Southeastern Arizona has a burgeoning wine culture that is driving tourists to visit. We were among them last month when we visited the region for five days. With wineries and hikes in mind, we rented a home on AirBNB and headed the 2 hours and 45 minutes south from Phoenix. The house was beyond what we needed, and a deal at $100 a night:
What we should have done was stop in Tucson for a late lunch, or big dinner. While the vistas in this region do not disappoint, the lack of dining does. This is my only complaint. There is a decent steakhouse in Sonoita, and a pizzeria in Patagonia. Both are worth a visit. Otherwise, next time we’ll stock up on groceries and plan more meals at home.
I sat on this porch in the mornings, reading and sipping coffee, wrapped in a blanket. The home we stayed in was surrounded by others that had farm animals. So, there were chickens in one direction and a braying donkey down the road. It was so quiet, one morning I heard a large raven flying overhead and looked up to realize I was actually hearing the wind go through the bird’s wings. That kind of quiet.
We did make it to a couple of the wineries. My favorite was the Dos Cabeza’s rose, although I really enjoyed the Flying Leap rose too. Jason’s favorite was the Flying Leap sangiovese.
Other worthwhile adventures when visiting this region:
Kartchner Caverns — no photography is allowed, but the cave tour is a must. It is such a strange, magical place.
Bisbee: this artsy mining town is full of color and character. Jason had never been, so it was fun to play tour guide and wander together. Bisbee is great for thrift stores, art galleries, the mine tour and wandering. It is home to the 1000 steps climb each October and you’ll find lots of narrow stairways in town.
If you make it to Bisbee, visit Jimmy’s. It is a hot dog shop (if that wasn’t obvious) and is excellent. A family-owned restaurant with a ton of character and great food.
We also visited Tombstone, Sierra Vista, and Nogales. My favorite adventure was to the Empire Ranch.
It is a great place for a long walk and wander. This former ranch has been preserved and the surrounding areas are being used by biologists for animal and plant conservation. Loved it!
~K