Globetrotting Off the Beaten Path!

What to do in Globe-Miami if you only have a few hours….

Many people in Arizona will say they have “driven through” the Globe-Miami area.  This usually means they were on Highway 60 heading somewhere else, stopped long enough for a brief pit stop at a gas station or fast food restaurant, and missed all the great aspects of our community. 

Because the Globe-Miami area is about 90 miles from everywhere (Phoenix = 88 miles, Safford = 78 miles, Show Low = 88 miles, Payson = 81 miles, and Tucson = 104 miles), this makes it a perfect place to break up a long drive and enjoy some quick adventures.  If you have 1, 2 or 4 hours you’re willing to invest, here are some worth-the-stop and not-to-be-missed gems.  For activities, we have included recommended “visiting times” so you can plan based on your interests and availability.  

First, every road leading to Globe-Miami is a gorgeous drive with amazing views and places to take pictures, so let yourself stop and enjoy.  

1 The Best Eats

When you get to Globe-Miami, you may be ready to eat.  Globe is the self-proclaimed “Mexican food capital of Arizona” and has more Mexican restaurants per capita of any community over 10,000 people in America. 

So, if you like Mexican food, this is the place to find it; however, we also have other excellent options. 

If it is breakfast time, consider Vida e Caffe  for hand-brewed coffees and fresh baked goods, Copper Hen  for excellent quiche and stuffed French toast, La Luz del Dia, – look for the giant coffee cup sign – for affordable Mexican options, or Judy’s Cookhouse offering traditional American diner options. 

If it is lunch or dinner, you have even more recommendations.  I enjoy El Rey Reynosa (open Tuesday to Sunday) as it has friendly and fast service, affordable prices, serves a nice corn and flour tortilla chip mix with both hot and mild salsa, and is the best place in town for fajitas (insider’s tip:  the lunch special is available at any time).  I also send people to Bloom (365 N. Broad Street, open Wednesday to Saturday) for creative Asian fusion dishes and interesting “American-style” sushi (try the Viva Las Vegas roll), as well as the nicest evening outdoor dining in town with their new fire pit seating area. The Copper Bistro (Open Monday to Saturday) serves half-pound burgers, as well as pasta and sandwiches.   I also enjoy the more casual atmosphere of Nurdberger’s (Open Monday to Saturday) for great hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, rice bowls, and hand-mixed shakes in fun flavors.

Treats for dogs… 

If you are traveling with dogs, these are the restaurants with outdoor seating areas that will accommodate your pooch:  Nurdbergers, Vida e Kaffe, and Copper Hen (see info listed above); Los Roberto’s  or La Cochina de Casillas’s Burger House  for Mexican food, and Dairy Queen  which offers a “pup cup” of ice cream for your dog. 

2 Explore Our Local History & Architecture

Once your appetite is satiated, let’s start adventuring in Miami.  If it is the weekend, I highly recommend exploring Sullivan Street (located one block north of Highway 60) which has numerous antique stores, art galleries, restaurants, and my favorite old-time ice cream and soda store: Soda Pops (Open 11 am to 5 pm Friday to Sunday).  To feed your curiosity, Bullion Plaza Cultural Center and Museum (Open Thursday to Sunday 11 am to 3 pm) offers well-curated western history, mining information, and memorabilia from the many political figures that have come from this area.  It has no admission fee, but donations are accepted (plan on a 30 to 60 minutes stop). 

In Globe, there are great options for history lovers, shoppers, and folks looking to stretch a bit and breathe some fresh air.  I recommend starting by going as far back in time as you can at Besh ba Gowah , the city-run archeological park for the Salado Indians living in the area in the 1200’s.  Start with the short introductory video for an overview of the site, pop into the little museum to see artifacts excavated from the site, then explore the recreated pueblo of the Salado people.  Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under.  Plan on a 30-60 minutes visit.

Another interesting step back-in-time is the 1910 Gila County Sheriff’s Office and Jail .  Pre-schedule a tour or take a chance that a tour operator will be available by checking in at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts .  Again, I highly recommend watching the brief introductory video before looking at the artifacts, hearing the stories, and experiencing the eerie claustrophobic atmosphere of the old metal cages used as cells.  Plan on a visit of 30-45 minutes.   Also, if you have an interest in the paranormal, this site is allegedly very haunted. 

3 Stretch your Legs 

If you want to stretch your legs and/or burn off a little energy for younger travelers, the Old Dominion Historic Mine Park is a must-stop and just minutes off Highway 60.  This free park offers a mining-themed playground with a 100’ zip line, life-sized mule climber, and mine tunnel for the kids; several miles of walking and/or biking trails; historic mining artifacts; a 9-hole disc golf course; and lots of educational signage covering the mining, geology, and history of the area.  Plan on 30 minutes for a quick exercise stop and up to 2 hours if you want to read all the signs and see all the artifacts.  Please note:  there are no facilities past the entrance and very little shade, so plan to bring water and wear appropriate sun-protection.

Another interesting stop for art and history lovers is the old Gila County Courthouse, now the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts .  This beautiful building has been restored entirely by volunteers and features an amazing staircase with copper bannisters.  It has multiple floors showcasing local artists with paintings, handcrafts, fabric art, pottery, drama, music, dance, and other forms of expressive arts.  There are no admission costs, art is for sale, and I would plan on a 20-40 minutes stop.

If you want to hike and love experiencing desert flora and fauna, I recommend a stop at Round Mountain Park. It’s a little tricky to find, so look for Denny’s Restaurant, then go northeast on South Street until it becomes a dirt road that ends at the park entrance.  This free park offers several miles of trails, with lots of steep climbs for cardiovascular stimulation.  If you go to the top of the West Trail, you will reach the flagpole summit with a 360-degree view of Globe; a great place to head after our rare snowstorms!. I love Boulder Canyon for its colorful rocks and interesting trail.  For kids, I highly recommend the shorter Bullseye Trail with lots of little caves and eroded rocks to climb and explore.  While the Old Dominion Historic Mine Park is a reclaimed mine site with wide, mostly flat trails, Round Mountain is more natural with narrow trails on largely undisturbed desert.  Plan on 30-45 minutes for Bullseye Trail and 45-75 minutes for most of the other trails.  I strongly recommend you take a picture of the map at the visitor’s center for logistical purposes.   Also, if hiking with dogs during rattlesnake season, do not let your animals off leash unless they have received rattlesnake aversion training.

4 Shop

For shoppers, we have already mentioned the great antique shops along Sullivan Street in Miami.  In Globe, I recommend several additional stores.  Simply Sarah’s (currently at 386 N. Broad Street and soon to be moving to 661 S. Broad Street) bills itself as a “lifestyle store” with high-end women’s boutique clothing, gifts, and kitchen items.  Depending on how gifted a shopper you are, I would plan on 30-60 minutes.  The Pickle Barrel Trading Post  is opened seven days a week and offers Old West shopping with a fantastic selection of Native American art, Sleeping Beauty turquoise, local and Southwest tourist items, copper splash, yard art, and vintage/antique collectables.  Plan on 45-90 minutes.  For bargain hunters, the High Desert Humane Society Thrift Boutique Store offers a wide selection of merchandise at basement prices that support a worthy cause.  Allot 15-30 minutes shopping time.

The Globe-Miami area offers something for everyone willing to get off the highway.  This brief overview allows an introduction to the community and may plant a seed for you to return again for a longer visit or possibly a move to this wonderful region.

This series is brought to you by writer, resident, Thea Wilshire who has lived in Globe for over 20 years and been a defacto tour guide for her own family, friends and visitors; helping them to match their interests and time constraints to things the area offers. In future articles, she will highlight recommended stops and sightseeing along the routes leading into Globe-Miami, as well as specialty subjects such as ‘dog-friendly’ hang outs in the area.