A TRIP TO
GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA
April 1-15, 2009
Traveling: Glenn and Barbara
Saguaro Cactus and Friends, in Green Valley Desert Park
WHY GO TO GREEN VALLEY?
The short answer, for sunlight-deprived Oregonians in April, is Sun! Warmth! Swimming Pools!
We discovered this over-55 retirement community some thirty years ago and have frequently spent a month (usually April) there. Green Valley is really no "greener" than the rest of the Sonoran Desert but when the right amount of winter rainfall occurs, it can be a wildflower lover's delight. Desert washes run through the community, interspersed with golf courses and houses. You don't have to drive to the desert--it is all around you. Most homes have their patios or picture windows facing east, so they can enjoy the beauty of the Santa Rita Mountains, just a few miles away.
Santa Rita Mountains from Desert Hills Casitas |
If the local charms aren't enough, Tucson is twenty-three miles to the north, or you can cross into Mexico at Nogales, 40 miles south. The community is part of the original San Ignacio de la Canoa Land Grant from the king of Spain, an area filled with rich history ranging from the Indians who settled the area about 1 A.D. to the conquistadors, missionaries, cowboys, miners and ranchers who have followed. Four flags have flown above the region: Spanish, Mexican, Confederate and American. Located at an elevation of 2,900 feet, at the foot of the ruggedly spectacular Santa Rita Mountain Range, Green Valley and the surrounding areas are blessed with sunshine more than 300 days a year.
Need I say more? O.K. ----
Many are drawn to Green Valley and to nearby Tucson, Tubac and Tumacácori by the historic attractions, which range from early Spanish missions, old mines, ghost towns, sprawling cattle ranches and wildlife preserves to Old West theme parks and artists’ colonies.
Then, there is the unique attraction of the nearby Titan II Missile Museum, which draws visitors from all over the world to explore what was previously an intercontinental ballistic missile site.
Madera Canyon, nestled in the heart of the Santa Rita Mountains ranks as one of the best bird-watching areas in the world. Also nearby is the Mount Hopkins Astronomical Observatory, a world-renowned facility that rests atop the second highest peak in the Santa Rita Mountains. Also close by and contributing to Southern Arizona’s reputation as the “astronomy capital of the world” is Kitt Peak Observatory, which houses the world’s largest collection of telescopes.
Lovers of art and history are drawn to historic Tubac, the oldest European settlement in the area and a shopper’s paradise with nearly 100 galleries and shops in addition to its historic park and museum. Tubac and the Spanish mission ruins at Tumacácori are a short drive south from Green Valley.
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La Paloma de Tubac shop |
South American pottery at La Paloma |
Our home for the two weeks was at one of the "Desert Hills Casitas." These comfortable one-bedroom condominiums have wonderful views of the mountains and are situated between the Desert Hills Golf Course and a lush desert wash which provides shelter to many birds and small desert fauna.
One of the best features of this retirement community is its many recreation centers, scattered throughout Green Valley. Each "rec center" has activity rooms, exercise equipment and a large swimming pool. We concentrated on the pools, and enjoyed sampling several--each has its own unique design and features.
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Canoa Hills Pool |
Canoa Ranch Pool (newest, and only indoor pool) |
This year, with only two weeks, we focused on rest, relaxation and restaurants. The Southwest is still locked in a long drought so only the hardier cacti are blooming. On our many earlier visits we have seen most of the many interesting tourist destinations around Tucson. Still, we found enough subjects for our digital cameras to fill an album--take a look! And of course, there is the customary trip log.
The Tucson weathermen were working overtime while we were in the area. Besides the lovely sunny, balmy days we also experienced: "high wind warning" days, a cold rain storm that put snow on the mountain peaks, and even a couple of Arizona's famous sunsets.
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Was it a nice vacation? You bet!
Barbara Halliday,
April 21, 2009
Unless otherwise noted, text and photos are the property of Glenn and Barbara Halliday, © 2009