Casa de San Pedro is located at 8933 S. Yell Lane, just off State Route 92, in Hereford. For more information, call 520-366-1300 or visit casadesanpedro.com.

© Randy Prentice

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Not Just for the Birds

By JoBeth Jamison

Hereford Casa de San Pedro Bed and Breakfast has just 10 guestrooms, but the place is usually hopping with more visitors than owners Karl Schmitt and Patrick Dome have the time or fingers to count. That's because the majority of the guests that flock to this remote getaway are not people, they're birds.

Nestled on 10 acres along the San Pedro River, 28 miles southeast of Sierra Vista, Casa de San Pedro is the place for birders to see and be seen. The area's dense canopies of cottonwoods, willows and vital riparian habitats make it one of the most important avian migratory corridors in the western United States, attracting more than 335 species of resident and migrating birds each year, and countless humans as a result. Season after season, they all land here for a little pampering, relaxation and keen observation.

Built in the budding tradition of eco-tourism in 1996, the Spanish-Moorish-style B&B was conceived as a place where travelers could "take only pictures and leave only footprints." Schmitt and Dome, who bought the inn in 2002, have not only honored the concept, they've continually strengthened the B&B's environmentally friendly foundation by making eco upgrades throughout the property.

Such changes include converting to all-native, low-water xeriscaping, which still produces plenty of flowers for area pollinators, and switching to energy-efficient appliances. All the while, the two have maintained a sophisticated yet comfortable mix of Spanish and Mexican décor, along with a laundry list of activities that would appeal to just about anybody. Visitors can spend the day exploring the terrain of the neighboring San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Huachuca Mountains, wearing out their binoculars on a yellow-billed cuckoo, roaming through the Casa's labyrinth or butterfly garden, or kicking back on the patio or by the pool.

But it's not the feathered friends, eco amenities and outdoor activities alone that draw people to Casa de San Pedro. It's the food. And it's not just the award-winning full breakfasts made each morning, or the renowned freshly home-baked pies, cookies and brownies that warm the senses each afternoon. It's also the creations of "Cooking Light with Lark Beaugureau" classes that turn the Casa into a gastronomic delight. On the fourth Saturday of each month, Lark, an aptly named cookbook author and local caterer, presides over themed, multicourse dinners that guests prepare and enjoy together in the Casa's kitchen and window-studded dining room.

Whether you're looking for rare birds, romance, memorable meals, or simply a diamond in the Southern Arizona lodging rough, Casa de San Pedro is the perfect place to land.

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