Rex Allen Days 2010 in Willcox, AZ

Western fun, Willcox style! Each year, Rex Allen Days honors Willcox’s hometown hero, Rex Allen, who became famous as a singer, cowboy movie star and narrator for Walt Disney Productions.

Rex Allen (Photo courtesy of the Rex Allen Museum, Willcox, Ariz.)

Special guest stars at this year’s Rex Allen Days will be music stars, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers fame, and Johnny Western. The Cowboy Hall of Fame kicks it off. The 2nd Annual Western Legends Award will be presented this year. Other activities include a parade, rodeo, General Orlando B. Willcox International turtle race, cowboy dances and country music concerts. 

Details: Admission varies per event. Contact the Willcox Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture at 520-384-2272 or the Rex Allen Museum at 520-384-4583, www.RexAllenMuseum.org for more information.

Do you remember Rex Allen? Are you sure? If you’re of a certain age (say 40s or older), you might have heard of him even if you don’t recognize his name. He was the narrator of Disney for years in the 60s and he was the narrator of the 1973 animated film, Charlotte’s Web. So you probably have heard of him.

View a clip from a Walt Disney show, “Yellowstone Cubs“. Do you remember those wholesome Disney shows? I do! I looked forward to Sunday evenings in front of the TV with Mom and Dad and my sisters and brother. For me, it really was a “Wonderful World of Disney”!

Cochise County events: street dance, motorcycle rally, birding celebration

This weekend, you’ll find lots to do in Cochise County for Mother’s Day. In the serene setting of the  Holy Trinity Monastery, you’ll find the annual spring festival. If you’re looking for something with a little more action, try the Border to Border Run, a motorcycle rally during the day and street dances at night in Douglas. Want to commune with nature? Check out the International Migratory Bird Day at the San Pedro House, located on the river just off Highway 90 between Bisbee and Sierra Vista.

May 8 & 9, Holy Trinity Monastery Fiesta de la Primavera, St. David

The Holy Trinity Monastery will hold its annual spring festival on Mother’s Day weekend—a lovely place to take Mom! Visit more than 150 arts and crafts booths plus enjoy entertainment and food.

Details: Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David, AZ. Admission is free. Call 520 720-4642, ext 22 for more info or visit http://www.holytrinitymonastery.org.

May 8 & 9, Border to Border Cinco de Mayo Run, Douglas

If you like motorcycles, this is the place for you! Bike show, car show, raffles and drawings, plus a poker crawl make for a rousing weekend at the border. Street dancing on Friday evening will feature Déjà vu, and Elvis will appear on Saturday.
The Border to Border Run starts at 9 a.m. Street Dancing will be Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Gadsden Hotel, Douglas, AZ.  Admission is free. There is a small fee for specific events. Call 520-364-4481 or 520-234-3901 for more info.

May 9, International Migratory Bird Day, Sierra Vista

With talks, walks, exhibitions and children’s events, visitors can learn about birds, beavers, wildlife and native plantings. The Gray Hawk Nature Center will showcase a variety of snakes and lizards. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River, the Sonoran Joint Venture, Coronado National Forest, Cochise County Master Gardeners and the Bureau of Land Management.

Details: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the San Pedro House, 9800 Hwy 90, at the San Pedro River. Admission is free. For more info call 520-459-2555.

Places for more info:

Sierra Vista tourism info

Benson Visitor Center

Douglas Arizona

Valentine’s Day: spend it in Cochise County

Some of the hotels and bed & breakfast inns in Cochise County have some really sweetheart deals and romance packages this month in honor of Valentine’s Day. And, I just received word that Shadow Mountain Resort Restaurant will have a “Guest Chefs Night” on Saturday, Feb. 13. Spend the weekend in southeastern Arizona where Wyatt Earp strolled, the Chiricahua Mountains were formed and Buffalo Soldiers served our nation.

During Valentine’s weekend, Dos Cabezas Spirit and Nature Retreat, a small bed & breakfast inn just 14 miles from Willcox, is offering a “Country Valentine,” a one-night’s stay, dinner, a dozen roses, a box of chocolates and a gourmet breakfast the next morning. Choose either Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, Feb. 12, 13 or 14 2010. You can also give a gift certificate. The package includes complete privacy since the inn hosts only one party at a time. Cost is $249. Dinner will be arranged at your choice of Coronado Vineyards or El Ranchero Restaurant in Willcox.

To book your special weekend, email or call: Charmayne Samuelson at 520-384-6474 or send an e-mail.

In Sierra Vista, America’s Best Value Inn is offering a special for the Feb 12-14 weekend. Guests can stay for only $54 per night. Check with the hotel at 520-459-5380 for more details. Also in Sierra Vista, the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel is offering 30 percent off their room rates. So you can get a deal for $59-$69 per night. Ask for their Valentine’s Weekend specials. Call Suburban Extended Stay at 520-458-0540 for more information.

Bisbee‘s Letson Loft Hotel and Jonquil Motel are offering their “Sweetheart Specials” the entire month of February 2010. Treat your Sweetheart to an overnight or two at The Letson or the Jonquil Motel in the month of February and they’ll treat you to $15 OFF the Letson Loft’s rate or $10 off at the Jonquil. this offer is good on Sunday to Thursday night stays!  Be sure to mention the “Sweetheart Special” when you call or book online!  Rate will be adjusted upon check-in.

Guest Chefs Night–Bring your Valentine to Shadow Mountain Resort Restaurant for a satisfying dinner and entertainment. On Saturday, Feb. 13, you can get a half rack of baby back ribs, baked potato, beans, slaw and dessert for two for $15. Guest chefs Gary & Kathie Brauchla and Troy & Melanie Pope will cook. Entertainmetn will be provided by “Mac the Rounder” and Bob & Patty Shemwell.

Details: Dinner served from 6-8 p.m. with entertainment from 6-10 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. For more information, call 520-826-3417. Reservations encouraged by Feb. 11.

Enjoy the Valentine’s Day and President’s Day weekend.

If you’re looking for something to do that weekend, check out these events:

Feb. 12-14, 18th Annual Cochise Cowboy Poetry Music & Poetry Gathering, Sierra Vista

Once a year, Sierra Vista becomes a Western wonder of poetry, music, storytelling and song. More than 60 artists from all over the U.S. and Canada will converge on Sierra Vista for three major stage performances and free mini-concerts. Learn the history of the Arizona Territory through song and poetry.

Details: Various free events will take place throughout the weekend. The headline shows are 7 p.m. on Feb. 12 & 13 and 1 p.m. on Feb. 14. Performances are held at the Buena Performing Arts Center, 5225 Buena School Dr. in Sierra Vista. Admission is $6 for high school students, $16 for seniors and military and $18 for adults. For more information, call 520-417-6960 or visit www.cowboypoets.com.

Feb. 13, Chocolate Tasting, Bisbee

Serious chocoholics will melt for this fundraiser to benefit the city of Bisbee’s public library. A ticket buys you entrée to a spread of decadent chocolate desserts at Arizona’s oldest library, the Copper Queen. This is Valentines Day, after all, so pick up a to-go box of exquisite chocolates created in Bisbee kitchens to share later with your darling.

Details: 6 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Copper Queen Library, 6 Main St. in Bisbee. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, call 520-432-4232 or  visit http://www.discoverbisbee.com.

Feb. 13, Wine and Chocolates, Willcox

Coronado Vineyards will pair their wines with chocolates on Saturday. It’s a treat you won’t want to miss!

Details: 10 a.m., Sat., Feb. 13 at Coronado Vineyards, 2909 E. Country Club Drive, Willcox, AZ. The cost is only $7 per person, which includes wine and chocolate. Call 520-384-2993 for more information.

Feb. 13, Fairbank Days

Visitors can enjoy tours, exhibits and talks. This month there will be live music, art exhibits, re-enactments of “the Great Fairbank Train Robbery” and tours of the Townsite and cemetery.

Details: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13 at Fairbank (on Highway 82 east of the San Pedro River between Tombstone and Whetstone). Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Info: 520-457-3062

22nd Cochise County Cycling Classic

For all you bicycling fans out there, the Cochise County Cycling Classic in Douglas is an amazing event! The longest ride in this perimeter cycling event is a whopping 252 miles. Cyclists train long and hard to test their endurance in this ride.

This year, there’s also something for the beginners and those who want to just ride for fun. The the Perimeter Bicycling Association announced the addition of a four-mile Fun Ride to the 2009 Cochise County Cycling Classic.

And for something in between, there are the 157-, 92- or 45-mile rides.

The events take place on Saturday, October 17, 2009. Die hard long distance riders will start at 2 a.m. and the other rides will start between 6 and 8:30 a.m.

Ready to sign up? Get your gear and your support crew together and sign up now!

For information on places to stay, contact the Douglas Visitor Center at 520-417-7344. This is a busy weekend in Cochise County, so book your hotel rooms early. You can visit the Cochise County website for more information on hotels in the surrounding area.

Pie Fest in Portal, AZ

Photo (c) bucklava via Flickr

“Me oh my. I love pie!” Every time someone talks about pie, I think about this line sung by Andie MacDowell in the film, Michael (it’s about 3 minutes into the clip). Doesn’t this photo by bucklava make you wish for a slice of homemade pie with a good cup of coffee?

If you like pie, you might want to head to the annual Pie Festival, to benefit Portal Rescue. It will be held this Saturday, September 5, at the Rodeo Community Center in New Mexico.

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (AZ time); Noon – 2 p.m. (NM time)

You can buy a slice, make it a la mode or buy a whole pie.  All kinds of pies will be available – from fruit to cream to meat to vegetarian and pizza pies.

I love pie!

Want more info on visiting? Check the Cochise County website! Portal is on the eastern side of the Chiricahua Mountains. It’s beautiful and out of the way. Perfect for a Labor Day weekend getaway!

One more free weekend at the National Parks: Aug. 15 & 16, 2009

Last chance! The National Park Service is hosting one more free weekend this summer. You can go see any of America’s National Parks during this weekend without paying an admission charge.

If you can’t make it next weekend, the good news is that two of Cochise County‘s three national parks are free year-round!

Admission to Coronado National Memorial and Fort Bowie National Historic Site is free.  And Chiricahua National Monument is rock bottom at just $5 per person.

So think about southern Arizona if you’re looking for a travel getaway. As documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, put it, the National Parks are one of “America’s Best Ideas.”

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!

Arizona vacation ideas at Arizona Highways travel show

Are you one of those people who have lived in Arizona but haven’t explored our great state? Now you can go to one single location and find out about the whole state!

Head down to the Phoenix Convention Center for the Arizona Highways Travel Show.

It’s 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, May 20 & 31 in downtown Phoenix. The link above has information and coupons for $2 off admission to the show.

Cochise County will have a booth with info and a few giveaways. Stop by to learn more about Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Willcox!

Traveling to Mexico after June 1

New rules that will be effective on June 1, 2009 will change what you need to cross the U.S./Mexico border at Cochise County‘s two ports of entry.

Make sure you have the required documentation before you travel!

The two ports of entry in the county are in Naco, near Bisbee, and Agua Prieta, next to Douglas.

Before entering Mexico, make sure everyone traveling with you has an active passport or a passport card. If you are staying for more than 72 hours (3 days) or travel more than 21 kilometers (about 7 miles) into Mexico, you and everyone in your party must obtain a tourist card. You must also get Mexican auto insurance and a permit for the automobile.
To acquire a permit, you must submit evidence of citizenship, title for the car, car registration certificate, a driver’s license and credit card in the name of the driver, to the Banjercito branch located at the Mexican Customs office at the Agua Prieta port of entry and pay a processing fee. Naco does not have the capacity to issue car permits.
When returning to the U.S., make sure you have proof of citizenship. As of June 1, 2009, the only accepted proof is a passport or passport card.
For more information about traveling to Mexico, log onto the U.S. State Department’s website. It is recommended you know the current laws on purchasing medication or alcoholic beverages. You can spend U.S. dollars in Mexico’s border towns, but you can also purchase pesos at banks or exchange houses.
Naco

There are two Nacos: one in the United States and the other just across the border into Mexico. Naco, Arizona, is about a 15-minute drive from Bisbee, and you can easily walk across the border. Park on the U.S. side and cross directly into the center of Naco, Mexico. There are several good places to eat and some stores. 
Agua Prieta

Agua Prieta is in Mexico, adjacent to Douglas, Arizona. A community of approximately 125,000 people, you have a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Beautiful Mexican floor and wall tiles are available in Agua Prieta. When entering Agua Prieta from Douglas, it’s easy to park your car in Douglas at the secure pay parking lot and walk across. Take Pan American Highway from Highway 80 and turn left on J Avenue (also known as Customs Avenue) just before the border.
South of the Border

If you’re looking for a more adventurous trip south of the border, you might want to take a short trip from either Naco or Agua Prieta can take you to the historic mining community of Cananea, Father Kino’s missions or through the beautiful Rio Sonoran valley.

For more information on traveling to Mexico, talk with the staff at the Douglas or Bisbee Visitor Centers or visit http://www.gotosonora.com.

Mother’s Day with your unique Mom

What kind of mom do you have? If she’s not traditional (or even if she is), consider a trip to Cochise County. There are three events that will help you celebrate your unique Mom during Mother’s Day weekend, May 8-10.

Motorcycle Mama

Photo by Rainer Ebert

If she’s a biker babe, you and she can motor down to the Border to Border Cinco de Mayo Run, May 8 & 9 in Douglas. A lot of activities are in store.

A bike and car show, raffles and drawings, plus a poker crawl will make this a rousing weekend. Street dancing on Friday evening will feature Déjà vu, and Elvis will appear on Saturday.

Details: Border to Border run: 9 a.m.; Street Dancing: Friday, 8-Midnight. Activities start at the Gadsden Hotel in Douglas.

Admission is free, and there is a small fee for specific events. For more info, call 520-364-4481 or 520-234-3901.

Mother Nature

Does Mom yearn for the outdoors? Is she an early riser who loves nature and wildlife? Consider taking part in the International Migratory Bird Day Spring Festival on May 9.

With talks, walks, exhibitions and children’s events, you and Mom can learn about birds, beavers, wildlife and native plantings. The Gray Hawk Nature Center will showcase a variety of snakes and lizards. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the San Pedro River, the Sonoran Joint Venture, Coronado National Forest, Cochise County Master Gardeners and the Bureau of Land Management.

Details: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., May 9 at the San Pedro House, 9800 Hwy 90 (at the San Pedro River). Admission is free. For more info, call 520-459-2555.

Arts & Crafts Mom

Does Mom appreciate the finer things in life? If she loves arts and crafts (she knitted sweaters for you, made quilts or simply loves artistic creations), you might want to swing down to the Holy Trinity Monastery’s Fiesta de la Primavera in St. David, just south of Benson.

Details: Sat., May 9: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sun., May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Monastery, St. David. Admission is free. For more info, call 520 720-4642 ext 22 or visit their website.

If you’d like to visit any of these events, call the visitors centers in each city. The staff can help you decide where to stay and give you tips on where to eat.

Benson Visitor Center: 520-586-4293

Douglas Visitor Center: 520-417-7344

Sierra Vista Visitor Center: 1-800-288-3861