southern Arizona are as interesting as they are diverse.
Tour a Spanish Colonial mission. Explore enormous caves. Visit local wineries. Whatever you desire, southern Arizona has it. Learn more about southern Arizona’s top destinations below:
Most Popular Destinations
Bisbee
Home of the historic Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona—located 90 miles southeast of Tucson—will send you back to a time when the Old West reigned supreme. With a preserved turn-of-the-century downtown crowned by a hilltop Art Deco courthouse, this once flourishing city is now inhabited by artists, antique shops, hotels and—according to many residents—ghosts.
Sierra Vista
Surrounded by near-forgotten ghost towns, Sierra Vista, Arizona, is anything but dead. Home to busy Fort Huachuca, this small city of around 50,000 people offers visitors scenic vistas, byways and trails as well as a bird-watcher’s paradise of nature preserves perfect for spying some of the country’s most exotic hummingbirds, flycatchers, warblers and more.
Tombstone
More than 130 years after its founding in 1877, the “Town too Tough to Die,” home of the famed gunfight at the OK Corral, is still alive and well. Today Tombstone, Arizona, is more tourist destination than rough-and-tumble cowboy town. Lined with old saloons, candy shops and gift stores, the town now boasts reenactments of that fabled fight, as well as plenty of special events, kids’ activities and old-fashioned fun.
Tubac
Located just outside of the Coronado National Forest, Tubac, Arizona, is a centuries-old town that was once the site of a Spanish Colonial presidio. Today, the town is home to the Art Colony of Tubac, where working artists’ studios abound. Don’t miss the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, located in the old town, and the Santa Cruz River, a top spot for Arizona birding.
Tucson
Luxurious golf courses and resorts, a flourishing art and history scene and vivid multicultural heritage make Tucson, Arizona, an attractive destination for any southern Arizona vacation. Home of the University of Arizona, this mid-sized city also plays host to countless fairs, festivals and events: Tucson Gem and Mineral show, Tucson Culinary Festival, Accenture Match Play Championships and more.