(This article by Louisiana-based writer Kathie Rowell originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)

While many of Arizona’s renowned attractions are in the northern part of the state, the southern reaches have a desolate beauty all their own.

Saguaro National Park celebrates a symbol of the American West: the iconic giant cacti, which can live up to 250 years and grow in only a small area of the U.S. Attractions include more than 165 miles of hiking trails, petroglyphs, and sunset views over the desert to the mountains.

Patagonia, a small town about 20 miles north of Mexico, and vicinity have an attraction for just about any type of traveler. It’s home to almost a dozen wineries for those who enjoy a tasting. The Tucson Audubon Society’s Paton Center for Hummingbirds, located in Patagonia, lures both hummers and birders. Nearby ghost towns Harshaw, Duquesne, and Lochiel are there to be explored.

Col. Mike Buckley, USA, (Ret), who moved to southern Arizona after retirement, said the Patagonia area has become a destination for off-road cycling on the extensive gravel trails, which wind through a stunning sky island ecosystem — areas where mountains rise abruptly over the desert floor, resulting in drastically different habitats.

Also in the area are the Coronado National Memorial, which commemorates Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s expedition to the area in the 1540s, and Chiricahua National Monument, home to a dramatic landscape of volcanic rocks eroded into striking shapes.

Buckley also recommends a visit to Fort Huachuca for history lovers.

“There’s an enormous amount of early American history and Western history as well as Spanish history and Mexican history,” he said. “The Buffalo Soldiers were here, but now it’s a training installation for the military intelligence command as well as cybersecurity, and there’s a host of other things here. It’s small.  It’s wonderful. It’s beautiful.”

Historical Highlight: Two museums celebrate Fort Huachuca’s history. Learn about the Buffalo Soldiers at the Fort Huachuca Museum and the evolution of intelligence-gathering at the Army Intelligence Museum.