Activities

Golf

Three highly rated golf courses are located just minutes from Vistas at Sopori Ranch: Rio Rico Country Club (rated one of the best front nines in Arizona), Tubac Golf Resort (site of the movie “Tin Cup”) and Palo Duro. Just 20 minutes to the north, Green Valley also offers eight quality courses including Canoa Hills Golf Club, San Ignacio Golf Club, Haven Golf Club and Torres Blanco Golf Club. Tucson alone boasts more than 40 world-class golf courses, both public and private. In Nogales, the Red Lawrence designed 18-hole championship course at the Kino Springs Golf Club will test your abilities. Each offers spectacular scenery and are challenging for all skill levels and all within a short drive.

Recreation

Patagonia Lake State Park and Pena Blanca Lake, approximately 45 minutes from Vistas at Sopori Ranch, offer numerous outdoor water-related activities such as fishing, boating, sailing and swimming. Scenic hiking and horseback riding opportunities abound in the adjacent Coronado National Forest and the proposed Tumacacori Highlands Wilderness Area, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States with more than 84,000 acres of remote terrain. The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail between the Tumacacori Mission and Tubac Presidio, combined with the world famous Madera Canyon, offer one of the area’s best hiking experiences.

Birding

Southern Arizona is recognized for some of the best birding in North America and includes migratory patterns of the Pacific Flyway. Exotic birds can be found from Madera Canyon to the Santa Cruz River Valley. Nearby Benson and Patagonia also are home to two renowned wildlife sanctuaries: The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and the Nature Conservancy’s Sonoita Creek Bird Sanctuary. Lake Patagonia also hosts some of the country’s most beautiful and rare waterfowl.

Historical Influences

Southern Arizona is rich in history. Visit the ruins of the legendary Tumacacori Mission established in 1691, and the Tubac Presidio—once a Spanish military garrison and initial home to Juan Bautista de Anza. North on I-19 is the magnificent Mission San Xavier del Bac, called the “White Dove of the Desert,” fully restored in the last decade to its original splendor. Many of the missions hold festivals and celebrations throughout the year.

Tubac

Tubac was established in 1752 as a Spanish presidio. The town today portrays a unique community and is known as the place “Where Art & History Meet.” Tubac's transition to an artists’ community began in 1948 when noted American painter Dale Nichols founded the Dale Nichols Art School in a portion of what is now Tubac's Old Town. Subsequent years heralded the arrival of other notable artists such as Ross Stefan, El Meyer and Sid Cedargreen. Artists’ studios now surround the grounds that once served as the military garrison. Tubac remembers its origins at the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park located in the village's Old Town.

More than 90 shops and restaurants line Tubac's meandering streets where you can enjoy art galleries, working studios, gift shops and patio dining year-round. The Tubac Center of the Arts provides a full range of arts programming, while the city of Tubac is host to numerous fun and exciting activities throughout the year including the annual Santa Cruz Valley Car Nuts Show, Tubac Festival of the Arts, ArtWalk, Juan Bautista de Anza Days, Tubac Jazz and Blues Festival, An Art Experience, Tubac Farmers’ Market and Luminaria Nights/Fiesta Navidad at the Tumacacori Mission and the famous Tubac Culinary School.

Tucson

Tucson, the second largest city in Arizona, is filled with wonderful places to explore—including great restaurants, resorts, theaters, museums, world-class spas and important historic landmarks. A burgeoning Arts District offers superb venues for music, opera, symphony and ballet. Golf lovers have a multitude of choices ranging from manicured municipals to courses played on the PGA Tour. Tucson is also home of the University of Arizona, spring training for major league baseball and some of the best medical care in the nation. Numerous special events, such as the annual Gem and Mineral Show, attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. With an excellent international airport, a short 40-minute drive north, you can conveniently get to wherever it is you want to go without the crowds and delays.

Casinos

If you feel at home among slot machines, Keno runners, poker and blackjack tables, the Tohono O’odham Nation owns and operates two nearby casinos. Only 20 minutes to the north, Desert Diamond Casino is the closest. With fine dining, a lunch and dinner buffet and a 2,400- seat entertainment center that features top names from around the world, there is always something to capture your attention. Similarly, Casino del Sol and its sister facility, Casino of the Sun, offer a selection of fine restaurants, international entertainers and a full range of gaming activities where you can try your luck.

Wineries

Surrounding the nearby towns of Sonoita and Elgin about an hour away are a number of vineyards known for their award-winning varietals. Many local establishments proudly carry these estate vintages for your enjoyment while dining. Judged as “one of the 12 best in two years of tasting” by the Wall Street Journal, Arizona wines have become “regulars” on the list of Presidential favorites having been served in the White House since 1989. Nine of Arizona’s 11 wineries reside within a short drive of the Vistas at Sopori Ranch, with wine tasting tours and harvest festivals becoming popular local activities.

Mexico

Mexico offers a multitude of exceptional recreational activities. Relax in the beautiful and exciting beach resort community of Puerto Peñasco—only a few hours away—where you can experience ocean kayaking, deep sea fishing and scuba diving in the Sea of Cortez. The seaport cities of Guaymas and San Carlos offer opportunities for world-class fishing and sailing, as well as unique shopping and excellent Mexican cuisine. Cabo San Lucas hosts some of the most luxurious resorts, golf courses and beaches in the world. Direct flights to the Mexican Riviera leave daily from Tucson International Airport.