| Have you found new information that you'd like to pass on for Arizona travelers? If so, please send me an e-mail at arizonahandbook@yahoo.com. |
Page 21: Arizona State Parks. See the website www.pr.state.az.us/ for the latest news. Day use and camping fees have gone up slightly.
Page 34: Arizona Office of Tourism has moved to 1110 W. Washington St., Suite 155, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The local telephone is now 602/364-3700; the 800 and fax numbers stay the same.
Page 52: Grand Canyon National Park Lodges now uses the name Xanterra. There's now a toll-free telephone number, 888/297-2757.
Page 53: Moqui Lodge has closed.
Page 53: The Grand Hotel has a new website, www.grandcanyongrandhotel.com.
Page 54: The Arizona Room at Bright Angel Lodge now serves lunch March to October.
Page 55: Moqui Lodge has closed.
Pages 57-58: Trail Rides. Apache Stables has closed
Page 59: AirStar Airlines no longer flies, but AirStar Helicopters continues to provide tours.
Page 59: Grand Canyon Helicopters (928/638-2764 or 800/541-4537, www.grandcanyonhelicoptersaz.com) has taken over at the former Kenai Helicopters terminal.
Pages 59-60 Open Road Tours provides shuttle service and tours to the Grand Canyon's south rim from Flagstaff and Phoenix/Sky Harbor. Offices are in Flagstaff (1 E. Route 66; 928/226-8060 or 877/226-8060) and Phoenix (602/997-6474 or 800/766-7117); www.openroadtours.com.
Page 65: Fire Point road inside the park is open to vehicles, but is rough.
Page 66: No camping is allowed with a half mile of East Rim and Marble Viewpoints.
Page 70: Kaibab Lodge (928/638-2389, www.kaibablodge.com, mid-May–mid-Oct., $95–150 d) has new ownership and website.
Page 71: Kaibab Plateau Visitor Center may no longer be issuing backcountry permits for the park.
Page 101: Photo caption should be "Coyote Buttes North, located west of Page"
Pages 104-105: Visiting the Hualapai Indian Reservation. The new website www.grandcanyonresort.com provides lodge and recreation information.
Page 118: Restaurants are now non-smoking at Cliff Dweller's Lodge, Lees Ferry Lodge, and Marble Canyon Lodge!
Page 123: At the end of the Buckskin Gulch section, the California condor information panels and observer are no longer present, but you can see the white stains left by the birds on the cliffs above.
Page 126: On the Page map, there's a gray outline with the note SEE "DOWNTOWN PAGE" MAP. The publisher forgot to put it in. You can view the Downtown Page map here.
Page 131: Grand Circle Adventures now has a website www.antelopeslotcanyontours.com.
Page 131: Lake Powell Jeep Tours is now Antelope Canyon Adventures.
Page 141: R&S Pickup & Delivery no longer operates.
Page 144: For information on the Hopi tribe, try the new website www.hopiculturalcenter.com
Page 152: Kayenta Visitor Center is no longer in operation.
Pages 152-153: Monument Valley Tribal Park has a new telephone number, 435/727-5874. Hikers can now do a self-guided Wildcat Trail, a 3.2-mile loop around the West Mitten. It's the only hike in the park that you can do without a guide. The trail—foot travel only—begins from the picnic area 0.4 mile north of the visitor center, then drops down from the rim. Cairns and a few signs mark the way. It's open the same hours as Monument Valley Drive.
Page 160: Dine College has a new website, www.dinecollege.edu
Page 160: The Navajo Council House (928/871-6417) in Window Rock is open for visitors 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
Page 161: Navajo Museum, Library, and Visitor Center. The new website www.discovernavajo.com offers tourist information.
Page 161: Navajo Nation Fair info is at 928/871-6647 and www.navajonationfair.com.
Page 162: Window Rock Information. Website for Navajo Nation is www.navajo.org.
Page 169: Hopi Cultural Center is now online at www.hopiculturalcenter.com.
Page 179: Pioneer Museum now has a modest admission of $3 adult, $2 youth 12-18 and seniors 60+.
Page 179: Art Barn is now open about 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wed.-Sun.
Page 186: NAU Downtown office has closed.
Page 189: Four bed and breakfast places have closed: Dierker House, The Tree House, Lynn's Inn, and Lake Mary.
Page 191: Flagstaff Motels (South and West of Downtown) Econo Lodge West is now a Comfort Inn.
Page 198: Flagstaff Outdoor Equipment and Rentals. Mountain Sports has moved to a new location downtown at 24 N. San Francisco Street.
Page 193: The restaurant Down Under has closed.
Page 194: Flagstaff Food (Downtown, north of the tracks). A new Mexican restaurant has taken over the site where El Metate used to be. Las Mananitas 103 W. Birch and Beaver St., tel. 928/226-7144, offers Mexican dining Mon.-Sat. for lunch and dinner.
Page 194: The restaurant Aladdin's has closed.
Page 196: The restaurants Jalapeno Lou's and Asian Gourmet have closed.
Page 198: Photo Outfitter has closed.
Page 198: Flagstaff Visitor Center has a new website www.flagstaffarizona.org and e-mail cvb@ci.flagstaff.az.us.
Page 198: Flagstaff Central is a new community information website at www.flagstaffcentral.com.
Page 198: The Coconino National Forest's Supervisor's Office (1824 S. Thompson St., Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928/527-3600, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) has moved to the west side of town; turn south on Thompson from W. Route 66 opposite the Maverik gas station.
Page 199: Flagstaff Tours and Transportation. A new company, Open Road Tours, provides shuttle service to the Grand Canyon's south rim and to Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport. Offices are in Flagstaff (1 E. Route 66; 928/226-8060 or 877/226-8060) and Phoenix (602/997-6474 or 800/766-7117). You can also join tours to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Petrified Forest Natl. Park, and Monument Valley. On the Web, surf to www.openroadtours.com.
Page 199: Flagstaff Transportation. Backpacker Bus provides hop-on, hop-off loops around the Southwest, with stops at many of the region's hostels. No services in winter. See the destinations and schedules at www.backpackerbus.com.
Page 222: William's Visitor Information Center has a new website www.williamschamber.com.
Page 222: Williams Ranger District has a new telephone 928/636-5600.
Page 223: Canyon Dreams has closed.
Pages 229-232: Long Valley - Blue Ridge Ranger District has been renamed the Mogollon Rim Ranger District.
Page 230: Long Valley Cafe is now non-smoking. The restaurant at Happy Jack Lodge is only open on weekends.
Pages 233-234: Black Mesa Ranger District. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Woods Canyon Lake and Canyon Point Campground.
Page 235: Rim Country Museum has a website www.rimcountrymuseums.com. A reconstruction of Zane Grey's cabin is planned for the museum grounds.
Page 235: Zane Grey Museum has closed, but a new museum has opened across the street: Museum of Rim Country Archaeology (510 W. Main St., 938/468-1128, noon-4 p.m. Wed.-Sun. $3 adults, $2.50 seniors, $2 students 12-18) displays tools, jewelry, and other prehistoric artifacts from the area along with exhibits on trade routes and archaeological techniques. A gift shop sells local crafts.
Page 253: Sedona Cultural Park has closed.
Page 255: West Gateway has closed.
Page 255: Coconino National Forest's Sedona Ranger District has changed its name to Red Rock Ranger District. In 2006 or 2007, the office will be moving to a new location, possibly on AZ 179 near the Woods Canyon Trailhead.
Page 256: Sedona Trolley has a new telephone number 928/282-5980.
Page 263: Palatki Ruins now requires reservations—call the visitor center there before coming out.
Pages 264-266: Beaver Creek Ranger District is now part of the Red Rock Ranger District.
Page 274: Several restaurants have closed—Country Kitchen Restaurant, Famous Sam's Restaurant & Sports Bar, Rosalie's Bluewaters Inn, and Bluegrass Cafe.
Page 278: Jerome-area campgrounds. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Playground group campground.
Page 279: Jerome Chamber of Commerce has changed its website to www.jeromechamber.com. The public library has moved to the old Clark Street Elementary School building on AZ 89A in the upper part of town; it's now much larger with longer hours and with Internet computers.
Page 283: Smoki Museum. Website has changed to www.smokimuseum.org.
Pages 283-284: Phippen Museum. Website has changed to www.phippenartmuseum.org.
Page 286: Forest Service Campgrounds. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Upper Wolf Creek Campground.
Page 292: Crown King and Vicinity. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Turney Gulch Campground (groups only).
Page 293: Other Accommodations Nearby (Arcosanti). The new Creekside Preserve Lodge and Guest Cabins features 15 cabins in the Mayer area, on AZ 69 Between Cordes Junction and Prescott; see www.creeksidepreserve.com.
Pages 299-300: Kingman. One admission fee covers both the Mohave Museum of History and Arts and the Route 66 Museum; $3 ages 13-59, $2 seniors 60+.
Pages 299-300: Bonelli House is now open Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. except major holidays.
Pages 299-300: The Kingman Army Air Field Museum is open now: During the darkest hours of World War 2, the army hastily constructed a vast training camp northeast of Kingman to prepare gunners, pilots, and copilots for battles in the air. By war's end 35,000 cadets had earned their certificates here. Peacetime saw more than 7,000 bombers—mostly B-17s—make their final flight and land at this airfield to be broken up and melted into aluminum ingots. The museum tells the stories of the men and women at the base. You'll see their photos, read of their experiences, and examine the equipment that they used. The collection also includes many poignant tales and mementos from combat in WW2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. It's in an original 1942 wooden hangar in what's now Kingman's airport. Open Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; 928/757-1892. Drive northeast 4.5 miles on AZ 66 from I-40 Exit 53, turn right 1.1 miles into the airport to the 4-way stop just before the old control tower, then turn right 0.5 mile on Flightline Drive to #4540.
Page 303: Kingman Food. Memory Lane Soda Fountain & Deli and Portofino Ristorante have closed. The new Mattina's Ristorante Italiano (downtown at 318 Oak St., 928/753-7504) has great steaks along with Sicilian flavors of seafood, chicken, and pasta; open Tues.-Sat. for dinner. The owner plays on a mafia theme in naming the dishes, and has photos of the Frank Sinatra and his "Rat Pack" in one dining room and photos of notorious mobsters in another room. You can join cooking classes a couple times a month.
Page 304: Powerhouse Visitor Center has a new website www.kingmantourism.org.
Page 305: Hualapai Mountain Park. Day use now costs $5/vehicle. The Hualapai Ranger Station (928/757-3859) at the park entrance is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For information and reservations at the cabins, contact the Mohave County Parks Department (6230 Hualapai Mountain Rd., Kingman, AZ 86401, 928/754-7273 or 877/757-0915, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily).
Page 306: Old Route 66 Visitor Center is now known as the Hackberry General Store.
Page 307: Yesterdays Restaurant at Shep's serves up breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily and often has live music. Western Corner Cafe and Saloon is now DJ's Cafe & Saloon. Mine Shaft Market & Arizona Visitor Center sells groceries and has a coffee shop; tourist information and a historic photo exhibition are in the back.
Try to be in town at high noon on Saturdays, when blazing action takes place at the Old West set of "Cyanide Springs" across from Shep's: The Immortal Gunfighters perform on the first and third Saturdays of each month, and the all-women Wild Roses of Chloride supply the action on the second and fourth Saturdays (except July and August). The Chloride Chamber of Commerce no longer has an office, but you can reach it at P.O. Box 268, Chloride, AZ 86431 or www.chloridearizona.com.
Page 309: Gold Road Mine no longer has surface tours.
Page 310: Davis Camp Park now uses the website www.mcparks.com.
Page 311: Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce is now also open on Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. from October to April. The chamber's new website is www.bullheadchamber.com.
Page 311: Air Laughlin no longer operates from Bullhead City's airport.
Page 312: Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Fees are now charged, unless you have a valid pass for national parks. Entry for five days costs $5/vehicle plus a Lake Use Fee of $10/first vessel and $5/each additional vessel. Annual passes cost $20/vehicle for entry, $20/first vessel, and $10/each additional vessel.
Pages 314-315: Hoover Dam. Security has been greatly increased and hard-hat tours discontinued. Expect a search if you're traveling with a trailer or RV. The alternative is a detour via Laughlin. Pedestrians may only visit the dam during daylight hours. Parking near the visitor center has gone up to $5. With so many changes—and more likely in the near future—it's worth checking the website www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam or calling before your visit. Also be prepared for road construction for a new bypass highway below the dam.
Page 315: Hoover Dam. The official website is www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam. Dave Gunderson's website has closed.
Page 316: Lake Mead. Good news! The Historic Railroad Trail has been extended through a fifth tunnel and is now 2.7 miles one way. Work is underway to extend the path to Hoover Dam.
Page 317: Boulder Basin. Because of low lake levels, the marina formerly at Las Vegas Bay has moved to a new location near Boulder Beach called Las Vegas Boat Harbor.
Page 317: Kingman Wash. All land access to this spot has closed until completion of the new bypass highway for Hoover Dam.
Page 318: Gregg Basin. Low lake levels have closed the Pearce Ferry area.
Page 320: Lake Havasu Museum of History is open Tues.-Sat. 1-4 p.m.
Page 323: K-T Services no longer operates buses here. Flights are run by Mesa Air.
Page 328: Three restaurants have closed: Grandma's Kitchen, Senor Manny's, and Jalapenos.
Page 339: The Desalting Plant no longer offers tours. Yuma Convention & Visitors Bureau no longer runs tours.
Page 342: Don't walk into the Cocopah Indian Museum and announce that you're a travel guidebook writer unless you want an angry earful about tribal sovereignty!
Page 351: The Arizona State Capitol no longer has extended hours when the legislature is in session.
Page 351: Arizona Hall of Fame has closed.
Page 351: The new Wells Fargo History Museum is open downtown. An 1868 Concord coach forms the centerpiece of this Old West collection. You can experience a recreated Wells Fargo office, admire gold nuggets from Wickenburg, see antique guns, and take in the Western art gallery. Open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with free admission; 602/378-1852. Enter the high-rise Wells Fargo building from Adams Street (between 1st and 2nd Aves.).
Page 351: Also new is the George Washington Carver Museum & Cultural Center in the Phoenix Union Colored High School, built in 1926 as Arizona's first Black high school and later named in honor of the scientist. Exhibits relate the life, challenges, and triumphs of Phoenix's African-American community. You'll get a sense of what it was like for the Black pioneers and later generations. Galleries tell of prominent local and national individuals, student experiences, sports achievements, military heroes, and religious roots. Art and visiting exhibits appear too. A library specializes in African-American subjects. The sculpture garden contains a memorial to four girls killed in a bombing in Alabama, "That Which Might Have Been, Birmingham 1963." You'll find the museum at 415 E. Grant St. (2 blocks south of Bank One Ballpark), 602/254-7516; www.gwcmccphx.org. Open Mon.-Fri. and the third Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; $3 adult, $2.50 seniors 60+, $2 youth 6-12, and $1 kids 3-5.
Pages 352-353. Heritage Square. The Silva House now has the Ruby Beet Gourmet Restaurant for fine dining and a cooking school, 602/258-8700; open Thurs.-Sat evenings by reservation.
Page 354: Arizona African Art Museum has closed.
Page 363: Phoenix Accommodations ($50-100). Los Olivos Hotel and Suites is now an Econo Lodge.
Page 364: Phoenix Accommodations ($50-150). Best Western Executive Park Hotel is now Central Phoenix Inn.
Page 364: Phoenix Accommodations ($150 and up). The Crowne Plaza is now Wyndham Phoenix.
Page 367: Mexican and Latin American. Blue Burrito Grille has closed.
Page 367: International. RoxSand has closed.
Page 368: Indian. Bombay Grill has closed. Indian Delhi Palace has move one block east to an attractive new building at 5104 E. McDowell Road. House of Asian Spices has closed, but you can get Indian groceries at the Indian Delhi Palace.
Pages 370-372: Arizona State University. Nelson Fine Arts Center is no longer open on Sunday. Museum of Anthropology is now open Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Memorial Union Art Gallery has closed.
Page 374: Tempe Food, Seafood. Rusty Pelican has closed. You might try Joe's Crab Shack south of Arizona Mills.
Page 374: Tempe Food, Japanese. Saki's Pacific Rim Cafe & Sushi Bar has closed.
Page 376: Fleischer Museum has closed.
Pages 376-377: Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse once again has free admission, but no longer offers Bob Boz Bell's Wild West Museum, a Native American village, or Tom Mix's hat and boots. Rawhide will be moving to a new Valley location, so be sure to call first.
Pages 377-378: Cave Creek and Carefree. The website for the chamber of commerce is now www.carefree-cavecreek.com.
Page 380: Fountain Hills. The chamber office is now also open Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; its new website is www.fountainhillschamber.com.
Page 380: Fountain Hills. Exhibits at the River of Time Museum (12901 N. La Montana Blvd., 480/837-2612, www.riveroftimemuseum.org) begin with a poem, then go on to illustrate the local history from prehistoric times to the founding of Fountain Hills (by the same two-man team who started Lake Havasu City!). You'll learn of pioneer ranchers—and the soldiers of Fort McDowell (1865-90) who protected them—and the life-giving waterways of the area. A monster-size amethyst crystal cluster comes from a mine high on Four Peaks. Displays also tell about the Yavapai tribe who now live nearby on the Fort McDowell Reservation. Changing exhibits appear and there's a gift shop. Hours run Wed.-Sun. 1-4 p.m. in the cooler months; call for summer hours or to arrange a group tour; $3 adult, $2 seniors, $1 kids 2-12. From Scottsdale, you can head east on Shea Boulevard, turn left on Palisades Boulevard, then turn right on La Montana Boulevard. You can also head northeast on AZ 87 from Mesa, turn left on Shea Boulevard, turn right on Saguaro Boulevard, then left on El Lago Boulevard.
Page 380: Out of Africa Wildlife Park is moving to a more spacious location in the Verde Valley, on the other side of I-17 from Camp Verde. Check the website for the latest news.
Page 383: Scottsdale Food, Seafood. Landry's Pacific Fish Company has closed.
Page 383: Scottsdale Food, International. Marco Polo Supper Club has closed.
Page 383: Scottsdale Food, Italian. Avanti's has closed.
Page 385: Mesa Arts Center should open in spring 2005 and will be a major addition to Mesa's downtown.
Page 385: Arizona Museum for Youth is back in its old location of 35 N. Robson Street.
Pages 386-387: Confederate Air Force Museum has joined the Union and changed its name a bit to CAF Museum. Many visiting aircraft are on display too. The Heinkel HE-111 bomber crashed and burned, killing its two pilots.
Page 387: Champlin Fighter Aircraft Museum has closed; the collection moved to Seattle.
Page 387: Buckhorn Wildlife Museum is no longer open on a regular basis, but you could try.
Page 388: Mesa Accommodations ($100 and up). Sheraton Mesa is now a Marriott.
Pages 391: Valley of the Sun Events, January-March. Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art is on Scottsdale Road just south of Loop 101.
Pages 391-392: Valley of the Sun Events, February-March. Arizona Renaissance Festival has added the Pleasure Feast, an elaborate mid-day dinner with entertainment.
Pages 392: Valley of the Sun Events, March. Air & Motor Spectacular no longer seems to take place.
Pages 393: Valley of the Sun Events, October. Rodeo Showdown no longer seems to take place.
Pages 393: Valley of the Sun Events, November. Thunderbird Balloon & Air Classic now runs at the Glendale Airport.
Page 397: Sporting Events. Phoenix Suns website is now www.suns.com. Arizona Cardinals local phone number is 602/379-0102.
Page 399: City Parks has a new website www.phoenix.gov/parks. Enchanted Island telephone is now 602/254-2020.
Page 400: Squaw Peak changed its name to Piestewa Peak in honor of a Hopi service women killed in Iraq. The name change was controversial because it was rushed through.
Pages 402-406: Maricopa County Parks. See the website www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross for the newly opened Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area near Cave Creek. New trails have been added to many of the parks. Staff offer many interpretive programs, which are listed on each park's website. Fees have gone up a bit at most, but the county parks still offer some of the best recreation and camping in the Valley of the Sun. Cave Creek Regional Park's telephone number is 623/465-0431
Page 408: Glendale Visitor Center has a new website www.visitglendale.com and information on the many attractions in the area.
Page 409: Books and Maps. The Book Store no longer stocks a large selection of newspapers. Arizona Book Gallery has moved to 4717 E. McDowell Road. Changing Hands has moved to 6428 S. McClintock Drive.
Page 410: The new website for Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau is www.visitphoenix.com.
Page 410: Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau is now Scottsdale Visitors Center with a new location in Galleria Corporate Center at 4343 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 170 (Scottsdale, AZ 85251), open Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; 480/421-1004 or 800/782-1117; www.scottsdalecvb.com. The office is on the east side of Scottsdale Road about halfway between Camelback and Indian School Roads; it's also on the free trolley route. Staff also provide information at the concierge desk of the nearby Scottsdale Fashion Square Tues.-Fri. 1-6 p.m. and Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Page 410: The website for Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce is now www.carefree-cavecreek.com.
Page 410: Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce is now also open Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; the new website is www.fountainhillschamber.com.
Page 410: Glendale Visitor Center has a new website www.visitglendale.com
Page 410: Arizona Office of Tourism has moved to 1110 W. Washington St., Suite 155, Phoenix, AZ 85007. The local telephone is now 602/364-3700; the 800 and fax numbers stay the same.
Page 411: Tonto National Forest. Mesa Ranger District office has moved to a new location south of Falcon Field at 5140 E. Ingram St., Mesa, AZ 85205. Hours are now Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Pages 412-413: Transportation, Local Bus. Valley Metro has a new website, www.valleymetro.org.
Page 414: The Apache Trail Loop. Mesa Ranger District office has moved to a new location south of Falcon Field at 5140 E. Ingram St., Mesa, AZ 85205. Hours are now Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Pages 415-416: Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours. The Superstition Mountain Museum and 20-stamp mill have moved (see below), but the Goldfield Superstition Museum has opened in the old location.
Page 416: Superstition Mountain Museum (480/983-4888, www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org) is in a new location about 3.5 miles down the Apache Trail on your right, one mile before Goldfield Ghost Town. Open daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. except Christmas. A lecture series runs Jan.-March. The gift shop offers a great selection of Southwestern books, jewelry, and crafts. You can also pick up tourist literature on the area. Stagecoach rides go Dec.-mid-April. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors 55 and up, $2 youth 6-17.
Page 417: Tortilla Campground (elev. 1,752 feet) across the highway is popular with RVers thanks to the large spaces (RVs up to 40 ft.) and water and sewer hookups; electric hookups may be available at some sites. Cost is $12 per night and there's usually room. One section has been designated a quiet area (no generators) for tenters and solar-powered RVs. Summer temperatures get hot by mid-April in this canyon setting, so the campground closes May-September. Note that the gate closes from sunset to sunrise.
Pages 419-420: Theodore Roosevelt Lake. Picnic areas are now free. Long-term camping is now permitted from Oct. to March at Windy Hill and Cholla. Beware that the restaurants near the lake lack non-smoking areas!
Page 421: Salt River Canyon Wilderness. Photo is misplaced—it's really the Colorado River near Page.
Page 425: Globe Accommodations. Copper Hills Inn & Suites has closed. Copper Manor Motel is now a Super 8. Holiday Inn Express is now a Travelodge. Ramada Limited is now a Motel 6.
Page 425: Campgrounds. None of the Tonto National Forest campgrounds have water or a charge.
Page 426: Globe Food. Gen's Cafe is now Joe's Broad Street Grill (247 S. Broad St., 928/425-4707); favorites include the spinach and mozzarella scramble, pasta primavera, cheesecakes, and cobblers; open for breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat. and dinner Thurs.-Friday. Mesquite Restaurant has closed.
Page 426: Globe Information. Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce (1360 N. Broad St., Globe, AZ 85501) no longer uses a PO address.
Pages 427-428. The Gila River has been too low in recent years for rafting.
Page 432: St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery now has a main church and four chapels that rise above beautifully landscaped gardens about 10 miles southeast of Florence. Since its founding in July 1995, the monastery has grown to about 40 monks who follow a rigorous schedule of work and prayer, including praying while working. Visitors interested in the monastery (520/868-3188, www.stanthonysmonastery.org) and its religion may drop by for a visit from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Modest dress is important: men should wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, women need to have skirts well below the knees, long-sleeved shirts, and their head covered with a scarf; clothing may be available to borrow.
Page 433: Florence Food. Murphy's Soup and Salad has closed. L&B Inn (695 S. Main St., 520/868-9981) now has a non-smoking interior; there's a courtyard and waterfall in back; open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, except no dinner on Sunday.
Page 433: Florence Information and Services. Florence Visitors Center is at 291 Baily St.; in Oct.-April, hours run Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., then Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in summer. The Pinal County Visitor Center has a website http://co.pinal.az.us/visitorcenter and is open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Page 438: Wickenburg: Other Accommodations in the Countryside. Rincon Bed & Breakfast has closed.
Page 438: Wickenburg Food. The Homestead Restaurant is now the Golden Nugget.
Page 439: Wickenburg Information and Services. Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce has a toll-free number 800/942-5242. D&J Maps has closed.
Page 439: Wickenburg Tours and Transportation. No buses serve town.
Page 450: The Winslow Chamber of Commerce (P.O. Box 460, Winslow, AZ 86047, 928/289-2434, http://winslowarizona.org, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) will be moving; call for the current location.
Page 451: International Petrified Forest. The website no longer works.
Page 456: In the Petrified Forest National Park, Long Logs and Agate House Trails now start at a new trailhead across the bridge from the Rainbow Forest Museum.
Page 462: Pinetop-Lakeside. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Rainbow Lake's campground.
Page 475: San Carlos Recreation and Wildlife Department has a new website www.sancarlosrecreationandwildlife.com.
Pages 476-477: Discovery Park is now open only on the weekends, Fri. 6-10 p.m. and Sat. 4-10 p.m.
Page 487: The boarding house in Clifton will be closing.
Pages 490 and 492: Hannagan Meadow Lodge no longer offers horseback riding.
Page 491: Alpine Campgrounds. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Luna Lake Campground.
Pages 493-494: Casa Malpais is now open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; the website no longer works; no dinosaur tours are offered.
Page 494: Springerville Food. Mike's Place is now Coyote Creek, with a menu of steak, prime rib, seafood, and other American cuisine; open for dinner Wed.-Sunday. A new dining spot, Los Dos Molinos, Main St., 928/333-4846, specializes in Mexican food, open Tues.-Sat. for lunch and dinner.
Page 495: Round Valley Chamber of Commerce has changed name to Springerville-Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce; website is now www.springerville-eagar.com.
Page 495: South Fork Guest Ranch has closed.
Pages 496-497: Greer Accommodations: Big Ten Resort, Greer Point Trails End, Peaks Resort Hotel, and Aspen Meadow Guest Ranch have closed.
Page 497: Greer Campgrounds. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations at Benny Creek and Rolfe C. Hoyer Campgrounds.
Page 498-499: Big Lake Campgrounds. Use www.recreation.gov for reservations here and at nearby Winn Group Campground.
Page 510: Historical Walking Tour. The Stork's Nest no longer has offices of the Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
Page 510: Historical Walking Tour. Downtown Tucson has a new museum! Arizona Historical Society Museum Downtown is beside the Wells Fargo Bank at 140 N. Stone Ave., 520/770-1473. The permanent exhibit "History in the Heart of Tucson" begins with a large photo of the town taken from "A" Mountain in 1880, then illustrates the story of Tucson from its origins as a Spanish presidio to modern times. A theater screens videos. One gallery hosts changing exhibits. You'll get a good sense of the city's history after touring this excellent new museum. Open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; $3 adult, $2 students 12-18 and seniors 60+; free for all on the first Friday of the month. Wells Fargo Bank, next door at 150 N. Stone Avenue, is worth stepping inside to see the dramatic 122-foot mural The Legend of the Seven Cities of Cibola by Jay Datus; ask a bank teller for a brochure about the mural. You can also see some Wells Fargo historical exhibits in the back; the bank is open weekdays. Free parking is available behind in the bank's parking garage off Alameda Street.Page 512: Fourth Avenue. Website is now www.fourthavenue.org.
Page 512 The Postal History Foundation. Website is now www.postalhistoryfoundation.org.
Pages 512-513: Arizona Historical Society Museum has a new website www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org and an admission of $5 adults, $4 students 12-18 and seniors 60+.
Pages 513-515: University of Arizona. The Visitor Center has a temporary location at 845 E. University Boulevard. The Museum of Art now closes on Monday; hours run Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. noon-4 p.m.; hours in summer (mid-May to mid-August) are Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. noon-4 p.m. The ASUA Bookstore has a spacious new home just south of the Student Union. Flandrau Science Center is now open evenings Thursday-Saturday. The Hall of Champions replaces the Wildcat Heritage Gallery; the new exhibit space is in the glass-walled gallery on the upper level of the north side of McKale Memorial Center; telephone is 520/626-3263 and website http://arizonaathletics.com; open Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday noon-5 p.m.
Page 518: North of Downtown. New! The T Rex Museum: Kids have lots of hands-on exhibits and projects to explore as they learn about early life on our planet and that most famous of all dinosaurs—Tyrannosaurus Rex. You and your youngsters can feel casts of actual dinosaur skin, teeth, claws, eggs, and bones. Reconstructed T-Rex babies and an outline of a full-grown one show just how big they got! The displays begin with the earliest life forms on the sea floor and progress through the ages of dinosaurs, showing how they evolved. Projects along the way include puzzles, games, fossil digs, and an art corner. Gift shops sell fossils and dinosaur-related items. The museum (1202 N. Main Ave., 520/792-2884, www.trexmuseum.org) is open Sun. noon-5 p.m. and Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; $2 age 1 and up. From Speedway Boulevard, turn north one block on Main Avenue, then turn right on Helen Street; entrance is on the left.
Page 518: North of Downtown. Tohono Chul Park is now open for entry daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and you can stay until sunset; the Exhibit House and greenhouse hours run daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $5 adult, $4 seniors 62+, $3 students with valid ID, and $2 kids 5-12; first Tuesday of each month has free entry. No pets, please.
Pages 520-521: Biosphere 2. The tour route has changed and no longer visits the test module or demonstration laboratories, but you get to see more of the insides of Biosphere 2. From the new visitor center, tours take you inside several of the biomes before descending into the "Technosphere" where two acres of machinery provide the climate and rainfall for the plant and animal communities above. The tour route then follows an underground tunnel into one of the massive "lungs" designed to compensate for changing air pressures. After the tour, you can explore additional areas on your own. The ocean-viewing gallery gives you a window into the underwater world of corals and tropical fish. Back at the Biosphere 2 Habitat, head downstairs into the old animal bay and some former recreation and work areas to see exhibits that interpret the facts and mysteries of the Earth's climate and how we're finding ways to counteract global warming and air pollution. Entry is daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas; grounds close about 5:30 p.m. Admission includes the tour: $19.95 adults, $17.95 seniors 62 and over, and $12.95 youth 6-12. There's a snack bar and gift shop, but no longer a hotel or restaurant, nor are there facilities for picnics or pets. The website is now www.bio2.com.
Pages 521-522: Oracle State Park, Center for Environmental Education now offers about 15 miles of trails—including a seven-mile segment of the Arizona Trail. They loop through oak woodlands, grasslands, chaparral, and picturesque granite boulders at elevations ranging from 3,500 to 4,500 feet. All of the trails offer panoramas of surrounding mountains and valleys as well. Three short hiking trails begin near the Kannally Ranch House: Nature Trail Loop (1.2 miles), Windy Ridge Trail Loop (0.9 mile), and Bellota Trail Loop (0.75 mile); these last two are foot travel only and are closed to pets. For the best views and a good workout, with some steep sections, take Granite Overlook Trail to the park's highest point—4622 feet with about a 200-foot elevation change; it's 1.2 miles roundtrip (out and back) or it can be done as a 1.8-mile loop; begin from Oak Woodland Area, the first picnic area on your right from the main entrance. These and other trails interconnect for loops of seven miles or more including the Arizona Trail segment. Mountain bikers can follow several trails for a variety of loops. Equestrians should use the Cherry Valley entrance on the west side of the park, where a network of trails especially for them begins, as well as access to the Arizona Trail.
The park is open daily 7 a.m.-5 p.m. except Christmas; the 5 p.m. closing time allows wildlife to do their thing unhindered by human presence. Staff offer tours of the Mediterranean Revival-style Kannally Ranch House, built in 1929-33, on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Groups can reserve a day-use area, rent the house for events, and arrange house tours.
From Tucson or Phoenix, drive to Oracle Junction, then follow AZ 77 northeast for nine miles (to just past Milepost 100), turn right 2.5 miles on American Avenue through Oracle's business district, turn right at the sign and follow Mt. Lemmon Road one mile, then make a left into the main park entrance; the park road ends 1.3 miles farther at the Kannally Ranch House and park office (staffed irregular hours). For the Cherry Valley entrance, stay on American Avenue for 3.5 miles, then turn right at the sign. If you're coming from Mammoth, follow American Avenue for 0.3 mile and turn left at the sign. At either entrance, visitors pay the same admission fee of $6/vehicle, $1/individual for nonmotorized travel.
Pages 522-523: De Grazia Gallery in the Sun now has a website, www.degrazia.org.
Pages 523-529: Santa Catalina Mountains. The Aspen Forest Fire burned large sections of the Santa Catalinas in the summer of 2003; check with the Santa Catalina Ranger District office for the latest on trail and campground conditions. The fire devastated the town of Summerhaven, and the community will take years to rebuild; only the Mt. Lemmon Cafe and the post office remained in business.
Pages 529-530: Reid Park Zoo now has a website, www.tucsonzoo.org.
Page 532: Dark Mountain Brewery & Winery has closed.
Pages 532-533: Tucson Bed & Breakfast Inns. Casa Alegre Bed & Breakfast Inn and Hacienda Bed & Breakfast have closed.
Pages 533-534: Tucson Motels and Hotels: Downtown. Howard Johnson Inn has closed. Holiday Inn Express is now a La Quinta Inn. Four Points Inn by Sheraton is now The Pueblo Inn. Holiday Inn City Center is now Radisson Hotel City Center.
Pages 534-535: Tucson Motels and Hotels: North of Downtown. Hacienda and Sunland Motel have closed. Ramada Inn University is now Arizona University Plaza.
Pages 538-539: Tucson Food: American and Southwestern. CCC Chuckwagon Suppers, Garland, and the Ranchers Club have closed.
Pages 539-540: Tucson Food: Continental. Charles Restaurant and the Tack Room have closed.
Page 541: Tucson Nightlife. The Maverick has closed.
Page 547: Tucson Tours. Chandelle Tours no longer runs Gila River trips nor trips to Kartchner Caverns.
Page 549: Kitt Peak Tours and Visitor Programs. The evening programs have new rates. Stargazing programs are $35 ($30 children under 18, students, and seniors). The Advanced Observing Program costs $330 one person or $385 for two persons; rates include room and board but there are no rainchecks!
Page 544: Fourth Avenue. The website has changed to www.fourthavenue.org.
Page 554: Ajo Information and Services. The Ajo District Chamber of Commerce has moved to 400 Taladro. Ajo Stage Line no longer runs tours.
Page 555: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. A single permit now covers both the refuge and surrounding military lands. Once you have the permit, you call a telephone number for clearance.
Page 558: Green Valley Food. Los Amigos and Mesquite Willy's have closed. Lavender Restaurant in Green Valley's Best Western Hotel (111 S. La Canada Dr.; 520/648-0205) features superb French-American dining, open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a brunch on Sunday; dinner entrees run $11-23 and include the popular crab meat-sea scallop duo and the roasted half duckling. You'll find seven more restaurants in the adjacent Green Valley Mall, just west of I-19 Esperanza Blvd. Exit 65.
Page 559: Madera Canyon. The upper end of the road at Roundup Picnic Area is now a one-way loop.
Page 564: Tubac Center for the Arts. The new website is www.TubacArts.org.
Page 565: Tubac Food. Melio's Trattoria has moved north of town. Cafe Fiesta has closed.
Pages 566-567: Peña Blanca Lake and Vicinity. White Rock Campground does not have water.
Page 568: Nogales Accommodations. Days Inn is now El Dorado Inn Suites.
Page 570: Nogales Information and Services. Nogales-Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce has the website www.nogaleschamber.com.
Pages 570-571: Patagonia. If you're up to some music and dancing on a weekend, drop by the smoke-free La Misión de San Miguel (335 McKeown Ave., 520/394-0123, www.lamisionpatagonia.com). The 1915 adobe building looks like an old Spanish mission from the outside. Inside, you're greeted by a fountain and two St. Michaels—one a traditional statue and the other a painting depicting him as a Native American. And yes, those carved wooden temple doors inside really did come from India! Farther in, a brightly painted tropical forest mural contrasts with a 60-foot mural of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The beautiful 30-foot bar was made here of rare parota wood from Mexico. Bands play Fri.-Sat. nights, then Sunday is usually an "open mike."
Page 571: Patagonia Food. Gathering Grounds is open daily. Velvet Elvis Pizza Company offers gourmet pizza, plus chicken and rib dishes, soups, and organic salads; open Thurs.-Sun. for lunch and dinner. Red's Real Pit Barbecue (436 Naugle Ave., 520/394-0284) serves up Texas-style BBQ Fri.-Sun. for lunch and Fri.-Mon. for dinner. Marie's European Cuisine and Cose Buone have closed.
Pages 571-572: Patagonia Information and Services. Mariposa Books (now at 436 Naugle Ave., 520/394-9186) offers both a bookstore and a tourist information desk (520/394-0060 or 888/794-0060, www.patagoniaaz.com); closed Tuesday. Kazzam Nature Center has closed.
Page 574: Lakeview Campground no longer has a discount for day use; sites cost $10 for day or overnight. Groups can reserve Rock Bluff for day use or camping with the Sierra Vista Ranger District office (520/378-0311).
Page 575: Arizona Folklore Preserve now has a website, www.arizonafolklore.com.
Page 575: Sierra Vista Accommodations. These three inns let you get close to nature outside of town. Beatty's Guest Ranch & Orchard (2173 E. Miller Canyon Rd., 520/378-2728, www.BeattysGuestRanch.com) has a stunning setting on 10 acres of apple orchard, forest, and ponds below Miller Peak. The 5,800-foot elevation makes this one of the coolest places to stay in the area. Hummingbirds arrive in great numbers during the warmer months—15 species have been counted here. Drop by the website for birding and hiking information. Two large apartments ($80-95 d) and a 1911 cabin ($110 d) stay open year-round. Three small cabins, a short hike up in the woods, have solar lighting and composting toilets; they're open April-September and cost $50-95 s, $65-95 d. All units have kitchens. A small campground ($20) has tent spaces and a shower; no fires. Small RVs can park, but there aren't any hookups. The little store sells local produce, snacks, and birding books. Drive about nine miles south of town on AZ 92, then turn west three miles up Miller Canyon Road.Page 577: Sierra Vista Information and Services. Sierra Vista Convention & Visitors Bureau has moved to 3020 E. Tacoma St., 520/417-6960 or 800/288-3861, www.visitsierravista.com; mailing address is 1011 N. Coronado Dr., Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. You can purchase books and maps for local hiking and birding. It's in the northeastern part of town near the library; follow signs north one mile on Moorman Avenue/Coronado Drive from Fry Boulevard, or south one block on Coronado Drive from the AZ 90 bypass, then turn east on Tacoma. Hours are Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sierra Vista Public Library is at 2600 E. Tacoma St. and is open daily—turn north on Coronado Drive from Fry Boulevard, then right on Tacoma; Friends Bookstore sells bargain books.
Page 577: Sierra Vista Transportation. No bus or air service was operating.
Page 581: San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area Camping. Primitive camping (no facilities) is permitted one mile or more from trailheads with a $2/person/night fee; parking at some trailheads closes in evenings, so an earlier start is recommended. No car camping is allowed in the National Conservation Area.
Page 595: Chiricahua Mountains. The correct website for the Coronado National Forest is www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado.
Pages 550-552: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. New interconnecting trails provide a variety of loop possibilities from the campground, Puerto Blanco Drive and Senita Basin Road. Hikers can do countless cross-country trips in the monument's open terrain. Rangers can help you plan. The visitor center sells an inexpensive Explorer's Guide to Walks, Routes, and the Back Country. Monument entry fee is now $5 per vehicle. The developed campground costs $10, and the Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground is now $6.
Page 565: Tubac Accommodations. Rancho Santa Cruz and Valle Verde Ranch Bed & Breakfast have closed.
Page 575: Fort Huachuca. The Army Intelligence Museum is open Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Page 575: Fort Huachuca. You can enjoy nature in Huachuca and Garden Canyons. Here's a more detailed description than is in the current edition:
Each of these canyons offers a scenic drive, good birding, picnic areas, and trailheads from which you can hike into the Huachuca Mountains and south to the Miller Peak Wilderness. The oldest part of the fort lies near the mouth of Huachuca Canyon. From the intersection of Hungerford and Grierson Avenues at the Fort Huachuca Museum, head southwest 0.6 mile on Grierson, then turn left 0.1 mile on Hines Road to the canyon entrance. Sycamore, oaks, and juniper shade the canyon floor as you follow the gravel road past several picnic areas in another two miles. The road then becomes too rough for cars. High-clearance vehicles can continue a bit farther, but you may prefer to walk and listen to the sounds of birds and the gurgling creek. Pine trees appear in another 0.75 mile. Picnic areas here are free and don't require a permit.
Garden Canyon lies farther south on the east side of the Huachucas. If you're driving in from the main gate toward the Fort Huachuca Museum, there will be a signed turn two miles in for Garden Canyon. Head south following signs five miles past the Fort Huachuca Sportsmen's Center, firing ranges, and an aerostat site to a group picnic area at the mouth of the canyon. An information kiosk here has information on the canyon and its history and bird life. Garden Canyon's picnic areas require a permit and fee. You'll pass a couple more picnic areas in the thickly wooded canyon along the next 1.2 miles to where pavement ends. Depending on road conditions you may be able to continue driving several more miles or you can walk or ride a mountain bike. A pictograph site is 3.3 miles from the group picnic area. The Fort Huachuca Museum's gift shop sells a guidebook and map for hiking in the Huachucas.
Page 581: San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. Seventeen miles southeast of town, San Pedro River Inn (8326 S. Hereford Rd., 520/366-5532, www.sanpedroriverinn.com) offers a rustic setting near the San Pedro River. Two ponds attract waterfowl, and the San Pedro River is just a short stroll away. Four adobe houses have one to three bedrooms, all with kitchens, $105 d and up. Your horse can stay in the stables.
Also near the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Casa de San Pedro (8933 S. Yell Lane in Hereford, 520/366-1300 or 888/257-2050, www.bedandbirds.com) has a peaceful setting on 10 acres. Guests enjoy birdwatching, gourmet breakfasts, a pool, and hot tub. Open year-round, $119-149. From Sierra Vista, go south on AZ 92, east on Hereford Road, south on Palominas Road, then east on Waters Road.
Page 581: Tombstone. The new Tombstone Western Heritage Museum displays a vast array of personal items, including some owned by Virgil and Wyatt Earp, and gives a look into the lives of people in old Tombstone. Exhibits also include historic photos, documents, guns, ghost town relics, bottle collections, and a crap table. It's on the corner of Fremont and Sixth Streets, 520/457-3800. The museum's antique shop next door is worth a look too. Open daily 9 a.m. (12:30 p.m. Sun.) to about 5 p.m.; $5 adult, $3 youth 12-18.
Page 584: Pioneer Home Museum is open on request, so you should call ahead.
Pages 585-586: Tombstone Boarding House's Lamplight Room now gives you a choice of two menus, traditional American nightly for dinner (reservations recommended) or Mexican daily for lunch and dinner. Don Teodoro's Mexican Restaurant has closed, but its food is now available at the Lamplight Room.
Page 588: Muheim Heritage House has irregular hours, so it's best to call ahead.
Pages 588-589: Mile High Court Travel Lodge is closing. El Rancho Motel is now Best Value Inn & Suites. Le Chêne Hotel and Bistro has closed. High Desert Inn, Renaissance Cafe, and Garden Cafe have closed.
South of downtown in the Warren District, you can stay in the 1906 Calumet & Arizona Guest House (608 Powell St. and Cole Ave., 520/432-4815, www.calumetaz.com), built by the chief clerk of the Calumet & Arizona Mining Company and later used as a guest house for company officials. Two of the six rooms have private bath and one room features an attached spa tub. The hosts provide flexible check-in times, a guest kitchen, Internet, and a full breakfast, which you order from a menu. Rates run $45-65 s, $60-80 d.
Page 591: Bisbee Tours. A trolley of the Warren-Bisbee Railway (520/940-7212, www.bisbeetrolley.com) offers a narrated tour of the Bisbee area from the Copper Queen Plaza downtown. Lavender Jeep Tours (520/432-5369) takes you into places you'd probably never discover on your own. Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (520/432-1388, www.sabo.org) has a field station in the Mule Mountains and offers bird walks, tours, and workshops.
Pages 592-593: Gadsden Hotel has a new website www.hotelgadsden.com.
Price Canyon Ranch (P.O. Box 1065, Douglas, AZ 85608, 520/558-2383 or 800/727-0065, www.pricecanyon.com) offers horseback riding in the scenic Chiricahuas with the option of joining the cowboys in working the cattle. Guests also enjoy birding, hiking, and the swimming pool. The rates of $150 per adult and $75 ages 12-15 include comfortable rooms, family-style meals, and riding. The ranch, open year-round at an elevation of 5,600 feet, is 37 miles northeast of Douglas on AZ 80, then west 7.5 miles on Price Canyon Road between Mileposts 400 and 401.
Page 595: Chiricahua Mountains. In the last sentence of the introduction paragraph, the website should be www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado.
Page 607: Kartchner Caverns State Park
The Big Room has opened! Here's the latest:
The park offers two tours, each a half-mile loop: the Rotunda/Throne Room (1.5 hours, open year-round; $19 adult, $10 kids 7-13, free under 7) and the Big Room (1.75 hours, open Oct. 15-April 15; $23 adult, $13 ages 7-13, no children under 7). Begin your visit in the Discovery Center, where you can watch a 15-minute video about the exciting discovery of the cave. Exhibits illustrate local geology, cave features, and the web of life inside. Highlights include a replica of the long soda straw and a reproduction of the 80,000-year-old Shasta ground sloth, whose bones were found in the cave. A cut-away cave model shows the layout of the chambers. Even if you're not taking a tour, the Discovery Center makes a worthwhile visit. There's a gift shop and over-priced vending machines, but no restaurant. Outside, you can wander through the hummingbird garden, go for a hike, or have a picnic. The information desk has a bird list.
A tram takes you from the Discovery Center to the cave entrance, which has protective air locks. Once inside, you'll experience the cave's temperature of 68ºF at 99 percent humidity. Guides ask that you not bring cameras, strollers, walkers, or food inside the cave. The paved paths have moderate grades; wheelchair users should call for advice. Tours depart daily every 20 minutes from 8:40 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. You can tour both sections of the cave in one day, though this isn't recommended for people with heart problems. Note that the Big Room, which only opened to the public in 2003, closes each summer when bats move in. Try to make reservations for the cave tours as far in advance as possible, though last-minute spots may become available due to cancellations. If you can't get a reservation, try for one of the tickets sold first come, first served each morning; call ahead and ask advice on what time you should arrive and get in line. The reservation number 520/586-2283 is open Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. except state holidays.
The 2.4-mile Foothills Loop Trail provides an aboveground perspective of the park and takes two-three hours; a spur trail leads to a viewpoint, adding a mile and 45 minutes to the roundtrip. The 4.2-mile Guindani Loop Trail heads deeper into the Whetstone Mountains of the Coronado National Forest. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes for these trails.
The park (P.O. Box 1849, Benson, AZ 85602, 520/586-4100, www.pr.state.az.us) is open daily 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; entry is free if you show a tour reservation, otherwise it's $5/vehicle (up to four people) and $2 for each additional person or cyclists. The campground offers first-come, first-served sites with electric and water hookups for $22; guests have showers and a dump station. Both tents and RVs are welcome, but everyone should check-in before 5:30 p.m. The park is in the Whetstone Mountains just west of AZ 90, nine miles south of I-10 Exit 302, 11 miles from Benson, 19 miles from Sierra Vista, 28 miles from Tombstone, and 49 miles from Tucson.
Pages 610-623: Additional Suggested Reading
Description and Travel
Jackson, Marie D. Stone Landmarks; Flagstaff's Geology and Historic Building Stones. Piedra Azul Press. With this well-illustrated guide, you'll learn about the area's fascinating geology, fossils, and human history on a walking tour of downtown Flagstaff and visits to nearby attractions.
Description and Travel
Jensen, Jamie. Road Trip USA: California and the Southwest. Avalon Travel Publishing. The author of Road Trip USA has focused on Arizona and adjacent states. Maps and illustrations, many in color, accompany the highway tour descriptions. You'll also find Road Trip USA online at www.travelmatters.com.
Description and Travel
Johnson, Mark. The Ultimate Desert Handbook. Ragged Mountain Press McGraw Hill. No matter how you travel across the desert, this guide aims to prepare you for a fascinating exploration and—if things go wrong—survival.
Hiking, Bicycling, and Equestrian
Green, J.D. and Jim Ohlman, editor. Hiking in the Grand Canyon Backcountry. Tower of Ra Publishing, 1501 Tina Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34744. You'll find the popular trails here, but the book's real value is in taking you to some of the most remote destinations in the Grand Canyon.
Hiking, Bicycling, and Equestrian
Lucchitta, Ivo. Hiking Arizona's Geology. The Mountaineers Books. On any of the 41 hikes described here, you'll experience not only the fine scenery, but also how it all came to be. The introduction and illustrations clearly explain geologic terms and Arizona's rocks.
Hiking, Bicycling, and Equestrian
Martin, Tom. Day Hikes from the River. Vishnu Temple Press, PO Box 30821, Flagstaff, AZ 86003. Some of the best Grand Canyon hiking is only accessible by running the Colorado River. Long-legged river rat Tom has provided 75 detailed route descriptions with topo maps.
Hiking, Bicycling, and Equestrian
Williams, Tyler. Canyoneering Arizona. Funhog Press, PO Box 1334, Flagstaff, AZ 86002. The well-organized text and maps show the way into the state's enchanting canyons. You won't find the Grand Canyon here, but some of its tributaries are described. The book takes in the Colorado Plateau, the Mogollon Rim, and some of the desert ranges.
River-Running and Boating
Lawton, Rebecca. Reading Water: Lessons from the River. Capital Books. Running rivers is a passion for river guides, and Rebecca offers thoughtful essays about her experiences. Beginning in 1973 as one of the first women guides, she rowed ten seasons in the Grand Canyon, two on other rivers in the West, and two years as a river ranger in the Grand Canyon.
History
Leavengood, Betty. Grand Canyon Women: Lives Shaped by Landscape. Pruett Publishing. Fascinating accounts of a prospector's wife, an architect, river runners, mule wranglers, rangers, and explorers.
Cuisine
Walters, Lon. Vegetarian Southwest: Recipes from the Region's Favorite Restaurants. Northland Publishing. All of these are "home tested" and include helpful hints on the use of chilies, mole (sauce), tofu, beans, spices, and other ingredients. Color photos show some of the soups, entrees, salads, and breads that you can try.
| Have you found new information that you'd like to pass on for Arizona travelers? If so, please send me an e-mail at arizonahandbook@yahoo.com. |