An Arizona Escape: Bisbee & Tombstone
Early morning in Bisbee
A few days was all we had — just enough time to slip out of Scottsdale and into the history, colour, and desert atmosphere of Southern Arizona. With one night in Bisbee and two nights at Tombstone Monument Ranch, this little road trip gave us quiet morning light, charming main streets, and a glimpse into the state’s mining and Old West past.
Bisbee: Colourful, Historic, and a Little Bit Quirky
Bisbee sits tucked into a steep canyon in the Mule Mountains, and right away it feels different from anywhere else in Arizona. Eclectic shops, vibrant storefronts, old brick facades, murals — and behind it all, the hillside dotted with colourful homes and stairways that seem to climb straight into the sky.
We stayed in a cozy Airbnb just two staircases from Main Street, perfect for wandering out in the evening and soaking in the energy. Bisbee comes alive with live music, glowing neon, and the kind of local charm that makes you want to slow down and linger.
The next morning, we headed out early — and it was magical. The streets were still, the shop windows warm from their lights, and the soft morning glow slid over the buildings. It was one of those perfect photography mornings when the whole town feels like a set waiting for the day’s actors to arrive. And of course, we made multiple stops at Bisbee Coffee Company for some excellent coffee and morning treats. A little shopping, a little wandering, and we were hooked.
Soft light on main street
Right beside the Bisbee Coffee Company, inside the old Bisbee Mercantile, we came across the beautifully styled former Passion Cellars tasting room — a warm, vintage-inspired space with dark wood, golden light, and that unmistakable speakeasy atmosphere. Even though the Bisbee location is now closed, the space remains visually compelling, with its intricate details and dramatic lighting. It feels like stepping into an old-world wine bar tucked beneath the busy main street.
Passion Cellars itself is an Arizona winery with deep roots in the state’s high-country vineyards. While the Bisbee spot may have closed its doors, the preserved interior inside the Mercantile (quiet, moody, and rich with character) made for a wonderful photographic find — a little slice of atmosphere that hints at Bisbee’s layered history and its ongoing love affair with creative, quirky spaces.
Bisbee’s Past: Copper, Culture & a Town Built on Stairs
Bisbee was born in the 1880s as a copper mining boomtown. The Copper Queen Mine — once one of the richest in the world — pumped life, money, and people into the region for nearly a century. Miners from more than 30 countries came to work here, shaping Bisbee into a thriving and remarkably diverse community.
When the mine finally closed in the 1970s, the town reinvented itself. Artists, musicians, dreamers, and wanderers moved in, turning Bisbee into the colourful, creative enclave it is today.
Because of its rugged terrain, Bisbee developed an extraordinary stairway network — more than 1,000 public steps connecting homes, alleys, and hillside streets. Today, they’re part of the Bisbee 1000: The Great Stair Climb, one of the most unique fitness and community events in the Southwest. Definitely something to tackle on a return visit along with bike tours and After Dark Ghost Tours. It looks like great fun!
Bisbee’s artistic personality shows up everywhere — funky boutiques, antique shops, colourful studios, and passageways lined with wine bars, cafés, and tiny creative spaces. It’s a town where you can wander all day and still feel like you’ve only scratched the surface.
Stylized view of main street in the early morning glow
Onward to Tombstone Monument Ranch
Early light over Tombstone Monument Ranch
From Bisbee, we drove north to Tombstone Monument Ranch, a working cattle ranch built to look like its own Old West town. Each room is themed — we stayed in The Post Office, complete with a porch and wooden boardwalk outside.
With only a small number of guests, the ranch feels intimate and quiet. Horses graze nearby, riders head out across the desert grasslands, and in the mornings the sky stretches wide and moody above the cabins. Randy captured a particularly dramatic shot on one stormy dawn — heavy clouds, lantern-lit porches, and the mountains just visible in the distance.
A Look Back: Tombstone & the OK Corral
We visited Tombstone itself a few years ago and caught the reenactment of the famous gunfight — even though the real one didn’t actually happen at the OK Corral. Still, it’s fun, theatrical, and worth doing once, especially if you enjoy Western history.
Other Must-See Places in Southern Arizona
Even though we only had a couple of days, there’s no shortage of spectacular places nearby:
Kartchner Caverns State Park: A world-class living cave with massive limestone formations. Tours sell out, so reservations are a must.
Chiricahua National Monument: An otherworldly landscape of rock pinnacles, hoodoos, and winding trails — incredible for photography.
Tucson: Full of culture and desert beauty.
Saguaro National Park — the best saguaro viewing anywhere
Mission San Xavier del Bac — “The White Dove of the Desert”
Old Tucson — Western film history
Sabino Canyon — desert hiking at its best
Closing Thoughts
This little Arizona getaway felt fast — almost too fast — but full of good light, good coffee, and those atmospheric moments that make us want to pack up and head right back out. Bisbee’s charm, Tombstone’s Old West flavour, and the wide-open desert skies were the perfect reminder of how much character Southern Arizona holds.