Southern Arizona trip

I'm not aware of any rental company that will permit you to drive into Mexico. Border towns used to have day bus's that would take you over to the shopping areas but I'm not sure if they still do, what with the drug violence near the border.

Chessie--you said you aren't "being near Phoenix". What route are you taking? The Laughlin-Kingman-Flagstaff-Phoenix-Tucson route is the quickest but I know there are alternate ways of getting to the south of Arizona (plus most of it is Interstate at 65/70 mph). If you are going "straight down" from Laughlin, then you will be in South-West Arizona and not near Tucson/Bisbee/Tombstone which are more South-East/Central Arizona. Arizona is a big state and takes a while to travel places.

Also, if you wanted to go to Mexico just to "say you've been there", then I would recommend WALKING across the border into Mexico. The border towns are pretty poor and mainly just filled up with tourist stuff (sombreros, blankets, purses, etc.) but you could say you've been there. Personally, I try to avoid Mexico border towns at all costs...there is nothing there I want to see or buy and I'm always a bit uncomfortable there. (this is probably because when I was a teenager, my family went to a Mexico border town once and I had guys come up and keep touching my hair {at the time, long blonde hair} as I walked around. I guess it traumatized me a bit! lol)

In Tucson there is the airplane museum which is very interesting including Air Force One of JFK. Just south of Tucson is the last missile base which you can tour through. In the north part of Tucson is a restaurant called "North" which is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. The last two years we have been to Tucson in the late fall for a three week period and North is a must. It is in a large open air mall and the view from the restaurant at dusk & later is incredible of Tucson. There also is another eating establishment in a mall in the east end of Tucson called "Bamboo Club" I believe. Excellent food. As mentioned above a number of the museums in Tucson are very worth while. There also is a number of casinos by two different Indian tribes. Go online a google Tucson casinos and you will be able to get all the directions and information. Have a great trip.

Diane

Diane

Unless you specifically want to visit Flagstaff, the quick way to drive from Laughlin to Tucson is to take exit 71 (US 93) off of I 40 and drive through Wickiup and Wickenburg. Shortly after you leave Wickenburg, there is an exit for AZ 74, The Carefree Highway. Take that to I 17 and continue south on I 17 through Phoenix to I 10. I 17 will merge with the 10 and you'll continue on 10 to Tucson. Unless you want to go completely out of your way, you'll need to drive through Phoenix to get to Tucson.

As for Mexico, it's better to walk or take a tour across the border. You will need special insurance to drive in Mexico and I don't believe that is available with rental cars. Most rental car companies do not permit one to take the car out of the country.

Another pointer, do not speed while driving through small AZ towns especially Wickenburg. The ridiculously low speed limit is enforced and the local PD hides. I've seen several people pulled over for doing 35 in a 25 mph zone.

If you want a more scenic drive through Phoenix, take I 17 to the 101 East. The 101 East to the 51 south. The 51 merges with I 10. Stay on 10 to Tucson.

If Chessie were seeking an adventure in Old Mexico in this area, DonDiego would recommend crossing at Nogales. One can park in downtown Nogales, AZ, USA within a block of the border and simply step across. A brief stroll through Nogales, Sonora, Mexico is no less safe than the walk through the worst neighborhood in Las Vegas which forkush was supposed to take last year.

Once there the advantages are, . . . umm, . . . limited:

One can brag that he visited Mexico.

One will find a trove of useless trinkets and souvenirs.

The best savings are on cigarettes and liquor, because one can avoid the US taxes, . . . and over-the-counter medications for-one's-personal-use, because they are cheap. (As DonDiego recalls there is a thriving little business in which liquor stores near the border will provide a security-escort for a group of say 2-dozen happy American folks to cross the border, enter a Mexican liquor store, purchase a single bottle of a favorite distilled beverage, and return.) Actually one can bring back $800 per person duty-free, including: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco, 2 liters of wine, 1 liter of spirits, and 60cl of perfume. Nothing which is banned in the USA is permitted, e.g. illegal/prescription drugs, switchblades, Cuban cigars, etc. And anything over $800 will be taxed.

There used to be a sports book about a block into Mexico featuring American sports. DonDiego never visited it, although he was a regular patron of a sports book in Juarez when he lived in El Paso. If the Nogales facility is anything like that in Juarez, it is dirty, smoky, smelly, unkempt, and filled with unpleasant characters, . . . like DonDiego. And young men with eyes which always seem to be darting from Americano-to-Americano as a bird-of-prey's do.

There are rumors of dens offering illicit entertainments, but DonDiego has no personal knowledge of them.

Oh, and one last thing, . . . back in the day one need not present one's passport to return to the USA, a simple declaration of citizenship was sufficient. Before crossing Chessie would be well advised to determine if a passport is now required.

DonDeigo, I was just going to mention one should find out ahead of time what type of ID is required to re-enter the USA. It's been years since I've been to Nogales or any other border town, and I don't have the desire to go back.

Good catch MissL7777...I have only taken the US 93 highway once so had totally forgotten it as an option southbound.

You will need either a regular, unexpired U.S. passport or passport card. If you don't have either, expect major, major delays and hassles.

Personally, I would not go anywhere near Arizona these days. I'm sure it's a very beautiful state, but their politics are very ugly.

You need either a passport or passcard to cross the border.

If you are going to cross, park in Nogales Az and walk across.

Dont miss the mission San Xavier del Bac.

Pima Air and Space Museum and Titan Missle Museum are good bets.

Kitt Peak obseratory and Biosphere 2 are good day trips.

Copper Queen mine in Bisbee is a great experience.

If you like red meat try Pinnacle Peak, El Corral and or Silver Saddle steak house.

Mexican food: Rigos-nice little buffet, El Torrero-great tacos, El Minuto

The Desert Museum is a must. Old Tucson is a bit kitschy - lots of film history, but most of the original set burned down about 15 years ago. They've re-built it, so if you like that sort of thing . . .

Our favorite casino is the Desert Diamond off I-19 on the way to Nogales (there's another one near the Tucson airport), but we also enjoy Casino del Sol, Casino of the Sun. Both of those are south of town off of Valencia.

Plenty of good restaurants and reasonable hotels, and the desert is absolutely gorgeous right now with the palo verde trees blooming.

Have a good trip!