Vacation in Arizona for a excellent family outdoor vacation

There are a wide variety of fun and exciting things to see and do in southern Arizona. So while you are visiting Tucson, take time to visit some of the surrounding areas for great family vacation fun as you visit communities like Tombstone Arizona where you can take a step back in time. Or check out natural wonders such as the Colossal Cave or the Tonto National Monument. Here are just a few of the things to do while on vacation in southern Arizona. John Wayne Movie Site. Four different John Wayne movies were filmed at the Old Tucson Studios, along with scores of other westerns dating back to 1939 when William Holden filmed Arizona here. Both lots were used to film Michael Landon’s Little House on the Prairie, and even today, the lots are used to film modern westerns, such as Tombstone and The Quick and the Dead. Raise a Ruckus is a western musical with dancing girls doing the Can Can. Big Screen Adventure has audience members invited onto the stage to help out, and the Great Tucson Bank Robbery provides entertainment as audience members watch two bank robbers attempt a heist. Old Tucson Studios is open from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., with extended hours until 6:00 P.M. Thanksgiving weekend and Christmas week. Tonto National Monument is located two hours from Phoenix or Scottsdale. Located in the Sonoran Desert, it is home to several sites that contain cliff dwellings that were occupied between the 13th and early 15th centuries. The people that built and lived in these cliff dwellings were farmers. Visitors can also take in views of Lake Roosevelt. The trail to the Lower Cliff Dwellings closes at 4:00 pm to those wishing to begin the hike. Reservations must be made for the Upper Cliff Dwelling tours, and it is open from April to November. Tours are limited to 15 people and tend to fill up quickly, so advance reservations are recommended. To get more information, call Tonto National Monument at 928-467-2225. Cochise Stronghold is a natural fortress of granite cliffs located west of Sunsites, Arizona. The Stronghold provided Cochise the opportunity to harass stage drivers, miners and farmers. Cochise was never defeated in battle. A popular and attractive site for camping, there are several different trails within the Cochise Stronghold that you can enjoy during your stay. The trail is filled with interesting and entertaining information about Cochise and his family. The third trail is the Nature Trail, which is about .4 miles long. The natural beauty and great weather of Cochise Stronghold makes it a worthwhile stop on any trip to this part of Arizona. Both day trips for hiking and picnicking and overnight camping are allowed in Cochise Stronghold. There is a maximum limit of 14 days for staying at Cochise Stronghold. CITY OF TOMBSTONE - Tombstone, Arizona “The town too tough to die.” Tombstone, ArizonaConsequently, when he struck a vein of unusually rich silver ore, he named his mining claim “Tombstone”. This historic battle which has taken on almost romantic proportions by those individuals intrigued by the Old West resulted in the deaths of both McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton. Billy Claiborne, Wes Fuller and Ike Clanton (father of Billy) ran away and were unharmed while Doc Holliday and Virgil and Morgan Earp were wounded. Tombstone is home to what is considered to be the most famous Boot Hill graveyard in the Old West. Things to see and do in Tombstone include the Old West’s most famous newspaper – “The Tombstone Epitaph”. Free admission to the museum from 9:30 am to 5 pm, the Daily re-enactment held at the OK Corral at 2 pm, and many shops are available to purchase authentic Western memorabilia. Tucson Attractions - Tucson, Arizona. You can have fun exploring nature and the arts; you can find family friendly fun, experience the rich history of the area or find science centers or unique shopping options. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Road in Tucson. Winter hour admission fees are $12 for adults and $4 for children. If you want more information about this attraction, call 520-883-1380. The hours of operation and admission fees vary, so if you are interested in attending a play while in Tucson, call 520-622-2823. If you want to have some good old-fashioned family fun, the Funtasticks Family Fun Park is the place to go. Visitors can call 520-294-2624 for more information. Old Tucson Studios is the place for western film buffs. Found at 201 South Kinney Road in Tucson, this is an active film studio that offers visitors a chance to step back in time to the Wild West, and experience the chance to walk where some of the most famous film legends have gone before. The park also includes a Young Rider’s Park which is an amusement park for kids. It has miniature antique cars, a big top circus tent, an old-fashioned carousel, and a tourist train. Old Tucson Studios is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The park is also available for groups and special tours, such as education tours, corporate events and weddings. Colossal Cave is located at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail in Vail, Arizona. The tour route of the cave is about a half mile in length. It is considered a dry cave, which means that the formations in the cave are not growing. Visitors will see a wide array of cave formations, including stalactites, flowstone, helictites and boxwork. Special tour options, such as the Candlelight Tours, Ladder Tours and Wild Cave Tours are available by reservation. The cave is open year round. The park user fees are $5 per car. Tours for Colossal Cave cost $8.50 for adults, children 6-12 are $5 and children under six are admitted free. Trail ride and riding stable prices vary, and reservations are recommended.

Penelope SanMateo is a travel writer for Arizona Vacations on Arizona Beautiful telling of the exciting places to visit. She tells of the things to do in Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding area as well as the rest of the state. An Arizona vacation holds suprises for those that want to explore the history of the area.

On your Arizona Vacation explore the Cowboy Poetry and Music of Sierra Vista

Searching for the perfect Arizona vacation getaway

Enrich your Arizona vacation with Museums Parks and Historical Destinations

On your Arizona vacation dont miss attractions such as the Reid Park Zoo

Check on the Biosphere 2 on your southern Arizona vacation