Southern Arizona summers: find the cool spots

If you think it’s hot in Arizona in the summer, you haven’t traveled the state much. Here are three ideas for things to do and places to go in southern Arizona to get cool.

Go underground. The average temperature inside Kartchner Caverns is about 70 degrees. Insulated by layers of earth, caves are naturally cooler. While you’re cooling off, you’ll get to explore one of the world’s top 10 living caves. Throne Room tours show amazing stalactites and stalagmites that took thousands of years to form. See these wondrous formations on touts that last about an hour. Info: Kartchner Caverns State Park website

How cool is this?! Kartchner Caverns State Park® Photo by Noelle Wilson ©Arizona State Parks

Get high. No, we’re not pushing drugs. Get high in elevation. Cochise County elevations start at around 3,000 feet, and many of the peaks top out above 7,000 feet. That translates to crisp summer air. Mountain ranges include the Dragoons between Benson and Willcox, Mules where Bisbee sits, Whetstones where Kartchner Caverns is located, Chiricahuas, between Douglas and Willcox, the Huachucas in Sierra Vista, Dos Cabezas near Willcox and more. You’ll find lots of recreational opportunities like hiking and camping in Cochise County’s mountains!

Low-temperature golf at value prices. Sitting at elevations of 3,500-4,600 feet, these courses offer a respite from urban courses. Visitors can tackle the “Rattler,” a 757-yard, par-6 hole—just one of the interesting golf experiences at Cochise County’s seven public courses located in Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Sunsites and Willcox. For more info, check the Cochise County Tourism Council’s golf listing.

You can find out more by contacting any of the Cochise County Visitors Centers: Benson Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Willcox.

Kartchner Caverns discounts start today

Formations in Kartchner Caverns. Photo (c) Arizona State Parks

Today’s the day! In June, one of Cochise County’s great attractions reduces its tour prices for the summer. See my earlier post for discount details. The park is offering this price through Sept. 4, 2009.

This is a very popular tour, so you’ll probably want to make reservations. Kartchner Caverns State Park is only 9 miles south of I-10 in Benson, Arizona. It’s really easy to get there.

Plan ahead to get a reservation. this cave is one of the top 10 living caves in the world.

Browse the Arizona State Parks website for Kartchner Caverns cave tour information. Enjoy the stunning formations! For tickets, call 520-586-2283.

Want another underground experience or two? There are two mine tours in Cochise County. Tombstone has a walking tour of the Good Enough Mine, one of Ed Schiffelin’s original silver mines, and Bisbee offers tours of their famous copper mines in the Queen Mine Tour. You can also visit another Cochise County cave. Hike in the Coronado National Memorial in Sierra Vista and you can get to a limestone cave. Stop at the Forest Service’s Visitors Center for more information, and make sure you bring a good flashlight and backup batteries if you go to this cave. It’s dark in there!

Enjoy!