Well, it’s cooling off in Texas, which means it’s getting even cooler up north and the “Great Migration” is underway. A lot of folks from up top like to travel down to Arizona for its mild winter, beautiful scenery, and plentiful activities. Let’s pretend today that we’re based somewhere in the Valley Of The Sun around Phoenix, and we’re going to take a day trip or two and see the sights.
Montezuma Castle is a straight shot up I-17 (the “17” to you west coasters) up through Black Canyon City, past Aqua Fria National Monument, to Camp Verde on the Verde River where the Montezuma Castle Hwy exit is. Montezuma Castle is a series of well preserved cliff dwellings dating from 1100-1425 AD which means, as we all remember from grade school, that these dwellings were already abandoned when a waterlogged Colombus staggered up that Bahaman beach claiming our hemisphere for Spain. Beaver Creek runs through the park and hardwoods abound, making fall a spectacular time to visit.
If you prefer to head south out of the Valley, then Tucson is a good and fairly close destination. There are several old Spanish Missions in and around Tucson. San Xavier del Bac is about 10 miles south of downtown Tucson. To get there you’d take I-10 to Tucson, then head south on I-19 and take the San Xavier exit heading west and follow the signs. The mission is one of the oldest in the US, being built in 1691 and being rebuilt in the 1780’s after being destroyed by Apache raids. Further down 19 towards Nogales is San Cayentano de Tumacacori Mission which was built by Franciscans in the early 1800’s.
Visiting these places is like walking onto a movie set, and many films have been made at these locations form the black and white ear movies such as Duel In the Sun, to more modern westerns like Young Guns and Tombstone. Where are your favorite historical places in AZ? Let us know in the comment section below, and as always..before you hit the road, hit us up on the website for all your RV accessory needs!