A Tombstone day trip from Scottsdale.

What to see

• •O.K. Corral: site of the gunfight of October 26, 1881, with a reenactment. Arrive early for the show.
• •Bird Cage Theatre: a former saloon, gambling hall and theater with a colorful reputation.
• •Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park: the town’s history in its old courthouse.
• •Boothill Graveyard: the old town cemetery.
• •Allen Street: shops, saloons and stagecoach rides.

Planning the day

• •Drive or tour: guided day tours from the Phoenix area include transport, which lets everyone rest on the way back.
• •Timing: leave by 7am to have a full day there.
• •Kids: the gunfight is fun, but consider how long the drive is for young children.

For other big days out, see Saguaro National Park and a Grand Canyon day trip. For Old West closer to home, see Goldfield Ghost Town.

Where to stay

After a long day out, Paradise Reserve is an easy place to come back to, with a pool and spa, a fire pit lounge and a covered patio. It has six bedrooms for up to 16 guests, five of them king suites with their own bathroom, plus a golf simulator, a putting green and a pickleball court for the days you stay in. Events and parties are not permitted at the house, and quiet hours apply.