LymeNet Flash: Travelling to Arizona . . Need Help with Things To Do . . .

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Posted by 1rosepedal (Member # 15653) on :

I will be travelling to Arizona in August and need ideas for things to do while there.

I have a 16 year old son that is VERY interested in gemology and gold paning. Any good tours?

Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. [bow]

Posted by shazdancer (Member # 1436) on :

Yes, there are gold panning tours, but it has been many years since I lived in AZ, so I can't help you.

Take the time to head north of Phoenix. The mineral called Apache tears can be found near Superior, AZ.

http://www.worldssmallestmuseum.com/productindex1.htm

There used to be an old copper mine tour just outside of Jerome, a western town built on the side of a mountain.

http://www.jeromechamber.com/pages/history.htm

From there, see the red rocks of Sedona and hunt for rocks (but don't take them home) at Slide Rock State Park

http://www.visitsedona.com/index.php?action=article&id=158

And definitely take your rock hound to the Petrified Forest!

http://www.nps.gov/pefo/

That should get you started. Arizona is well-known for its beautiful gemstones and minerals. Happy trails!

-- Shaz

Posted by Piegirl (Member # 14786) on :

Are you CRAZY for coming to Arizona in the summer! [Wink]

It's 110 degrees here in Tucson, AZ this week. It's only going to get hotter too.

Anyway I hope you are going to maybe a cooler part of AZ. I totally agree with seeing Sedona. It is my favorite town in AZ. The red rocks are amazing!

If you do come down to the Tucson area, there are caverns located just east of the city called Kartchner Caverns. Your son would love that.

www.arizona-leisure.com/kartchner-caverns.html

Let me know if you have any more ?s. I lived here my whole life.

Mary

Posted by 1rosepedal (Member # 15653) on :

Thank you both so much for the great ideas!

Looking forward to visiting.

I'm usually cold year round, I figure that would be one place I will feel comfortable. [Cool]

I heard from one tour company that in the month of August, Monsoons may be an issue . . . ??

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Yep. Heard the monsoons may be here soon. Looking forward to them.

Don't think it will stop you though. Just have rain gear handy.

I haven't been able to explore AZ since I Moved here.

But, I did pick up a book on Gems of Arizona.

Arizona Highways always has some good articles too.

It seems there is a lot to do here.

Heard from some people recently who went to the Rim and the White Mountains.

They said it was much cooler there and they saw lots of wildlife: Elk, deer, skunk, etc.

Hope you enjoy your visit here.

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

There is a gem/rock/mining museum near the state capital. I think it's called the Mining Museum.

Here is a website. http://www.arizonaguide.com/whattodo/Default.aspx

I'm a native and I would only head up to Flagstaff or Sedona. Oak Creek/slide rock is a great place for a 16 year old.

I was born and raised here. All I want to do in August is stay indoors. But, alas, school starts August 11 and I'll be doing crosswalk duty.

I don't know how free you are to travel, but Bisbee in Southern AZ has a mine tour that I hear is fantastic. My kids got claustrophobic, so we didn't get in but ten feet. My husband loved it.

I agree with Karchner Caverns. It's on the way to Bisbee, and you have to make reservations for both tours.

Is your son ill?

Kelmo

Posted by Meg (Member # 22) on :

Lots of good ideas above. Gem hunting in Arizona is amazing...and there's gold in every County in Arizona.

I think Tombstone has some activities of interest.

If you're in remote areas rockhounding, like canyons, and it starts raining, you need to get to higher ground immediately! In a flat area like this, the water accumulates quickly....people drown easily.

Enjoy the scenery and have a good time--I wish I was coming along too [Big Grin]

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Forgot about those flash floods. I was in one years ago.

It was a clear day. Not a cloud in the sky.

I was riding my horse in a dry wash on my way to Tombstone when a wall of water came around the bend.

Luckily, my horse did the survival thing and I just hung on until he could get up the bank to dry ground.

We went back the next day and you could not tell there had been any water at all much less that much water flowing through.

I dug down in the creek bed and finally found water...but from the surface it was sandy and dry.

I later learned there had been thunderstorms in the mountains a few days before and the water was just coming through our area.

It was deeper than my horse as we had to swim across to the other side towards a farm house to find a way home. the side my horse had climbed out on was fenced off.

I hear snakes are in abundance too in AZ. Lots of different kinds of poisonous ones.

Now is the time they are out. So, if you are out rock hounding..keep that in mind.