By Rod Kunkel
May 26 to 29, Memorial Day Weekend
Our second weekend getaway of 2023 is behind us! Six of us spent Memorial Day weekend in Willcox. The weather was beautiful, with sunny skies. Temperatures reached about 90F each afternoon and dropped to about 60F each evening.
Everyone arrived at Cochise County Airport Friday morning. We then headed to nearby Inde Motorsports where we toured the extensive facility, each got a “hot lap” around the racetrack in a Porsche Cayman S, and finished with a delicious lunch. We then checked into our accommodations for the weekend at Rhumb Line Vineyard and Lavender Farm. Our rooms were a modern take on Quonset huts, but very well-equipped and comfortable for our 3-night stay. Friday night we took a tour of Tirrito Farm, which is a local farmstead featuring a dairy, orchard, craft brewery, restaurant, event center, lodging, paintball, glamping (coming soon) … “Lots going on there” as one person noted.
Saturday morning, we hiked to Fort Bowie which dates back to the Apache wars of the late 1800s. Very interesting history and ruins in the mountains southeast of Willcox. Saturday afternoon was spent wine tasting at a couple of venues, including one unique location (Yaqui Hideout) that was a former drug lord's compound seized by the government in the 1990s. Saturday was capped off by a hearty meal at Isabel’s South of the Border restaurant.
Sunday was another day of hiking and wine tasting. In the morning, we hiked in the Chiricahua National Monument. The higher elevation provided some cooler weather and views of hoodoos and other spectacular rock formations. Sunday afternoon was another vineyard (Coronado). Sunday night, my friends Sam and Dorothy hosted a wine pairing dinner at their bed and breakfast in Dos Cabezas. Sam cooked a hearty meal consisting of shrimp skewers, jerk chicken, Mexican corn, and apple tart. Each course was paired with a wine from Laramita Cellars, whose owner (Greg Gonnerman) poured for the group, often along with an interesting story.
Upcoming Weekend Getaways
Our next getaway with be at the Sprucedale Guest Ranch from September 6-9. Details are in the May newsletter. The deadline for sign-ups is June 15.
I am also in the early planning stages for a couple more getaways later in the year. Tentative destinations:
Sun Valley / Laughlin (dinner cruise, Oatman, BBQ, casino show). Tentative dates are October 27-29.
Douglas (Gadsden Hotel, speakeasy experience, Coronado National Memorial, Bisbee, wine tasting). Dates TBD.
If you have any questions or suggestions for future getaways, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..