| The Apache Trail, officially known as AZ Route 88, offers not only some of the best scenery in central Arizona, but also many of the state's most unique destinations. Our travels include the Lost Dutchman State Park, where, as the story goes, the "Dutchman," actually a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz, lived in Phoenix in the late 1800s and disappeared every so often into the Superstition Mountains and returned with sacks of gold bullion. He died in 1891 without revealing the location of his mine. It has never been found and to this day people continue to search for it. Next we visit the abandoned Bluebird Mine, part of the Goldfield Mining Town, a re-created Old West ghost town complete with a mine tour and shops. Then we board the Dolly Steamboat to cruise the secluded inner waterways of the "Junior Grand Canyon" on beautiful Canyon Lake. Then to Tortilla Flat to visit the Old Stagecoach stop, a former prospector camping ground and freight camp for the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Dam, which today is an old-time restaurant general store, post office, and ice cream stand. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Bisbee is nestled among the Mule Mountains, an area world renowned for the diversity of its minerals and the wealth of its copper, and was once known as the "Queen of the Copper Camps." It was founded in 1880 and named after a judge from San Francisco, DeWitt Bisbee, who was a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine, but never visited the town. Although Bisbee's mines closed in the 1970s, it preserves its history in its mining landscape and architecture. At the Copper Queen Hotel, which was built by the Phelps Dodge and Co. mining company, we learn that President Theodore Roosevelt stayed there; also we're lucky enough to get a glimpse of its resident ghost. At the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum thousands of visitors yearly learn this town's fascinating story, how it once was the largest town in the Old West between New Orleans and Los Angeles, and today is the county seat of Cochise County; how despite fires, labor disputes and mine closings Bisbee has evolved into an attractive community where Art and Antique shops, Youth and Elder Hostels, and Bed and Breakfasts abound. At the Stock Exchange Bar we see an entire wall there is covered with an old green stock exchange board, an historical tribute to Bisbee's roaring past at the turn of the 19th century. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Cave Creek - Cave Creek has a rich archeological history that dates back to ancient days when Hohokam Indians lived here; also in the early to mid 1800s Tonto Apaches controlled the area until ranchers, farmers and miners settled the territory in 1870. Today the independent spirit of the Old West lives on and "Creekers" are proud that there's a balance of horses and cars here. It has a population of less than 5,000 who strive to maintain its western heritage. Globe - History too is a big part of Globe, a town that got its name back in 1876 when a huge nugget of silver that resembled a globe was discovered by miners. Here we visit the historic Gila County Jail, see the famous Hanging Tree, which is sponsored by the local mortuary, and visit the majestic Noftsger Hill Inn, a former school house, situated high above the Cobre Valley in the shadow of the Old Dominion mine. The Tonto Indian Ruins - Northwest from Globe is the Tonto National Monument, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, and the southernmost cliff dwellings in Arizona, which were constructed by the Salado people between A.D. 1150 and 1450. Here we get a unique opportunity to walk through the original rooms, which once housed a thriving community. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Dugan Dairy Farm - A glimpse of life on a dairy farm at the Dugan Dairy Farm, a family who pioneered farming in this part of the country. Mystery Castle - The story of the Mystery Castle, located in the foothills of South Mountain, is really a love story. The castle's builder, Boyce Luther Gulley, was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1929, and left Seattle for Arizona, leaving his wife and three-year-old daughter Mary Lou behind. Buying an 80-acre mine, he built his castle by hand over 16 years, a lasting tribute to sand castles he remembered building with his daughter at the seashore. Upon his death in 1945 Mary Lou inherited the castle, which has 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces, numerous parapets and interesting curiosities in every room; her mother passed away in 1970, but she continues to live there today and also gives tours to help with the preservation of this Phoenix landmark. Thunderbird Balloon Classic - Balloon teams take part in the Thunderbird Balloon Classic, in which more than 100 brightly colored hot-air balloons fill the skies above Scottsdale in November. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Falcon Field (Champlin Fighter Museum) - During WW II Phoenix changed from a farming center into an industrial city with mass production of military supplies, which gave rise to the Williams and Falcon airfields in Mesa. For years, Falcon Field was home to the Champlin Fighter Museum, which contained a large number of planes from WW I, WW II, the Korean and Vietnam wars. Here we tour this impressive museum of fighter aircraft, which has now been moved to Seattle, Washington. Fighter Combat International - Fighter Combat International's air combat school provides the general public with the exciting opportunity of a lifetime to fly world-class competition aircraft with real military fighter pilots at the Williams Gateway Airport in Mesa. And the good news is, no flight experience is required. Participants soar over the Arizona desert at over 250 miles per hour and fly the aircraft under the guidance of a Fighter Combat instructor in real air combat maneuvers and after multiple air-combat engagements become actual "Top Gun" pilots. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Cerreta's Candy Factory - Attention, chocolate and candy lovers! Visiting Cerreta's Candy Factory, located in downtown Glendale, Arizona, may bring back memories of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Cerreta Candy Company is a family-owned business, originally founded by Jim Cerreta, Sr., who passed the trade of candy making to his entire family. This strong family involvement and their time-honored and authentic production methods ensure the highest possible quality. The Cerreta family hosts an average of two free-guided tours a day. As you can imagine, the tours are extremely popular with children. On each tour you can see how creamy candy centers become surrounded with luscious chocolate or how a sea of caramel becomes a delicious treat. No wonder Cerreta's is called "the sweetest place in Arizona." Glendale: Arizona's Antique Capital - Glendale is a residential community west of Phoenix, located in the northwest part of the Valley of the Sun; it's historic downtown area is called "Arizona's Antique Capital," which boasts more than 90 antique shops all within walking distance of one another; Glendale too is famous as the home of the legendary country singer, Marty Robbins, who was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame®. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Goldfield Ghost Town - The legendary Goldfield Ghost Town, where gold was first discovered in 1892 and brought in over $3 million dollars in gold bullion until 1896. A little over 20 miles east of Mesa, the town is located on a hill between the Superstition and Goldfield Mountains. Today you can experience the town's history and explore its Main Street, tour the mine, visit the museum, pan for gold, take a narrow-gauge train ride, witness an Old West gun fight, and meet the ladies of Lu Lu's Bordello, who offer family-oriented facts about their establishment. The Bluebird Mine and Curio Shop - The Bluebird Mine is also located in this mountain mining district. A scene from Raising Arizona was filmed at Bluebird; also President Ronald Reagan narrated a number of Death Valley Days programs here. The Bluebird Mine Curio Shop is still open for business since its original owner, "Red" Monigan, opened it in 1948. Snake Hole Golf and Country Club - Arizona is known for it's picturesque golf courses, but Snake Hole isn't one of them. Here you literally play in the desert, where the entire course and putting greens are made of sand. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| In the heart of Arizona's White Mountains, Greer is known for being a place to "come home within yourself." At Greer Lodge, built in 1948 as a spiritual retreat, we learn that Greer is the premier fly-fishing area in the Southwest with over 650 miles of trout streams within a 30 miles radius. At Molly Butler Lodge, the oldest continually operated lodge in the state, we meet Molly's great granddaughter, Kim Johnson, who continues the spirit of Greer life as a wrangler for X Diamond Ranch. Here Kim teaches us the basics of horseback riding, through the mountains, which we find not only has four seasons, but also is known for great fall color. In the winter in Greer, folks take off to Sunrise to glide down trails from novice to black diamond; then we are introduced to nightlife, Greer Style, as we dance the night away to great live music back at the Lodge. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Jerome - Jerome is the iconic image people think of when they hear the term Wild West. Founded in 1876, the town was named after Eugene Jerome, who never visited his namesake but was a major financier of the United Verde Copper Company. This former Boom Town, Ghost Town is now a jewel for the Arts and Crafts community. Located on the 5,200-foot-high Cleopatra Hill, Jerome's picturesque buildings, mining sites, and stately ruins provide rich materials for a variety of art forms. Verde Canyon Railroad - The Verde Canyon Railroad is called a "Train for All Seasons, " offering passengers a spellbinding experience regardless of the time of year. Traveling at only 12 miles per hour on a 40-mile round trip on the edge of the Mogollon Rim in Central Arizona, the train offers breathtaking views of wilderness, wildlife, waterfowl, unique rock formations and Sinagua Indian ruins. Montezuma's Castle - The Montezuma Castle Indian ruins, which were built by the Sinagua Indians in the 12th century and became a national monument in 1906, contain some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the United States. The upper ruin has twenty rooms high in an alcove in the cliff's wall; the lower ruin, at the cliff's base, has forty-five rooms. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| The Kartchner Caverns were discovered in November 1974 by two University of Arizona cavers, Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen, who, understanding the uniqueness of their find and not wanting the caves to become exploited, kept their discovery a secret for 14 years; after protective measures were in place, the caves were officially announced to the public in 1988 and named after the rancher who owned the land. 28 million dollars was spent in development to minimize human impact and the site was opened in November 1999. Within the caverns amazingly sculpted formations are everywhere. Because these are wet "living" limestone caverns, stalactites continue to grow down like colossal icicles, while stalagmites grow up from the ground, and some meet to form columns. The Imaginary Passage leads to the Throne Room, which displays the longest recorded calcite "soda straw" in the world (21 feet 2 inches). The Big Room, open only from October 15 until April 15, serves as haven for myotis bats. Also we learn the remains of an 86,000-year-old Shasta ground sloth were found in the caverns in 1995. Over 200,000 people annually visit this geological wonder; located in Benson, about 50 miles southeast of Tucson, the Kartchner Caverns is the 26th site to attain state-park status in Arizona. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Penske Racing Museum - The Roger Penske Racing Museum includes a world-class collection of Indianapolis 500 winning cars, including those driven by Rick Mears, Bobby Unser, Mark Donohue, Al Unser, Sr. and Jr., Danny Sullivan, and Emerson Fittipaldi; we also see here Indy 500 pace cars, and NASCAR vehicles driven by Ryan Newman and Rusty Wallace. Cosanti Complex - Architect Paolo Soleri, who received his doctorate from the Polytechnic school in Turin, Italy, also worked in fellowship with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West in Arizona; this original thinker and visionary created the not-for-profit Cosanti Foundation in 1956 with his late wife, Colly, and developed the concept of "arcology," the harmonious marriage of architecture and ecology. His Cosanti Complex in Paradise Valley, where his famous bronze bells are cast, serves as a prototype and learning project for his even grander Arcosanti project, which is north of Phoenix. Architect Roger Tomlinson provides his professional insight on this experimental town in the desert. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Prescott was originally founded after the discovery of gold in 1864 and was selected as Arizona's first territorial capital; it lost that honor to Tucson, won it back, then lost it outright to Phoenix in 1889. It carries on its territorial heritage in a big and proud way with over 500 stately buildings on the National Register of Historic Places beautifully persevered in its downtown and residential areas. Noteworthy buildings include the Sharlot Hall Museum Complex with the original governor's mansion, which is actually a rustic log cabin built on the site in 1864, the John C. Fremont House, built in 1875, and the William C. Bashford house, built in 1877. One of the oldest sections of town is along Montezuma Street, which is home to Whiskey Row, a name earned in the Old West days with its many saloons. Today we find unique shops and galleries here, as well as historic establishments,such as the Palace and Jersey Lilly's. Just outside of Prescott we see the scenic Point of Rocks; next we visit Prescott's grand hotel, the Hassayampa Inn, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Hotels; then we celebrate Frontier Days at the World's Oldest Rodeo, which dates back to 1888. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Rawhide Wild West Town - The Rawhide Wild West Town is an authentic-looking 1800's Arizona town, filled with "wild west" attractions, including stagecoach rides, train rides, burro and even camel rides; rodeo action and stunt gun shows; also you can pan for gold, climb Dead Man's Drop, and tour the Halloway's Haunted Hotel. For years located in Scottsdale, it is now found in Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community. Bondurant School of High Performance Driving - What do Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Paul Newman, Paul Harvey, Jeff Gordon, Davy Allison, Rick Mears and Al Unser, Jr. all have in common? Each received personal driving instruction from Bob Bondurant, owner of the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, one of the most successful high performance driving schools in the world. Bob alone has taught over 85,000 students the art of high performance driving. Located in Phoenix, the school employs professional drivers from around the world and as we see here offers students instruction in performance driving, teen safety, drifting, and evasive maneuvering. Firebird International Raceway - Firebird International Raceway sits on 440 acres in Chandler and is devoted entirely to the breathtaking world of motor sports. A multipurpose facility, it has grown into one of the most diversified venues in the country, but also, as we see here, non-professional drivers get their a of a lifetime racing their own cars here. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Rock Springs - There's a reason people travel 30 miles north of Phoenix to Rock Springs, great pies! Here we learn all about them pies in this rare interview with Penny "the Pie Lady" Cooley, who's usually baking them at three in the morning. Cleator - Next it's off to look for Ghost Towns and the first stop is in Cleator, whose gold prospecting days date back to 1864. Originally called Turkey Siding, this former ore train station and smelting center was re-named after James P. Cleator, who bought all the property here in 1905. Today his descendants still own the entire town. Crown King - The next Ghost Town is Crown King, named after the Crowned King Mine, which was discovered in the early 1870s and took in over $2 million in its day. Here you'll still see many of the town's original buildings, including a school, general store, saloon, post office and Mill Restaurant. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Situated at the southern end of the steep and narrow Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona was recently voted by USA Today as America's most beautiful city; after the Grand Canyon, it is the most visited location in Arizona. In this program we see why, visiting many of its predominant landmarks, including the internationally renowned Arts & Crafts Village, Tlaquepaque, which is authentically fashioned after a traditional Mexican village and means the "best of everything." Then to the Slide Rock State Park, what Life Magazine calls, "one of America's ten most beautiful swimming holes." Views from a helicopter reveal the magnificent beauty of Sedona, which too includes Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Coffee Pot Point, Chimney Rock and Boynton Canyon, one of the most scenic of the box canyons. Here we learn of "vortexes," which New Age mystics say is a sort of energy field emanating from the inner earth. Next we visit the historic Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is built directly into a red rock butte and offers spectacular views of the valley 200 feet below; then we travel into the Coconino National Forest to visit the Crescent Moon Ranch Cabin. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Boyce Thompson Arboretum - Named for its benefactor, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum carries on his love of natural science, providing "an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research, and conservation opportunities associated with arid-land plants." Located in Superior and encompassing over 300 acres, the Arboretum is Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden; it features the Smith Interpretive Center, Curandero Trail, the Eucalyptus Forest, Ayers Lake, Magma Ridge, the Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden, the Desert Legume Garden, the Cactus Garden, and Wing Memorial Herb Garden. World's Smallest Museum - In Superior, located on historic route US 60, we find a popular roadside attractions, the World's Smallest Museum, which is a garden-shed-sized building with a roof made entirely of beer cans that displays common yet unique artifacts that are monuments to unsung heroes, the hard working people of the world; also you'll find the world's largest Apache Tear gemstone here. Besh-Ba-Gowah Ruins - Located just south of Globe, the Besh-Ba-Gowah ruins, which have been identified by archaeologists as a ceremonial, redistribution and food storage complex of the Salado Indian culture, dates back over 700 years and is one of the largest single-site archaeological collections in the southwest. Here we find typical furnishings of the era and see numerous artifacts, which give us the feel of ancient pueblo life, and help us better understand this remarkably advanced culture. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| The name Tombstone is legendary in the lore of the Old West. As the story goes, when Ed Schieffelin came to this territory in 1877 he was told he would probably find his tombstone instead of silver, and after filing his first claim he named it Tombstone. When word got out about the rich lodes in the area, the decision was made to name the town Tombstone. Silver mining boomed for seven years until rising underground water caused operations to cease. Lightnin' Leroy introduces us to the world famous Bird Cage Theatre or Bird Cage Opera House Saloon, which during its heyday was open 24/7 and featured stars like Eddy Foy, Lotta Crabtree, Lily Langtree, and Lola Montez; also, businessmen like Adolph Busch and George Randolph Hearst played cards here with world-class gamblers Diamond Jim Brady and Bat Masterson. Tombstone's slogan is "the town too tough to die," and ironically is well known for the most celebrated cemetery in the West, Boothill, or Boot Hill Graveyard, which received its name because so many of its early occupants died with their boots on. Billy Clanton and the McLaury Brothers, Tom and Frank, were buried here after being shot by Marshal Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp and John Henry "Doc" Holliday during the town's most famous event, the Gunfight at the OK Corral in 1881. Gold and silver lured an abundance of unsavory characters to Tombstone in the 1880s and during this time the town held the notorious distinction of having one of America's "deadliest streets." 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Turf Soaring School - Flying a glider, a single pair of wings etched against a distant sky, a cliff or cloud, soaring in the wind, seems a remote and beautiful dream. But thanks to the Turf Soaring School, located just north of Phoenix in Peoria, Arizona, where nearby desert fields and mountains make for superb thermal soaring, thousands of people have turned that dream into a reality. Here we witness the excitement and beauty of ultra light flying and enjoy an unobstructed panoramic view from 5000 feet of the awe-inspiring Sonoran Desert and sights such as Lake Pleasant, Black Canyon and Mt. Humphrey. With a fleet that includes Schweizer 2-33 trainers, a Schweizer 1-26, and three fiberglass aerobatic sailplanes, this school offers single, once-in-a-lifetime sightseeing rides or aerobatic courses by expert instructors who train aspiring pilots as young as 14-years-old. Kemmeries Ultra-Light Flying Center - The Pleasant Valley Airport is also home to Kemmeries Aviation and the John Kemmeries Ultra-light Flight Center, which offers the finest in ultra-light aircraft and also provides beginner to experienced pilots with weight shift, ultra-light trike instruction. Their goal is to always provide the best and safest equipment and there may not be a more exciting way to see Arizona. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
| Wickenburg - Wickenburg, one of Arizona's true treasures, is proud of its Old West heritage; named for Henry Wickenburg, an Austrian immigrant and miner, the town's mainstays today are ranching and tourism. In this program we visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum that features Native American and 19th and 20th century Western American paintings and sculptures; we learn the story behind the controversial Wickenburg Stage Robbery of 1871; also we see the mesquite Jail Tree, which is over 200 years old and once served as the town's Jail. Robson's Mining World - Located in the Harcuvar Mountains, Robson's Mining World takes us back in time to see what an Old West gold mining town was like during the 1800's. Here visitors pan for gold and explore more than 30 historic buildings, including the Nella-Meda Museum, which include the world's largest collection of antique mining equipment, a general store, a barber, newspaper and post office; also the Gold Leaf Saloon and Litsch's Bed and Breakfast. Commemorative Air Force - The Commemorative Air Force, long known as the Confederate Air Force, is a worldwide, all volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation in flying condition of the great warplanes that dominated the skies during World War II. The Arizona Wing of this honored group manages the Confederate Air Force Museum at Falcon Field in Mesa, which is home to the authentically restored World War II B-17 bomber, the "Sentimental Journey," as well as a B-25 Mitchell bomber, SNJ, C-45, and a Grumman Guardian. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |