Mileposts/Events

MILEPOSTS Driving Tour Cassette

A driving-tour cassette focusing on southern Arizona and narrated by singing cowboy star Rex Allen is available from the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce/Tourist & Visitors Center at no charge. (The chamber does request a $3 donation to help defray postage and handling costs.) Throughout the 90-minute "Getaway Adventure Driving Tour," Allen recounts tales of the Old West as you motor past the scenic spots where it all happened. Tour highlights include Sierra Vista, site of historic Fort Huachuca; Tombstone, Wyatt Earp's old stomping ground; the picturesque old mining town of Bisbee; and bucolicly scenic Sonoita. A free guidebook accompanies the cassette. To obtain the cassette and guidebook, stop by or contact the chamber at 77 Calle Portal, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635; toll-free (800) 2883861.

Steaks and Chops, a Cold War Legacy

The food served at the Burro Inn in Tubac needs no explanation, but the restaurant itself has an intriguing history. The The eatery is built on what was once a Titan missile site, one of 18 that surrounded Tucson and Davis Monthan Air Force Base, the former Titan Command Post. The missile system was dismantled in 1981 (one remains as a museum in Green Valley), and workers filled in the underground launch complex that housed the 110-foot reentry rocket where the restaurant now stands. The place's name comes from a pet burro called Louie that grazes outside, as unaware of the chilling reminder of the Cold War as most travelers to Tubac, the oldest European settlement in Arizona. To reach the restaurant from Interstate 19, take Exit 40 and follow the signs to 70 W. El Burro Lane; (520) 398-2281. Ron Butler

Wickenburg B&B

A home-cooked breakfast served on a sunny lanai is just one lure of Vista del Oro, a California Mission-style hacienda bed and breakfast inn just five minutes from the Old West attractions of downtown Wickenburg. The inn was built in the early 1940s amid three formal courtyards and surrounded by grass, flowers, and old trees. Its accommodations include large rooms with private baths, a suite with a large sitting area (all non-smoking), a swimming pool, and lounge area. Your hosts at Vista del Oro are Roxie and Rome Glover, and they'll be happy to help you arrange desert tours, horseback riding, and other excursions. To inquire, write P.O. Box 3191, Wickenburg, AZ 85390; or call (520) 6843827.

Traveling through Time

Adults and youngsters nine years old and up can take part in one-, threeand nineday archaeological digs at the Sabino Canyon Ruin, one of the largest ancient Indian villages in the Tucson area. Inhabited by Hohokam Indians from at least as early as A.D. 1100 to 1300, the ruin contains remnants of architectural features and painted pottery as well as stone artifacts and shell jewelry. The programs, put on by the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center, are taught by professional archaeologists and offer the chance to learn to process, classify, analyze, and interpret artifacts and other recovered materials while discovering a long-gone culture. A free tour of the ruin will be available on Saturday, February 24. Call to reserve tickets. For program details and other information, write the center at P.O. Box 40577, Tucson, AZ 85717-0577 or telephone (520) 798-1201.

Dude Ranch Guide

A free brochure available from the Arizona Dude Ranch Association offers information about some of the state's premier guest ranches, including ranch resorts and real cow outfits. The brochure has a grid showing each ranch's amenities, a map with driving times to nearby attractions, plus ranch telephone numbers. To obtain a copy, write P.O. Box 603, Cortaro, AZ 85652.

Grand Canyon Accommodations

A recently opened 166-room Holiday Inn Express at Tusayan has increased the overnight accommodations for visitors to the Grand Canyon, Arizona's most popular attraction. The tiny community of Tusayan sits in the ponderosa pines of the Kaibab National Forest about two miles from the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Guests of the Holiday Inn Express can drive to the lookout points along the Rim or be picked up at the hotel for one of the guided park tours. The inn is conveniently located for access to Grand Canyon Airport, park transportation, the IMAX Theater, gasoline, grocery shopping, and restaurants. To inquire, call (520) 638-3000; for reservations, call toll-free (800)HOLIDAY.

Hiking Miracle Hill

A path that's just a short walk from downtown Bisbee leads to a shrine with a 10-foot wooden cross, grottoes with statues of the Blessed Virgin, and, as a bonus, a panoramic view of Old Bisbee and the Mule Mountains. Fearing he was losing his eyesight, retired copper miner Adolfo Vasquez and his wife, Mary, built the shrine in 1980. Adolfo trudged up the steep hill by his small home to what locals call Miracle Hill, carrying bags of cement, bricks, buckets of paint, flowers, and finally the wooden cross. Mary tucked the statue of the Blessed Virgin into a small whitewashed grotto.

Fearing Adolfo didn't lose his sight, and he and others continued to tend the shrine. Other grottoes have been added over the years, many festooned with plastic flowers and mementos left by the faithful. To reach the shrine, hike up OK Street until it dead-ends against the mountainside. A small sign that says To the Cross marks the start of the rocky trail; follow this to the top of the ridge, then take the path to your left (east) to the summit. Allow about an hour for the roundtrip. — Molly Sweeney To obtain the 43-page, full-color 1995-96 Tempe Visitors Guide at no charge, contact the Tempe Convention and Visitors Bureau at 51 W. Third St., Suite 105, Tempe, AZ 85281-2833; (602) 894-8158 or toll-free (800) 283-6734.February 3; FlorenceThis yearly salute to Florence's past highlights a tour of fascinating old private homes and august public buildings. Trolley transportation is provided. Admission of $7 for adults and $3.50 for kids includes entry to the Pinal County Historical Society Museum with its diverse exhibits and McFarland State Park. For old-time Western fans, if you want to see where movie-star cowboy Tom Mix cashed in, head south of town on U.S. 89 to the spot where a memorial statue stands. Information: (520) 868-5889, ext. 20.

Free Tempe To-Do Guide EVENTS Historic Florence Tour Hoop Dance Championship

February 3-4; PhoenixTop Native American dancers from the U.S. and Canada convene at the prestigious HeardMuseum to vie for the title of World Championship Hoop Dancer. If watching others expend calories makes you hungry, try the Indian fry bread and Mexican dishes that will be available. Admission is $1 to $3. Information: (602) 252-8840.

Renaissance Festival

Weekends, February 3March 24; Apache Junction Brave knights joust, fair ladies swoon, and visitors travel back in time to a raucous 16th-century European market fair to revel in a swirling mix of pageantry and fun: tests of skill, equestrian events, lively tournaments, concerts, storytelling, strolling musicians, dancing, and more - including the rare opportunity to walk around munching on a giant turkey drumstick. The festival grounds are seven miles east of Apache Junction on U.S. Route 60 past Gold Canyon Ranch. The festival also will be open on Presidents Day, Monday, February 19. Admission is $4.95, children five to 12; $11.95, adults. Information: (520) 463-2700.

Gallery of Fine Prints: The Rugged Sierra Anchas

Randy A. Prentice's back cover photograph of the cliffs and spires of the Sierra Anchas in central Arizona is this month's offering through the Arizona Highways Gallery of Fine Prints.

The unmatted color print is produced under the supervision of master printer William Nordstrom at the EverColor DyePrints's custom lab in California.

To order the print, call toll-free nationwide at (800) 543-5432. In the Phoenix area, call (602) 258-1000.

The sizes and prices of the print are:

#A99SA16: Approximately 14" by 17" $175

#A99SA26: Approximately 16" by 20" $225

#A99SA36: Approximately 20" by 24" $275

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

February 8-11; Tucson This internationally acclaimed show at the Tucson Convention Center lures thousands of visitors including fine jewelry gemstone buyers from around the world - with its spectacular mineral specimens from leading mining and mineral museums and private collections, as well as displays of gems, jewelry, lapidary, and fossils. Exhibits, lectures, and demonstrations by artisans round out this mega event. Call for admission. This show is part of the entire Tucson Gem and Mineral Showcase, which began January 28. Information: toll-free (800) 638-8350 or (520) 624-1817.

Gold Rush Days

February 9-11; Wickenburg Relive the days of yesteryear at this old mining town's annual bow to its past.

You'll have to pick and choose, or stoke up on calories to do it all: a two-day seniors pro rodeo, gold-panning contest, carniWell, Western dance, arts and crafts, a barbecue, "mucking and drilling" contest, parade, melodramas, and a beardgrowing contest. There will be an admission charged for some activities. Locations include the Community Center/Library lawn and the rodeo grounds. Information: (520) 684-5479 or toll-free (800) 942-5242.

Yuma Crossing Days

February 24-25; Yuma There's a passel of activities planned to celebrate Yuma's history, including historical reenactments, kids' games, food booths, crafts, and rides on the Yuma Valley Railroad. Activities take place at various sites: Yuma Crossing Quartermaster Depot Historic Site, Yuma Territorial Prison, the Century House, and Fort Yuma Museum. There will be an admission charged for some events. Information: (520) 329-0404 or 783-2423.