Situated high above sea level on the floor the Sonoran Desert, Tucson stands amid five mountain ranges and natural wonders such as Saguaro National Park, while Yuma sits at a river crossing dating back to pre-Columbian days. When the main meetings course is over, sample these five tempting “deserts” for a taste of the original great outdoors.
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2012, the award-winning Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (520.883.2702; www.desertmuseum.org) is an irresistible choice for groups, providing two miles of walking paths featuring 230 animals and 1,200 varieties of plants amid the splendor of the Sonoran Desert. The acclaimed zoo-museum also offers after-hours rentals of scenic spaces, including the Desert Garden and Ironwood Complex for conferences, corporate outings and social events.
No visit to Tucson is complete without saddling up and going horseback riding like the cowboys and cowgirls of Old West days. Arizona Horseback Experience (520.455.5696; www.horsebackexperience.com) takes riders of all skill levels around the lush wine country of Sonoita south of Tucson, including wine-tasting rides to the Sonoita Vineyards or challenging rides through the Coronado National Forest. Closer to town, Pusch Ridge Stables (520.825.1664; www.puschridgestables.com) offers early breakfast trail tides, overnight rides into the mountains and sunset steak rides.
With easy access to thousands of traditional and sport climbs, the Tucson area is a climber’s paradise. At the indoor rock gym Rocks & Ropes (520.882.5924; www.rocksandropes.com), individuals and groups of all levels of expertise can learn how to scale the gym’s varied rock walls. For a daily fee that includes transportation to and from climbing areas on Mt. Lemmon in the Coronado National Forest, Rocks and Ropes’ certified instructors take adventurers on a variety of climbing experiences that include bouldering, top roping, lead climbing and multi-pitch routes. Groups can also rent a portable climbing wall for off-site events.
Yuma’s agricultural credentials include being Arizona’s top producer of citrus fruit, watermelon and cantaloupe, a top exporter of wheat to Italy for premium pasta, and the world’s top producer of gourmet Medjool dates. Developed by the Yuma Visitors Bureau, agritourism programs (800.293.0071; www.visityuma.com/yvb_tours.html) include “Field to Feast” tours where visitors harvest the veggies that go into their lunch, hands-on cooking classes, Savor Yuma culinary tours and the annual Yuma Lettuce Days festival (March 8-10, 2013).
Fertile on the one hand, Yuma is also surrounded by expansive desert lands. Located just 20 miles from the city, the Imperial Sand Dunes are the nation’s largest inland sand dunes and a prime destination for off-road adventures. Open year-round and with the area’s largest fleet of ATVs and quads, Jet Rent (928.314.4345; www.jetrentyuma.com) offers 24-hour equipment rentals (with delivery and pick-up service) for individuals and small groups of up to 25 people. The company also rents Jet Skis, kayaks, pontoons and other craft for group adventures on the Colorado River and area lakes.
