Ajo Weekend Getaway
Seeking Mountain Bikers and Outdoorsy Folks Looking to Explore AZ
Friday, October 10, 2014 through Sunday, October 12, 2014
Tickets
Itinerary
Roll into town at your leisure on Friday night, and come find us on your own timeline at the 100 Estrella Restaurant where you’ll find an amazing selection of craft beers, along with grass-fed burgers, wraps, salads, flatbreads, and more. Serving until 8 PM. There will also be a gallery opening in the Plaza Gallery with bike-themed art from local and regional artists from 8-10 PM.
Head back to your cabin at the quaint La Siesta Inn where you’ll find highly manicured landscape and a large pool for late night dipping. Stock up on snacks or drinks for your cabin at Olson’s IGA along the main highway.
Saturday morning, join us on the plaza for breakfast wraps from Oasis Café while we stroll the Second Saturday Farmer’s Market, enjoy the regional entertainment and (for those interested) help out with a community bike repair workshop. From there we will have options of tours: Preservation fans can join a tour of the old train depot, the historic town Plaza and gorgeous Curley School renovation. You’ll hear about the old mining town, the nationally respected architects and the artist community and retreat center with clay studio, woodworking studio and beautifully restored housing. Or you can join us for a tour of Ajo’s numerous garden sites where local food enthusiasts are growing hearty foods in the desert. The Center for Sustainable Agriculture will share their brand of community driven food systems, which you may have recently seen on PBS!
Lunch will be on your own and we recommend you head back to Oasis Café to have a sandwich on the plaza. After lunch we will convene at 3 PM for our guided tours of the newly mapped mountain biking trails around Ajo’s picturesque scenic loop. See beautiful vistas and a remarkable ecosystem that includes the unique organ pipe cactus. There will be two tours, one for beginners and one for intermediate/advanced riders. Experienced riders will be interested to know that many nationally competitive mountain bikers choose Ajo for their training because of these incredible trails. Surrounded by 1.5 million acres of public land and thousands of miles of trails, the mantra for mountain bikers in Ajo is that everywhere’s a trailhead
Back at the cabins we will have catered carne asada tacos (there will also be something for the vegetarians) under the stars with a bonfire to share tales of the day. And of course, the pool.
Sleep soundly with the distant call of the wildlife and the stars brighter than you’ve seen them in a very long time.
Finally, Sunday morning, join us for a bike ride into the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge which is the 3rd largest refuge in the country. Almost all of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge is designated wilderness. Seven rugged mountain ranges cast shadows above valleys dotted with sand dunes and lava flows that are home to pronghorn sheep, desert tortoise, and all kinds of birds and reptiles. This guided tour will be great exercise and very educational about our home here in the desert.
ajo History
Historic Architecture: Step back in time at the Historic Plaza and railway Depot. Gaze at Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the downtown Historic District.Enjoyable Living: Ajo is a wonderful place to live. The friendly atmosphere, combined with good public services, a warm, dry climate and very affordable houses, all in the heart of the unique Sonoran Desert, makes it a great and safe choice for a residence, either full-time or for part of the year. Home to 4,000 people and only one stoplight, Ajo is a place to slow down and enjoy life. You could say it’s a small town with a huge backyard.Natural Wonders: Splendor abounds in breathtaking vistas and vibrant sunsets. Situated in the Arizona Upland Subdivision of the Sonoran Desert, the area is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, many unique to the area.
Clear Skies: The unpolluted skies have attracted countless astronomy buffs and stargazers. Peer through massive telescopes and enjoy educational programs and Native American exhibits at nearby Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Outdoor Recreation: Ajo is surrounded by 12 million acres of public and tribal land waiting to be explored. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge offer expansive hiking, biking, camping and birding places.
Culture and Art: Appreciate the cultural richness created by the proximity of Mexico and the Tohono O’odham Nation. View the work of Ajo’s growing artist community.
Mining History: Formerly one of the largest copper mines in the world, the New Cornelia pit is over a mile wide. Visit the mine lookout for history displays and a view of the turquoise hued lake at the bottom of the pit.
Mountain Bikers!
Be the first to celebrate the launch of Ajo’s new mountain bike trail maps. Ajo is located at the heart of the Sonoran desert and has miles of some of the best mountain biking trails in Southern Arizona. Bring your bike and join us for a fun filled weekend exploring a quaint little town filled with mountain biking, outdoor adventures, arts, entertainment, a farmers market, architecture, and a community culture that lures in visitors and leaves them with a past time experience of small town America complete with a inclusive local culture experience not found anywhere else.
