The 2026 Southwest USA Road Trip (page 5 of 5)

Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

At the crack of dawn — which, sadly, I didn’t actually see — here I am on the streets of Tucson for my usual morning run around the local golf course.

There are already quite a few people out at this early hour, and the vibe is really friendly. Everyone greets each other as they pass. Of course, I reply in French, just to add a little "je ne sais quoi" and bring my own exotic touch to the scene!

Still ever-present, too, are the signs warning about snakes and other local critters. After seeing so many, I’m seriously starting to wonder where these famous rattlesnakes are hiding — I’ve been looking for them since the start of the trip!

On the way, I learn that the golf course is watered with recycled water. And that’s definitely a good thing, especially in a region as dry as Arizona.

Sure, Americans can be criticized for a lot of things — just like we can — but it’s also important to recognize good practices when we see them. Here, especially when it comes to water management and reuse, some initiatives are definitely worth looking into back home.

Alright, just a few more kilometers before breakfast!

Stopping by for breakfast, served at the table, gives me the chance to share my thoughts on a hotel quirk we encounter here and elsewhere.

I’ll probably make a few enemies, but so be it—let the debate begin!

We’re seated in a nearly empty room—no surprise, given the price of breakfast!—not far from a table occupied by two older couples... like us, in the end.

At their feet, a gorgeous, large dog with long, creamy-white fur. I don’t know the breed. At least it’s quiet.

My main concern is hygiene.

I don’t think our beloved pets necessarily belong in hotels where the floors and rooms are mostly carpeted. Knowing that, in some places, housekeeping can be a bit hit-or-miss, I’m not exactly thrilled at the idea that Fido might have stayed in my room before me.

That’s why I usually prefer hotels that clearly display “No Pets Allowed.” But sometimes, on a road trip, you don’t have much choice.

And what about those who leave their dog in the room before heading out for a walk?

What does the dog do in the meantime?

Well, sometimes it causes chaos by barking while its owners explore the area! You might say—and you’d be right—that in my misfortune, I could’ve just as easily ended up with screaming kids in the next room.

Don’t worry: I got that too! Thanks a lot!

So here’s my little travel gripe.

I’m picking on pet dogs a bit, sure...

But just to be clear, I have nothing against snakes, for example. Besides, they’ve at least had the decency not to bother me this whole trip!

Alright alright, let’s stop grumbling, shall we?

After breakfast, the cooler packed, and off we go—hit the road, Arizona!

Destination? History, my friends, history!

We’re on our way to Tombstone, an hour and a half drive, easy parking, and then we head to the historic center. A short commercial street, but first, a stop at a café tucked inside a residential house: Cow Boy Coffee Bar, 316 E Toughnut St, Tombstone, AZ 85638, USA!

With a REAL Italian bistro-style coffee machine and a Cow Boy coffee tasting before the espresso!

Stop by if you’re in the area—the guy’s super friendly!

Tombstone, here we come! A bustling, touristy main street today, but still steeped in history!

Back in Tombstone’s heyday, gunfights, murders, and shootouts helped build the legend of this Wild West town. You might think the cowboys were completely out of their minds! Not at all! Because while cowboys are part of the local folklore today, Tombstone’s real wealth lay elsewhere: silver! The town owes its incredible growth to the silver mines discovered in the area in the late 1870s. And where there’s silver, you’ll find miners, prospectors, merchants, adventurers… and a whole bunch of shady characters and crooks looking to strike it rich!

Not many Longhorns in this story, then… unless maybe on a plate! And a thriving mining town naturally means saloons, gambling halls, and other establishments essential to the town’s… *ahem*… moral character.

Among the most famous was the Crystal Palace Saloon, frequented by Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers. Doc Holliday—a professional gambler, a rather rowdy character, and, incidentally, a dentist—is best remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his role in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Back then, some of these establishments offered… *additional* entertainment upstairs, if you catch my drift. After all, this *is* a Wild West mining town—let’s not forget that!

This morning, though, Tombstone is much quieter.

Not many people on the streets, just a few American tourists carrying the essential giant cup of coffee with milk, casually walking into shops despite signs clearly stating that said cups are inside prohibited. New Yorkers, no doubt…

We even run into a Wyatt Earp lookalike with one of his “brothers.” Hat, mustache, frock coat—everything’s there! Just missing the horse tied up outside the saloon. We won’t stick around for the reenactment of the famous shootout, though. Already saw it in Cody and Williams.

And, well, you know me: all this senseless violence really bothers me. How awful! Just kidding! It’s history, folks!

Tombstone and its history... What a beautiful morning for someone like me—well, let’s not exaggerate—who’s a fan of cowboy movies and American history.

Okay, fine, I’ll admit the town is pretty commercial these days. But the shop owners are super friendly and, for many, big Francophiles. Which, let’s be honest, doesn’t hurt.

Once we stepped into the historic saloon—something I hadn’t done in Cody—we were immediately swept up in the atmosphere. Not many people around at that hour. My wife headed downstairs to warm up my credit card, and me? Well, I just enjoyed my pint at the bar! Isn’t life grand?

Then, *subito*, I felt the urge to lighten the load from that aforementioned pint of beer. So, I made my way to the facilities, and there, my friends... A true microcosm of patriotic America!

Whether you’re for it or against it doesn’t matter—the key is to observe. And, above all, to try to understand this side of America, with its symbols, its convictions, and its very particular way of displaying them.

By the way, I highly recommend the men’s restroom. Oh, come on! It’s designed to handle volume, right?

Shopping and sightseeing are done for me—and especially for my wife—in Tombstone... which gives my credit card a bit of a breather, on the verge of suffocation!

Actually, there’s hardly more than one street worth seeing in Tombstone. Off to the side of town, there’s also a sort of cowboy-themed amusement park, certainly paid entry, which we won’t be visiting. By choice. You’ve got to resist the siren call of the Wild West... and save what’s left of the credit card! Just kidding!

We hit the road again to head a little further south, toward the Mexican border, in the direction of Bisbee. About a thirty-minute drive, we found parking, and off we went in search of a place to eat. We walked into the first little eatery we saw. I was really in the mood for pizza, but the waitress kindly warned us: the pizzas here are *huge*! And they’re all the same—very American, with pepperoni.

Half a pizza each, along with a salad, was more than enough to keep us going for the rest of the day.

The restaurant is in an old concrete building, kind of a mini-mall that’s seen better days. One big plus: there are restrooms upstairs. Might seem like useless info in a travel journal, but it turned out to be super handy after our walk!

Bisbee is a very old town that once thrived thanks to its copper mines. Right across from the restaurant, there’s even a mine museum, which we skipped. We’d rather explore the town.

A lot of shops are permanently closed. The streets are pretty quiet too. Maybe it’s because of the August holidays? Main Street is easy to cover, with a few roadworks here and there.

But Bisbee has something special.

It’s a really old town that seems frozen in time. The buildings, the facades, the streets—they all tell the story of an era when money flowed thanks to the copper mined from the surrounding mountains.

Today, it lives mostly off its past, like so many of these once-wealthy American towns from the days of the Wild West.

The mines are silent now, the fortune has moved on... But the walls are still there, telling the story.

As I write this travel journal, I’m inserting images of our route, just like everyone else. The problem is the 300-image limit per journal—I’m currently stuck at 270 published images. So, if I’ve counted right on my fingers, I’ve got 30 photos left to add to finish the road trip. And I still have quite a few more to insert.

We’ll manage either way, so should I do 5 images per post or close this one and open a second journal for the rest? Your thoughts would help me decide one way or the other.

Cheers.

A second travel journal, why not?

Tombstone video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWSd_rdpX_U&t=20s

This city is so cool, Michel. Just missing the Ingalls family now 😄

Well yeah, another travel journal—no need to hold back!

True, it doesn’t seem like there’ll be many people in Tombstone or Bisbee in August… I passed through in the fall, and there were tourists… Bisbee really *does* have a lot of charm.

Hello everyone! After a dreamy weekend, where I got to enjoy a top-notch bouillabaisse at an excellent restaurant in Cap d’Agde, and a more reflective day yesterday—taking stock of the year and other fun stuff— Basically, I celebrated Yom Kippur, but my way… without the fasting. 😄 Anyway, I’m back! After following the advice from our dedicated forum members, I’m closing this travel journal and starting a new one so I can keep adding my photos. Otherwise, it’s game over! So, let’s continue the adventure… See you soon, travelers! 😄

Whatever happens on Yom Kippur, ah!

Advienne Kippour Ah !

That one’s not bad! 😉