An action-packed weekend itinerary
Sponsored by Visit Sierra Vista
For a town named, quite literally, for its scenic views, Sierra Vista is a destination ripe for a weekend getaway—making it perfect for Cactus League Spring Training fans seeking a break from the ballpark. Cue up a music playlist and head three hours south to Sierra Vista where history and hiking, birding and disc golf, and some pretty great tacos, await. Here, a three-day itinerary for exploring Sierra Vista.
Friday
Leave metro Phoenix for Sierra Vista around 9 a.m. to roll into town in time for lunch at 143 Street Tacos. Why? The warm homemade tortillas, for one. Asada that’s been marinating for 24 hours in orange juice and spices, for another. Plus: fiery adobo sauce, mesquite-wood grilled chicken and loaded Sonoran hot dogs.
Next, check in at Beatty’s Guest Ranch and Orchard, a cluster of spacious and fully equipped cabins in Sierra Vista’s Huachuca Mountains—an internationally renowned birding spot, that come spring, is surrounded by bright orange poppies. The ranch features lush walking paths and an on-site farm store selling seasonal produce.
Before the sun sinks below the horizon, visit Coronado National Memorial, an historic sight examining the Spanish conquest of the region in the mid-1500s. The Coronado Peak Trail is an easy 1-mile trek with interpretive plaques that chronicle the history while also showcasing expansive views of the San Pedro River. Another trail from the visitor center leads to Coronado Cave; it’s a small scramble down some rocks onto the cave floor, and once inside, 600 feet of wide-open cavern to explore.
Saturday
Start the day off right with a smooth Americano coffee and a fresh-baked scone at locally owned Wanderlust Kaffee, a café that not only offers excellent espresso and yummy pastries but also provides support for Jennifer House, a transitional home for women in Sierra Vista.
Fortified with caffeine, head to Fort Huachuca National Historic Landmark, an 1877 U.S. Army fort still in operation today. See the historic buildings with the free audio tour and learn about frontier life, the legacy of the 10th Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers and the history of military intelligence. (Because the fort is still an active Army base, visitors are required to have their REAL ID for entrance). Post-tour, explore Garden Canyon, a beautiful hiking area at the fort where you’ll spot native and migratory birds, as well as quail and deer—be sure to also keep an eye out for the canyon’s pictographs dating to 1300 C.E.
Conclude the day with dinner at Urbano Bar and Bistro. The chic restaurant is a buzzy breakfast place that morphs into a exquisite fine-dining experience Thursday to Saturday evenings. Start with the shareable waffle fries with truffle seasoning. For main dishes, favorites include skirt steak dressed with a creamy peppercorn sauce or the vegan tacos with chimichurri slaw. Don’t miss the crispy donut bites dusted with cinnamon sugar for dessert.
Sunday
Soak up Sierra Vista’s natural beauty one last time at the town’s 10-acre, 18-hole Disc Golf Park. Dotted with mesquite trees and yucca plants, and covered in native grasslands, the course is a scenic immersion in the region’s stunning landscape. There’s no fee and the course is accessible to players of all skill levels, so you’ll have a blast even if you’re a first timer to the sport.
Before hitting the road back to Phoenix and Scottsdale, treat yourself to the comfort food served up at Landmark Café. Indulge in the restaurant’s chorizo Benedict smothered with chipotle hollandaise or a cinnamon roll hot out of the oven, then admire the views of the Huachucas as you depart Sierra Vista.
