11 Best Things To Do In Arizona

Above, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Living 40 miles from the Arizona border allows me to frequently visit the "Grand Canyon State" for recreation.

There's plenty of things to see and do in Arizona and The Traveler has posted "11 Best Things To Do In Arizona". So far, I have done about half of them.

They begin with:

Arizona is a state of big skies and even bigger landscapes, where red rock deserts, cool pine forests, tribal lands and dynamic cities all sit under the same desert sun. From standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon to wading into turquoise waterfalls, slot canyons and cactus forests, the challenge is not finding things to do but deciding what to fit into one trip. These 11 experiences span the best of Arizona, with suggestions on when to go, how to visit responsibly and how to stay safe in a place where heat and distance can be just as dramatic as the views.

To see what they are, go here. 

Walk The Streets of Western TV History At Old Tucson

Above, an Old Tucson hotel and saloon set. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the places I've always wanted to see was Old Tucson in Arizona.

Old Tucson is a studio near the city of Tucson, Arizona and Saguaro National Park. Hundreds of movies and television westerns were filmed there. Movies included Rio Bravo, El Dorado, McLintock! and others.

I got my chance two years ago when I was in Tombstone, Arizona. From there, I headed to Old Tucson and spend a good part of a day wandering it.

RV Travel has an article on Old Tucson and it begins with:

Growing up, I always wanted a horse. My wish probably stemmed from the popular television shows of the 1950s and ’60s: Westerns.

My sisters and I sat transfixed while watching Roy Rogers, Zorro, The Lone Ranger, and Bonanza. If the same is true for you, it’s time to saddle up! Old Tucson awaits your visit.

What is Old Tucson?

Old Tucson is a time capsule of past Western-themed television shows and movies. Built as a Hollywood set in 1939, it later opened to the public as a Western-themed park.

Columbia Pictures built a replica of 1860s-era Tucson in 1939 for the feature film, Arizona. Construction crews reportedly erected more than 50 buildings for the movie in just a few weeks.

After more movies and TV shows used Old Tucson through the 1940s and 1950s, the site was refurbished and opened as a theme park in 1960.

Over the decades, Hollywood kept coming back. Old Tucson has been a backdrop for hundreds of film and TV productions. Included in this list are movies like Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Rio Bravo, and El Dorado. Old Tucson also provided the setting for television hits like The High Chaparral and Little House on the Prairie.

To read more, go here. 

30 Ridiculously Beautiful Places In Arizona

Above, Tucson district of Saguaro National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now is the time to visit Arizona. The temperatures during fall are moderating and by going now, you'll beat the influx of snowbirds (RVers from northern and colder climates) and get a campsite.

Travel Lens has posted an article on 30 "ridiculously" beautiful places to visit in Arizona.

They begin it with:

Arizona, often dubbed the Grand Canyon State, is a mosaic of contrasting landscapes and cultures. From its sprawling deserts to snow-capped peaks, the state offers a unique blend of natural wonders, historical significance, and cultural richness.

To see what they are, go here. 

5 of Arizona’s Best National Parks

Above, a cactus at the Tucson Mountain District (TMD)
 of Saguaro National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Arizona border is only 40 miles west of my home in New Mexico. Understandably, I have made frequent trips into the state. Most recently, was in Willcox, Tombstone and Tucson. On that same trip, I visited the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) of Saguaro National Park near Tucson.

Arizona has a number of national parks and forests. Signals AZ has posted five of them.

They begin with:

Arizona gets the reputation as a hot, dry desert. But did you know the the state of Arizona is the top 5 of most biodiverse states in the United States? From the southern Sonoran desert to the northern mountains, Arizona sure has it all. But to truly take in the stunning natural landscapes across Arizona, we recommend these 5 national parks.

To read more, go here. 

Saguaro National Park

Above, Saguaro cacti near the visitor center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I got into Tucson, Arizona after the clampout, I headed to the general area of where Old Tucson Studios were located. The studios open at 10:30, so I had some time to explore as I was a couple of hours early.

Nearby, was the west district (Tucson Mountain District) of Saguaro National Park where a big concentration of saguaro cacti are located. 

Above, Saguaro cacti come in many sizes, heights and shapes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From the National Park Service's Saguaro National Park website:

Icon of the Southwest

Tucson, Arizona is home to the nation's largest cacti. The giant saguaro is the universal symbol of the American west. These majestic plants, found only in a small portion of the United States, are protected by Saguaro National Park, to the east and west of the modern city of Tucson. Here you have a chance to see these enormous cacti, silhouetted by the beauty of a magnificent desert sunset.

Above, some blooming desert wildflowers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unfortunately, the visitor center wasn't open yet, so I ended up driving around the park on the loop drive. Since it is now springtime, desert wildflowers were blooming.

Above, since the sun was still low in the sky, it made
for some interesting photos. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visitor entrance fees are paid at the visitor center. Since it wasn't open yet, I couldn't check in. It wouldn't have mattered anyway as I have a Senior Pass for all national parks.

There are no RV campgrounds at this district, but there are some nearby campgrounds a short drive away.

Above, yours truly during my park visit.

For more information, go here.

Today In Tucson

Above, a gunfight show at the Old Tucson town square. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tombstone, Arizona clampout for the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus is now history.

Early this morning, I departed Tombstone and headed to Tucson to visit Old Tucson Movie Studio. 

Above, a saguaro cactus at Saguaro National Park West. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since I got there a bit early, I took a driving tour of West Saguaro National Park as it was practically next door to Old Tucson. After I was done with that, I headed over to the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. It wasn't open yet, but I decided that their $29.95 admission price was a bit steep. There were no senior discounts.

I went over to Old Tucson and relaxed in their parking lot for about an hour. They open at 10:30. 

I had a good time wandering around the movie sets in Old Tucson. I also took a train ride that circles around the property. The engineer gave good descriptions of different sets and what movies and televions shows they appeared in. This was my first visit there, but it was very familiar. enough so that it seemed like I'd been there before. I watched a gunfight show that was entertaining. I just missed by minutes a dance hall girl show. 

Above, the Beast at Old Tucson Studios with Golden Gate Mountain in the background. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After Old Tucson, I went to an In-N-Out Burger for a late lunch/early dinner. It was nice to have an In-N-Out cheeseburger!

When I finished lunch, went over to the Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort to spend the night. I will be heading on home tomorrow morning. I'll be taking a more direct route home than the one I took to Willcox and Tombstone on Wednesday.

Above, yours truly at Old Tucson.

I haven't been to Tucson since 1993 when my ex-sister-in-law lived there. I don't remember how to get around town as I did back then. The place has grown in 30 years! 

Above, at the Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Tucson/Lazydays KOA Resort is big. It is situated next to a Lazydays RV dealership and has everything one would expect to find at a resort: pools, game room, putting green, restaurant and other amenities. 

New Arizona "Welcome" Signs Unveiled

Above, the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona is one of the designs of the new "welcome" signs. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Arizona will be putting up new "welcome" signs featuring six different landscapes.

According to AZCentral:

The Grand Canyon is among six iconic Arizona landscapes that will appear on new signs welcoming visitors to the state. 

Gov. Doug Ducey, the Arizona Office of Tourism and the state Department of Transportation Wednesday unveiled designs for new “Welcome to Arizona" signs that will replace nearly 3-decades-old signs along highways near borders with other states. 

According to Ducey's office, other landscapes that will appear on the the new signs include Saguaro National Park in the Tucson area, Sedona's Red Rocks, Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River, the San Francisco Peaks overlooking Flagstaff and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument along the U.S.-Mexico border.

To read more and see some of the designs, go here. 

Microchipping At Saguaro National Park

Above, a saguaro cactus in front of the Cave Creek Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is a sad state of affairs that there are those who would steal saguaro cacti from Saguaro National Park.

At least the park is doing something about it.

According to Tucson News Now:

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Saguaro National Park has been doing all they can to prevent theft at their park so visitors can continue to appreciate the beauty. 

Karen Peterson, who was visiting Saguaro National Park East on Monday spoke to Tucson News Now on her thoughts. 

"It's very pretty. It has a different beauty," said Karen Peterson, who was visiting Saguaro National Park East on Monday, April 9. She and her husband spent the week in southern Arizona. It's the unique beauty of the landscape that drew them in. 

Peterson explained, "This is what brings people most people here. I know it's one of the things we came to look for and see." 

After her visit, she said she couldn't imagine the park without the beloved spiny cactus that gives it its name. 

Neither can those in charge of protecting them. 

Ray O'Neil, Chief Ranger of Saguaro National Park told Tucson News Now, "It's the things that live here. The cactus, the animals, they're the reason for our park being here." 

O'Neil said for years there was belief that people were cactus poaching. The problem was never huge, but enough to look into. 

It's why for the last five years the park has microchipped hundreds of their cacti, to cut down the number of stolen saguaros. They're a valuable part of our desert landscape.

To read more, go here.