8 minute read
Casa Grande Day Trips
The following day trips are suggested for your planning purposes. You can mix and match the attractions that you are most interested in seeing and consolidate to make the most of your time in our city and county. Casa Grande can serve as your home base, while you enjoy hotels, restaurants, city parks, sports, entertainment and more.
DAY TRIP 1:
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If you like to kick-off the day with a walk (hike), you might want to start at Casa Grande Mountain, with two trailheads and trails in varying degrees of difficulty. At its highest point, the mountain reaches an elevation of 2,538 feet and provides unparalleled views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valley.
Since starting with the very first volunteer trail build in April 2010, Casa Grande Mountain is now home to more than 17 miles of established and marked trails. Be sure to take plenty of water and ample protection from the sun, even in the winter.
Next, stroll through the award-winning Casa Grande Main Street – the historical downtown district of Casa Grande. It is the heart of Casa Grande’s
hometown charm and offers some locally owned, unique restaurants whose delicious signature dishes will have you coming back for more.
To walk off your meals, we suggest you visit The Museum of Casa Grande, Casa Grande Valley Historical Society, housed in the remarkably unique rock “church” building that is the hallmark of historic Casa Grande. The museum is open from mid-September to mid-May each year. Programs and events sponsored by the Historical Society include school tours, speakers, presentations, re-enactments, special events, workshops, and outreacheducation programs. The Museum of Casa Grande holds more than 16,000 artifacts and over 22,000 archival photographs and documents which are available for research by appointment. Guided tours and fieldtrips for youth, students, and adult groups are available by appointment.
The next stop is at the renowned Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort where the Duke (John Wayne) hung his hat in Casa Grande and the San Francisco Giants held Spring Training for several years. Learn all about this resort’s very unique history and be sure to enjoy the resort’s elegant cuisine – it puts the Grand in Grande.
If you are ready for more evening entertainment, drive west from the Francisco Grande on SR 284 then turn north on SR 347 to the city of Maricopa, where you can explore Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, a uniquely designed destination where you can dine at one of the many excellent restaurants or try your luck at gaming. For more entertainment options, especially if you have a variety of age groups in your party, go right next door to the Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center, for fine dining or casual dining options and entertainment such as laser tag, bowling, a multi-plex movie theater and much more.
During the gorgeous Casa Grande evenings, a must-see is our newest attraction – the award-winning Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, 408 N. Sacaton St. in historic downtown. Stroll around this most original park populated by neon signs, plaques and pedestals from dusk to 11:00 pm to enjoy Casa Grande’s sign history that uniquely tells the “story of us”.
DAY TRIP 2:
Get ready for adventure by driving east on I-10 from Casa Grande first thing in the morning, when you are most energetic and ready for discovery. Take a 15-mile drive to SkyDive Arizona and SkyVenture Arizona in Eloy (Exit 198 east from I -10 to Tumbleweed Road, north on Tumbleweed).
At SkyDive Arizona jump from a plane at 13,000 feet above the Casa Grande Valley for an incredible buzz you’ll be talking about for years. Or, if you’re afraid of heights, try the exciting windchamber indoor skydiving for all ages at speeds up to 120 mph at SkyVenture Arizona. Or, just enjoy being a spectator from the Bent Prop Saloon.
Continuing east, on Interstate 10 headed toward Tucson, you cannot help but notice the monolithic 1,500-foot Picacho Peak at Exit 219. Picacho Peak State Park was the site of a significant Civil War battle fought in Arizona. The battle was re-enacted in March for many years. The park also offers two trails for those who want to see the majestic views of the Casa Grande Valley. One trail is more leisurely and the other is steeper and recommended for more experienced hikers. Stop at the ranger station on-site for more information. (520) 466-3183
As you leave the State Park, stay on the east frontage road to your right. You will soon be at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. Visitors (aka kids of all ages) can feed the ostrich, emus and deer, view the Lorikeet Forest, and purchase unique items to commemorate your visit, from the open market located at the same site.
A few miles east on I-10, at Exit 226 Red Rock interchange, you can get away from the hustle and bustle of the traffic by taking Park Link Drive east to Hwy 79 (Pinal Pioneer Parkway). Park Link Drive is a 20-mile road, which connects to Pinal Pioneer Parkway to the east. Midway between Florence, AZ and Oracle Junction, you will pass the Tom Mix Monument, built to memorialize silent-film star, Tom Mix, who died in a car accident in 1940.
Continue driving north on Pinal Pioneer Parkway, and turn right on Paisano Drive. At the end of the road you will find St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, which is a working monastery. Call ahead to see if the monastery is open to visitors and instructions for your visit.
DAY TRIP 3:
From Casa Grande, take Highway 287, east. At Highway 87, turn north and travel to Coolidge, Arizona and the home of the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, approximately 20 miles from Casa Grande. The Casa Grande Ruins were created as the nation’s first archaeological reserve in 1892, and the site was declared a National Monument in 1918. For additional information, contact the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, (520) 723-3172 or visit www.nps.gov/cagr.
Leaving the Ruins, turn north on Highway 87 then turn east on Highway 287. Continue your drive north on Pinal Pioneer Parkway (Hwy 79) to the Pinal County seat: Florence, AZ. Historic Florence is the town in which the movie Murphy’s Romance was filmed on Main Street. On Main Street the American flag proudly waves at the entrance to the Pinal County Historical Museum. The museum has fascinating displays and tells many stories of the “old west” and the Florence Territorial Prison.
After visiting Florence, travel north on Highway 79 then east on US Highway 60 to Superior. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located on US Highway 60, at milepost 223. The arboretum is Arizona’s oldest botanical garden which boasts more than 1,500 types of desert plants on 1,200 acres. On your walk through the gardens, you can view plants from the world’s deserts, panoramic vistas, and many natural habitats with varied wildlife, a hidden canyon, specialty gardens and more. Call for admission prices and hours open to the public, (520) 689-2723.
DAY TRIP 4:
Start your day with a farm tour at Caywood Farms. (Call to schedule your tour before planning your day.) Take Florence Boulevard east past Interstate 10, where it becomes Highway 287. Caywood Farms is a fourthgeneration, family-operated farming business, located at 841 E. Highway 287. The fascinating and informative tours provide a unique view of crops, from seed to harvest and give an insider’s view of the agricultural industry that was one of the principal economic drivers in the development of Casa Grande and Pinal County. To learn more about the seasonal tours, or to schedule your tour, call 520-560-1119 or visit www.caywoodfarms.com.
Next stop on the itinerary: Drive east on Highway 287 to State Route 87. Drive south on SR 87 to Interstate 10. Drive south (east) on I-10 to Park Link Drive. Take Park Link Drive east to SR 79. Drive south on SR 79 then turn east on State Route 77 for a visit to the very interesting and uniquely informative Biosphere II, a step into more modern history, a science-based look to the possibilities of the future. Take the tour; you’ll be glad you did!
After your tour, continue east on SR 77, which winds north, past the small towns of Mammoth, Oracle, Dudleyville and Winkelman. This is a beautiful drive through the higher elevations of the county, past the mining communities. Like agri-business, mining was another major economic driver for Pinal County. Heading to Kearny, AZ on SR 77, you will be able to see the spectacular Ray Open Pit Mine, which is educational, too. Stop at the overlook to get a magnificent view of the mine and read the placards about the history of the mine and the region.
Turning west to Superior, AZ on Hwy. 60, stop to hunt for Apache Tears at the mountain they call Apache Leap and admire the mysterious Superstition Mountains, that, like their name, beckoned to prospectors seeking the evasive Lost Dutchman Mine for many years in the early 1900s.
Then it’s back home to Casa Grande to enjoy the manageable traffic, relaxing pace and a delicious dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in the city!
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