Shopping and dining are among the attractions of Bisbee's historic main street. Courtesy photo.

‘Tis the season for family vacations, amusements parks and long hours in the car where the proverbial “are we there yet?” can be heard if not by children, then by the voice in your own head. If you’re thinking of keeping it local and enjoying the low-fuss adventure of a (shorter) road trip getaway, here are some Arizona destinations for your consideration.

Bisbee – Just 200 miles southeast, the combination of Bisbee’s mining past and modern attractions make this town unique. While it’s Ideal for the history lover, Bisbee is not a bad choice for the foodie or the shopper either. Visit the historic main street; choose from a variety of tours and museums, or catch a Copper Kings game at Warren Ballpark.

Jerome – 115 miles north. In a town once known for mining, prostitution, gambling and – unofficially – ghosts, you’ll now find bed and breakfasts and more than 30 galleries and studios. During your visit, don’t miss the Jerome Historical Society Mine Museum for the history buffs, the Jerome State Historic Park for the outdoorsy types, the First Saturday Art Walk for the art lovers and The Jerome Winery for the … (well, you get the idea).

Sedona – 100 miles north. Whether it’s hiking or mountain biking trails, yoga and the healing effect of the vortexes or booking a relaxing resort experience, Sedona’s stunning Red Rocks provide a perfect back drop. Catch the The 17th Annual Sedona Taste or the The 4th Annual Sedona Dine & Wine Fest this summer, but while you’re there, you gotta visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Slide Rock State Park.

Other noteworthy landmarks (think Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation): The Titan Missile Museum, The Meteor Crater and The Four Corners Monument. Pack up the car and escape the heat of the Valley some weekend soon. It’s cheap, educational and good for the local economy.

As the ever-witty Mark Twain once wrote, ”Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it.” Well, this weekend we decided to do something about the insanely-hot weather by getting the hell out of town. After contemplating all the staycation hotspots compiled by our pals at Local First Arizona, we decided to go another direction altogether. In fact, we took a road trip back in time, to an era when men were men, women wore poodle skirts, and everybody smoked cigarettes like they were going out of style.

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So what do you do with an open pit copper mine once you’ve scrapped out all the precious metals? Well, if you’re the town of Bisbee, AZ you could build this wild underground skyscraper.

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