Photo courtesy of Skytamer.com

While airplanes are meant for the skies, the Border Air Museum has made a place for the huge aircrafts indoors, well at least via textual and photographic information.

The museum was a gift to the city of Douglas by the deceased Richard Westbrook and his wife Irma. The Border Air Museum was established to house Richard’s collection of air history that he had researched for a number of years.

Douglas was a popular space for aviation in the early 1900s. In 1908, a group of Douglas men formed the “Douglas aeronautical club” and built a glider from mail order plans. By 1909, the group had a motorized airplane of the canard-pusher design, the first airplane in Arizona. In 1913, planes that were used in the Mexican Revolution came to Douglas. After World War I, the barnstormers (these were the pilots who performed tricks with their airplanes) arrived. In 1928, the city purchased what would become the first international airport in the Americas in 1928.

The museum brings Douglas’ aviation history to life via photos, newspaper articles, letters, magazines and journals, among other times.

This historic park preserves the ruins of three early Spanish colonial missions. The area was originally visited by the Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in 1691. The King of Spain expelled the Jesuits and replaced them with Franciscans in 1767 and construction was begun by the Franciscan Catholics on the massive adobe church about 1800, but it was never finished.

The Tumacacori National Monument (now the National Historical Park) was established in 1908

These ruins and the culture among it has changed over time; people are encouraged to visit and experience this changing heritage. The unique park also provides opportunities for walkers, bird-watchers and equestrians. There is a popular 4.5-mile stretch of trail between Tumacacori and Tubac for those looking for a good hike filled with remnants of Arizona’s past.

Many of us wish we could live like the cowboys in the movies. To live on the rugged edge of the world would be a dream. But alas, we had to accept the fact that not all of us could be movie cowboys. Now, though, you can vicariously live through the lives of at least one movie cowboy who came before us by visiting the Rex Allen Museum.

Rex Allen, 1920-1999, was known as the “Arizona Cowboy” and “Mister cowboy.” He was a real cowboy who became the last of the singing cowboys of Western movie family.

Those who visit the museum will see memorabilia from Rex’s lifetime success in rodeo, radio, movies and television.

While in Tucson, pay a visit to one of the world’s largest privately-funded, nongovernmental aerospace museums known for its significant collection of more than 300 commercial, private, civil, and military aircrafts. Once inside, enjoy a tour through The Main Hangar, 2 WWII hangars, the Space Gallery, 2 docent-led walking tours, a restoration viewing, informative exhibits, plus 150 more airplanes outdoors!

The 390th Memorial Museum—a stand-alone WWII military museum – is also located on the grounds, as well as the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame.

To learn about admission and hours of operation, visit: http://www.pimaair.org/

How about a hiking trail where you keep cool – as in hiking in 70 degrees and no sunlight? Colossal Cave tour route is a half-mile long and takes about 45-50 minutes to complete. As your guide relates the Cave’s history, legends, and geology, you walk down and back up about six and a half stories and see beautiful cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, boxwork, and helictites.

Tours are given daily, year-round. They are not pre-scheduled, but you’ll never wait longer than 30 minutes after you purchase your ticket. You need no special clothing in the Cave, which is always 70 degrees and dry. You are welcome to take pictures inside – you’ll want to use high-speed film and a flash unit for cameras, or a candlelight setting for videocams. Please click here for rates and Park hours.

To check availability and purchase tickets online for a Regular Tour go to Zerve or call (800) 979-3370

Travelers wishing to enjoy the beauty of southern Arizona should look no further than state routes 82 and 83, along a stretch known as the Patagonia-Sonoita Scenic Road.

This stretch offers winding views of vegetation from fields of wildflowers to tall sycamore and cottonwood trees. The drive includes sights of the Patagonia and Santa Rita Mountains, which tower 9,000 feet.

The jaunt is a quick 52-mile stretch, which provides the perfect afternoon drive or daytime outing. Drivers start on State Route 83, which runs south near the community of Vail near Interstate 10. Route 83 goes through a harbor of vineyards resting in the southern Arizona soil. This road will connect with State Route 82, which then takes travelers to the town of Patagonia.

Part of Arizona’s Mountain Empire, Patagonia offers travelers a respite at Patagonia Lake State Park, a destination for hiking, picnicking, bird tours and boating.

After a brief afternoon rest, the State Route 82 continues in to Nogales, Arizona. Travelers can spend the rest of their day exploring Arizona’s largest Mexican border town. Enjoy shopping or wandering in the town or head to Pena Blanca Lake for fishing and boating.

Southern Arizona’s premier, competition-level facility includes a giant water slide, a splash pad for children, a 25-yard recreation pool, classrooms for birthday parties, community meetings and CPR classes, and other family-friendly amenities.

With family changing facilities, heated pools, and an aquatic facility that’s open all year, what more could you ask for in a water recreational facility?

Oro Valley Aquatic Center is a proud partner of:

USA Swimming

Arizona Swimmiing

US Masters

Arizona Masters

USA Synchro

Tucson Synchro

SAAA

This golf course will make any golfer feel like they’re a professional. With its elevation ranging from 2,300 to 3,200 feet, golfers are sure to face challenges and must find ways to be creative in order to overcome them—just like the pros.

The course was developed by Jack Nicklaus. It contains 27 holes and blends naturally among the saguaros and the surrounding Tortolita Mountain Range. The Golf Club at Dove Mountain provides panoramic views with its luxurious and authentic desert experience.  Nicklaus has integrated solid strategy, variety and fair shot values that harmonize with the high desert elevation of 2,300 to 3,000 feet.

The Golf Club at Dove mountain is home of the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships— Accenture Match Play Championship.

The 250-room Ritz-Carlton resort hotel is also located along the course, for those looking for some good R & R after a long day spent golfing!

Escape the Arizona heat by going down under and taking a tour into the incredible Kartchner Caverns.

Discovered in 1974, Kartchner Caverns is home to remarkable minerals and formations

The caverns are carved out of limestone and filled with spectacular speleothems which have been growing for 50,000 years or longer. This tourist site holds the world’s largest stalactite formation. (A stalactite is a type of formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or manmade structures such as bridges and mines.)

The 23,000-square-foot Discovery Center is another must-see at Kartchner Caverns. The center explains many aspects of the cave, including geology, the bat population and paleontology. Interactive exhibits help to explain the discovery of the cave and how formations develop.

Tee it up in the serene desert backdrop of Wellton

Arizona’s year-round seasons and picturesque scenery make for an ideal spot for golf. There are two golf courses located in Wellton (just outside of Yuma) that will satisfy your desert scenery and quiet needs. Surrounded by the Gila Mountains, pink sunrises, and orange sunsets, the Butterfield Golf Course holds eighteen holes and a Pro Shop that rents handcarts, bags and clubs, and golf carts. The course is open to the public and supplies a variety of passes as well as a driving range and putting green. From the longest tees it features 2,749 yards of golf for a par of 54. Open every day from 7am to 5pm, give them a call for more information: (928) 304-0291

Looking for more tee time? After you’ve conquered the Butterfield Golf Course, take a trip to the Coyote Wash Golf Course where you can play another 18-holes of golf  at the Coyote Wash facility. This course features 5,910 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 70 . Designed by Glen Curtis Inc/Gary Panks, ASGCA, the Coyote golf course opened in 2003. This course is open for even longer, every day of the week, so give them a call for more details: (928) 785-4875.

One of the many views at Coyote Wash Golf Course

Always a nice, serene spot for golf at the Butterfield Golf Course.