An Early Visit to Arivaca

March or April, 2001

Northwest of Nogales there's a town that belongs to no government and that's home to old hippies, cowboys and illegal immigrants alike. You can get fresh-ground coffee at the Gadsden Coffee Company. "La Gitana" serves great veggie burgers (when the owner's not panning for gold), and also hosts an occasional gun battle.

The rough and wild hill country along the Mexican border offers some of the best hiking in Arizona, as well as spectacular displays of desert wildflowers.