Salsa Trail

I randomly picked a brochure on the Salsa Trail (http://www.salsatrail.com/) this morning, and rather than write about all the restaurants and my last visit, I wanted to focus on a discussion I recently had with a fellow writer. The question is this: Is the Salsa Trail a day trip?

Of course, it can be a day trip. In fact, the last time I visited Graham County and explored the Trail, I tackled it as a day trip. But, how much salsa can you eat in one day? On my trip, my husband, girls and I stopped first at Bush & Shurtz for lunch. We drove down the road for chips and salsa at La Casita Cafe in Thatcher. It gets a little blurry after that. I think we went on to have chips and salsa at Casa Manana before driving out to Country Seven Grocery in Duncan, which at the time was no longer serving food (although we wouldn't have been able to eat it). From there, we visited the San Simon Chile Company (Mi Casa Tortilla Factory wasn't open). At that point, I think we were up for some more salsa, so we stopped at Manor House & Rock N' Horse Saloon. Dinner I think was at Chalo's in Safford, but maybe it was El Charro. After eating my weight in chips and salsa alone that day, who knows?

I personally think the Salsa Trail is best experienced over the course of a weekend. Spend some time at Discovery Park and Mt. Graham International Observatory. Fish at Roper Lake State Park. Rockhound at Red Mountain and Black Hills rockhound areas. Off-road at Hot Wells Dunes Recreation Area. Or, sight see at the Rex Allen Museum in Willcox. Then, hit the Salsa Trail again. I recommend staying at the Black Rock Ranch Wilderness Retreat (http://www.blackrockranch.com/), the Olney House (http://www.olneyhouse.com/), or the Simpson Hotel (http://www.simpsonhotel.com/).

Now, can you make the Salsa Trail a day trip? I suppose if you gathered a group of friends and ordered one or two appetizers at each stop, you could make it to all 12 restaurants, the tortilla factory and the chile company in one day. Instead, I would pick two or three restaurants, eat at the first for lunch, sight see or visit a few local shops and then have dinner. Give each of the restaurant the full gastronomic attention they deserve.