VACATION AND TRAVEL
Now, if you see a western movie that has cactuses in it, it was probably made in this state. One of the first places you will read about which highlights what I’m talking about is “Saguaro National Park". Here you will see the best looking Saguaro Cactuses anywhere. Anyway, there is a $20 dollar fee to enter this park, if you arrive by car. Both districts of Saguaro National Park have their own visitor centers that provide restrooms, water fountains, maps, hiking trails, a driving loop, programs, and staff to assist you at both places. There are no hiking trails starting from either visitor center, but there are designated hiking trails with maps at the visitors’ center as I mentioned. I’ve been at this now newly National Park, and the roads were bare of traffic while I was there. I used my time in
this area just to take postcard photos of this place while only taking short hikes.
Both visitor centers offer several programs including indoor presentations, patio talks, short guided walks, and guided hikes varying in length and topic. When I was there it was free, but times have changed, and it’s now been converted into a National Park. See website for all details. Lastly watch out for snakes!
Big Tip: (Always make sure you have a full tank of gas anywhere you go in the state, plus make sure you also have plenty of water and a GPS would be great.)
On one of many streets at “Old Tucson Studios
The mountain in the background you see in many Hollywood movies
Main Street in Mescal, Arizona where they filmed the movie “Tombstone
While you are at Saguaro National Park, you will be a short distance from “Old Tucson Studios”, which is an active movie studio. Old Tucson Company offers two exclusive Arizona Western production locations, “Old Tucson and Mescal".
Old Tucson Studios is located 12 miles West of Tucson and it’s a complete Western town spread out over 300 acres in the beautiful Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park. Entry fee is only $22 dollars on select rides, tours and shows.