Start the day off right with fresh-air fun at Roper Lake State Park. A brisk hike along the park's five miles of trails should be followed by a soothing dip in the hot springs. (Attention anglers: Drop a line in the lake to catch largemouth bass.) Post-park, take a scenic drive to the top of nearby Mount Graham, where Mount Graham International Observatory perches. A tour of the observatory includes lunch and shows off several telescopes. You won't want to miss the Large Binocular Telescope—it's the largest in the world, standing just short of 11,000 feet.

As you continue to Willcox, pop into the Rex Allen Museum, an upbeat look at the singing cowboy, screen legend and local boy Rex Allen. Spend the rest of the afternoon sipping Arizona wines at tasting rooms in downtown Willcox. (Willcox is one of two AVAs, or American Viticultural Areas, in Arizona and where most of the state's wine grapes are grown.) For dinner, go for fine cuts of beef at Double S Steakhouse or award-winning salsa at Isabel’s South of the Border.

Where to Stay: Arizona Sunset Inn, 340 S. Haskell Ave., Willcox

Arizona's other AVA—and its first—is Sonoita, southwest of Willcox. Three mountain ranges surround this wine-growing region and opportunities to sample the grape range from lively tasting rooms in the towns of Sonoita and Elgin to remote wineries tucked away in the countryside.

But before you embark on a day of wine tasting, first go to Kartchner Caverns State Park. Discovered in 1974, and hidden from the public for nearly a decade more, this living limestone cave has Arizona's tallest natural column and the world's longest stalactite. You could easily spend a full day here, with its accessible underground tours, aboveground hiking trails and family-friendly activities. If you choose to linger, book one of the park's cabins for the night.

Just north of Sonoita is Empire Ranch, a 140-year-strong working cattle ranch owned at various times by prominent ranching families, major corporations and the government. Learn about its history on a self-guided walking tour. Conclude the day with the culinary talents of chef/owner Adam Puckle at The Café in Sonoita; the pasta is to die for.

Where to Stay: Next Door @ Dos Cabezas, 3246 Hwy. 82, Sonoita

With so much to see, do, hike, bike, eat and shop in Tucson, you'll want to plan your time thoughtfully. Luckily, the drive north from Sonoita is short, so you can maximize your fun. Here are a few highlights to weave into the itinerary.

• Arizona State Museum: History buffs will appreciate the oldest and largest anthropological research museum in the Southwest.
• Arizona National Scenic Trail: There are several trailheads in and around Tucson at which you can hop on portions of this 800-mile trail from Mexico to Utah.
• Beyond Bread: Good spot for breakfast or lunch, this bakery makes pastries, bread, cakes and pies from scratch and in small quantities—meaning, they sell out fast. Arrive early for the goods.
• Center for Creative Photography: Just one of several acclaimed museums on The University of Arizona campus, the Center is one of the premier repositories of photography in the country.
• Colossal Cave Mountain Park: Halfway between Sonoita and Tucson, the sprawling park offers horseback riding, cave tours, hiking, mountain biking and more.
• DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun: See the permanent collections and rotating exhibitions of artist Ettore DeGrazia at this 10-acre National Historic District designed by DeGrazia himself. Looking for souvenirs? Definitely don’t skip the gift shop.
• The Dutch Eatery & Refuge: This restaurant serves breakfast all day, but it’s better for dinner and cocktails. Order the slow-braised short ribs and a gin mojito.
• La Encantada: This outdoor retail center's location at the base of the Catalina Mountains makes it an ideal spot for afternoon shopping and evening city-light gazing.
• Pima Air & Space Museum: The mind-boggling collection of 400 aircraft at this aerospace museum includes a historic Wright Flyer.
• Saguaro National Park: There are two sides of this park—east and west—and no matter which one you visit, you'll get astonishing views of the iconic Sonoran Desert saguaro cactus.

Where to Stay:
The Downtown Clifton, 485 S. Stone Ave., Tucson, (520) 623-3163
Hotel McCoy, 720 W. Silverlake Road, Tucson, (844) 782-9622
The Tuxon, 960 S. Freeway Road, Tucson, (520) 372-2853

Although I-10 provides the fastest route for the Tucson-to-Phoenix commute, we're sending you north on Highways 77 and 79, known as the "backway" to Phoenix.

As you ascend into the Santa Catalina Mountains, prepare for views galore. First stop: Biosphere 2 in Oracle. Tour this glass-enclosed research facility, built as an artificial ecological system, the largest closed system of its kind.

Just down the road, walk the sculpture park at Triangle L Ranch, then continue east to Oracle State Park. This 4,000-acre wildlife refuge has many easy to moderate trails that the whole family can enjoy, plus kid-friendly interactive activities. And because the park has an International Dark Sky Designation, it lines up a robust programming of stargazing, should you choose to stick around after the sun goes down.

As you travel deeper into the foothills, you'll come across Arizona Zipline Adventures (ziplining, plus a restaurant boasting yummy burgers) and Peppersauce Canyon (hiking, camping, picnicking; leaf-peeping in the fall). As you near Phoenix, divert from the path to explore Downtown Mesa and Tempe.