The heat is here to stay for a while, here are a few ideas that might help keep you cool.
STAY IN TOWN
Tohono Chul, 7366 Paseo del Norte. Bottomless prickly pear mimosas and margaritas for $14. 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. daily. 742-6455.
Bloom night, Peniocereus greggii, Queen of the Night blooming flower blooms anywhere from May-July. Visit tohonochulpark.org/bloomwatch/ to sign up to be notified as soon as they know the bloom will be happening. When Bloom night happens the cost is $5 from 6 p.m.-midnight. Starting at 8 p.m. food will be for sale, also catch lectures at 7:30 and 9 p.m. about Queen of the Night. There will also be a raffle to guess the number of blooms for that night—the winner gets free Queen of the Night.
GET OUT OF TOWN
Copper Queen Mine Tour, 478 Dart Road, Bisbee. Tours at 9, 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 and 3:30 p.m. $13; $5.50 for ages 6-12. Call for reservations. 520-432-2071. The mine is 75-80 degrees during the summer. Make sure to visit the gift shop and check out the artifacts, rocks and minerals. It is recommended to arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour, no open-toed shoes or high heels. After you are done with your tour get a taste of Bisbee life by going to Old Bisbee for some cool treats and shopping at Copper Queen Plaza, 2 Main St., Bisbee. If you go to Bisbeeβs Table try the sautΓ©ed mushroom appetizer, yum!
Kartchner Caverns, 2980 Arizona 90, Benson. The Rotunda room is the only tour open through Oct. 15. Cochise County residents and active duty military and their dependents get $5 off tour fee; Arizona residents get $3 off through Oct. 14. $23; $13 for ages 7-13; $5 for ages 6 and under. Arrive one hour early to watch a video about how the cave was discovered and look at the artifacts in the discovery center and make sure to visit the gift shop. 520-586-2283. Call for reservations.
You will probably be hungry after your tour so here are a couple of ideas in Benson:
Mi Casa, 723 W. Fourth St. Baja style Mexican mom and pop restaurant. Make sure and leave room for carrot cake with warm butter rum sauce β it is so good. 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday-Friday. 520-245-0343.
Wild Dogs, 705 W. Fourth St., Benson. Gourmet hot dogs and sandwiches. My favorite is the Chicago dog but they have so much to choose from including the traditional Sonoran Dog. 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. 530-388-8307.
