What's up guys
I'm Jon and today i'm going to introduce you to Sierra Vista
Quite possibly.. Arizona's Best Kept Secret
I'm going to give you 10 Reasons to Visit here
Because it's where History Meets Adventure
We've got a lot to cover
So let's go
Just 70 miles South of Tucson
At the foot of the Huachuca Mountains
Sierra Vista packs a mighty punch
And it's about to jump on your radar
We're on Allen Street in Tombstone just 25 minutes from Sierra Vista
And if you're a fan of the Wild West
You're going to love it here
One of the last boomtown's in the American Frontier
Step back in time to the late 19th Century
Site of the one of the most famous gun battles in U.S History
Head to the O.K Corral
And watch a reenactment that'll have you
Jumping out of your seat
Or just stroll around and absorb all of the old relics from the Wild West
You literally have Cowboy's roaming the streets
Yee Haw
If you have the time add a stop over at Boothill Graveyard. Where you can see the tombstones
Of Cowboys and bandit's who died during shootouts
A truly.. unique experience
We're at the Coronado National Memorial which commemorates the first expedition
By Spanish Conquistadores in the Southwest
Not only can you learn about the crossroads of Mexico and the United States here
But the views and the hiking are amazing as well
This is the one place where history truly does meet adventure
Take a free van ride up the mountain
With a park ranger
He'll explain the whole area to you
You may be surprised to learn that the National Memorial isn't a statue of the Spanish Conquistador
But the actual park that you're looking at
And what a memorial it is
You can even see Mexico which is located just a mile away
But enough history
You want some adventure to
And hiking Montezuma's Pass a moderate 3-mile trek
That straddles two countries
Is a task you've got to try
With its incredible landscapes
Don't forget your camera
After you make it back to the Visitor's Center
I recommend driving to the nearby Our Lady of the Sierra's Pass
Where the 30 Foot Tall Madonna and Chapel
Is worth admiring
For a city of under 50,000
Sierra Vista has food options that would rival place 2 or 3 times its size
Don't believe me
Let's start at Taco's Y Raspado's Mi Yaqui
Located right near the Mexican Border
Their street taco's are probably half the price
And twice the size of what you're used to back home
Adriana couldn't believe they had Verduro's here.. she was one happy Mexican girl
This town doesn't just have good Mexican
We ate fantastic sushi, german schnitzel
Even vietnamese
If you're a foodie, don't sleep.. on Sierra Vista
A great way to see Sierra Vista
Is just to hop on a bike
And go
There's no better way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Southeastern Arizona
Then on two wheels
And there's a reason they call it Sierra Vista
Or Mountain View in English
Because you can enjoy that Amazing background while you pedal around a city
That was built for the outdoors
It's also a great way to burn off
The pound of tacos you just ate
Where history meets Adventure
Where history meets adventure
Brown Canyon Ranch
Check
This historic site was first settled in 1880
And before we even show you the inside
You need to walk one of the multiple hiking trails
Which will take you right up to the mountain
Exploring the inside of the ranch house
Feels like you're stepping into a bygone era
The level of preservation is incredible
And the total cost to visit this property
Free..
Take your time and soak it all in
We're in Sonoita which has the oldest vineyard in the state of Arizona
You can spend an entire afternoon
Hopping around winetasting
This region produces some of the best wine in the Grand Canyon State
And this is a fun activity to do..
With a group of friends
The city will even drive you around on a tour
So you can just worry about sampling all the fine wine
We visited three wineries and the most unique
Was Arizona Hops & Vines
Not your average winery for sure
From the chips and cheetos that paired well with our drinks
To the exotic peacock running around the garden
Every winery had a different personality
Fort Huachuca which has been operating since the Indian War's of the late 19th Century
Needs to be on your list
For a visitor to the area
It's a chance to really learn about U.S History
For one.. the Buffalo Soldiers a fabled African-American Regiment was stationed here
And you can learn all about there storied past
At the Fort Huachuca Museum
The Fort is also home to the U.S Army Intelligence Center
And you can discover more about the secret history of the U.S Military
At the Intelligence Museum
I was blown away
From a piece of the Berlin Wall
To an engima machine used by the German's in World War Two
Even modern day spy gear
You won't regret a trip here
We're at Kartchner Caverns State Park
Which not only has incredbile hiking trails
But its been voted the best cave in the United States
It's only been open to the public for the last 20 years
And is an incredible site to see
Discovered in 1974 by 2 local cavers
This has quietly turned into one of the premiere attraction's in all of Southern Arizona
Learn about some of the history and practice your bat hearing
Before you head inside..
This is a living, breathing, eco system
We toured the big room
And i've never seen anything like it..
Admire some of America's most beautiful rock formations, if you're a fan of nature
This is going to impress
Sierra Vista is an amazing place to enjoy a starry night
And the Patterson Observatory on the University of Arizona Campus
In town
Is the perfect place to go
During the evening
Ted our guide, showed us the ins an outs
Of the telescope
From distant stars
To the moon
You'll feel like a kid again
After you're done admiring the heavens
He's going to show you a 4.5 Billion Year Old Carbonaceous Chondrite
Or a meteorite in Layman's terms
This experience might just leave you in awe
The next time..
You stare up.. at the night sky
Welcome to Ramsey Canyon Preserve
One of the most beautiful spots in South Eastern Arizona
If you like wildlife
And nature
This.. is a must visit
Maybe it was passing grazing deer in the parking lot
But this spot
Invites you in with open arms
The unique location of the Preserve
Where the mountain meets the desert
Gives it a biological diversity
Rarely seen in Arizona
This feels like another world
And you can take a free guided tour
Which will help you find out all about the species of animals and plants
You're about to encounter
Sierra Vista has even been called the hummingbird capital of the U.S
But even if Birdwatching is not your thing
The hike through the forest was one of the most peaceful experiences I've had
In a long time
This is the kind of place
You could spend hours wandering
And quite frankly..I wouldn't blame you
There you have it
10 Reasons to visit
Sierra Vista.. you need to add this place to your itinerary
On your next trip to Arizona
Be sure to leave me a comment and tell me which of these reasons.. was your favorite
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For more adventures from Arizona and beyond
Thank you so much for watching as always
Until next time