Dateland Travel Center, Dateland
This market has been a roadside stop since the '20s, when people traveled through on railroad cars. It's a pity they didn't have air conditioning back then, because the weather out here is like Iraq, and can reach up to 120 degrees in the summer. The date trees love it of course, and the 22-acre fields yield half a dozen different varieties, which you can sample for free in the gift shop. The dates go into everything from candy to barbecue sauce. But you can't miss the frozen date shakes and date ice cream in a crispy waffle cone. It's incredibly rich and fibrous almost like a banana, with a mildly sweet honey flavor. dateland.com , 928-454-2772 , 1737 S. Ave. 64 East, Dateland.
Basque Etchea, Tacna
The town of Tacna, Arizona is home to about 555 people, a whole lotta sheep and Arizona's only Basque restaurant. Immigrants from this northern region of Spain came to Arizona in the 1800s, bringing their sheepherding traditions to little towns like Tacna. Sheepherder Fidel Jorajuria built Basque Etchea himself almost 40 years ago, and today you see his wife Frances holding court at the table in the front. These days the menu is mostly American burgers and sandwiches, but you can still find a few Basque specialties like trout fillet and leg of lamb with bright green mint jelly. They also sell sheep pelts! 928-785-4027, 8575 South Avenue 40 East, Tacna.
