What comes to your mind when you think of a vacation to Arizona? For most folks, it means enjoying sunny skies and a game of golf in and around the state’s two largest cities, Phoenix and Tucson.

But if you enjoy a little adventure just off the beaten path, consider traveling to Cochise County in the southeastern corner of the state. In many ways, Cochise County embodies what Arizona was all about back when it was a Territory – wide open spaces and a great independent spirit.

The best way to absorb Cochise County is to visit its historic towns: Benson, Tombstone, and Bisbee.

Located right off Interstate 10, just 45 miles east of Tucson, is the historic railroad town of Benson. Located in the heart of the San Pedro River Valley, Benson is the home of Kartchner Caverns State Park, a live, wet cave. Back in Territorial days, Benson was a scheduled stop on the Butterfield Overland Stage Coach Route and the Pony Express as well. That, along with the birth of the transcontinental railroad, made Benson a bustling railroad town.

Twenty miles south on US Highway 80 lies the infamous town of Tombstone, the town too tough to die. Even those that aren’t interested in the Old West know that Tombstone was the location of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Tombstone’s main source of income is, you might have guessed, tourism. Allen Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, still resembles Tombstone as it was in the 1880s. The walkways beside the storefronts are wooden, and the streets are still unpaved.

Although there are many shops and restaurants in Tombstone, the town relishes its historical imprint on America. The O.K. Corral still offers tours, as does the C.S. Fly Photo Gallery, where you can view Mr. Fly’s photographs of Geronimo and 1880s Tombstone.

The most important place to visit in town is the Tombstone Courthouse. Now a historical museum, visiting the courthouse will take you back 120 years, as you can view exhibits and thousands of artifacts and really get a feel for what life was like in Tombstone.

About 20 miles southeast of Tombstone lies the quaint community of Bisbee. Now an artist enclave, Bisbee is home to the Queen Mine, which is the largest open pit copper mine in the world.

The first thing you might notice about Bisbee is its beautiful architecture, as “old” Bisbee is nestled into the side of a mountain. Immediately, your eyes will gaze over to “The Pit,” the copper mine, which ceased production in the mid 1970s. Quite simply, it’s the largest hole in the earth you’ll ever see!

The Queen Mine operates tours daily, and you can actually go down into the mine. The tours are given by former miners, and they are able to give you personal insights into the mine operations.

Each of these historical Arizona towns makes for an adventurous day trip. Consider making an extended weekend vacation and explore all of what Cochise County has to offer.