We visited Kartchner Caverns because of a tip from our good friends, Kevin and Wendy Gallagher; it should be on everyones Bucket List! It was AMAZING! Unfortunately, I was not allowed to bring anything into the caverns; that included cameras, phones, NOTHING! They are “live” caves meaning the formations are still growing ever so slowly; 1 inch every 100 to 1000 years! To see photos and read the incredible history of their discovery and introduction to the public as a state park Google “Kartchner Caves” or go to the state park website here: http://www.azstateparks.com and look for Kartchner caverns. There’s a video tour as well as still pictures.
We also visited an old copper mining town called Bisbee. It was fascinating! Kind of a “Hippie” and artsy town now, but the copper mining museum and the town were very interesting. They are still getting copper but now instead of mining they are leaching it from the dregs left as a by-product of their forefathers (because of more advanced technology)
We(I) chose NOT to do the claustrophobic mine tour down into the bowels of the earth where we would be most certainly be buried alive!
We went on Sunday so unfortunately the “Boneyard” wasn’t open (Federal land) but the museum has over 3700 planes and other aircraft, so well worth the trip!
Some beautiful Mesquite wood furniture and a vase, some with inlaid turquoise! Stunning (and pricey!)
There was some great sculptures and moving art pieces throughout the outdoor areas too.
We went with our new good friends Ken and Joy. While the girls looked at jewelry and such, Ken and I found this refuge:-). Notice the caricature picture: Castro, Dave Letterman, Marilyn Monroe and Arnold Schwarzenegger!
After exhausting shopping we all had drinks at Tubac Jack’s, including this interestingly delicious Smoked Jalapeño Margarita!
We visited both the Tucson Saguaro National Park East and West but learned unless there are some clouds the sunsets are not “picture worthy”. Here are the pictures from the East park.
And, of course with a sunset is the moon rise!
We also thought this cacti pic had a bit of a sense of humor to it 🙂
A few more pictures just before sunset we thought were particularly beautiful.
Our first greeter at the Tucson Desert Museum was this beautiful Spotted Owl. We had no idea they were so large!
We had the opportunity to see the Flight of the Raptors, here are a few shots of those including an Owl and a Hawk!
Another beautiful pair of resident wolves.
And my experience to hear what a bat hears! The ears are proportional to my size to match that of the bat!
And, of course, MORE Cacti!
Casa de Ziegler II 