Scenic Drives

Spanish Missionary Trail to Tombstone - Head south on I-19 from Tucson. The first stop is Mission San Xavier del Bac just south of Tucson. The 18th century building is one of the most beautiful of the early missions. The murals and decorations inside the sanctuary have been refurbished in recent years and restored to their original beauty.

Other stops on I-19 include the Titan Missle Museum, a former ICBM site outside of Green Valley. Continuing south, look for Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, Arizona's first European settlement dating from 1752, and Tumacacori National Historic Park, a massive adobe church dating from 1800 but never completed.

At Nogales, Arizona, you have the option of visiting Nogales, Mexico. This is a popular border crossing because you can walk across the border without your car to tour or shop. From Nogales, proceed east on Arizona-82, which is scenic and mountainous for a short distance. Patagonia Lake State Park is a nice stop for a picnic. After leaving the mountains, the route passes into ranching country as it reaches Sonoita. The quaint villages of Sonoita and Elgin are the heart of Arizona wine country. There are five small family wineries in the area, which are generally open for tasting Friday through Sunday. There are bed and breakfasts in this pretty area.

Continue east on Arizona-82, then south on Arizona-80 to the famous old-west town of Tombstone. Plan to spend most of a day to see the attractions which include Allen Street, the OK Corral, Boothill Graveyard, the Birdcage Theater, Tombstone Courthouse, and more.

From Tombstone, you can continue south to tour Bisbee, a historic mining town, or return to I-10 via Arizona-80. You can also return to the interstate via Arizona-90 and stop for a tour at the beautiful Kartchner Caverns State Park.
For more information, visit http://www.amwest-travel.com/awt_southernarizona6.html