Everybody loves vacations and traveling helps one live a happy life. Understandably, everyone can’t go on long vacations. So, short trips are the way to go. Taking a short, one-day trip to a beautiful location is the best way to take a break from the stress and routine of life.
Arizona has some beautiful cities that are perfect for taking quick trips to rejuvenate your body and mind. Tombstone, about a 3 hour drive from Scottsdale, has breathtakingly attractive scenery and places to visit. If you take a day-trip from Scottsdale to Tombstone, you will discover many neat places and things to see and visit.
1. Watch Gunfight at the OK Corral
O.K. Corral is a very fun destination to check out. It is the place where the popular gunfight had taken place between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. They reenact the gunfight at the site, and it is a very enjoyable experience to watch the show.
The set-up is exactly like it must have looked in the 1880s and gives an authentic feel of the Old West. Many people come to this reenactment. You can take a tour and get your picture clicked with the actors in their costumes.
2. Wander down Allen Street
Allen Street is the main street in Tombstone, Arizona. It is the best place to wander around for tourists. There are many historical sights to see and lots of unique businesses where you can enjoy shopping for unique items and souvenirs.
Since Allen Street was the main street where everything used to happen when Tombstone was a popular town, a lot of historical events that happened there. Many tourists go there to experience the feeling of Tombstone as it used to be in the Old West days.
3. Courthouse State Historic Park
The Tombstone County Courthouse is a beautiful Victorian style building made of red brick. The architecture is interesting, and the courthouse is now a museum tourists can visit.
The museum has guns, weapons, documents, and other things that speak of the 1880s. There are a lot of things to do in the park. You can walk around in the park, have a picnic and even camp outdoors. Visitors are assisted very well, and you can learn how to set up a tent and cook while camping.
4. See the Bird Cage Theatre
The Bird Cage Theatre is a popular tourist attraction in Tombstone. In the olden days the theatre was brothel but it has now been converted into a museum. It is a place steeped in the Old West history of the town. Anyone who visits the place instantly feels how it would have been to be a cowboy in Tombstone in the 1880s.
There are many artifacts to see inside the museum, and you should try to do a full tour of the building. The poker table, bars, saloon, dance hall are some of the very interesting things to see there.
5. Take an Underground Tour with Good Enough Mine Tour
Taking a tour of the underground mines in Tombstone is a must for visitors, without which a trip to Tombstone is incomplete. A tour of the silver mine with Good Enough Mine Tour makes tourists feel like they have found what the true West feels and looks like.
This tour takes you through the history of mining in Arizona. The tour includes famous historical stories like the first silver strike in Arizona, the story of Wyatt Earp, and so on. You can also see the actual silver in the mines while touring the underground in a mining trolley.
6. Rose Tree Museum
This is a beautiful museum that you just cannot miss when you are in Tombstone, Arizona. It is near Allen Street and used to be a residential building of one of the town’s oldest families. The Rose Tree Museum has the largest rose tree in the world.
Visitors can stay in the Rose Tree Inn, visit the bookshop and museum and relax in the backyard. The museum is very impressive and holds a lot of information about the tree and the local history.
7. Tombstone Epitaph
The Tombstone Epitaph is a fascinating place to visit when you are in Arizona. The most famous newspaper in The Old West gets printed here. Visitors can see the office that has old printing memorabilia from more than 100 years ago on display.
The original printing equipment, typesetting machines, and old newspapers are preserved here, and it is a place every tourist should try to see. It is very interesting to witness how the newspapers used to be printed in the olden times. There’s a gift shop there where you can buy souvenirs and old newspapers.
8. Tombstone’s Historama
At the Tombstone’s Historama, visitors can watch a movie and diorama presentation of the history of the town of Tombstone. The movie is about 25 minutes long, and Vincent Price narrates the presentation.
The movie and presentation take the audience back to the 1880s and give an amazing overview of how life used to be. It also tells the story of the popular gunfight that happened on October 26, 1881. It is a very educational experience and gives an accurate picture of the people who used to live in the town.
If You’re Traveling With Kids – Some Kids Travel Attractions
1. Old Tombstone Western Town
The Old Tombstone Western Town is a theme park that is great to visit with children. There are many rides and games for kids to enjoy, like shooting games, golf and so on.
Everything has an authentic Mexican theme that is accurate with its history. There are some restaurants to eat in and historical tours with knowledgeable and engaging tour guides. There is also live theatre with a comedy show performance that children will love.
2. Tombstone City Park
Tombstone City Park is a small and beautiful park that is perfect for relaxing. It is a quiet place that is popular with locals, too. There is ample shade in the park where you can walk around the premises. There are plenty of shelters, benches, and places to sit.
For children, there’s also equipment to play on and run around. Visitors can arrange picnics. Overall, it is a very pleasant place where parents can relax while their children can play. It is the place to go to after you have explored the tourist attractions.
Tombstone Staying Places for Sightseeing
• Larian Motel: The Larian is a very good motel to stay in for a day or two. Located close to all the tourist attractions, it has all the necessary facilities including free Wi-Fi, clean rooms, and bathrooms. It also has a television, microwave, and air-conditioner.
• Tombstone Monument Ranch: You could consider staying at the Tombstone Monument Ranch for an authentic feel of the Old Western town. The rooms are designed to transport visitors back to the time of cowboys. While the rooms have all the modern facilities, it also has the feel of the 1880s.
• Landmark Lookout Lodge: The location of this lodge is perfect since it is close to all the important spots like the OK Corral, the Mine Tours, and so on. It offers attractive facilities like an outdoor pool, free breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. The rooms have a television, an air conditioner, and electronic door locks.
• Tombstone Sagebrush Inn: This inn is the perfect place to have a relaxing and enjoyable stay. It has got many good reviews and guests love staying here. Tombstone Sagebrush Inn is extremely close to many famous tourist locations and is a great place to stay if you are going to go sightseeing.
• Stay With Style Scottsdale: You can book your favorite room in this place if you’re traveling to Scottsdale, Arizona for a long vacation. If Tombstone is on your day trip list, Stay with Style Scottsdale can arrange amazing vacation rentals for your long-term vacation stay.
Places Where You Can Eat in Tombstone:
1. Puny Johns BBQ With Outdoor Seating Option
Puny Johns is a barbeque place that offers lunch, dinner, and drinks. Smoked potatoes, pork, and brisket sandwiches are some of their specialties. It is one of the best places in Tombstone to grab a quick bite.
They have delicious food options, from ribs to homemade green beans and macaroni and cheese. You can choose to sit either inside the restaurant or outside on the patio. The patio can accommodate up to 70 customers, while 84 people can sit inside. The barbeque place is open from Friday to Monday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
2. Cafe Margarita With Outdoor Seating Option
Cafe Margarita, formerly known as The Russ House, serves delicious Mexican food. Although the menu offers some Italian and Southwestern options, Cafe Margarita is best known for its Mexican food. Its Nachos, taco salads, and margaritas are very well-loved.
The food is completely fresh and homemade and the cafe has a huge patio and can seat large groups of people. The service is wonderful and the salsa they make is famous. Cafe Margarita is open from Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
3. Mario’s Bakery Cafe
Mario’s Bakery Cafe is an eatery on Allen Street in Tombstone. Because of its convenient location near tourist attractions, it is a well-known place to eat. Visitors can have lunch here, and it offers mainly baked food like cookies, sandwiches, and cakes.
The cafe is a vegetarian-friendly place and has vegan options available for those who may want it. It is open from Wednesday to Monday from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Their delicious food and hospitality have made them a popular destination for tourists to grab a bite.
4. Fallen Angel Sweet Sin Parlor
Fallen Angel Sweet Sin Parlor is located just next to the Bird Cage Theatre, a popular museum and tourist attraction in Tombstone, Arizona. They mostly offer ice cream, candy, and yogurt in a lot of different flavors.
The ice cream place is a good place to stop to cool down and have something cold. Since it is a small place, there’s no place to sit and eat. You can buy your food and eat it on the way. It is open on all days of the week from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
5. Old West Chuckwagon
Old West Chuckwagon is now called The Hitching Post Café. It is one of the best restaurants in Tombstone. They offer lunch, brunch and dinner in American cuisine. Vegetarian food options are available for vegetarians. It is a very reasonable place to eat in.
All items on the menu are priced at less than $8. The food is delicious and filling, and the customers always leave feeling satisfied.
Their sandwiches, hot dogs, and salads are well known. From Wednesday to Saturday, it is open from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, while on Sunday, it is open from 11:00 AM to 05:30 PM.
Best Time to Trip to Tombstone
Spring (March through May)
Spring is the best time to go to Tombstone. The temperature and weather are at their best during March, April, and May. Another excellent advantage of going to Arizona during this time is that, since it is spring, the flowers are in bloom. This makes visiting the Rose Tree Museum a beautiful experience. The roses are in full bloom during April, and visitors will see the largest rose tree in the world.
Summer (June through August)
It is less advisable to go to Tombstone in summer since it gets extremely hot. June is the hottest month of the year there. The hot temperatures start at around 93°F, and may not be enjoyable for some tourists. It often rains in the late afternoon during these months, making sightseeing more difficult. However, since the demand is less in summer, hotel prices are low.
Fall (September through November)
Late October is another good time to travel to Tombstone. The weather is pleasant in October and the Helldorado Days also fall during the third weekend in October. There are many events that are held during these few days of Helldorado. It is enjoyable to be in Tombstone since there are shows with gunfights and robberies and other acting and costume events like parades and carnivals.
Winter (December through February)
The winters in Tombstone, Arizona, are relatively cold and dry. December is the coldest month, with an average low temperature of 36°F and a high of 60°F. It snows sometimes, but very little.
While nights can be cold, the days are cool and pleasant, so it’s not a bad time to visit. Keep in mind that during the holidays, that is, Thanksgiving and Christmas, most places will be shut.