Benson: Home to Kartchner Caverns State Park

This small community sprouted up along the Butterfield Stage Line--now a good chunk of I-10. The City of Benson's culture is engrained in its transportation heritage. In fact, the Benson visitor center is located in the historic train depot. Wander this town and discover 14 murals that celebrate this community's history, duck into one of the mom-and-pop eateries, and take the model train for a spin at the visitor center.

Bisbee: The Southernmost Mile-high City

About a half-hour drive from Sierra Vista, Bisbee, the southernmost mile-high city in the United States, is a former mining town tucked into the Mule Mountains. When the copper mines closed, this quirky city, broken up by mountain (and mine) contours, reinvented itself.  Today, it is home to a thriving arts and antiquing community with an array of unique shops, galleries, and restaurants. For a glimpse of what life was like in Bisbee’s 1800s heyday, be sure to explore any one of the many available historical tours, including the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour.

Douglas: Gateway to Mexico

Douglas, with a history dating back to the 1500s and the early Spanish explorers, is a charming community just across the border from Mexico. Douglas boasts a wealth of attractions for birders, hikers and shoppers. The Douglas area is home to the San Bernardino and Leslie Canyon national wildlife refuges, historic landmarks, and the first international airport in the United States. From here, you can walk across the international border crossing into Agua Prieta, Sonora and experience the culture of northern Mexico. 

Patagonia: Historic Village & Art

Cool and quiet, Patagonia is a gateway community to Patagonia Lake State Park and the second Arizona Trail Gateway Community. The community par offers shaded tables, a gazebo, and butterfly garden--the perfect spot for a picnic or deciding which restaurant to patronize for lunch. Festivals, concerts, and other events transform this community into a destination several times a year, including the two-day arts festival in October.

Tubac: Historic Village & Art

Nestled between the Tumacacori and Santa Rita mountain ranges, Tubac is a small community known as the place where art and history meet. Established in 1752 as a Spanish Presidio, Tubac has since transformed into the premier destination in Southern Arizona for culture, history, and art.

Willcox: Where Wine & History Meet

In the 1930s, Willcox was the largest range cattle rail shipping point in the United States, earning the nickname of “Cattle Capital of the World.” Today, the town continues to thrive as an agricultural community, thanks in part to several wine tasting rooms and award-winning vineyards. Willcox is home to the Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Chiricahua Regional Museum and Research Center, and the Rex Allen Museum. Nearby landscapes are awe-inspiring, making Willcox and the surrounding areas a truly unique blend of culture, nature, and western history.