It was on a whim to visit Arizona. I’m about to get surgery on my knee in a few weeks, so I won’t be traveling far over the next few months. I looked online and shockingly flights to Tucson are dirt cheap (like $110 roundtrip). I couldn’t even find flights to San Francisco for that price! Besides, everything is a lot cheaper in Arizona compared to California. I’m sold! Just get a car rental and you’re set. Here is an itinerary that can easily be done over a weekend.
Day 1: Arrive in Tucson (stay overnight – I highly recommend the Atanacia Room at the Adobe Rose Inn)
Day 2: Drive to Tombstone (1 hour 30 min away by car), continue to Bisbee, Arizona (20 more minutes and stay overnight)
Day 3: Explore hippy/freaky Bisbee, and head back to Tucson and check out the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Before the trip, I had some mandatory viewing: the 1993 movie Tombstone. To be honest, I can’t remember if I ever saw this movie (I remembered nothing!). But it’s so much fun to watch before going. Plus, it’s a classic with Wyatt Earp (played by Kurt Russell), Doc Holliday (remember Val Kilmer?) and his gang hoping to bring some order to this bad boy town. And it all comes to a big blow out at the OK Corral in 1881. The battle sealed the town’s rep as the place that’s “too tough to die.” And yes, today it’s too touristy to die. Verging on cheesy – okay very cheesy – but it is really so much fun! And especially a good time if you watch the movie just before coming — you’ll have so many “I remember that from the movie” moments!
Rent the 1993 movie Tombstone for a quick history lesson
OK Corral
The obvious first stop – Inside you’ll find some old-timey saddles, history on the town, a boarding house, photo galleries about Geronimo and photos of the locals (including a whole section about the ladies of “ill repute”). My partner was particularly fascinated with this section as he continually yelled “She was a prostitute??” It never got old! The best part (which costs extra and well worth it) is the re-inactment of the shoot-out at the OK Coral. They dumb it down significantly (guessing for those who either don’t know the story or haven’t watched the movie for awhile).
Re-inactment at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona
I had to get into some of the re-inacting myself here – runaway buggy!
The show is hilarious and audience reactions are highly encouraged (yelling “Yay” for the good guys and hissing for the bad ones). There is also a 1 hour “Historama” show included with your tickets. Think paper mache sculpture that rotates and the town’s history is narrated by that same guy who did voiceover work for those 1950s projector science movies. It’s the perfect break to get in a nap, especially if it’s hot out! Seriously, it was painful!
Johnny One Dog’s Tombstone Sarsaparilla
Next up, we walked a few steps away from the OK Corral to taste the locally-brewed Sarsaparilla. “Johnny One Dog” (as he intro’d himself!) sells it right out of his rickety garage. It’s a drink with historic roots in Tombstone, he tells us and was incredibly refreshing. It’s just $2.50 a bottle and makes a fun souvenir.
Beverage stop with Johnny One Dog Sarsaparilla stand.
Peruse East Allen Street
Watch where you step! Not because of the traffic (no cars can pass) but because of the horse and buggies. There is a reason why the cowboys had high boots! Along the main street you’ll find tons of souvenirs and of course those old-time photo booths where you can dress up. Is it a little tacky? Definitely, but all for a good laugh (or you can laugh at the ones who take it so seriously). You can get Tombstone cowboy hats, belt buckles, T-shirts… you name it.
Shops line the main street in downtown Tombstone.
Lunch Spot: Big Nose Kate’s Saloon
This place is a blast. Live music, tourists mixed with Harley Davidson biker gangs and locals all in one. The food is pretty awful – think amusement park quality. But you’re not going to find culinary greatness in Tombstone. We picked it for the vibe and energy. The staff dresses up in period costumes, there is a haunted well that you can explore under the restaurant, and often live music and girls jumping up on the bar dancing. Who cares about the food? I’d pay just to see all the interesting characters that come in!
Kevin getting rowdy in the Big Nose Kate Saloon.
The food isn’t all that great but it’s more the atmosphere here.
Birdcage Theater
This place makes the list given it’s historic importance. It also was featured prominently in the movie Tombstone. If you’re looking to do one more thing, and don’t have a huge amount of time or interest to explore, this is the place for you. The theater was the main source of entertainment in Tombstone – not just for what happened on stage but in the basement with private gambling and the boxes in the theater (also called cribs), which were used for guests to have prostitutes. What a multi-purpose theater!
Bird Cage Theater
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