Kartchner Caverns Campground - 

The beautiful Kartchner Caverns can be found in Kartchner State Park. The caverns are home to what’s known to be the world’s longest stalactite formation, alongside plenty of mysterious nooks and crannies for you to explore. The caves were discovered in 1974 and they are limestone caves home to rare minerals and formations, alongside a big bat population. The cave’s stalagmites and stalactites are still growing, although this is hard to see with the naked eye. To find out more, head to the nearby Discovery Center, where you can find out facts about the bats and some of the fossils that have been found in the cave.

There are three different types of cave tours open to the public. These are the Rotunda tour, which is 90-minutes long, the Big Room Tour, which is around two hours long, and a special tour where you can explore the cave just with a helmet and a headlamp, as explorers did when they first discovered Kartchner Caverns back in the 1970s.

Reservations can be made on-line at azstateparks.com. We are in the Lower Loop and the cost is $30.00 per day plus $3.20 = $303.20 total.  There appear to be a number of sites still available.

Benson, AZ - The Gateway to Cochise County  Amid picturesque river-valley views, agreeable weather and the Home of Kartchner Caverns State Park, the City of Benson is ideally situated along Interstate-10 as the Gateway to Cochise County.  Founded in 1880 prior to Arizona’s mining boom, Benson developed as a stopping point for the Butterfield Overland Stage mail delivery route.  Soon thereafter, the Southern Pacific Railroad came into Benson and continued to serve the area until 1997, when the line was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad.  The City of Benson’s culture is ingrained with the Old West and our traditional Railroad heritage.  The Benson Visitor Center – Train Depot, located at 249 East Fourth Street in the heart of Benson’s historic downtown [see satellite map], is a beautiful replica railroad depot using many of the same architectural features as the original depot that was built over a century ago.  The City of Benson is particularly proud of their designation as the Home of Kartchner Caverns State Park.  Located on 550 acres at the foothills of the Whetstone Mountains just south of Benson on State Highway 90, Kartchner Caverns State Park offers picnicking, camping, hiking, walking and the magnificent still-living caverns

Tombstone, AZ -Step into Tombstone AZ and you'll be stepping back into the rough and toughdays of the wild west. In the 1880s, Tombstone was a booming mining town that brought a rush of prospectors and miners looking to strike it rich. It also became a magnet to thieves, card-sharks, murderers, rustlers and an abundance of bad guys.

Allen Street 1881 Tombstone AZ

Bisbee, AZ - Things to Do in Bisbee, AZ Bisbee is a place to experience rather than to tick items off a checklist. There’s not one attraction that is must-visit, but taken together, it’s an amazing place to explore.  One thing to note is that, because Bisbee relies heavily on day trips from Tucson, many of the stores and restaurants close during the week (a lesson we learned the hard way!). If you can, time your visit for a weekend. 

Stroll through downtown Bisbee.
Wandering around the funky downtown is one of the best things to do in Bisbee. The area is home to over a dozen art galleries, antique shops, and used bookstores, and we spent a whole afternoon looking through all of them (at least, the ones that weren’t closed mid-week when we visited).

Don't forget Lowell, AZ when you are there.

SPEND HALF A DAY EXPLORING LOWELL  

One of the unique things to do in Bisbee Az is spend a few hours exploring another smaller mining town well.

Lowell was a small mining town incorporated into Bisbee in the early 1900s. This borough is only about 10 minutes outside Bisbee and will transport you back in time.

In 1899 Frank Hanchett of Lowell, Massachusetts purchased a property and started the Lowell and Arizona Copper Mining and Smelting Company in Lowell. 

Erie Street was initially established as a business and social centre near the Lowell mine. 

The population of Lowell grew rapidly as local mines expanded. Still, as the Lavender Pit open copper mine expanded, over 250 homes and businesses had to be moved for the continued development of the Lavender Pit. 

Although much of Lowell was lost to mining, Erie Street has been saved and beautifully preserved by business owners and locals and left the way it once was.

The abandoned area along Erie Street reminds you of the 40s and 50s.

On this two-block-long street, you will see classic cars, abandoned businesses, an old, abandoned gas station with cool, historic gas pumps, old billboards, banners, shops, old ads, and an old Greyhound bus parked there.

Do not miss the Harley Davidson repair shop, and a department store called Sprouse Reitz Co. 

The street also boasts one of the best restaurants in Bisbee, The Bisbee Breakfast Club, famous for its excellent huevos rancheros, and other excellent cuisines with huge portions.