Santa Cruz: Missions, River Landscapes and Sonoita Vineyards
Accommodation in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz combines Spanish mission history, protected river landscapes and the countryside around Sonoita Vineyards into a region with an unusually wide range of different travel experiences. Those looking for a vacation rental or vacation home can choose their base according to their own travel plans: Should historical sites and trails be the focus, or are you primarily looking for nature and open landscapes?
Missions, Presidio and the Anza Trail
A central historical site is Tumacácori National Historical Park in Santa Cruz County. It protects the ruins of three Spanish colonial missions: San José de Tumacácori (Tumacácori), Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi (Guevavi) and San Cayetano de Calabazas (Calabazas). The park also includes the Tumacácori Visitor Center, a National Historic Landmark with a museum. This allows a visit to the ruins to be complemented by an exhibition and an informative introduction to the site.
In Tubac, Tubac Presidio State Historic Park preserves the ruins of San Ignacio de Tubac, the oldest Spanish presidio complex in Arizona, founded in 1752. The park was Arizona’s first state park; its collection also includes Arizona’s first printing press. History enthusiasts will therefore find several specific points of interest here rather than visiting just a single structure.
The Anza Trail also makes history tangible as a trail. The first section established in Arizona is a four-mile route between Tumacácori National Historical Park and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. It is designated exclusively for hiking and horseback riding. The trail runs along the Santa Cruz River through riparian habitats with cottonwood trees and mesquite. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park is also a starting point for hiking preserved sections of the Anza Trail. Visitors to Tumacácori National Historical Park can explore part of the trail on foot.
River Landscapes and Trails for Nature Days
The Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve showcases another side of Santa Cruz. More than 300 species migrate to, nest in or live in its riparian habitat. Three miles of easy hiking trails run along Sonoita Creek through rare cottonwood and willow forests. This offers a specific option for a nature day focused on the landscape rather than local history.
Sonoita Creek State Natural Area lies downstream from Patagonia Lake State Park on the lower reaches of Sonoita Creek. The creek is a year-round tributary of the Santa Cruz River. Those seeking different landscape impressions can combine these river areas with other destinations in the region. In the Sonoita area, the Railroad Trail, built on a raised railway embankment, also invites visitors to take a stroll.
Sonoita Vineyards and Regional Orientation
Sonoita Vineyards lies at an elevation of 5,000 feet in gently rolling grassland and is surrounded by high mountain ranges on three sides. The winery encompasses more than 30 acres of vineyards and regularly hosts various special events throughout the year. In this way, the landscape around Sonoita Vineyards adds its own regional accent to the historical and nature-focused experiences.
For an individual sightseeing tour, Old Town Tubac offers another distinctive point of interest: Calle de Iglesias is one of the oldest roads in the Americas still open to traffic and can be driven by visitors. During Anza Days, a reenactment of the Anza expedition passing through Tubac takes place every year. Since no future event date is given, you should plan the specific trip separately from this event.
Choose the Right Accommodation for Your Travel Plans
Santa Cruz County is part of the 3,300-square-mile Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. It extends along the Santa Cruz River watershed and combines the natural and cultural environment, historic sites and working landscapes. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home, this primarily means deciding first which experiences should shape your trip. For nature days, the river landscapes, the preserve or the Sonoita area may be the deciding factors.
For further orientation, you can also visit the pages for Tubac, Nogales, Rio Rico, Amado and Patagonia.
For the higher-level travel overview: Arizona.
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