Striking out on an autumn family adventure, our flock flew south to Sierra Vista, Arizona. We found a mix of outdoor and indoor fun, a plethora of diverse and delicious eateries, and time for family connection. This well-spaced itinerary offered our family plenty of time to explore and unwind.
This story was created in partnership with the City of Sierra Vista. Photos by Emily Sierra Photography.
Stay in Sierra Vista
We found the city of Sierra Vista to be an ideal hub for exploring the history and outdoors in southern Arizona. We spent two nights at the Garden Place Suites Hotel. In addition to a free, daily happy hour, the hotel also had kitchenettes in the suites which made family travel even easier. Splashing in the pool was an obvious perk! There are plenty of additional lodging options, and we were pleasantly surprised with the amount of restaurants. Having a grocery store was a bonus for stocking up on snacks for the weekend too!
Day 1: Reliving the Old West
Without a doubt, one of the major draws to this part of Arizona is the town of Tombstone, made famous by outlaws and gunfights well over a century ago. Accordingly, we took the long way to Tombstone from Sierra Vista and had a picnic at the historic “ghost town” of Fairbank. Walking around Fairbank, we imagined this townsite as a bustling railroad stop, as it was the closest one to Tombstone—once a thriving city in the West!
Walk to Dinner in Sierra Vista
Having spent much time traveling, we were excited to take a short walk to Tombstone Brewing Company from our hotel. We loved sitting on the patio listening to local music and sipping delicious craft brews!
Day 2: Playing Inside
The Arizona heat can be tough to reckon with, and we were glad to find fun indoor activities within Sierra Vista.
CIBA Climbing Gym
Cochise County is known by many for its fantastic outdoor rock climbing. We wanted to see how our daughter would enjoy rock climbing, and visiting CIBA Climbing Gym was the perfect introduction. Angel, the owner, had a tiny harness and pair of shoes at the ready for us when we arrived. He took great care in setting a rope for us and sharing important safety information while keeping the sport fun. Angel also takes families on outdoor climbing adventures in the surrounding area, if real rock is more your style.
Done with climbing and ready for lunch, we sat down to margaritas, enchiladas and a tower of ceviche at Taco Giro.
The Cove – Sierra Vista’s Aquatic Center
In the afternoon we made our way to The Cove, an impressive aquatic facility in Sierra Vista, suitable for all ages. We appreciated having a “beach-style” entry into the pool for our daughter to splash around in, as well as a toddler-friendly waterslide. Ultimately, we ended up taking turns down the big tube slides also—they were quite fun!
Date Night, On Vacation.
We indulged in schnitzel, spaetzle, red cabbage, chocolate cake, and other specialities at The German Cafe. The cozy restaurant had mismatched plates, and such a warm, homey setting. After dinner, we dropped our daughter off at My Little Playhouse, a daycare center that offers “date night drop offs” for locals and travelers. Our daughter happily played with other kids, ate pizza, and played dress-up while we enjoyed some time to ourselves. We ventured out to Patterson Observatory located on the University of Arizona Sierra Vista campus. We were guided around the night sky, and through a telescope gazed at the moon, Saturn, and deep sky objects. This was such a treat in one of the darkest parts of the country! As a naturally competitive pair, we finished the night off with some games at Urban Axe Yard. This was yet another fun activity in Sierra Vista city limits—ideal for winding down from a full day of adventuring!
Day 3: Exploring in the Huachuca Mountains
